Whitman received new portables and lights in the auditorium and bathrooms over the summer and also made less obvious upgrades to the school’s main building and fire alarm system.

“The roof, light fixtures and portables were ready on time, but the fire alarm system took longer to install than it should have,” principal Alan Goodwin said. “Before students arrived, there was a fire watch in the building, but the system functions correctly now.”

While these were the only projects over the summer, administration is still looking into getting solar panels after the previous solar company went bankrupt, Goodwin said.

“There’s an interest in partnering with another company, but I’m not sure how soon it’ll happen,” Goodwin said.

Many community members also support the effort to install solar panels.

“The U.S. is the second largest polluter in the world behind China, so everything that will help reduce emissions is good,” junior Katia Goldberg said. “Not everyone in Bethesda realizes it, but we need to start reducing our footprint, and solar panels is a step.”