Line Mountain forgoes environmental liability insurance

July 10--MANDATA -- The Line Mountain Board of Directors decided Tuesday night to forgo purchasing an environmental liability policy that would have cost the district $7,324.86.

The policy through Admiral Insurance Company would have provided a $1,000,000 limit of insurance with a $10,000 per claim deductible for pollution coverage at the elementary and middle/high school locations, including the underground tank at Line Mountain Elementary.

When presented with the cost, Superintendent David M. Campbell said he felt the cost for the coverage was too high given the low risk posed by the few potential environmental leaks.

The board decided that the only risk remaining of an environmental leak is of the oil tank beneath the Line Mountain Elementary School building, which is used to heat water.

Nathan T. Troutman, insurance broker for Deibeler, Straub and Troutman, Inc., said he thought he should present information regarding environmental leak insurance in light of the fuel oil leak that occurred in February at the former Dalmatia Elementary School, but could not make a recommendation on purchasing.

Campbell said he'd prefer the district spend the money by removing the oil tank and replacing the water heaters with electric or another type of environmentally-friendly energy source.

After the discussion, directors agreed to remove the policy from the addendum.

Directors David Scott Bartholomew and Lawrence Neidig were absent from the meeting.

In other news

Directors approved an agreement with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit pertaining to IDEA funds for the fiscal year 2014-15 at an estimated amount of $174,050, and authorized the superintendent to execute the same for the district, as well as a food service agreement for the Northumberland Area Head Start Program and the Pre-K Counts program.

PlanCon Part J documents for a project accounting based on final costs for the Trevorton Elementary and Line Mountain Junior/Senior High School and district administrative office projects were approved. The documents are one of the steps necessary to receive reimbursement for costs from the commonwealth.

Directors approved a contract with Conrad siegel Actuaries, Harrisburg, to account for and report the cost of post-employment benefits at a cost not to exceed $4,625. The contract will fulfill Government Accounting Standard Board Statement No. 45, which says districts must account for and report the cost of post-employment benefits over the working lifetime of employees.

Directors set admission prices for district sporting events. Varsity events will cost $4 for adults, $2 for students; junior varsity only events will cost $2 for adults, $1 for students; and junior high events will cost $2 for adults and $1 for students. District students may attend extra-curricular activities at no cost with a student identification card. Yearly passes are also available for adults for $50. Senior citizens age 62 or older may obtain a free pass to all events at the high school.

Per game payments for sporting officials for the 2014-15 school year were approved. A complete list of the earnings of officials by sport may be obtained at the district office.

Directors voted to sign a 36-month PowerSupply Coordination Service Agreement with Direct Energy Business, LLC, of Pittsburgh, pending a review from the solicitor. Under the agreement the district will receive electricity at a fixed rate of 6.944 cents.

Directors voted to add 23 additional cameras to the high school. The district will pay $25,987 for the cameras, wiring and associated hardware from IntegraONE, of Allentown, through PEPPM. An additional $2,250 for IP Camera licenses, and $17,280 for 24 man days, totalling 192 hours, to install the equipment will be paid to NRG Controls North Inc., of Selinsgrove. Campbell said the new equipment is necessary to cover blind spots in the current camera system.

Directors approved purchasing a lighted control console, two wireless hand held microphones and two weighted microphone bases from Divine Sound and System, of Milton, at a cost of $7,667.24. Campbell advocated for the purchase of the high quality microphones, and said he wanted graduation to have an excellent sound system so audience members could hear well at the school year's crowning moment.

Directors approved purchasing two folding chair storage carts at a cost of $1,065.78 from Grainger, of Lake Forest, Ill., and two folding table storage carts at a cost of $967.56 from Decker Equipment, Mich.

The following software was approved for purchase or renewal: Paws in Jobland software from Bridges Software, of Culver City, Calif., for the Line Mountain Elementary Guidance Department was approved at a cost of $225 for the period July 31, 2014, to July 31, 2015; VISION Software from NetOp, of Beaverton, OR, at a cost of $800 for the period July 27, 2014, through July 27, 2015; Read Naturally, of St. Paul, Minn., at a cost of $399 for the period July 23, 2014, through July 23, 2014; Numara Track-It Software (Line Mountain HelpDesk Software) from BMC Software, of Tampa, Fla., at a cost of $2,814 for the period July 24, 2014, through July 24, 2015; and SuccessMaker support for the Line Mountain Elementary School from NCS Pearson, of Chicago, at a cost of $1,235 for the period July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015;

Computer parts to be disposed

Directors approved sending approximately 75 laptop computer parts having no value to Keystone Auctioneers, South Williamsport, at no cost to the district. Keystone will dispose of the equipment in accordance with the Pennsylvania State Universal Waste and Regulations and issue a certificate with items and quantities received to the district.

Directors approved renewal of Discovery Channel's Discovery Streaming Licenses from CSIU, of Milton, at a cost of $1,231 for the 2014-15 school year.

A contract for potable toilet rentals with PA Environmental Solutions, Inc., of Dalmatia, will be renewed for July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, at a cost of $50 per unit per month. The administration was authorized to execute the agreement.

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