BLANCHESTER — Kyle Wilson was selected to be the Blanchester School Board president, with John Panetta selected as vice president, at the recent reorganizational meeting.

Wilson had served as board vice president during the first year of his freshman term on the board, with Todd Bandow serving as president. Panetta begins his 12th year on the board.

Wilson told the News Journal he’s very honored to have been selected by his colleagues and looks forward to working with district administrators in his new role.

“I’d also like to congratulate Mr. Panetta on becoming vice president,” said Wilson, adding he looks forward to working with the veteran board member.

Solar on horizon

Also during the meeting, Treasurer Darlene Kassner updated the board on the solar energy project, saying the district finalized an interconnect agreement with Duke Energy and are ready to begin construction in late February or early March.

Right now, the project would establish solar arrays at the Intermediate, Middle and High School campuses.

“All we are waiting for now to complete our solar array project at Putman Elementary is to sign an interconnect agreement with the Blanchester Board of Public Affairs,” said Kessler.

Solar arrays in the district discussions began around seven or eight years ago, according to Superintendent Dean Lynch, but didn’t materialize and eventually stalled.

In January of 2018 all the players — Solar Power and Light, Blanchester Board of Public Affairs (BPA), Duke Energy, Indiana Municipal Power and Light (IMPA) — re-convened and agreed to re-open discussions and try to work through the barriers that stalled talks earlier.

A year later they were able to construct possibly two solar arrays in the district.