CATAWISSA - Southern Columbia Area Superintendent Paul Caputo reported to the board Monday night that the administration is revising their advertisement policies following two recent meetings at which some board members said it was a waste of money to advertise in local newspapers.
The district spent $8,120 from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, in The News-Item and The (Bloomsburg) Press Enterprise.
Caputo said the district will continue advertising for certain things such as high-profile vacant positions, but may seek other means for other positions, such as assistant coach, or fill the spot with an in-house applicant if there is one interested.
In accordance with a state Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) waiver, the board is permitted to advertise on their website, but has still been advertising in print media.
Caputo noted the district will use social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to advertise also.
The issue was brought up last week when board vice president Charlie Porter learned the vacant position for head girls track coach was not advertised in local newspapers after Tom Donlan resigned.
The board unanimously approved Kristen Diehl Monday night as the head coach at a salary of $3,500 for the 2012-13 school year. She had previously been a volunteer assistant coach.
High school principal James Becker said they advertised for a similar position last year in the newspapers, but there were no interested applicants.
New water pump
The board also approved a labor contract Monday night for more than $18,000 to install a new water pump system intended improve the water system in the middle and high school.
The bid was awarded to Yannuzzi Inc., of Hazleton, at a cost of $18,277, while the Grundfos Hydro pump system with a controller and expansion tank was approved last month at a cost of $25,356 from Ram Industrial Services.
Business Manager Michael Sokoloski said the price includes copper pipes, electrical work and labor in order to make the system live.
The two current pumps have been working at full capacity to service the district building and the new additions, he said.
Tim George, supervisor of buildings and grounds, previously explained the system was holding up, but if one of the pumps were to break, the second pump could not handle the whole system.
Sokoloski said the issue was overlooked during the construction project, and the district is waiting to see who is responsible for the oversight.
Bognet Inc., of Hazleton, also bid on the project at a cost of $35,333.