Watkins gets $86K for 'green' curriculum

Jul 27, 2010 at 02:13 pm by Observer-Review


WATKINS GLEN
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Watkins Glen Middle School

Watkins gets $86K for 'green' curriculum

WATKINS GLEN—The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded Watkins Glen Central School District $86,000 Tuesday, July 27, to be used in teaching about renewable energy.
Superintendent Tom Phillips explained that the $86,000 goes towards the $188,000 project. He said that the district pays the rest through in-kind services, like installing the equipment and training the teachers.
He added these are all things the district already budgeted for, and are not new expenses. Phillips explained the ARC funds allow the district to purchase the solar panel and wind turbine to be placed on the high school’s roof. The district already got a previous grant to install a solar panel and wind turbine on the middle school.
“We could never pay $80,000 for those materials,” he said.
The funds will also go to creating a computer-based learning lab where students will monitor the energy created by the panel and turbine. Phillips said students will get the chance to see how renewable energy can impact the energy usage of the middle and high schools. Students will also learn about the science of energy and the whole project will be integrated into the math, science, and technology curriculum.
Phillips said that through the Career Development Council, students will have the opportunity to job shadow area businesses. He explained that this project would also connect the middle and high schools.
Phillips said HUNT Engineers would do the work to install the panel and wind turbine. He added the exact location on the high school roof is unknown, but would hopefully be finished for use during the 2011-12 year at the latest.
Meanwhile, the solar panel and wind turbine at the middle school are already being installed. Phillips said that the district previously got a grant for the middle school side of the project. He said the panel and wind turbine should be ready for use in the fall at the middle school.

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