Community Vote Set for Tuesday, September 30
At Thursday evening’s monthly business meeting, members of the GJSD Board of Education unanimously approved a measure to go out for a second voter referendum on a proposed Energy Performance Contract (EPC) project that includes the installation of a revenue-generating solar array on nine acres behind Johnstown High School. The new referendum has been set for Tuesday, September 30, 2025. Polls will be open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. in the lobby of the JPAC auditorium at JHS.
While a public vote is not legally required for the District to move forward with the EPC project, a successful referendum enables the District to qualify for an additional 10% in aid (approximately $1,045,000) from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). This would increase the overall state aid for the project from 81% to 91%, reducing the local cost of the initiative. The total cost of the project is not to exceed $11 million.
The project would have no additional tax impact on the community and is expected to pay for itself through guaranteed energy savings and available incentives. The District will also receive state aid reimbursement from NYSED, providing additional revenue for the District to consider as part of future school budgets.
The initial proposal was presented to voters on July 15 and was narrowly defeated by a margin of just five votes—with 110 in favor and 115 against, representing a difference of only 2.22%.
Following the July 15 vote, the Board considered three possible paths forward:
- Cancel or postpone the project;
- Proceed without voter approval by entering into a lease-purchase agreement;
- Seek a second public referendum to secure the full NYSED aid benefit.
After thoughtful deliberation, the Board chose to pursue the third option—reaffirming its commitment to transparency, community involvement, and long-term fiscal responsibility.
“We appreciate the thoughtful questions and feedback from our community throughout this process,” Superintendent of Schools Ms. Alicia D. Koster said. “Their input has played an important role in helping the District refine specific aspects of our contract with the John W. Danforth Company, the designated Energy Service Company (ESCO) for the project.”
“Community members expressed concerns about what would happen to the solar array at the end of its 25- to 30-year lifespan. In response, the District has developed an Obsolescence Plan that would allow the district to potentially enter into a new Energy Performance Contract (EPC) at that time, enabling us to replace the panels and other components with the latest available technology,” Koster added.
Superintendent Koster also noted that the District has the option to implement a Maintenance Plan, which would allow the district to enter into a separate service agreement with Danforth after the initial 18-year contract period, for a specified duration of time, to maintain the array until the end of its lifespan.
Additionally, Koster said that the plan has always included measures to restore the solar array site with soil, grass, and native plant species, ensuring minimal long-term environmental impact, and reiterated the District’s commitment to environmental protection at Thursday’s Board meeting.
“It’s important for our community to know that we’ve listened to their concerns and have developed thoughtful contingency plans to address them,” she said.
Board President David D’Amore added his support for the project, stating “This solar array will generate clean, renewable electricity to help meet the energy needs of our District buildings for the next 20 to 30 years. With electricity costs continuing to rise—and with growing future demands like EV charging stations and increased cooling needs—it’s more important than ever that we future-proof our electrical infrastructure.”
“The $2 to $3 million in federal financial incentives currently available will not be around forever,” D’Amore added. “Simply put, we cannot afford to not build this solar array if we want to ensure the long-term financial stability of our District.”