Parkland School District has entered into an agreement with UGI to provide natural gas service to Orefield Middle School and Kernsville Elementary School.

The high school converted from oil to gas through extension of a pipeline from Whitehall to the GEO Chemical plant along Cedar Crest Boulevard several years ago.

At the March 25 meeting, the board approved contracts with UGI as well as construction costs of $264,000 at OMS and $23,000 at Kernsville for installation of the pipeline and its hookup at the buildings.

The district committed to a specified amount of natural gas usage at each school over a five-year term.

As Parkland places more reliance on natural gas, Business Manager John Vignone anticipates a $350,000 reduction in fuel oil in the 2014-15 budget.

Vignone mentioned a $226,000 increase for the product in the new budget as the amount of gas service increases.

In other business, the board agreed to move forward with a refunding opportunity of a Series A, 2005 general obligation bond of $15.78 million.

A parameters resolution was presented granting approval to administrators to conduct the refunding of the bond when market conditions are most favorable.

The target for savings was set at $600,000. In past refundings, the district was able to exceed the target.

"If it happens, we'll use it to reduce our debt payment and spread it out over some years, probably 2014-15 and 2015-16," Vignone said.

The board accepted the retirement of Linda Petri, first-grade teacher at Kratzer Elementary School, after 30 years of service in education, effective at the end of the 2013-14 school term.