The Allendale Board of Education passed its budget at the March 25 meeting with a $14.09 million tax levy, a $276,355 increase over last year's budget. That will result in approximately $127 more for the average assessed home, valued at $618,093.

The state aid will remain the same as last year at a little more than $300,000. The proposed tax levy is $14,094,129, which is a 2 percent increase from last year's approximately $13.8 million.

The appropriations for the 2013-2014 school year are (in approximate figures): instruction (43 percent) at $7.14 million; employee benefits (16 percent) at $2.72 million; plant operations (12 percent) at $2.01 million; instructional support services (11 percent) at $1.8 million; capital overlay (8 percent) at $1.27 million; central administration and technology (6 percent) at $976,341; school administration (3 percent) at $489,889; and student activities (1 percent) at $95,088.

The budget goals for the next school year are similar to last year in that the board is looking to maintain fiscal responsibility, get input from the board committees, maximize efficiency in the district's operations and maintain the district's culture of a "tradition of educational excellence."

Officials said that there will be no cuts in curriculum, academic programs, co-curricular activities or staffing in the proposed budget. An IT technician will be added and the recommended class sizes are expected to be maintained.

The district's focus will be in its Student Management System, a software application to manage data; PARCC (Partnership for Assessment and Readiness for College and Career), the new state assessments for students in English and math; EE4NJ (Excellent Educators for New Jersey), the new teacher evaluation assessment; and Renaissance Learning, a program to transition to the Common Core Standards. The curricular focus will be in language arts, middle school math program, Common Core Standards, professional development and the media center/technology/classrooms all centered around the framework of PARCC.

For language arts, the district's focus is in renaissance learning, professional development, supporting materials, like nonfiction resources and writer's notebooks, as well as on-demand writing assignments, among others.

Language arts have come under scrutiny in the last few years, as state assessment tests show areas in need of improvement, and have tasked districts to improve test scores. Part of the new curriculum includes students bringing in their own experiences to connect to a story more open-ended focus instead of question-answer format.

Global skills and technology will include laptops, desktops, upgrading the website and BYOD (bring your own device) environment at the middle school level.

Technology is coming up at its end of life, school officials said, which will require replacing of equipment, and as technology has become a more integral part of students' lives, so too has it become a part of the educational culture. Officials adopted policies outlining use of technology in September, such as electronic readers and computer devices, to have limited accessibility to the Internet during school hours, for educational purposes.

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Allendale's school budget spells $127 increase for average homeowner

Texas weather might be unpredictable, but you can be sure of one thing: It's about to get hot, and soon. Like most Texans, I depend on my air conditioner to make it through the summer without losing my cool.

With soaring temperatures just around the corner, it's a great time to schedule an AC tune-up to make sure your air conditioner works all summer long. Keeping your AC in good working order can also save you money.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, heating and cooling a home costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year -- nearly half the home's total energy bill. Without proper maintenance, ACs have to work harder and use more electricity. Additionally, a tune-up can detect problems before they escalate, such as a build of dust and debris.

If you decide to get an AC tune-up, picking the right contractor can also save money and trouble. In 2012, your local Better Business Bureau received 189 complaints against air conditioning & heating contractors. Most complaints alleged over-billing and unethical business practices, such as contractors making misleading or false claims about the price of their services.

Before you get your AC checked, BBB has these tips to help you find a trustworthy contractor:

- Consult your owner's manual. Before doing anything, check the warranty on your current air conditioning unit to determine whether any tune-ups, repairs or replacements may be covered.

- Research the company. Visit bbb.org for the Business Review of any AC service company you plan to hire to learn details about the company, like its history of complaints.

- Check licensing. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires a license for HVAC technicians and electricians. Ask to see a copy of the license before work starts.

- Compare prices. Get at least three estimates in writing. All bids should provide a full description of the services provided and the materials used.

- Review warranty coverage. If the company offers any type of warranty or guarantee, make certain you understand the terms and conditions of the coverage.

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Don't sweat the summer heat! Get your AC serviced early

The venerable Missoula County Courthouse has been a mess for months now.

Entire rooms are walled off by plastic sheeting, dust coats the floors and the sound of jackhammers fills the air.

Thats about to change.

Although the entire courthouse renovation will take at least three more years, the county will unveil the shiny new first-floor offices in the courthouse annex as of May 1 or thereabouts.

