At the March 7 Rondout Valley Central School District Board of Education meeting, the board gave approval for the owners of the properties at 6750 Route 209 and 15 Old Queens Highway in Wawarsing and Finlo-BR LLC, a solar development company, to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with the district for a new solar project along Route 209.

With the PILOT agreement the district will receive a certain dollar amount on the energy produced and this will serve to lower the district’s tax cap.

Two board members had questions about this agreement. Lucy Van Sickle asked what would happen if the solar company Finlo-BR LLC went bankrupt like some other solar energy companies? District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morgan said that he will check with the school district’s attorney to answer this question. Nicole Parete wanted some clarification for the public and asked “in the end how will it impact us?” Morgan explained, “It goes into the tax cap formula and reduces the tax cap formula by a certain amount.”

The resolution was passed unanimously.

Children’s Books

The board also voted in favor of having Jerry Craft, a children’s book author and Newbery Award recipient, come to the intermediate and junior high school on May 4. Craft is a New York Times bestselling author of graphic novels. He is also the creator of the comic strip Mama’s Boyz, which is an African American Literary Award winner. He will give a presentation and sign his books. The charge for his visit is $5,000 plus travel expenses.

The board also approved a visit from the husband and wife team of Lesa Cline-Ransome a children’s book author and James Ransome, an author and illustrator of children’s books. The couple will give a 45-minute presentation followed by a question and answer period. The charge for their visit is $1,500 for each presenter. The Ransomes reside in Rhinebeck. Both attended Pratt Institute and have received many awards for their works, including the Coretta Scott King award.

The next Rondout School District Board of Education meeting is scheduled for March 21 at 6 p.m.