An analysis of alternative strategies for energy cost management in Tennessee public schools

Energy problems have created state and national searches for information and possible solutions; however, in Tennessee little progress has been made toward addressing the energy management needs of local school systems. The objectives of this study were to determine what school and community services may have been cut back because of the rising cost of energy, ascertain the desirability of a state income tax as a possible alternative for public school financing for energy costs, to describe possible alternative futures for public schools to employ cost avoidance strategies, and to assess the relationship between energy and instruction.

Data were collected from a questionnaire sent to 147 public school superintendents in Tennessee designed to report attitudes of district level administrators toward energy consumption costs. In addition, data were collected from 147 school districts at the State Department of Education, Nashville, Tennessee, representing expenditures for instruction and energy from 1977-78 through 1980-81.

A review of the literature revealed that energy problems of the late 1970's and early 1980's were not an insurmountable crisis, but a new management challenge. world was not running out of energy.

The Major findings related to the questions of this study were:

1. Energy cost had not influenced changes in school activities.

2. A state income tax did not have the support of a significant majority of respondents to finance rising energy costs.

3. Higher energy costs could be contained by developing and implementing status and control level energy management plans.

4. Instruction expenditures were not increasing as much as budget items for energy or maintenance.