Boothbay Region schools were closed much of February due to two major blizzards and a week of school vacation. “February just didn't happen,” said Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Eileen King.

Facilities/Transportation Director and Safety Officer Dave Brenner updated trustees on storm cleanup and a cracked boiler section.

“We had some issues on the flat, south-facing roofs,” Benner said, explaining that snow drifts of eight to 10 feet can hang over roof edges, closing sidewalks and exits. The school hired G&E Roofing Co., Inc. of Augusta to clean snow from the roof. “We had five foot drifts up there. You couldn't open the door to get out onto the roof,” Benner said. Calling off school during the storms was a huge help with plowing and cleanup, he said. King commended Benner and his crew for their work.

A cracked hot water boiler section found in January is scheduled to be replaced during April vacation, Benner said. The cost to the school will be $1,000, with the remainder to be paid by the insurance company. The total bill came to $7,200. The boilers were installed in 2006 and since 2014 four sections have had to be repaired. King sent out a packet to the boiler manufacturer, Weil-McLain. “It is the position of the Rocky Channel school district and Honeywell that there was a defect in the casting of the boiler sections,” she said. The packet included minutes kept by Benner, submitted insurance forms, and photographs of the damaged sections.

Trustees will form a subcommittee to go over the details in an energy feasibility assessment overview submitted to the schools by Honeywell Energy Services. “We can prioritize what is necessary and look at costs,” Trustee Chair Chris Buchanan said. King will set a date for the subcommittee to meet.

King provided an update on the current budget. “Our February revenue was $743,000. We have $3,352,000 remaining. Most of our revenue is coming in from our tuition lines for seventh through 12th grade students. We're on track to get the tuition we anticipated.” King reported that February expenses came to $732,000, with $3,385,000 remaining. Expenses for the year-to-date are $6,040,199. “We are about even with 2015-2106's budget figures,” King said.