That means people renewing vehicle registrations, conducting land transactions or asking questions about voter registration wont have to traipse past construction zones looking for those offices, or await service in makeshift temporary quarters.

The staff and the public have been very patient, said Missoula County Commissioner Jean Curtiss. So have judges, whose solemn court proceedings often are interrupted by banging and drilling, said Dale Bickell, the countys chief administrative officer.

Our treasurers staff says theyve named 17 different construction noises, Bickell said.

For the next few weeks, people using the courthouse annex can peek through previously sealed-off doorways and watch the new Motor Vehicle Division, Clerk and Recorders Office, Elections Office and Treasurers Office take shape.

Those are among the busiest in the courthouse. Theyll be on the first floor of the annex, to the north of the original courthouse easy in, easy out.

These offices as well as the rest of the courthouse and annex, once renovations are complete will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Paul Filicetti of A&E Architects, the projects architect. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification also is being sought, he said. Among other things, although the renovated courthouse will have more plumbing fixtures than before, it will use less water, he said.

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Missoula County Courthouse to unveil first-floor renovations

The City of Jacksonville Thursday released its CAPER report, which stands for Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for calendar year 2012.

The 27-page report details how the city performed in helping do what it can to assist low and modern income citizens with fair housing opportunities.

As part of its mission, the city continues to strive to meet the goals of homeowners, homebuyers, public service and neighborhood revitalization, states the report. 2012 presented many challenges and barriers; however, the end results were very rewarding. Despite the challenges, the city maintained its course to meet the goals and programs stemmed from the priority needs identified in the citys five-year consolidated plan covering 2011-15.

The report indicates that the citys efforts and expenditures of funds in 2011 were consistent in meeting its priority needs and with objectives outlined for U.S. Housing and Urban Development activities.

From Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2012, Jacksonville received $211,778 in Community Development Block Grant funds; and approximately $11,845 in loan accounts receivable.

The city was approved in November 2011 for Phase I and Phase II projects through the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) Home Program, states the report. We started the first project in March 2012. We started the process for two new applications in March 2012 with plans of submitting by year-end. As of late January 2013, we are back on track and hoe to finalize the application by year end or sooner.

The report indicates that the Jacksonville Care Channel is the citys clearinghouse for homeless of families needing temporary shelter and/or food, clothing or medicine.

The city provided CDBG funds for the agencys program in the amount of $6,000, states the report.

Plans were underway for the required Point in Time Count which took place in January.

The count is a HUD requirement of all continuum and done every other year, according to the report. The city of Jacksonville was in charge of getting the goodie bags again this count.

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Jacksonville releases CAPER report for 2012

Ongoing construction projects throughout the district will push the first day of school this year to Sept. 10 and eliminate a February break for a second consecutive year, school officials announced March 11.

The 2013-2014 tentative calendar, though slightly shortened, will mirror that of the current school year to allow for a summer of repairs and renovations in School No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, Lewis F. Cole Middle School and Fort Lee High School.

School No. 1 is scheduled for a round of window replacements, as is School No. 3 and the high school, though the latter still needs an affordable contractor to go forward. School No. 3 will also see additional repair work on its roof, which partially tore open during Hurricane Sandy.

The high school is in for a number of renovations to its auditorium and gymnasium as well as the start of a two-phase effort to bring in eight state-of-the-art science labs. Half the labs should be available for student use by the beginning of the school year, said Business Administrator Cheryl Balletto.

Crews working on School No. 4 will outfit the building with a new roof and lay the electrical foundation for a major overhaul of its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system next year. Phase one of the project, to be completed this summer, will install air conditioning in the schools all-purpose room.

Limited classroom space and rising enrollment numbers are driving the construction work at the middle school, which in two years time, will take on the shape of an "O" rather than a "U."

The district plans to fill in the buildings front parking lot with a brand new addition that will hold the schools main offices, a new media center, several new classrooms, a nurses office and a faculty lounge. Parts of the old building will be converted into even more classrooms as a result of the freed up space.

The projects are part of a $30 million effort approved by referendum last year to rehabilitate the districts ailing infrastructure.

Last summer, crews completed masonry repairs at Schools No. 3 and 4, replaced boilers at the middle school, mended pillars at the high school and converted the districts former central offices into a brand new wing for kindergarteners and special education students at School No. 1.

