The Jim Thorpe School District end of the year meeting had a strong focus on finances.

Dale Kirk of Summa and Co. gave the district a clean opinion. "Everything looks good. Good job of managing funds. The district is in good financial shape," he said.In fact the district decreased its debt.The second financial issue to cross the board was a contract with Honeywell and energy updates for the school district. Patrick Salmon, a representative for Honeywell, presented the results of an estimated energy audit for the district.In the energy audit Honeywell surveyed the amount of energy spent among the Penn Kidder, Lawrence B. Morris, high school and administration buildings. These estimates were then compared to numbers in similar buildings.At this time Salmon said it would be a $3.4 million project. Salmon estimated that it would save the district $1,790 a year which in turn would fund the project. Taxpayer money would not have to be used to complete the energy updates.The updates would include but not be limited to new boiler controllers and new insulation for all the buildings. Board member Gerald Strubinger questioned Salmon about solar energy to bring costs down. "The biggest problem is people damaging accessible panels. Also Pennsylvania doesn't do a lot of tax breaks for solar," Salmon said."The savings only come after the changes are made though?" Strubinger asked.Salmon said, "Yes, once the project is 100 percent complete, the savings kick in."A motion for a five-year contract with Honeywell was passed unanimously.