Kewanee High School senior Alex Duarte, at right, was honored by the Kewanee School Board Monday for being named all-state in football and earning Illinois State Scholar honors. He’s shown with, from left, school board members Diane DeMay, Amy Dev, Jeff Johnson and Lori Christiansen. [Photo by Michael Berry]

The tornado ripped solar panels off the roofs of Kewanee High School and Central School back in July.

But who will pay for fixing the roofs and the panels is still up in the air.

At Monday’s Kewanee School Board meeting, Supt. Rebecca Baney reported that negotiations with the solar company and an insurance company haven’t gotten anywhere.

In fact, Baney said, her recent e-mails to the insurance company haven’t been returned.

Complicating the situation is the fact that if the solar company has to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for roof repairs, they might not renew their contract with the district to provide electricity.

That could mean the school district would lose the nearly $80,000 a year it saves on electricity, thanks to the solar arrays.

Also Monday:

— The board approved the purchase of nine gasoline-powered school buses for $876,490.

Baney said the district is still at least a couple of years from switching to electric buses — if that step is ever taken.

Board member Scott Steffen said electric buses wouldn’t work for the Neponset portion of the district, since the load limit on Neponset Township roads is 28,000 pounds — and the buses weigh 36,000 pounds.

— Baney reported that a project over Christmas break will be painting the floor of the stage in Petersen Auditorium.

She said lights reflecting off the wooden floor cause a problem for theatrical productions, so the floor will be coated with a special non-reflective black paint.

— The board discussed selling advertisements on the new digital scoreboard in Brockman Gymnasium at Kewanee High School. They decided to hold off on selling scoreboard sponsorships until students have progressed in their training to program the board.

— Baney reported that she expects the district’s property tax levy will be lower for next year’s taxes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean lower tax bills for district property owners, since property valuations are expected to increase around 13 percent next year.

— The superintendent also reported that Illinois school officials are very concerned about the future of the state’s “evidence-based funding” policy for determining state-aid allocations to local schools.

Evidence-based funding (EBF) provides increasing state-aid payments to get state school board up to 90 percent of a target level. Kewanee schools are currently at 70 percent, and school officials have been expecting annual state aid increases in aid levels until 90 percent is reached.

But, facing a projected state budget deficit of more than $3 billion, she said, state officials are considering freezing the aid payments at current levels.

“Our district cannot afford to skip EBF’s new money,” Baney said.