Bullard Independent School District will not be joining an energy response agreement with LPB Energy – at least not yet.

During their regular monthly meeting Monday, Dec. 14, BISD Trustees voted to hold off an agreement that could result in a $9,000 to $10,000 annual payment to the district. Demand response solutions enable clients, such as BISD, to receive financial incentives for agreeing to curtail power consumption when the electric grid is under extreme stress.

The contract would allow LPG to test the system, which would require BISD to shut down for about 20 minutes its largest source of energy use, which is the high school campus.

BISD Trustee Sam Smith expressed concern about losing electronic files and computer equipment, and if the cost of replacing the files and equipment would offset the payment received by the district.

Don Shelly, business development manager for LPG, said the district would get a few minutes notice regarding the time of a test, but that there would be no guarantee that files and, perhaps, some equipment could be lost as a result.

Until more data could be gathered about the program, the board agreed to delay the energy response agreement.

During the public hearing portion of the board meeting, former head coach Jim Taylor read a prepared statement regarding his removal as head coach and reassignment (for more information, see Sports, Page 10).

In other business, trustees made no recommendations regarding the Cherokee County Appraisal District Director election.

Preentation included a discussion of the newly instituted Panther Tube, a tutorial program available on the BISD Web site; and a discussion from Amy Bickerstaff regarding Fundation, a phonics and spelling program used at Bullard elementary schools.