York Suburban School District will put $830,000 into energy-efficient upgrades around the district while also putting substantial money into pool upgrades.

The school board unanimously decided it will pursue using Johnson Controls' "guaranteed energy services" plan that will fix energy-sapping infrastructure, particularly lighting.

For about $830,000, York Suburban hopes it will get about $75,000 back each year from energy savings. The decision is pending the board's approval of a financial plan to pay for the upgrades, which will be made in September.

York Suburban board members differed on whether to dump more money in the pool, which costs about $50,000 a year in maintenance.

The pool needs a new heating, ventilation and cooling system that costs about $580,000, said business manager Dennis Younkin.

Without it, the pool faces problems with humidity control, among other issues, that would wear down the pool.

The high school also needs an HVAC system, bringing the total cost to about $800,000.

Board members Roger Miller, Joel Sears, and William Kirk voted against it. Sears suggested closing down the district's swimming pool and using the pool at the YMCA's Graham Aquatic Center on Newberry Street in York City instead. He said he does not support committing money to upgrade the pool.

But board member Lynne Leopold-Sharp said the district would have no say in the maintenance of the Graham center pool and said the district should commit to using the pool it has on-site.

Board president John DeHaas said the district would likely have to pay to use an outside pool. But Sears said that still might be less expensive than on-site upgrades and maintenance costs.

A district-commissioned study from about three years ago by a national pool consultant predicted the pool could last about 20 more years if properly maintained, Younkin said.

"We've been following the recommendations of that report," Younkin said.

Sears, in his written comments to the board, argued the study determined no additional resources be put into repairing the pool because it can only last so long

"It is the opinion of the consultant that additional resources not be invested in the renovation of this facility currently and in the future," Sears wrote, quoting the report.

The pool is used by the district swim team and as a community resource for swimming lessons.

Other costs approved: The board approved another $340,000 worth of work by Johnson Controls that isn't for energy efficient purposes but is part of the district's capital projects list.

The items are small repair or replacement jobs, Younkin said. That brings the overall contract with Johnson Controls to about $1.9 million.

The board will decide in September which financial option it will take to pay for the projects, with one option being refinancing some debt and using that savings.

-- Dispatch correspondent Shannon Prusak contributed to this story.

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