Jim Thorpe Area School District’s energy improvements with Honeywell have already yielded substantial savings according to a new report from the organization that was presented at Monday’s board of education meeting.

Honeywell International account executive Patrick Salmon presented the good news to the board, highlighting the fact that total cost avoidance — limitations on potential increases in expenses, in this case related to energy costs — for 2017 exceeded Honeywell’s initial annual guarantee by $11,425.

“There was a guarantee for the district that we would save $209,559 over the course of the year. If we missed that savings, Honeywell is obligated to cut you a check for the difference to make it whole. If you achieve those savings, your project is self-funding — you got all the improvements, and it funds itself. Anything in addition to that, you keep. It’s yours. And the good news is, we saved $220,984,” Salmon said.

Jim Thorpe Area High School saw $5,406 in additional cost avoidance, L.B. Morris netted $2,604 and Penn-Kidder raked in $3,416.

Honeywell’s energy conservation projects included lighting upgrades, boiler replacements, boiler burner controls, domestic hot water replacement, walk-in refrigeration controls, building envelope improvement and chiller upgrades throughout district buildings, which was completed in December 2016.

The lighting upgrades were responsible for the largest cost avoidance, $59,643. Last year, the board received a rebate check for $34,125 from PPL as part of the energy efficiency program, thanks to the installation of LED lighting during the Honeywell project.

The Honeywell report states that over the course of 15 years, the district can expect to save $2,044,750 in utility costs, and $1,852,824 in operational cost avoidance for a total of $3,897,573.

Building and grounds Chairman John Ciavarella was thrilled with the numbers, and looks forward to investing the savings in further energy efficiency projects.

“So now we’re going to go into the next phase with the lighting ballasts, which are so old that if we upgrade them, we’ll see even more savings. Of course, we’ll spend some money upfront, but we do get it back. It’s a no-lose situation,” he said.

In other business

• Middle school choral director Jennifer Strauss’ resignation, effective July 26, 2018, was accepted. The board also approved the posting of the open choral director position.

• Special education teacher Daria Dorshimer’s resignation, effective July 26, 2018, was accepted. The board also approved the posting of the open special education teacher position.

• English teacher Shelly Moyer’s resignation, effective July 30, 2018, was accepted. The board also approved the posting of the open English teacher position.

• Salary increases were approved for computer technicians and athletic trainers at 3.72 percent, and van drivers and crossing guards at 50 cents per hour.

• Laura Smarr was approved as an elementary education teacher, B.S. Step 4, with a salary of $49,845.

• Dakota Miller was approved as an elementary education teacher, B.S. Step 2, with a salary of $46,345.

• Susan Ruotolo-Chlubicki was approved as a computer science teacher, M.S. Step 2, with a salary of $47,345.

• Mary Beth Dowbachuk was approved as a special-education teacher, B.S. Step 6, with a salary of $52,845.

• Candice Boyle was approved as a special-education teacher, M.S. Step 13, with a salary of $62,845.

• Ron Ellison was approved to replace Shelly Moyer as a scholastic scrimmage adviser, at a rate of $1,135.

• Melissa Solt, Deb Gehris, Amanda Melber and Judy Paterson were approved as full-time paraprofessionals at a rate of $13 per hour.