Facilities & Operations

An arial photo of the HMS roof top full of solar panels.

Solar Panels

District 70 took a slice out of its electric bills back in the summer of 2014 when the largest two of its five schools were topped with solar panels. 
The $3.2 million solar power project at 75,000-square-foot Butterfield School and 140,0000-square-foot Highland Middle School with each school hosting about 1,800 solar panels on 40,000-square-feet of the flat school-building roofs. The panels are expected to produce about 900kW worth of power, providing about one-third, or 30 percent, of the electrical power needed to run each school. 
At the time, the project made District 70 the largest school district in Illinois to be run by solar-power and the largest solar-powered school district in the Midwest. 
The new energy source saves the school district between $3,000 to $5,000 a month on electrical bills, or an estimated $1 million in electricity over the lifetime of the systems. 
The project was possible through a private energy grant of $1.8 million from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. 
On sunny days, the schools’ solar panels generate electricity on site. Even cloudy days produce energy, according to records being tabulated at the schools. Both schools are linked to websites that show how much energy the solar panels are producing. 
Highland Middle School’s website and the Butterfield School website  are both used by students studying solar engery. 
The panels are expected to last 30 years and have the first 20 years covered by maintenance. 
All the panels are set on a slight angle to try to catch the strongest of the suns’ rays, as well as to keep them somewhat clear of the elements. For example, when it snows the sun will heat the panels and the slight pitch will help the snow slide off the panels.  
 

An arial photo of the top of Butterfield School covered in solar panels.

The photovoltaic systems to be used on both schools will help reduce the carbon footprints of District 70 by more than 50 million pounds of CO2 if the electricity came from traditional coal plants.    


Single Solar Panels Installed in 2009    

District 70 first ventured into solar power in 2009 when it applied for state grants and installed two 14-foot high solar panels that stand outside Butterfield and Highland Middle schools. The panels were a part of a re-roofing project at both schools. 
On a good day, each panel will create enough energy to light one classroom. Each panel can produce about one kilowatt of energy when it’s sunny, which translates to powering about 10-12 75-watt bulbs. The main purpose of the panels, however, is that they are used as educational tools. Both panels are able to communicate on a website so that students can study, graph and learn about the energy each produces. 

Renting Space at a School         

Graphic reading For Rent like a sign with yellow letters

         

K-5 Building Usage Form

HMS Building Usage Form

Operation Reports
 


Indoor Air Quality Report from Feb. 2024
Official reports from the Environmental Consulting Group, Inc, on  IAQ testing that has been done at all D70 buildings. l.  
Adler Park School 
Butterfield School
Copeland Manor School 
ERC (Admin Office)
Highland Middle School
Rockland School

 

Water Test Results from 2024 
As required by law, these documents have been redacted for personal signatures.

 

Asbestos Re-inspection of Schools  (May 2022) 
As required by law, the following documents have been redacted for persona signatures, school floor plans, classroom locations, personal address, and professional license number.
Adler Park School Re-Inspection 
Butterfield School Re-Inspection
Copeland Manor School Re-Inspection
Highland Middle School Re-Inspection
Rockland School Re-Inspection

 

Lead & Water Analysis
Parent & Staff Letter
District 70 Summary
Adler Water Testing Data
Adler Water Testing Summary
Butterfield Water Testing Data
Butterfield Water Testing Summary
Copeland Water Testing Data
Copeland Water Testing Summary
Highland Water Testing Data
Highland Water Testing Summary
Rockland Water Testing Data
Rockland Water Testing Summary

HMS Indoor Air  Quality Report 

Official report from Camplin Environmental Services, Inc., on IAQ testing that was done in Highland Middle School in 2022. 
Report from 9/20/22 (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures.)  

Official reports from the Environmental Consulting Group, Inc, on  IAQ testing that has been done at Highland Middle School.  

  • Report from 3/03/20 - As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures, floor plan of HMS.)  
  • Report from 11/1/19 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures, classroom map of HMS.)  
  • Report from 11/1/19 -  Part 1 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures.)  
  • Report from 11/1/19 - Part 2 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures.)   
  • Report from 9/17/19 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures and the floor plan for the school, which cannot be posted for security reasons.)  
  • Report from 10/23/18 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures and the floor plan for the school, which cannot be posted for security reasons.)  

Official reports from the Camplin Environmental Service, Inc on IAQ services performed at HMS in 2017 and 2018.
Report from 9/5/18 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures.) 
Report from 8/9/17 - (As required by law, this report has been redacted for personal signatures.)