Board hears finance committee update on two solar projects and a change to how virtual comments are handled

At the Upper Darby School District Board meeting, a finance and operations committee representative said the district is moving forward with two solar projects after securing state grant dollars, though federal tax incentives "may not be there." The committee said additional schools could be added to the program if the board directs staff to pursue more projects.

''On public participation, the committee described a proposed change to Policy 903. The committee representative said that, if approved, the board would stop reading phone-in and virtual comments aloud at meetings; those comments would be provided directly to board members instead. "Tonight will be the last night that we read all of them out loud as they come in," the representative said, explaining the board will still receive and consider submitted comments.

''The committee presentation noted both items required board action that evening. The transcript shows the committee summary and a recommendation for board consideration; the record does not show the detailed board deliberation or final vote on the solar projects or the Policy 903 change within the provided segments.

''Background: the committee said it has secured state grant dollars sufficient to support at least two installations and that federal tax treatment could affect how many additional projects are feasible. Detailed project sites, grant amounts and contract terms were not specified in the transcript.

''Next steps: the committee asked the board to take formal action on the two solar projects and on Policy 903; the transcript indicates these items were on the agenda for board action that night but does not include a recorded roll-call vote with individual tallies in the excerpt provided.