Jim Thorpe Area School District might save as much as $2.3 million over the next three years by refinancing two bond issues.

This week the board approved the refinancing, which will be finalized in December.Business manager Lauren K. Kovac said the exact amount of savings won't be known until the bonds are actually sold.The amount of interest on the bonds at the time of the sale will determine the total savings.The bond sales will be handled by Robert T. Aumer, managing director of Janney Capital Markets in Pittsburgh.Aumer told the board that the savings would be spread only over the next three years. As a result, he advised the board to spend the money on something that's not an annual expense.Kovac said the two bonds are a Series 2005 which totals $21 milion and an Advanced Refund Series A, totaling $3.4 million.Check from CCTIRandy Smith of the Carbon County Career and Technical Institute Authority presented a check for $98,900 to the board representing the district's allocation from the sale of the Career and Technical Institute's Adult Education building.Smith said the building, appraised at $257,000, was sold to Carbon County Friends of Animals for $260,000.The proceeds were shared by the five school districts which make up the vocational technical school board.Jim Thorpe Area School District has 40 percent of the taxable properties in the area, so the district receives 40 percent of the sale proceeds after expenses.Board member Gerald Strubinger said the sale of the building affected both a child day care center and an adult day care center."It amazes me in our society that society can come up with $260,000 for cats, but not help the day care," Strubinger said. The Friends of Animals organization is a cat rescue shelter.Strubinger said he encourages students to utilize the vocational technical school.Strubinger reported the district received $4,000 from Dollar General Stores to be used for special education programs.Katherine Doll, coordinator of academic resources, and Carol Judd, a special education teacher and high school reading specialist, co-wrote the grant application.Doll said the amount was the maximum given by Dollar General.She said the funds will allow the purchase of a new reading program for special education students at the high school and fill in some other gaps.Other businessJoe Shigo, representing parents of Glen Onoko Estates, asked the board to provide extra bus stops in the development.The present stops are at 15th Street, Glen Onoko, and Chapman Drive.The district agreed to look into the matter. It will likely be discussed when the Transportation Committee meets at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3.About 30 members of the Jim Thorpe Education Association attended the meeting.Contract negotiations are being held between the teachers and the school board.Mike Wagner, vice president of the association, told the board, "Support the kids and teachers and keep this moving forward."The association members wore T-shirts with"JTEA -- Committment to Excellence" on the front  and "and a fair deal" printed on the back.It was reported that two anti-bullying programs were held already this year at the L.B. Morris Elementary School.The school has also instituted the Torch program, which rewards students for good behavior.