Summit Elementary School holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for new solar classroom

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) - A new outdoor solar classroom at Summit Elementary School on French Island is complete.

The 60 panel, 32 kilowatt structure will provide a space for classes to be held outdoors. Solar on La Crosse Schools, the School District of La Crosse, and other organizations partnered to bring this structure to the school.

Solar on La Crosse schools director Alysa Remsburg says they have done smaller solar projects at the school before, but they wanted to make a larger one this time.

“This school does a really great job of getting students outside more often. We wanted to have multiple outdoor learning spaces, and there was this perfect place that allows a lot of people to see the solar panels. It’s a place where students can do their learning in any kind of weather conditions, whether it’s too sunny or too rainy. They can still be appreciating the beauty of this place,” says Remsburg.

summit principal Oscar Uribe says a structure like this is very important for learning about solar energy. He adds that learning about solar energy is very important for students in this day and age.

“We use a lot of fossil energies. We teach them about that. We teach them about solar and wind . I think it’s important for students to understand our consumption or production, and the impact energy has in their lives,” says Uribe.

Uribe says the environment is a high point of emphasis for the school, and the new structure will help the school connect inside learning with the outside.

“We’re very lucky that we are right here in French island with ten acres. We’re a forest school. We have a lot of opportunities for students to learn outside. Learning should be engaging and exciting, and that’s what we’re trying to do every day,” says Uribe.

According to Solar on La Crosse schools, the solar structure cost around $78,000 and was funded by grants and donations. They add that the solar classroom will also produce around 17% of the building’s energy needs.