LEETONIA- The Leetonia school district is considering every possible cost-saving measure.

Representatives from SUREenergy, a wind turbine installation and management company based in Toledo, visited the school board's regular meeting Wednesday night, presenting a proposed plan for installation of a 150-foot, 100 kilowatt turbine on the school's roof that could cut energy costs by over 90 percent.

According to SUREenergy's president, Curtis Stokes, the school could erect a turbine for $9,500 (after a 40 percent state tax grant and 30 percent federal tax incentive) and over the first 10 years cut its energy costs by up to 91 percent before taking ownership of the machine. For the first 10 years, SUREenergy or another entity would own the turbine in order to capitalize on the federal tax incentive. A maintenance agreement can be signed that would cost an additional $3,500 plus a three percent increase each year after the school assumes ownership.

Stokes noted that Leetonia is in a good area to utilize a turbine based on compiled NASA and meteorological data, adding that other area institutions considering the turbines include the Columbiana County Port Authority in Leetonia, Heritage-WTI in East Liverpool and the East Liverpool City Schools.

And since the turbine is wind powered, there is no "ice fling" resulting from a forced start in the winter, he said.

The board will now consider the proposal and research the issue, but schools Superintendent Rob Mehno said he hopes installation will prove plausible.

"We're looking at every angle we can to save money," he said.

In other news, school Treasurer Larry Syverson presented the board with a five-year financial forecast, stating that it is as expected. The forecast predicts the school to have a $200,000 deficit by the end of 2011 and a $2.2 million deficit at the end of 2015, he said.

One bright spot, though, is that federal funds that supplement state funding should remain in place for another year, according to Syverson. He also noted that the projected dollar amount to be spent on wages and benefits is the lowest since 2005.

Also at the meeting, School Nurse Melanie Stelts announced that parents must consent their children to receive the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available by Nov. 4. Consent forms are being mailed home or can be found online at www.ode.ohio.gov.

Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net