As the summer weather begins to fade away, local some schools have solar energy, new attendance boundaries and water well projects on their minds -- and on their board meeting agendas.

Below are highlights of this week's local school meetings.

l At the Kit Carson board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, Superintendent John Sousa updated trustees on the water well project. The school district had been trying to install a new well that would serve water that complied with the federally mandated regulations of a maximum arsenic content of 10 parts per billion. California agreed to fund 100 percent of the project cost -- originally estimated at $849,151. But first, the engineers had to drill deep enough to find water that contained less than 10 parts per billion of arsenic.

The engineers drilled 1,250 feet deep, but were unable to find water that met federal regulations. The arsenic concentrations detected in the pilot hole drilled actually increased with depth. The arsenic level at the bottom of the pilot hole was 31 parts per billion. Kit Carson's current drinking water was last reported to contain 38 parts per billion, Sousa said.

Because acceptable water could not be found, Kit Carson district officials met with engineers and state officials in Fresno on Sept. 17 and formally decided to discontinue the project. The state will fund the $300,000 cost of the drilling the pilot hole. The district now has two choices: connect to City of Hanford water or serving bottled water to all students. Sousa said connecting to the City of Hanford's water is the preferred choice.

"Serving bottled water is not a permanent solution and it is an expensive one," Sousa said on Friday.

The Hanford City Council will discuss Kit Carson's request at a study session on Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. Connecting to city water supply would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, Sousa said. But the state would fund the connection, and the city would incur no cost, Sousa added. If the city of Hanford agrees, Kit Carson's connection would be only for drinking water. Water in restrooms and for irrigation would continue to come from the district's existing well.

"There are no easy solutions," Sousa said.

l At the Pioneer Union Elementary School District study session on Tuesday, trustees received information on solar energy alternatives. The district has begun investigating alternative energy sources in order to do its part for the environment, as well reduced energy costs to the district, said district Superintendent Diane Cox. Damon Siva, a consultant from Garland Energy Systems Inc., presented information on Tuesday on types of solar energy systems and management programs to replace traditional sources of power, as well as available financing. Cox said the district board of trustees will have more study sessions and contact other energy providers throughout the school year.

l At the Hanford Joint Union High School District meeting on Wednesday to gather public input on the district board's upcoming decision on attendance boundaries, attendees asked whether a full range of activities and programs would be offered at Sierra Pacific High School, when it opens in fall 2009. The district is continuing to encourage community input on the attendance boundaries through e-mails, calls and visits to the district office at 823 W. Lacey Blvd., as well as at board meetings.

Bill Fishbough, the district superintendent, will present to trustees all input from the community, prior to their decision on setting new attendance boundaries. The decision is expected to be made at the board meeting on Nov. 24. Four potential boundary options have been presented by consultant firm Paoli & Odell Inc.

Some community members have expressed a preference for the fourth of the options, which would send residents of the Kings River-Hardwick Elementary School District who live west of 12th Avenue to Sierra Pacific, instead of Hanford High School. Some residents have also expressed that they do not prefer the third option, which would send students living in the neighborhood bounded by Flint Avenue, Fargo Avenue, 10th Avenue and the railroad, to Hanford High School, instead of Hanford West High School, said district Communications Coordinator Candace McIlroy. All of the boundary options are described at the district Web site at www.hjuhsd.k12.ca.us.

For more information or any questions, contact McIlroy at 583-5901, ext. 3104.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.