Dr. Tom Kurucz Receives Pinnacle Award

Dr. Tom Kurucz, deputy superintendent of operations for the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, was recently honored by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International with its Pinnacle of Achievement Award for an innovative project that eliminated diesel costs, improved the air quality within the schools and redirected money toward classrooms.  The association is honoring just three members nationally with the Pinnacle Award this year, and Dr. Kurucz is the only winner from Missouri or Kansas.  He is the fourth Missourian to receive the award since its inception.  Click here to read more.

Halstead-Bentley Schools Going Green

Halstead-Bentley schools have embarked on a project to go green this fall.  In July, the Halstead-Bentley USD 440 board of education approved a $1.3 million energy savings contract with Trane to complete energy efficient upgrades to the district's three schools.  The aging water, lighting and HVAC systems will be improved at the schools.  Click here to read more.

Trane Teams With CHPS To Optimize K-12 Learning Environments

Trane has become a national sponsor of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) - a non-profit organization focused on making schools better places to learn by facilitating the design, construction and operation of high performance schools.  Trane shares a critical goal with the Collaborative for High Performance Schools:  educating the school community about the key role that the physical environment plays in the learning process and sharing the tools that schools need to optimize their environments.  Learn more about CHPS here.

Kansas School District Utilizes FCIP To Make Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

Valley Heights USD 498, serving Blue Rapids and Waterville, KS, has contracted with Trane to execute energy-efficiency upgrades at two district buildings.  Valley Heights High School will receive lighting, HVAC and control upgrades, and at Blue Rapids Elementary, upgrades will be made to gym lighting.   The total project cost is estimated at $750,000 with an annual projected savings of $40,000.  The district is utilizing the Facility Conservation Improvement Program available through the Kansas Energy Office (KEO) to implement its plans.  Learn more about the project here. 

TRANE Receives Friends of Education Awards

           

On May 21st 2010 Tonganoxie USD 464 awarded Keven Ward, Trane Education Facilities Consultant, and Stephanie Leslie, Trane Marketing Coordinator, the Kansas Friends of Education Award, Private or Public Institution.  This award is sponsored by the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force and recognizes volunteer efforts throughout the state.  Two weeks after Tonganoxie's ceremony, the Education Foundation at SE of Saline USD 306 presented Trane with their Friends of Education Award.  Both Tonganoxie and SE of Saline completed High Performance School Building upgrades in the Fall of 2009, and both Districts, with Trane's help, opted to bring those upgrades into the classroom and use them to teach students about energy efficiency.  Thank you to both Tonganoxie and SE of Saline for this great honor, and for your dedication to your students, staff, and community.

Ingersoll Rand Sponsors Kansas Destination ImagiNation

 Destination ImagiNation is an exhilirating after-school activity where students work in teams to solve mind-bending challenges and present their solutions at Regional, National and Global tournaments.  Students in the program learn to experience creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and problem solving.  Trane and Ingersoll Rand are proud to sponsor the 2010 and 2011 Kansas Destination ImagiNation competition, helping local students compete at the State, National and Global level.  Congratulations to all Kansas competitors!  Click here for more information and photo's of the Kansas competition.