ORWIGSBURG - The ongoing situation on the fate of Blue Mountain Elementary Cressona was discussed again during the Blue Mountain school board meeting Thursday at the high school.
Superintendent Robert Urzillo said he prepared a survey "to get some input from the public" and would allow the board members to look at it and make changes if needed.
"Feel free to edit this," he said.
He said the survey could be put on the district website.
Urzillo did not release a copy of the survey but said it could include a recap of information from the Nov. 18 public hearing about the possible closure of the school.
The school board has not made a decision to close the school. A public hearing was required by state law before any possible shuttering of the school. The district must wait 90 days from the date of the hearing before rendering a decision. It would not be closed this school year.
The district is considering closing the school to save money. In the first year, closing the school could save the district about $216,792, according to information from the district. However, that number could be less depending on other factors, such as labor costs to outfit rooms into classrooms if the possible realignment of elementary students takes place.
Currently, fourth- and fifth-grade students attend the school.
Depending on where elementary students live, they could attend another school. As it stands now, children in kindergarten through fifth grade who live east of Route 61 in Mount Carbon, the Gordon Nagle Trail, Seiders Hill and Cressona would attend Blue Mountain Elementary East in Orwigsburg, and students who currently attend Blue Mountain Elementary West in Friedensburg who don't live in those areas would stay in that school.
School officials said they faced more than a $1 million deficit going into the 2014-15 academic year.
A task force which formed earlier this year did not make a recommendation about the closure because they said they did not have enough information. School board officials said even if they decided to close the school, they still need savings elsewhere in the future because of increasing costs, such as pension contributions.
In other business, the board authorized a resolution needed for the refinancing of General Obligation Bonds, Series AA to save money. The refinanced bonds amount to $4,565,000. The district could save $90,000 after expenses because of the move.
The board approved the transfer of Rick Wanamaker, assistant director of facilities, from the non-union support staff to the Act 93 administrative personnel at the salary of $49,900 plus benefits as of Jan. 1.
The board also accepted a program grant from Jack Rich Corp. for "Interactive Learning Through Technology" and for smart classroom equipment totalling $7,065.04 for the district.
A $37,119.71 bid for the replacement of the Combi ovens in the middle school was awarded to Singer Equipment, Reading. Two other bids were rejected because they did not meet specifications.
The board also authorized the administration to enter into a lease agreement with First Choice Systems and Solutions Inc. for the replacement of the district mailing system at a quote of $244.00 per month.
