Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is possible..
Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is possible.
Updated: October 9, 2026 @ 11:07 pm
This school year, the Plainview Bears have been ranked first in the state in both football and volleyball. Wednesday, Plainview achieved another ranking of first, this one for an accomplishment that will have an impact for years to come.
Representatives from the school, the DeKalb County School System, and Schneider Electric were on hand at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum late Wednesday morning to celebrate the completion of a project installing solar panels on the roof of the school. According to Superintendent Wayne Lyles and others present, with the installation of these solar panels, Plainview became the first school in the state of Alabama to have a grant-funded solar energy system installed on campus. Officials added that 771 panels were installed to generate electrical power for the school.
“This is an exciting day for us,” Lyles said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without Schneider Electric.”
Since the partnership between the DeKalb County School System and Schneider Electric began in 2018, there have been a wide range of projects the two have taken on and completed, according to Todd Smith with Schneider. The first project involved increasing security at school campuses throughout the county, with further work done to improve the HVAC systems across the county school system, among other projects. When it came to the solar panel project, Smith said Plainview was seen as the most optimal location in the county for the effort, while the company took on the work to obtain grants that would finance the project. With this project having been completed, Smith said he hoped that this effort became infectious, and that other schools across Alabama would pursue projects like this moving forward.
One major aspect of the project is the cost savings realized by having these panels installed at Plainview and generating electricity for the school. Lyles explained that, on average, the power bill for the Plainview campus totals approximately $15,000, with the central office taking care of paying the bill, as it does for all of the county schools. With the panels in place, he estimated this would cut energy costs by around 46 percent, or roughly $7,000 per month. This money could then be invested and dedicated to other needs throughout the school system.
Joining in the celebration were State Senator Steve Livingston and State Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter. Ledbetter said that, as a graduate of Plainview, this effort was meaningful to him in many ways, then expressed his deep appreciation for Lyles and the rest of the DeKalb County Board of Education. As the school system had to provide a certain amount of matching funds when the grant was received, and the central office chose to use some of its Advancement and Technology (A&T) money for this, Ledbetter said how beneficial this fund has been. He was proud to say that, over the past two years, the state legislature had approved more than $2 billion for the A&T fund.
“DeKalb County is on the map like never before,” Ledbetter said.
Livingston added how exiting it was for him to hear about all of the work that had been accomplished through this partnership, declaring this project to be part of the energy solution.
“This is a remarkable, monumental day,” he added.
At the conclusion of the celebration, Lyles and Smith were joined by Ledbetter, Livingston, members of the DeKalb County Board of Education, and representatives from Schneider Electric in front of the coliseum to flip a giant light switch, signaling the start of electrical energy generated by the solar panels at Plainview powering the school and the great deal of education taking place inside.
“To be a leader in our area and using clean energy, it’s a good feeling,” Lyles said after the ceremony concluded. “To be a good superintendent, you have to be a good steward, and this helps us do this.”
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Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is possible.
Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is possible.
Rain likely. High 67F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Chance of Rain: 100%
Sunrise: 06:43:50 AM
Sunset: 06:16:10 PM
Humidity: 92%
Wind: ENE @ 19 mph
UV Index: 0 Low
Periods of rain. Rain may be heavy late. Low 59F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Localized flooding is possible.
Chance of Rain: 99%
Sunrise: 06:44:37 AM
Sunset: 06:14:50 PM
Humidity: 95%
Wind: E @ 18 mph
UV Index: 3 Moderate
Rain likely. Low 59F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Chance of Rain: 44%
Sunrise: 06:45:24 AM
Sunset: 06:13:31 PM
Humidity: 91%
Wind: W @ 12 mph
UV Index: 4 Moderate
Mostly clear. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.
Chance of Rain: 8%
Sunrise: 06:46:11 AM
Sunset: 06:12:13 PM
Humidity: 66%
Wind: NW @ 8 mph
UV Index: 6 High
Clear skies. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
Chance of Rain: 7%
Sunrise: 06:46:59 AM
Sunset: 06:10:55 PM
Humidity: 62%
Wind: WNW @ 8 mph
UV Index: 6 High
Clear skies. Low 61F. Winds light and variable.
Chance of Rain: 6%
Sunrise: 06:47:47 AM
Sunset: 06:09:38 PM
Humidity: 65%
Wind: NW @ 7 mph
UV Index: 6 High
A mostly clear sky. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.
Chance of Rain: 20%
Sunrise: 06:48:35 AM
Sunset: 06:08:22 PM
Humidity: 67%
Wind: SW @ 7 mph
UV Index: 6 High
Partly cloudy. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable.
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