EL gets new web host

BY PAT FARNELLI
Times-Shamrock Correspondent

The Elk Lake School Board approved a service agreement for a new Internet web host Thursday, which will include student e-mail accounts starting next school year.

The cost for the SharpSchool web service will be $4,565.63, and 750 student e-mail accounts will be included.

Energy savings coordinator Kim Guiton and maintenance director Kevin Jones gave a presentation on the new building automation controls system for the Energy Savings Program developed for the school district by Johnson Controls.

The alarms in the classrooms were disabled briefly for the presentation. Guiton explained that the alarms are reported to school officials via the computer, and for serious alarms, they get text alerts on their cell phones. Most fixes can be made from their homes via the system, instead of requiring Jones to drive to the school to shut off or repair part of the heating system.

A demonstration was made using the automated system. Troubleshooting can be done from another location. If a teacher calls the maintenance director to complain that a classroom is too hot or cold, the system can correct the temperature without having a staff member walk to the room, check the univents or thermostat, the valves or dampers, or the air compressor in the basement.

The new system had been operating for 11 days, and so far, the only glitch has been a few sticking valves, due to particulates in the water. New bypass filters should enable the system to be cleaned without shutting down the heat, Guiton said.

The hot water heating system is 10-15 percent more efficient in fuel utilization than the previous steam heat system, which had heavy heat transfer losses.
Last year, $338,000 was spent by Elk Lake for fuel oil, not counting that used by the Career Center buildings. This year, $138,000 was spent on fuel oil.
Estimated fuel savings is $60,000 for this year, with $109,000 savings projected for next year.

The board approved a settlement agreement and release for a lawsuit by a special education student. The agreement included $10,000 in compensatory education plus $5,000 in attorneys’ fees.

The board voted to give permission to sell a John Deere diesel generator, now that the move to natural gas heating has been completed. Bids will be accepted,and the item will be advertised.

The board approved an annual agreement with WVIA-TV for various programs which the Elk Lake schools participate in, including Scholastic Bowl, and Artist of the Week.

A PTO donation for music books for teacher Ryan Barry’s classroom was accepted by the board with gratitude. $1,000 was donated by the PTO, and $1,200 was donated by the Community Foundation.

A car/van contract was approved for revision, as there is a new student going to New Milford, and a change in placement for another student.

LAN technology/computer wiring needs to be upgraded throughout the district buildings. The board approved advertising for bids for this service.

A bid for re-roofing was on the agenda, but because of an error on the bid specifications regarding prevailing wage, the specifications will have to be re-advertised for bidding with the correct numbers, Superintendent Ken Cuomo said.

Several policies were approved for revisions, all of which were recommended in the Pennsylvania School Boards Association updates.

About 10 coaches were approved for extended season pay.

There was some discussion about the school district’s gas wells and royalty payments. One well on school property may need some flushing out and maintenance, it was noted.

Several positions will be posted for the Post Title 1 Summer Program, for summer tutoring.

A special education contract was approved with the NEIU for special services to Elk Lake students, including speech, vision, and other therapy.

Elementary principal Mark Weisgold reported that kindergarten registration is now going on, and so far, 80 students have pre-registered.

He also noted that 10 elementary teachers were recognized for promoting a “culture of good” in the school. These teachers were chosen after students voted for “Teachers that Rock.” They were each rewarded with boxes of classroom materials.

Donations continue for the elementary school science lab. Williams Oil donated $15,000 recently for this project.

Weisgold said that the elementary office served popcorn to the entire elementary school, including students, teachers, and staff.

During the correspondence section of the agenda, a letter of resignation was received for the purpose of retirement from Kelly Morahan, high school history teacher, which was approved with regret later in the meeting. The board also approved a maternity leave request.

During the first visitor comment section, Jeannie Jayne said that the recent Student Council sponsored hypnosis show was “hysterical, a good time with a lot of laughter.”