web1_TTL102017Soccer3.jpg

Boys Soccer: Crestwood edges Dallas to take WVC Division 1 title

web1_Northwest.jpg

Ranger Foundation presents grants to Northwest Area teachers

<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; The Crestwood School Board decided Thursday to refinance more of its debt by accepting a proposal from First Keystone Community Bank for a tax-anticipation loan at an interest rate of 2.59 percent.</p><p>Bill Jones, board chairman, said the district is refinancing $950,000 for the stated purpose of construction and renovation projects. Jones contended that a tax loan is substantially less costly to finance in comparison to bond costs.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s going to save us money in the long run,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The action on the loan comes on the heels of another transaction in September when the board voted to refinance $950,000 through a bond issue.</p><p>The board also celebrated the completion of a major renovation project by conducting its meeting in the newly refurbished high school auditorium. At the outset, Joseph Gorham, superintendent, commended the work performed in bringing the facility up to what he called: &#8220;A much nicer and brighter environment for our students.&#8221; The project entailed new seating and flooring; wall resurfacing; and the installation of a technology-friendly sound system.</p><p>During public comment, Gorham and the school board came under verbal attack from a Mountain Top resident, Rich Shott, who contended a report was being kept under wraps because of its critical assessments of school buildings and the possible need to construct a new school at considerable expense.</p><p>Shott was also critical of directors for giving Gorham a two-year extension on his contract.</p><p>As far as the Hunt report is concerned, Gorham said what has been presented to the district thus far is &#8220;too general and school officials are awaiting a more prioritized report.&#8221; Hunt is an architectural and engineering firm with offices in Towanda which was contracted in April by Crestwood to survey the structural and physical state of the district&#8217;s facilities.</p><p>A preliminary report on Hunt&#8217;s findings was issued in August. But Gorham, as well as school director Ron Sturgeon of the building and grounds committee, have stated there are still major elements that need to be more clearly defined.</p><p>In other business Thursday:<div>&#8226; The board approved the creation of an early college scholarship fund at the First National Bank.</div><div>&#8226; The board accepted an extension of the police contract with Wright Township to include 2016-17 and 2017-18 at a cost of $31,200.</div></p><p>&#8226; Directors awarded a $1,011 contract to Albright&#8217;s Glen Summit Floral Company to install clay brick material on the pitching mound and around home plate at the high school baseball field.</p><p>&#8226; The board ratified coaching assignments in wrestling, including Darren Testa ($7,036) as head coach and Paul Ashton ($4,000) and Roger Legg ($4,000) as varsity assistants.</p><p>&#8226; On a 6-1 vote, the board approved Raelene Macking as head teacher at the Fairview School.<div> &#8226; The board awarded custodial/maintenance jobs to George Learn and Frank Ciavarella. </div><div> </div></p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Crestwood.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Crestwood.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Crestwood refinances again for construction work