Gilbert Public Schools is moving ahead with a second phase to the district’s energy project that will bring lighting upgrades, smart irrigation and some artificial turf.
The district will be using bond money to make those changes, which were approved by the governing board Tuesday on a 4-0 vote with Board Member Bill Parker absent.
Brandon Woodward of contractor Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability Services said the project will cost the district $6.7 million, but has a first-year savings of $360,000 and a $12.9 million lifecycle savings.
“I really liked that this is a bond spend in which we will recapture our spend through savings — from different energy savings, from water loss, from maintenance and utilities,” Board President Lori Wood said. “That’s exciting to me to see us spend money that will actually come back to us.”
The project includes changing district stadium lighting to LED lighting that officials touted as having a longer life span, less energy usage and less light pollution with more directed lighting. It also will include RGB lighting that can give special effects at stadium events.
Exterior lighting at all high schools, including Gilbert Classical Academy and alternative education site Canyon Valley, will be retrofit for LED lighting as well.
The project also includes smart irrigation systems being put in at the comprehensive high schools and Desert Ridge and Mesquite junior highs and artificial turf being installed in strategic areas at Mesquite and Desert Ridge high schools and Gilbert Classical.
Tom Blodgett Senior News Editor | Gilbert @sp_blodgett
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
GilbertS Public Schools,
Gilbert Public Schools governing board,
Brandon Woodward,
Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability Services,
Lori Wood,
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Gilbert Classical Academy,
Canyon Valley School,
Desert Ridge High School,
Mesquite High School,
Desert Ridge Junior High School,
Mesquite Junior High School
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