Barely a month after approving a budget for the new fiscal year, the Blue Ridge administration is asking its Board to reopen the budget to fund a project to upgrade the district’s optical fiber network to the tune of almost $200,000.
Just prior to the School Board’s July meeting on the 15th, the Technology Committee met to hear from Technology Coordinator Mike Stewart on a plan to beef up the campus “backbone” network by installing newer equipment in preparation for some later enhancements. Mr. Stewart offered bids from 3 companies that would provide up-to-date network switching capabilities, plus another bid to upgrade the core fiber service to the campus. The low bidder for the switching equipment, Northeast Data of Tunkhannock, would install Enterasys equipment. Northeast was also the sole bidder to upgrade the core fiber network. Altogether the project would cost over $180,000.
The question then became how to pay for it, since the budget passed last month was stripped of the proposed expense back in February or March.
Business Manager Loren Small said that the money for the project could be taken from a special “debt service” account that was set up some years ago as a backstop for the heavy debt the district was paying on left over from several projects in the past. He said that account, with a current balance of some $575,000, had never been used; with much of that old debt soon to be retired, there would be less need to maintain the account.
Mr. Small said that the financial legerdemain needed to make this happen would require the Board to reopen the budget. He said that since the state has recently reopened its own budget (adding a pitiful $5,000 or so to Blue Ridge income from state sources), the district could do the same. The cost of the project would be moved from the restricted debt-service account into the general fund’s account for interest on the debt; some of that budget account would then be shifted to fund the new project. “Smoke and mirrors,” it might be said.
Technology Committee chair John Ketchur said that the district would “have to do this [upgrade the network] anyway” sooner or later. Some of the upgrades would be necessary to support a more modern telephone system, as well as an enhanced security system for the campus. Those projects have been before the Board, but are not part of this funding cycle and are not part of this package.
Superintendent Robert McTiernan said that a decision like this could be more reliably supported now that more is known about the state budget, and the district’s financial picture is clearer going into the new fiscal year.
Making it easier for the Board to swallow, the administration – noting that the proposal could be nixed at any step along the way – this evening asked only for authorization to solicit formal bids. Mr. McTiernan and Mr. Small said that at the August meeting the Board would be asked to reopen the budget to make the adjustments required based on the bids received. The modified budget would require a 30-day comment period, so the Board could come to a final decision on the package in September. The administration pledged that the millage would not – could not – be increased when the budget is reopened; the only changes would be shifting funds about within the budget already adopted.
During the Board’s formal session, Mr. McTiernan also asked for permission to consolidate groups of accounts in the budget. This Board had been asking for more detailed accountability and planning so that the administration would not be permitted to spend freely within many of the larger accounts. In fact, during budget deliberations, many of the so-called “contingency” sub-accounts the administration had added were stripped out, the Board concerned about too much “miscellaneous” and “other” spending. That often led to long lists of budget transfers presented to the Board for approval, when money had to be shifted say, from fuel oil to electricity when power bills were higher than expected; just such a transfer was requested this very evening. The administration has said that the detailed account structure and more careful budgeting would eliminate most such lists of transfers in the future.
Consolidating various related sub-accounts into larger categories would avoid this sort of thing, allowing the administration to move funds about as necessary in many cases without explicit Board approval. Mr. McTiernan promised that administrators would keep more detailed spreadsheets of expenditures and transfers for Board examination.
The modest 13-point formal agenda was passed in a lump. Many of the items concerning routine personnel matters, it did include a measure to bump the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion by just under $21, to $7,951. The exclusion saves resident taxpayers on their property tax bills, and is paid for out of state gambling revenue. The increased exemption is reflected in tax bills that have just gone out.
The Board also approved a request to solicit bids for cameras that would be mounted in the buses for added security. Board president Laurie Brown-Bonner said she and the administration are still considering the use of human “monitors” on the buses – perhaps upperclass students – instead of the cameras. The cameras could be outfitted with audio recorders if and when the state legislature allows such a thing.
Ms. Brown-Bonner announced an executive session following the formal meeting for a personnel issue. A more significant executive session is to take place a week or so hence, as the Board meets to consider Mr. McTiernan’s evaluation.
And the Board selected Ms. Brown-Bonner and Board vice-chair Christina Cosmello to vote for Blue Ridge at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) annual shindig in Hershey next October.
