This page has been created as a way to keep the community informed on the District’s proposed solar project.
On Thursday, August 14, 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.
Timestamped updates will be added to this page as they become available. Below, you’ll find:
- All District communications related to the project, listed in chronological order
- Information on voter registration for GJSD referendums, including how to apply for and participate in mail-in voting and early mail voting
Questions?
Submit all questions you may have about the solar project to the District by emailing: communications@johnstownschools.org
Mark Your Calendar!
September 1, 2025: Absentee ballots will begin to be mailed out to anyone who is on the “permanently sick & disabled” list with the county Board of Elections
September 15, 2025: Superintendent of Schools Alicia D. Koster will host a Q&A for patrons of the local senior center
September 16, 2025: District Voter Registration at District Office (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
September 18, 2025: Public Hearing & BOE Meeting; hearing will include a presentation from the District and an opportunity to ask questions (6:30 p.m.)
September 30, 2025: VOTE (11 a.m.-8 pm.) in the JPAC lobby at JHS
UPDATE (September 10, 2025):
Starting Saturday, September 13, residents of the Greater Johnstown School District will receive a postcard in the mail with details on the District’s Public Hearing set for Thursday, September 18. Here’s what the postcard will look like:
Voter Registration:
Only registered voters may participate in the September 30 vote. Visit the Greater Johnstown SD Poll Place Finder website and choose “Am I Registered” to determine if you are currently registered to vote the the GJSD. If you are not registered and would like to be, you can stop by the District Office on September 16 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You will need to provide government issued photo ID (examples include state issued drivers license or non-driver ID card; U.S. military ID; U.S. passport) and proof of residency (examples include a current utility or telephone bill; deed/mortgage statement; lease agreement; auto insurance ID card; stamped change of address form from the post office).
Absentee Ballot & Early Mail Voting:
Registered voters may vote by absentee ballot or by early mail voting if they will be unavailable in-person on September 30. Community members who are listed with the County Board of Elections as “permanently sick or disabled” do not need to apply for an absentee ballot and will automatically be sent one. There are separate applications for early mail voting or absentee ballot, but the application process and deadlines are the same for both. Applications are available on the District website or by contacting the district clerk, Larraina Carpenter, at (518) 762-4611, ext. 3119. Completed ballots must be received by the District by mail or drop-off no later than 5 p.m. on September 30.
GJSD Solar Energy Referendum History
August 15, 2025: After the Board of Education approved holding a second referendum at their August 14 meeting, a story was posted to the website explaining how input from the community helped the District fine-tune details of the project prior to putting the project up for a second vote. Read more here: GJSD Board of Education Votes Unanimously to Hold Second Referendum on Energy Performance Contract Project
August 14, 2025: Watch a replay of the August 14 Board of Education meeting here. (Note, the Board is in executive session for the first 14 minutes of this video).
July 15, 2025: The community voted on a referendum to move forward with the EPC project/solar array on July 15. The community narrowly rejected the project by a vote of 110 in favor versus 115 against—a slim margin of just 2.22%. Read more here: GJSD to Explore Next Steps for Revenue-Generating Solar Project at Johnstown High School
July 9, 2025: A Q&A was generated from the District’s conversation with the community during its first Public Hearing on July 2. Read the recap here: Powering the Future: Key Takeaways from Public Hearing on GJSD’s Solar Array Project
June 16, 2025: Public promotion for the July 15 referendum started on June 16, with a story on the website explaining the project to the community. Read more here: GJSD to hold community referendum on Energy Performance Contract Tuesday, July 15, 2025