Joco Today

Award established through the bipartisan infrastructure law

On May 12, 2023, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) $100,000 to lower energy costs, enhance indoor air quality, and improve student health. The Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools Prize (Energy CLASS Prize) was authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. KCKPS applied, with Davids’ support, after receiving a letter from Davids’ office calling for applications.

“Kansas students rely on healthy, clean learning environments to reach their full potential in the classroom,” said Davids. “Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, schools across Wyandotte county can now develop energy efficiency plans to lower costs and improve physical infrastructure.”

“Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools deeply appreciates being awarded Phase 1 of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy CLASS Prize,” said Dr. Anna Stubblefield, Superintendent, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. “This will impact over 22,000 students in Wyandotte County by freeing up funds for other critical educational needs, building student proficiencies to implement infrastructure upgrades, and developing institutional capacity to make long-term energy management a lasting feature of the community.”

The Energy CLASS Prize will provide KCKPS students and staff with an improved learning environment and jumpstart infrastructure improvements in all 49 KCKPS buildings. The projects will benefit all 2,174 students attending targeted buildings and will lower energy costs, freeing up funds for other needs. The award also includes up to 160 hours of energy management training and professional coaching for students and faculty.

Davids, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has allocated approximately $55.7 million to Kansas for clean energy, energy efficiency, and power. Additionally, Davids previously announced infrastructure law funding is available for electric and low-emission school buses in Kansas’ Third District.

Background:

KCKPS serves over 22,000 students in the Kansas City metro area, 81.2 percent of whom experience economic hardships and 90.9 percent of whom live in underserved communities. The district currently has no full-time energy manager and has never undergone energy-related assessments or facility planning.

KCKPS’ Energy Champion Team will include seven existing staff members from the district’s Operations Department, who will provide oversight and advocate for a new energy paradigm for the district, as well as skilled trades foremen, who will help implement new knowledge and skills in the workplace.

The Energy CLASS Prize is a competitive award promoting energy management in school districts across America. 25 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will each receive a $100,000 cash prize to establish, train, and support energy managers in their schools. Energy CLASS Prize funds have the potential to impact over 700,000 students, in 1,300 schools, across 19 states.

Original source can be found here.