Shawano School District Completes Energy Efficiency Upgrades Ahead of 2026-27 School Year

Shawano School District completed several energy-efficient upgrades across its four main buildings: high school, middle school, intermediate school, and primary school. Supported by FOCUS ON ENERGY®, these improvements replaced aging mechanical and lighting systems and strengthened overall building performance.

Equipment upgrades included:

• LED lighting.
• High-efficiency boilers.
• Variable frequency drives.
• Modernized air handling units.
• Updated building controls.

Community support made these projects possible after voters approved a capital referendum in November 2024. The district received financial incentives from Focus on Energy for installing the new equipment. The savings from these projects are equivalent to powering 95 homes for an entire year.

Director of Building & Grounds Shawn Mathwich explained these upgrades reflect years of preparation to address aging systems across the district. “Seven years ago, we started developing a long-range facilities plan, gathering information on all our existing equipment to show which systems needed replacement,” Mathwich said.

Early planning defined the 2024 referendum scope and helped the district identify partners who could provide support. “When we began preparing for the referendum, one of our first steps was including Focus on Energy so we could take full advantage of every opportunity,” Mathwich said.

Energy Advisor Sylvia Lopez supported the district through the final stages. She praised the district, saying, “Shawano did something we promote to every school: they brought energy efficiency early into the planning process. This allowed them to choose the right equipment and qualify for eligible financial incentives that deliver savings and a comfortable learning environment for students and staff.”

The projects were completed over the summer, transforming classrooms and mechanical spaces before the school year began. Teachers returning to school shared positive reactions to the improved spaces.

The district plans to reinvest its financial incentives into Fund 46 to support future facility improvements. Fund 46 is a long-term capital improvement trust fund that Wisconsin public school districts use to save money for future maintenance and construction projects. Shawano will continue to follow its 20-year plan, focusing on growing the district’s long-term operational savings.