School hopes to rein in heating costs

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Public School system will join a new cooperative, with the goal of reining in heating costs.

The McCook Board of Education unanimously approved Monday night at its regular meeting to participate in an interlocal agreement with the Nebraska Choice Joint Utilities Management Program -- CJUMP.

McCook Schools Business Manager Rick Haney explained that this opportunity to participate has been offered to schools in the eastern part of the state and is now being offered to schools in the western part. Forty schools in the western part of the state have already signed up, he said.

By participating in the cooperative, better prices are negotiated for natural gas, Haney said.

Currently, the school negotiates prices with natural gas companies much as homeowners do.

"You roll the dice and see what price you lock in at," Haney said.

Heating McCook Public Schools for four months --November, December, January and February -- can easily cost $100,000, he said.

The agreement is for three years and schools can withdraw with a 90-day notice.

After a question by board member Larry Shields, Haney said the signing party to the agreement would be himself and that he would bring updates and prices to the board.