SLEEPY EYE — Seeking contract clarification, the Sleepy Eye School Board tabled a solar array purchase, facility lease and power purchase agreements Wednesday.

Action came at the request of Sleepy Eye Superintendent John Cselovszki, who said after reading a story in The Journal about the grant-funded solar system purchase, he met with Sleepy Eye City Manager Bob Elston and Sleepy Eye Utility Superintendent Mike Hardin about the agreements.

“After looking at it with them, they felt that some things didn’t look quite right so we’ll get more clarification on it,” said Cselovszki. “We plan to consider it at the June 15 board meeting.”

He did not elaborate on what the contract issues were.

Last month, Cselovszki told the board the school district was awarded two Solar for Schools grants for a solar system that could save the school district about 20%, about $7,579 a year, in electrical costs if the projects are approved after being studied by Ideal Energies Inc. of Minneapolis.

The program includes Ideal Energies helping monitor electrical usage, production and dispatching field service if needed.

Other schools in line for first-round Solar for Schools grants included Redwood Area, Fairmont, Marshall, St. James, St. Peter and Windom.

In his board report, Cselovszki said since the April board meeting, the school district has four students and three staff members out of school with COVID-19.

“I wouldn’t say COVID is bad, but it’s around,” said Cselovszki.

In addition, he said the FFA greenhouse is in question. Sleepy Eye agriculture instructor Mary Hoffmann called it a a “hoop house,” purchased by grant money before she came to the school.

“We need something way better than that, but we could try to sell it,” Hoffmann said. Several board members agreed it was a good idea to take it down and try to sell it.

The board unanimously approved a number of items, including a school district health insurance plan with a 5.8% rate increase with South Central Service Cooperative.

A $22,000 auditing services bid from Abdo of Mankato was approved. It was not the lowest bid but Cselovszki said the bid better fit school district needs than other bids.

New hires included high school math teacher Jordan Ott at a salary of $41,488, and assistant baseball coach Chase Meyer, $1,000.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)