Grant for lighting upgrades allows Lake Shore School District to direct savings to educational programming

A grant from New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti will provide perpetual savings to the Lake Shore Central School District and taxpayers.

Grisanti awarded $50,000 in funding to the district in the form of bullet aid for the 2013-14 school year with the designation the funding be used for one-time expenditures.

"We were delighted to receive this additional funding and sought to use the money to make a lasting investment in our district," Superintendent of Schools James Przepasniak said. "Lake Shore has been recognized for our ongoing efforts to reduce energy and maintenance costs through energy management and upgrades. Sen. Grisanti's grant allowed Lake Shore to replace exterior lighting at five facilities in the district, continuing our efforts in energy conservation as well as improving safety and security by increasing visibility on our campuses."

It is estimated the $50,000 grant will generate energy savings of $45,079.45 annually. The lighting upgrades were completed at the Hoag Educational Center, A. J. Schmidt Elementary School, J.T. Waugh Elementary School, Highland Elementary School and the district transportation bus garage.

"We are grateful for any support and assistance that Lake Shore receives from our elected officials, and this grant enabled us to continue an initiative that allows us to direct reoccurring savings to our educational programming - directly benefiting our students," Przepasniak said.

The Lake Shore Central School District was awarded a three-year New York State Education Department School District Management Efficiency Award Program grant that was based on efficiencies in operations. It now funds an energy conservation initiative, and a program that has saved the district $167,088.39 in the past 14 months (and fully supports the position of energy specialist in the district).

Lake Shore is committed to maintaining and improving efficiencies in the future. The bullet-aid from Grisanti in this current year will continue the efficiencies funded by the grant award and will generate additional energy savings that will be gained and measured over the next decade.

"I am pleased to be able to deliver funding to the administrators, teachers, support staff and, most importantly, the students of the Lake Shore Central School District," Grisanti said. "Lake Shore is a forward-thinking district whose leaders are constantly looking at ways to conserve energy and enhance safety and security measures at all of their buildings. This funding will directly benefit the students and help enhance their educational opportunities."