The next scheduled meeting of the Blue Ridge School Board will be on Monday, August 5, 2013, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria in the Elementary School. Ms. Brown-Bonner would like to schedule some sort of “team-building” session, but was willing to call it a “goal-setting” session. Mr. McTiernan said that one in-service day at the beginning of the new school year will focus on setting goals for the staff. Perhaps the Board would consider the staff’s goals in defining their own.
The July 18th meetings of both the SCCTC and Elk Lake School districts had moments laden with emotion, as board members reluctantly voted at each meeting to accept the resignation of long time superintendent Dr. William Bush.
Though this reporter missed the first mention of this at the very beginning of the SCCTC meeting, Dr. Bush provided a copy of the letter of retirement he submitted, which thanked the board for the opportunity to pursue a life’s work of educating and working with students. During his career Dr. Bush has served in the capacity of coach, educator, Elementary Principal, and, for the last fifteen years, Superintendent. He wished the board, students, staff, parents, and community members continued success, stating that his thoughts and prayers would be with them.
The retirement was announced a year in advance, and was not to be effective until June 30th of 2014. Board members spoke highly of Dr. Bush, and made and accepted the motion with a reluctance borne of affection and respect.
Dr. Bush explained a Mansfield University project, which was a collaborative effort. Through a long-distance learning unit this could expand offerings.
The substitute list was approved, as was standard at the July meeting. The LPN contract was corrected; with the fee being amended from $36 an hour to $30 an hour.
Bids had been submitted for welding supplies and automotive kits. The welding supplies bid came in at $50,640.53 for 215 items and the automotive kits at $7,077 and change for 102 items. The cost of those kits were picked up either by the students themselves or the community foundation.
The PSBA voting delegate was appointed for the SCCTC, being Ann Teel.
Dr. Bush provided the board with information regarding scholarships. The Community Foundation, which he said had been so supportive and generous with the Career Center and Elk Lake, had received donations for two scholarships. One, in the amount of $200,000, was a permanent endowment which would provide ten $1,000 scholarships per year for career center students. He thanked the family which established the fund.
The Elk Lake School Board meeting opened after the conclusion of the vo-tech meeting, at 7:26 pm. A motion was made to accept Dr. Bush’s resignation from Elk Lake, as it had been accepted from the SCCTC. Mr. Place thanked him. The board again reluctantly accepted the resignation.
Ms. Guiton was in attendance at the meeting, along with representatives from Johnson Controls. The representatives, John Schmid and Nick Sracic, were there to provide a preliminary report, and the district’s options. Mr. Sracic ran the presentation, reviewing the objectives which had been made for the district as voiced by the administration at meetings. The reason Johnson Controls had been engaged, he related, was because the district was looking to take advantage of natural gas. The company was also asked to investigate solutions for the aging infrastructure. All that was being asked of the board after the presentation was a decision regarding whether or not it was a good concept- there would be no commitment of a plan at that point.
Mr. Sracic reviewed Act 39 of 2010, though the name was slightly misleading as 2010 was the date of the latest iteration- the Act itself had been in action for much longer. It allowed companies such as Johnson to engage energy savings to make improvements. The savings paid for the projects. His company guaranteed an outcome, not only a reduction in bills but performance measures.
Mr. Tewksbury asked what would occur if the district didn’t actually convert to gas. Mr. Sracic stated that the company could look into that as well. Dr. Bush asked how the process would look if the hook up to gas was delayed, as how quickly the hookup occurred and when the gas would become available were questions. Mr. Sracic explained that final decisions on the project wouldn’t be made until February or March, with work scheduled to occur in the summer of 2014. He felt he could be optimistic in terms of the natural gas hookup, as the company had worked in other locations with the gas companies to help make it possible. There was the potential for the hookup to even be funded through the project. The had spoken with Leatherstocking which was proposing a $3 surcharge for the next 10 years to cover the cost of the piping. However, if problems were encountered the project could be put on hold until they were worked out.
Clarification was sought regarding the $3 surcharge. It was explained that the charge was on the gas per mmbtu. The detail in the report had this surcharge already factored in. Mr. Emmerich asked if the price would be locked in on a base rate for a certain period of time. Mr. Sracic responded that this was a negotiation which the company would help the districts with as well. He pointed out that when Johnson Controls went out for bids, they were not restricted to accept the lowest bid, were the district unhappy with a particular company.