Repairs next summer will include the conclusion of HVAC work on School No. 4, the construction of four more science labs for the high school and the completion of the middle schools new addition, said Balletto.

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Ongoing construction in Fort Lee schools to delay opening again in September

By Matthew Ferreira

March 28, 2013 11:16 AM

MIDDLEBORO As the Capital Planning Committee continues its evaluation of the FY14 Capital Needs and Expenditure Plan, town manager and committee member Charles Cristello has contacted the School Department's director of business and finance Kathy Piatelli by email to begin dialogues toward streamlining their $1.8 million set of requests for FY14. Her replies were reviewed and discussed by committee members at their meeting last week. The committee is considering recommending about $900,000 worth of capital projects for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The committee's final recommendations on capital expenditures, including those requested by general government departments and the water and wastewater departments, will be presented to voters at the April 22 annual town meeting.

In response to questions about the repair or replacement of the "bridge" walkway to the main entrance at Middleboro High School at a cost of up to $300,000, Ms. Piatelli wrote, "We are awaiting a report from an engineering firm that was on site a few weeks ago doing testing. The conversation I had with the engineer last week, she indicated that the bridge is in extremely poor condition. I asked her to recommend alternative solutions as well as repair."

"I did talk to her today (about the walkway)," Mr. Cristello told the committee, "and they are looking at three different options. One of them is maybe just filling the moat and building some supports there. We should know, she said, by the end of next week " if there are other options to consider. I don't think there's any way they could do the work this summer when you have to go out for a full set of plans and bids. Now she said that they could route the kids through the gym or the cafeteria and do the work during the school year. I think it all depends on what the engineer says."

Concerning a request for $25,000 to upgrade school school security, Mr. Cristello asked, "Are the current estimates sufficient to complete this project? What components of the project caused the doubling of cost from the original request?"

"I think current estimates will put the infrastructure in place with a 16 channel DVR and a few cameras at each building," Ms. Piatelli responded. "I think once the system is in place the School Department will evaluate where additional cameras are needed and we will be able to add the additional cameras. The original request was a best guess estimate. We also added additional doors to the Access Control system."

Mr. Cristello also inquired about the School Department's request for the replacement of three HVAC units at the Henry B. Burkland Elementary School asking, "What is driving the HVAC replacements at the Elementary Complex? Is it the age of the units? Are they falling or about to fall? Has an HVAC engineer recommended their replacement? How many units are located in the Elementary Complex and what areas do they cool?" Ms. Piatelli informed Mr. Cristello that the 24-year-old units, which have a predicted lifespan of 12-15 years, are rusted and often leak. The six units in question, two of which are for cool air only, affect the cafeteria, auditorium, and office.

During discussions committee members expressed a general consensus that more information on certain line items, including the high school walkway (listed as $300,000), HBB HVAC units ($150,000), upgrading interior lighting at the high school ($100,000), and high school bathroom renovations ($80,000), would be needed to make a final decision on approving the set of requests.

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Capital planning group considers school requests

The professional HVAC technicians from Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling are proud to present $375.00 off high efficiency water heater installations that are on demand by Philadelphia residents.

(PRWEB) March 27, 2013

The tankless water heater from Hutchinson is one of the best solutions when looking for a unit that is built to last. Not only do they provide hot water on demand, but they are on average 30% more efficient than a standard hot water heater that is installed in ones property. These are astronomical savings when it comes to the utility bill, especially for those on a budget. Not only does it save homeowners, but with $375.00 off the installation, this makes for a great start when in need of a replacement. It has the ability to deliver hot water anywhere in the home quickly, which in return allows for water conservation. Hutchinson is proud to offer property owners with such advanced technology when it comes to water heater and plumbing equipment because in the end, they are proven to reduce heating costs by up to 50%.

Along with all of these added benefits and savings with a tankless water heater, its lifespan is much greater when compared to traditional hot water heaters. This in return makes for a great investment since it saves energy, and it also has long lasting qualities. For those who dont know a thing about water heaters, do not worry, the technicians at Hutchinson Plumbing Heating and Cooling will be able to educate property owners when it comes to plumbing repair in Gloucester County.

