Students in Mrs. Debra Hyatt’s third-grade class at Buffalo Elementary School study hard on Wednesday afternoon under bright conditions. Hyatt’s classroom was the first to receive new energy-efficient lighting at the school. The lighting upgrades were paid for through federal stimulus funds.
The installation of new energy-efficient lighting at Buffalo Elementary is complete and the board had the privilege of holding its meeting there Monday evening.
Superintendent Dr. David Eubanks informed board members the installation of the new T8 fluorescent lights — a project made possible through federal stimulus dollars — was able to reduce the number of light fixtures in the 1986 school building from 574 to 439.
Reducing the number of fixtures and installing the new energy-efficient lights will equate, Eubanks said, to a cost savings of $10,000-$12,000 a year for the district.
Plus, it’s just plain brighter throughout the building.
“If you had been here before, you would think it was a different place,” said Buffalo principal Melissa Inman. “It was very dark.”
She said even the first time Eubanks walked into the Buffalo building, he mentioned he thought it was dark.
Inman said the new lights look the same as the old ones but definitely are different. The new bulbs shine more of a white light compared to the yellowish beams of the old. She added the new fixtures continue to meet all of the state guidelines for school lighting.
Inman, her staff and her students are enjoying the new rays.
She said students noticed the change immediately, many making the comment “It’s bright” once the new lights began being installed. Third-grade teacher Mrs. Debra Hyatt — whose classroom was the first to have the new lighting installed — told the principal her students even seemed a little more calm under the new light.
Inman said the new, brighter atmosphere should help improve student achievement.
“Having the correct light is certainly tied to student achievement,” she said. “Personally, I think this lighting helps with keeping the children alert and more on task.”
Inman added in order for a child to learn correctly, they also need to be able to see what they are learning. She used reading as an example — it’s easier to learn to read when the light is bright enough.
Inman is grateful the district had the foresight to install the new lighting at her building.
“I would like to thank the school board for making these improvements to Buffalo Elementary,” she said. “The teachers and students appreciate the new lights.”
The project’s total price tag was $35,000 and the district’s maintenance department did the work, saving on cost. The next phase is to begin replacing heating and air conditioning controls at some of the district’s buildings — including Buffalo — with a centralized unit.
The district received a total of $100,000 in stimulus funding.
The installation of those new centralized control units at the schools in question, Eubanks added, should also equate to more savings for the district on its energy costs.
The Union County School District Board of Trustees also received information from district director of secondary education Cindy Langley on a couple of other grant projects in which the district currently is participating.
NETSCOPE
• This is a federal partnership grant the district is involved in with Winthrop University; the South Carolina Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement (CERRA); and the Chester, Cherokee, Fairfield, Lancaster, York 1, York 2, York 3 and York 4 school districts. The total grant award was $7.5 million and was awarded to Winthrop — the entity that applied for the funding — in October. Since then, each of the partners has begun implementing the NETSCOPE programs. The goals of the program are to: 1. Improve student academic achievement; 2. Improve professional learning for school-university faculty and teacher candidates; 3. Strengthen the pre-baccalaureate preparation of teacher candidates; and 4. Increase support for new teachers. Langley told board members the main goal of the program is to increase student achievement and to do that it is focusing on staff development and quality through training. It also aims at helping beginning teachers get the training and expertise they need before and after entering a position.
Drug-Free Communities Grant
• The board approved the administration of an anonymous drug-free communities survey to students in the Union County School District as part of this grant at its Monday meeting. Langley said the survey will provide needed data to develop a drug-free community coalition and apply for the Drug-Free Communities grant. There are several South Carolina school districts involved with this grant and, if awarded, there also is a parent and community member survey component. The student survey is one of the requirements of applying for the grant. Langley said applying for this grant through a coalition of other school districts and agencies came out of a forum the Union County district held last March asking what major issues face students today. One of the top four was drug use.
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