The company provided the district with a report regarding any of the guaranteed savings, which they could independently verify each year. If the savings were not as promised by Johnson they would issue the district a check. Ms. Guiton stated that the previous contract with Energy Education had ended.
Dr. Bush asked what would happen with the energy provider, as the district was already in a three year contract. Mr. Sracic explained that they didn’t really interrupt energy contracts, though they would help with decision making. The district determined what scope went into a project and what scope did not.
Mr. Emmerich asked for more information on Act 39, the representative explained that it was an enabling legislation. The people Johnson Controls did the most work with were public schools and local governments. The whole idea of the ACT was to help create the funding to pay for improvements, and solve large infrastructure problems by using future energy savings to fund projects. It did so in a way that guaranteed the district was protected, by certifying companies and ensuring guidelines for how those savings were met. It was a national program - a public private partnership.
Avoided future capital was another benefit, Mr. Sracic asserted, due to the ability to be proactive about equipment.
The initial recommendations included: natural gas conversion, steam to hot water conversion, repair or replace of equipment to address ventilation issues, upgrading the secondary control systems, implementation of demand control response, upgrade to the exterior pole lights and wall packs, installation of occupancy sensors, improvement of building insulation and addition of vendmisers and other items.
Those were the initial recommendations. Other infrastructure improvements which could be added included the partial addition of cooling to the second floor of the primary and secondary buildings, variable frequency drives, a pool cover, pc power management, and an educational program (Academy of Energy) to enrich student knowledge.
Mr. Place wished to revisit the $3 surcharge. He asked what the $3 would amount to. The company representative didn’t know off the top of his head, but said that he could provide the information at a later point.
The company was aware of the separation of finances between the SCCTC and the ELSD. The duration of savings figures correlated to technology life cycles- i.e. the savings were not guaranteed longer than the equipment lasted. There were grants and rebates available.
A sample business case was then presented, for demonstration purposes only. Under this sample with the recommended measures, the cost of the project would be $3,706,040 over 20 years. This would be budget neutral though. The savings would be $6,155,769. This led to a net positive of $4,820,340 plus the avoidance of capital needs (over 30 years).
The guaranteed savings would be guaranteed by Johnson Controls over the established term.
A separate set of numbers was given should cooling be added to the second floor areas. This option wouldn’t be budget neutral however, as the budget would increase perhaps about $100,000 in total.
Ms. Guiton pointed out that the actual preliminary report had been given to the board; what he reviewed at the meeting was just a report.
Mr. Guiton thanked the representative for his presentation, and said that he felt they all needed to digest it. Mr. Sracic reiterated that the estimated cost was variable. The board thanked him.
Mrs. Heed asked what the process was regarding the search for another superintendent. It was responded that they had spoken with their solicitor, and it was advised that they begin the search around December or January. This would allow for some overlap while Dr. Bush was still present. Mr. Place said that the Elk Lake School District was unique in that the superintendent had to be familiar not only with 13 grade levels but the career center as well.
Dr. Cuomo, during his administrative report, noted that Austin Cohen had gone to the NFL (Nationals For Forensics) where he finished ninth in the nation. He was the only one who had finished in the top 10 in both national tournaments ever, and was the highest qualifying debater in the state of Pennsylvania in the history of the competition.
Dr. Cuomo then said that he had fully transferred to the elementary.
Mrs. Hammernich had retired it was stated, and three of the local agencies were contacted to replace her in the crisis counselor role. Two had responded with drafts, and the recommendation was made to contract with the Children’s Service Center. The cost would be relatively the same. Mrs. Staats said that they were very agreeable.
The Title 1 funds had not for the last 7 years or so covered the complete costs of the Title 1 services, it was related. District funds had been diverted for that purpose, and this was factored into the current budget as well.
Mrs. Teel asked about a letter to the editor from Representative Major regarding funding allotted to school districts. Dr. Bush related that there was a very slight increase to Elk Lake- other districts had received larger chunks of money but it was estimated that Elk Lake had received in the area of a thousand dollars.
Two SCCTCC project payments were motioned and approved.
It was asked how far the state was behind in payments, and responded that the school hadn’t received anything. Mr. Tewksbury opined that was a lot of money that someone owed them.
