Ilion High School - Class of 1974

Source pdf file is here Herkimer NY Evening Telegram 1973 02764.pdf on fultonhistory.com

Ilion Schools Faced With Fuel Oil Crisis
By Bob Kelder

ILION - A serious fuel situation that may force curtailment of use of some school buildings was scheduled for discussion by the Ilion School District’s board of education at a special meeting last night, but was postponed due to lack of a quorum.

School Superintendent James Dunn said the matter is expected to be taken up at the next regular meeting on Nov. 20.

The special session last night was attended by George Anderson, president, and board members Warren Lennox and Jon Fifield. Absent were board members Shirley Hoeschele, Robert Thompson, Russell Putnam and Herman Stubley.

Anderson adjourned the session after about a 30 minute wait for a fourth board member that would be necessary for a quorum of four to transact business.

Dunn said the school district is faced with a 100 per cent increase in the cost of fuel oil. Present billings indicate it will cost the district at least $15,000 more this year for fuel oil if the winter is comparable to last year, which was considered mild.

Some alterations in running the furnaces have been made thus far and thermostat levels have been lowered, he said.

There are four buildings in the school district. Barringer Road School is heated wholly by gas and West Hill and North Street Schools each have have oil burners.

The junior-senior high school building has one dual furnace that uses either gas or oil and two others that burn oil.

The board, at a regular meeting Tuesday, decided to call the special meeting of last night to finish out important items unresolved on the long agenda, such as the fuel crisis.

Other matters slated for discussion at the next session include progress reports on the $100,000 Diss Memorial Fund for an athletic facility, and an answer from the Village Board to the school district's request to purchase 14 acres of land for a possible new North Street School.