Feb 25, 2014 5 min read

MAPLETOWN – Southeastern Greene School Board discussed supporting legislation that would prohibit gas wells from being drilled within a mile of a school in light of the Feb. 11 explosion at Chevron’s Lanco well site, which is about one-half to three-quarters of a mile from the district’s Bobtown Elementary School.

“It’s very important that we take a stand and protect our kids,” said board member Virginia Eberhart, who raised the issue at Monday’s board meeting.

Eberhart, whose home is the closest residence to the well and is about 1,500 feet away, described the experience of the explosion and its aftermath as a “nightmare.”

“I thought a jet airplane had hit the hillside,” she said following the meeting. “It felt as if the house had been lifted on its foundation.” The glow of the fire reflected on her windows and explosions that continued to rock the well for three or four days rattled picture frames on the walls.

Eberhart said a state Department of Environmental Protection official who had visited her home told her the only obligation Chevron had by law was to address any damage the company may cause to a person’s water supply.

“We need to protect our school and now is the time to do it,” she said.

Board member Tom Howard noted if a company damages a person’s property, that person could always sue. District solicitor Tim Berggren agreed the state law on drilling would not prohibit a person from suing for damages.

Eberhart presented a motion to write letters to Gov. Tom Corbett and local elected officials supporting legislation to prohibit drilling within one mile of a school.

Board member Gary Moser said he opposed such a measure, noting it would be difficult to tell a property owner within that area that he couldn’t lease the mineral rights to his land. The district, itself, might want to lease its gas rights for the revenue it would create, he said.

Board President Joe Spiker suggested the board explore the matter further before it takes any action and the board agreed. Eberhart’s motion was defeated in a 5-3 vote, with Eberhart, J.R. Antill and Janet Pennington voting in favor of it. Board member Sam Cossick was absent.

Students were not in danger as a result of the explosion. Superintendent William Henderson said he contacted Chevron following the explosion concerning possible air quality issues and was assured air monitoring was being conducted and there was no danger. Business manager Pat Sweeney said he also had talked to Greene County Emergency Services regarding safety issues the day of the explosion.

In other business, the board received a good audit for the year ending June 30, 2013, from Charles Rupert of the accounting firm Cypher and Cypher. No deficiencies or instances of noncompliance with accounting regulations and procedures were noted in the report.

Rupert indicated the district ended the year with a $1.9 million unassigned fund balance, which represents 19 percent of the district’s total operating budget.

In the last six years the district’s unassigned fund balance has shown “consistency and stability,” which is good, he said. The district, during the year, had added $750,000 to a capital reserve fund and used about $232,000 of its previous fund balance to balance its 2013-14 budget.

The district now has about $1.2 million in a special fund to cover employee post-retirement benefits. Of the 24 districts Cypher audits, Southeastern Greene is only one of four that has put aside money to cover these obligations, Rupert said.

Looking at the district’s finances under a long-term accrual method, the district also is in very good shape, Rupert said.

In response to a question, Rupert noted, however, the district, as all districts, will face challenges in coming years with increased retirement contributions and health insurance costs and decreases in subsidies.

Henderson announced the district has received a $25,000 Safe School grant that will be used for safety education and school safety upgrades. The administration will prepare a plan for using the money and later present it to the board.

The board approved a contract with Edilo to host the district’s website for 2014-15 at a cost of $5,400. The company previously hosted the site is going out of buisiness. Henderson reported the new site should be much easier to use and the URL will remain www.segsd.org.

The board adopted a resolution to refinance the 2004 bonds that were issued to raise money to renovate the Greene County Career and Technology Center. The refinancing, which must be approved by all five county districts, will save the five districts $48,000.

The board approved a field trip for students who wish to participate to the Friendship Hill National Historic Site and an Albert Gallatin High School musical at a costs of $470. The trip is on a Saturday and teachers are participating on their own time. Moser said he believed those who participate in field trips should be required to give a presentation of what they learned on the trip to the board.