Susquehanna gets grant for radios

BY TOM FONTANA
Correspondent

Susquehanna Community School District has been awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security to purchase two-way radios.

At a meeting on Wednesday night, Jan. 21, district superintendent Bronson Stone told the school board that the hand-held devices will be distributed to all members of the district’s faculty and staff to use as an emergency communications system.

“Our employees will be able to use their radio to contact each other as well as the police officer on campus,” Stone explained. “They will also be able to be in touch with bus and car contract drivers.”

He added that the $24,750 grant was received through the Pennsylvania Dept. of Homeland Security.

On another security issue, Stone adamantly reiterated his process of deciding whether to initiate a two-hour delay of a school day due to cold temperatures.

“When there is a wind chill advisory, there will not be a delay,” Stone stated. “Negative one degree is negative one degree, and isn’t any colder just because they say the wind chill factor makes it feel like negative four.”

However, he said if there is a wind chill warning and three other districts delay, Susquehanna would probably also delay.

“Some districts delay for cold temperatures to save on heating costs,” he continued, “or because they have a high percentage of students who walk to school, and their districts don’t have bus contracts to honor. But when we delay, we still pay the full amount for a full day, not 70 percent of a day.”

Apparently Stone was responding to complaints about recent decisions not to delay school for low temperatures. “Few people complain about delays,” he remarked, “but many like to cause a confrontation when there isn’t a delay.”

District business manager Mark Gerchman related that an audit of the district by Brian Kelly, CPA, was reviewed with the board. The results indicated that the district has eliminated an $84,000 deficit, and has a fund balance of $6.9 million.

“On March 1, we will pay off all of our bonds and be debt-free,” Gerchman stated, “which will also save the district the 5 percent charge for interest.”

The board agreed to advertise for bids for architect specifications to do “upgrades and repairs” on the crumbling smoke stack tower and a leaning retaining wall on the high school campus.

The following hirings were approved: Jeff Baldwin, varsity boys volleyball coach; Brandon Soden, junior high baseball coach; Teresa Covert, junior high track co-coach; and Gina Baker, junior high softball co-coach.

Kathleen Hinkley, representative for the district’s education association, announced that a Pamper Chef Bingo fundraiser will be held on March 1 for the association’s student scholarship. Local sponsors are being sought to support prizes consisting of Pamper Chef kitchen and cooking products. Details will be advertised.