Mar 16, 2015 3 min read

JEFFERSON – Jefferson-Morgan School Board approved a resolution Monday authorizing the issuance of bonds to raise money for proposed renovations to the middle-senior high school.

The board approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $8 million for a renovation project that will include replacing sections of the roof and upgrading the electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning systems.

The board last month estimated the bond issue at $5.2 million. Board member Cindy Jento, chairwoman of the board finance committee, said Monday the final issuance is expected to be in that ballpark.

The larger bond amount was used in the motion, she explained, because some of the information needed to set the actual bond amount, including the interest rates, was not nailed down in time for the board’s vote.

The board earlier agreed to earmark a certain millage toward payments on the bond issue. Lower interest rates will allow the district to borrow more by issuing more bonds.

Jento said, however, the district will not exceed the 0.55 mill in new money the board said last month would be needed to pay the annual bond payments.

The board last year also dedicated 1.07 mills toward the project. The additional 0.55 mill that will be earmarked this year will make the total millage dedicated to the bond payments at 1.62 mills.

The district bond counsel, Chris Brewer of Dinsmore and Shohl LLP, and financial advisor, Jamie Doyle of The PFM Group, both said it was a good time to raise money in the bond market.

Interest rates on bonds in January were almost at a 50-year low, Brewer said. Rates since increased slightly. However, Doyle said, they remain “well below historic averages.”

Jento also noted the district received a Grade A bond rating, which is excellent and was attributed to the district’s stability as well as its sound financial management.

In other business, the board approved the district’s participation in high school early admissions programs offered by both California University and Westmoreland County Community College.

The programs provide students in grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to take college courses at a reduced tuition rate while still in high school.

The board voted to purchase two 70-inch Sharp Aquos Boards, with stands and Bluetooth keyboards at $16,970. Technology supervisor Jacob Shingle said the boards are similar to large touchscreen computers.

The district’s rural school grant will pick up $15,146 of the costs; the remainder will come from the technology budget.

Board member John Shaffer said the district started Facebook and Twitter accounts, which can both be found @jmsdrockets. The district also has an email account: jmsdrockets@jmsd.org.

The board approved coaches for boys basketball Dennis Garrett, head coach, and Brandon Robinson, Sean Lohrer and Ryan Jeffries, assistant coaches.

It also approved girls basketball coaches: Christopher Niemiec, head coach, and Ashley Phillips, assistant coach; and cheerleading coaches: Natalie Greenlee, head coach; Hayley Finley, assistant coach, and Rachel Greenlee and Stephanie Policz, volunteers.

Kaitlyn Cole was approved as an assistant girls softball coach. The board also accepted the resignation of assistant girls softball coach W. Robert Willis.