About Hutchinson:

Hutchinson is one South Jerseys largest heating, ventilation and air conditioning company. For generations they have had the opportunity to provide the community, both residential and commercial with services, repairs and replacements whenever there was an issue. Over the years as a family owned business, Hutchinson continues to stay up to date on all the latest advances, laws and regulations so property owners are receiving the highest quality of services and equipment. With a history of mechanics and engineering the Hutchinson team has what it takes to provide customers with the most practical and affordable solutions when it comes to heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

For more information about Hutchinson visit http://www.hutchbiz.com.

Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling 1.866.953.8728 Email Information

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High Efficiency Water Heater Installations are Now Being Offered at Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling at a Discount

Written by Bettina Thiel Friday, 15 March 2013 07:43

Orange taxpayers are called to vote on a $15 million bond package for a host of infrastructure repairs in town.

The referendum is set for Wednesday, March 20 at High Plains Community Center.

Anyone who cannot make it during that time can contact the Town Clerks office in Town Hall for an absentee ballot.

The 20-year bond would cost a property owner whose property is assessed at $230,000 a total of $2,184 stretched out over the 20 years. The tax increase would kick in in 2015 with a tax increase of $141.50, and them come down every year until that some property owner in year 20 (2034) would pay $77.69 in taxes to pay off the bond.

With interest and related costs, the total pay-back for the loan will be $19.8 million.

About 100 people attended a special Town Meeting Wednesday, March 13, at which time officials were present to answer any questions.

They included the Bond Committee and its chairman, Fred Kendrick; the selectmen, School Superintendent Lynn McMullin and School Business Manager Kevin McNabola, also the schools Facilities Director, Mike Luzzi.

The projects are bundled into four categories, namely school building repairs, road repairs, town building repairs and police communication.

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Orange $15 million bond package goes to referendum

The Jamestown Area Historical Society is hoping community members will give the latest Opera House renovation project a lift.

The organization hopes to raise $65,000 for an elevator that can carry people needing assistance from the first floor to the main auditorium.

We have people whod like to come (to opera house events), but they cant climb those stairs, said Ted Sesslar, president of the historical society. He said that three flights of stairs lead to the auditorium.

The renovation of the opera house has been an ongoing project over the past decade since the Jamestown Area Historical Society began leasing the building.

When we took over the building, it was in shambles, Sesslar said. It needed a new roof.

The opera house, built in 1889, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

With about $350,000 in federal, state, and county grants as well as private donations and fundraisers, the historical society has made major repairs and renovations to the building, according to Sesslar.

Renovations and repairs have included replacing the roof, window replacements, exterior brick and facade renovations, HVAC and electrical upgrades, painting and plastering the auditorium, and refinishing and installing chairs in the auditorium.

The building, which seats about 300 people, is being used for weddings, school plays, and all types of musical performances. In addition, the Greene County Council on Aging operates a Senior Citizens Citizen in a space in the building.

Sesslar said installing an elevator is estimated to cost $65,000. It also could help move people and stage equipment to the auditorium.

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Historical Society raises funds for Opera House elevator

Choosing an AC Contractor

Itstechnically still winter, so why worry about air conditioning? The best way to deal with air conditioning issues is to prevent them from occurring. With proper maintenance and preventive care foryour A/C unit, you may be able to avoid a broken system this summer. BBB recommends planning ahead to make sure that your air conditioner is working properly when the temperatures are high.

Residential heating and cooling units are expected to last 15 to 20 years, said Mechele Agbayani Mills. So choosing a good HVAC tech is vital to your homes comfort for years to come.

Last year, BBB received more than 9,000 complaints against heating and cooling contractors and repair services. Some of the most common mistakes consumers and business owners make when looking for repairs stem from hiring the first contractor they find, not doing the proper research, and not getting all the details of their service or repair in writing.

BBB recommends the following tips to make sure your inspection and service go off without a hitch:

Research the companys background and licensing.While friends, neighbors and colleagues are often a source for referrals, make sure you also review a prospective companys BBB Business Review at bbb.org to see if they have pattern of consumer complaints or a poor record of addressing them.Confirm that the company is licensed and insured.Consumers can check the status of a license at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) website at http://www.license.state.tx.us or through TDLRs customer service lines at 1-800-803-9202 or 1-512-436-6599. In addition, state-issued license numbers, which begin with TACL, must be on all print advertisements, company vehicles, business cards, work proposals, and invoices. If no license number is evident, the contractor is most likely not licensed to work in the state.

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Choosing an AC Contractor