Mr. Tewksbury said that five years ago they had adopted a fuel adjustment for contractors. He assumed it was running out in august of that year. He asked if the board was going to act upon that during the meeting. Dr. Bush said that he had it on the agenda for the August meeting. At the August meeting the board would be asked for approval to extend it.
The PSBA voting delegate for Elk Lake was discussed. Mrs. Ives volunteered to go and serve in this capacity.
It was stated in response to a question that the board would be trained in August on Board Docs.
A reporter asked if there was any progress on the massage therapy program- it was responded that a recommendation on this would also be made at the August meeting.
DEEDS
Jerilyn Abbot (aka) Jerilyn Abbott King to Jerilyn Abbott King & Robert W. King, Jr., in Great Bend Borough, for $1.00.
John A. Frederici (by sheriff) to United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in Montrose, for $1,882.33.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc. to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Middletown Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc. to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Jessup Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc. to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Middletown Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc. to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc. to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Silver Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Apolacon & Choconut Twps., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.
Robert H. & Betty E. Hummell to Douglas J. Cooper, in Dimock Twp., for $100,000.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Silver Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Middletown Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.
Fiondi Inc to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Forest Lake Twp. & Middletown Twp., for $1.00.
Mark & Ronald J. Powers to Powers & Powers Family Limited Partnership, in Middletown Twp., for $1.00.
Jacob Adlai Kaplan (trust by trustee) to Jacob A. Kaplan, in Herrick Township, for $1.00.
Stephen L. Anderson to Bucky E. Beaver & Christina I. Cook, in Auburn Twp., for $219,000.00.
Carol W. Saunders to Mark S. Banyas, in Lenox Twp., for $162,000.00.
Ruth M. Mclaud (estate) to Kevin R. & Julie B. Cresswell, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.
Linda R. & John W. Ketchur to Richard F. Naylor Sr., Gloria F. Naylor & Clement W. Naylor Sr., in Hallstead Borough, for $85,000.00.
JGPD Inc. to William J. & Frances Heim, in Auburn Twp., for $900,000.00.
Rosemary A. Wilcox to Mark Wilcox, in Clifford Twp., for $1.00.
Eleanor E. Caterson (estate) to Price & Company LLC, in Montrose, for $60,000.00.
Patricia Delousia (aka) Patricia L. Delousia to Michael J. & Emily S. Hegedus, in Silver Lake Twp., for $1.00.
Paul & Tammy Organisciak to Naomi Stoltzfus, in Bridgewater Twp., for $103,500.00.
Thomas R. & Anne A. Dooley to Thomas R. & Anne A. Dooley (trust), in Jackson Twp., for $1.00.
Gerald R. Thorne, Rose Thorn (aka) Rose M. Thorne to Rose M. & Gerald R. Thorne (trust), in Apolacon Twp., for $1.00.
Lawrence & Donna Holbrook to Rock Ledge Resources LP, in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
Lawrence R. & Donna M. Holbrook to Rock Ledge Resources LP, in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
Summers Living Trust (by trustee) to Daniel Summers, in Choconut Twp., for $1.00.
Eric J. & Mary C. Wheaton to Eric J. Wheaton, in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
David M. Jordan to David M. Jordan, in Franklin Twp., for $1.00.
Doris T. Vancott to Marvin B. & Carlene R. Vancott, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.
Doris T. Vancott to Bonnie L. Vancott, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.
Doris T. Vancott to Andrew J. & Stacey Park, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.
Andrew J. Park (by atty) & Stacey Park to Doris T. Vancott, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.
Doris T. Vancott to William J. Vancott, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.
Charles S. C. Barnes & Beatriz R. Barnes to Curtis L. & Sheri L. Fullom, in Ararat Twp., for $331,000.00.
Lisa F. Johnson, Carol R. Kanuk (estate) & Anthony M. Kanuk to James Lai, in Middletown Twp., for $75,000.00.
Jeffrey Wilkowski & Kathleen Brennan to Jeffrey Wilkowski, in Lenox Twp., for $10.00.
Joseph & Christy Eger to Zana R. Cina, in Susquehanna, for $24,500.00.
Earle G. Gumaer to Samuel Allen Phillips, in Harford Twp., for $1.00.
Anna Stratford Pieniazek (estate aka) Ann Pieniazek (estate) & Maryclaire Bonds to Charles & June Arrowsmith, in Forest City, for $20,000.00.
