Secure Energy Solutions was chosen, with Shipman & Goodwin to be the broker for the group. SES has reached out to four or five suppliers for competitive pricing and will secure pricing early next week for the purchase of electricity supply. About 20 to 25 districts have submitted information for participation in this aggregation and will be asked to sign an agreement for final commitment.

The current locked in rate for electricity supply is .11525 cents per kWh, and SES' fee is .0005 cents per kWh, which is a cost of about $1,750 annually for Watertown. Watertown Board of Education uses about 3.5 million kWh annually.

Other options include purchasing electricity directly through CL&P or extending the current contract with Constellation New Energy on an individual basis. The third option was selected for the benefit of budget certainty and purchasing in quantity for the best pricing.

In other Board of Education news, Superintendent Karen Baldwin updated the Board of Education on the school renovation projects.

At Judson School, a final walk through is expected to be done before Christmas break and work is progressing at a pace to close out the project.

Lisa Rommel, the principal at Judson School, prioritized a list of expenditures for the school, with classroom furniture and technology being the top priorities. After verifying dollar amounts with architect Kaestle Boos Associates, the final expenditures will be reviewed by both the BOE and the Public Buildings Committee

At Watertown High School, construction in Area F is nearly complete, and the classroom equipment will be moved in over Christmas break. Asbestos removal in the three-story area of the school, as well as mechanical, electrical and plumbing work, will also begin over Christmas break.

On March 20, the pool area will be given to O&G, the contracting company doing the construction.

"It's in the final phases," said Ms. Baldwin.

At Polk School, the project remains on schedule and the construction areas B and C are almost complete.

A stormwater unit is being installed on the brook side of the property, said Ms. Baldwin, and stormdrains are being installed.

"If the weather cooperates, drainage should be completed in two weeks," Ms. Baldwin said.

In other Board of Education news, Ms. Baldwin also updated the board on the H1N1 influenza virus at Watertown schools.

According to Ms. Baldwin, over the past two weeks there has been a more typical attendance rate at the schools with 3.2 percent absence rate. The absence rate was over 11 percent two weeks ago.

Ms. Baldwin said that the schools are out of the mass transmission stage and are maintaining communication with the Torrington Health Center.

She also stated that while there is no confirmation that once students had the flu they become immune, their immune system could be strengthened and it would not be likely for the student to contract it again.