EL to have gas by new year

BY PAT FARNELLI
Times Shamrock Correspondent

Elk Lake School District and the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center should both be powered by natural gas by New Years Day, judging by the pipeline work underway on both sides of the campus, said the district superintendent at the board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Dr. Ken Cuomo said that the gas lines are being installed along the back parking lot, and are being installed in both directions on the Elk Lake School Road an others near the school.

Work is also underway at the Church Compressor Station, the source of the gas supply, and at Cuomo’s property, traversed by an easement which will allow the gas line to be provided to the school properties.
The school boards for both schools had their reorganization meetings, and everything remained much the same.

Anne Teel was re-elected as president of the SCCTC, and Arden Tewksbury as vice president.

The Elk Lake School District’s Comprehensive Plan was approved for the next three years, and will be available for public view at the administration office.

Two visitors attended the meeting to present grant awards from the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. Ellen Holdridge and Bob McNamara presented two awards, one to Lori Woolcock and another to Will Squier, who was not able to attend.

“I’d like to thank Mrs. Woolcock for her endless pursuit of funding for science,” Cuomo said.

McNamara said that the funds will be used for hands on science materials and activities, and are paid for by a grant that was created to make activities possible that might not otherwise be possible.

Alice Davis, administrative director for the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, accepted Squier’s award, and said that it will be used for “soft skills” and helping students get ready for job applications and interviews.

The SCCTC’s three year comprehensive plan was approved by the school board, and a copy will be available for public view in the career center office.

A check was received from the Community Association of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties for $30,000 for the career center students.

A letter of thanks was received from the Hospice of the Sacred Heart. The Food Management students baked 150 loaves of bread for a memorial dinner for patients, served to families and staff.

A letter of resignation was received from Kathy Koopman, which was accepted with regret.

This year, the Cosmetology program provided haircuts for many veterans during the week of Veterans Day, and a letter was received thanking the SCCTC students for their cards, gift certificates, and services. The letter also expressed gratitude for the Veteran’s Day observance at the high school.

One audience member reminded the board that she has asked at a previous meeting about the number of students being taught in Mrs. Smith’s classroom at the SCCTC. Anne Teel said that she had emailed another board member about getting the answer to the question, and apologized that they did not have an answer ready.

The Skills USA competition was recently held, and 65 students from the SCCTC competed. Of these, 46 medaled, and 30 received first place and will be going on to state competition, Davis said.

The House Project is coming along as planned, and students are working on installing flooring and studs, often while code inspectors are present, reviewing the requirements they would have to comply with on a job site as a contractor or laborer.