Charles & June Arrowsmith to Renee M. Kase, in Forest City, for $20,000.00.
W Alan Merz, Suzanne R. Blessing, Carla J. Obannon & Ronald S. Merz to Merz Family Partnership LP, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.
W Alan Merz, Suzanne R. Blessing, Carla J. Obannon & Ronald S. Merz to Merz Family Partnership LP, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.
Paulette C. Banford to Robert Delucia & Paulette C. Banford, in Lenox Twp., for $1.00.
Edward T. & Beverly J. Scott to Edward T. & Beverly J. Scott, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.
Barbara Schlasta to Barbara Schlasta in Gibson Twp., for $1.00.
Jean Loomis to Jeffrey Loomis & Chrisann Loomis Rowe, in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
Charles M. & Regina M. Pierson to John Pierson, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.
Doris Folk (by atty) to Andrew & Joelle Napolitano, in Susquehanna, for $77,000.00.
Earl D. Raub Jr. & Lori Ann Raub to ZLZ Farm Resources LP, in Liberty Twp., for $1.00.
Earl D. Raub Jr. & Lori Ann Raub to ZLZ Farm Resources LP, in Liberty Twp., for $1.00.
Joel D. & Kellie M. Trotter to Bradley R. & Desiree J. Stone, in Clifford Twp., for $166,000.00.
Fannie Mae (aka by poa) Federal National Mortgage Association (by poa) to Joseph Mastropole, in Forest City, for $11,500.00.
Sharon M. Anthony to Sharon M. Anthony & Anthony Living Trust, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.
Norman W. Millard (estate aka) Norman William Millard (estate) to Dennis S. & Denise Millard, in Bridgewater Twp., for $116,960.26.
James G. Bralla (trust by trustee) & Martha Jane Ballard to Andrew R. & Tracy L. Whitehead, in Jackson Twp., for $550,000.00.
Edmund Urbas (estate) & Carl Urbas Jr. to Joseph Winans, in Forest City, for $74,000.00.
Andrew & Sophie Onufrak (trust by trustee) to Sonia O. Jennings, in Gibson Twp., for $1.00.
Theresa H. Voige to Valerie A. Voige & Marianne P. Meyer, in Jessup Township & Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
Dennis O. Overfield to Dennis O. Overfield (trust), in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.
Michael & Diane Laytos to Ryan M. Traver, in Springville Twp., for $117,000.00.
Bank of New York Mellon to Bear Creek Properties, in Bridgewater Twp., for $100,100.00.
Clara R. Ward (by atty) to Ronald & Amy Natterer, in Brooklyn Twp., for $1.00.
Charlotte Ann Mason (estate aka) Charlotte Mason (estate) & Eldercare Solutions Inc. to Blake A. & Andrew J. Kelly, in Apolacon Twp., for $37,900.00.
Ruth Y. Casterline to Nathan R. Coleman, in Little Meadows Borough, for $151,410.00.
Lura & Anthony J. Colinet to Francis & Mandy S. Marshall, in Dimock Twp., for $169,500.00.
Keith R. & Sandra J. Lord to Gerald & Sandra Neild, in Liberty Twp., for $169,000.00.
Mark C. McCarey to Deborah A. & Burton E. Miller, in Springville Twp., for $45,000.00.
BENCH WARRANTS
The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 00:00 a.m. on July 12, 2013: Thomas D. Earley, Jesse J Fenton, David J. Fischer, Douglas R. Heath, James Karhnak, Kay L. Knolles, Whade A. Koch, Jean M. Larson, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Frank T. Perera II, Mary Perschau, Bruce A. Schurr, Desiree L. Shifler, David J. Shiner, Eric J. Snell, Earl H. Thompson, Jr, Steven G. Warner, Roger D. Williams, Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.
BENCH WARRANTS
The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 10:15 a.m. on July 19, 2013: Allen S. Bowman, Thomas D. Earley, Jesse J Fenton, David J. Fischer, Douglas R. Heath, James Karhnak, Kay L. Knolles, Whade A. Koch, Jean M. Larson, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Lawrence M. McGuire, Andrew J. Muscarelle, Frank T. Perera II, Mary Perschau, Bruce A. Schurr, Desiree L. Shifler, David J. Shiner, Eric J. Snell, Ronald J. Traver, Steven G. Warner, Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.
