Spring Cove School Board weighs new flood insurance policy
District leaning toward not getting coverage
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ROARING SPRING -- At Monday night's meeting, Spring Cove School Board members decided to continue their discussion concerning the purchase of a new flood insurance policy for Central High School.
The board -- with all members present -- decided to continue the discussion into next month's meeting because of a lack of information about the specifics of the policy, said Superintendent Betsy Baker.
Members "wanted to know what the flood insurance covers," Baker said, providing examples of questions presented at the meeting, such as if the water has to specifically enter the building or get through the door.
Baker was notified by the district's insurance provider that they are no longer covering flood insurance.
If the board wants flood insurance for the high school building, they will have to purchase a separate policy, Baker said.
The additional policy would cost the district about $5,000 a month, she said, covering damages up to $500,000.
After asking senior board members if the high school ever experienced a flood or flood damage, board President Troy Wright said no one could recall that happening.
"In the history of Central, we have never had a flood," Baker said, although she added that they did have a flash flood last year, but water never entered the building.
Wright said at the meeting that the board was leaning toward not getting flood insurance.
Before the flood discussion, the board approved the annual renewal of the district's insurance policies.
In other business, Spring Cove -- like other districts around the commonwealth -- is still waiting for their state funding to come through for the 2025-26 school year.
Baker said Spring Cove has still not yet received any updates on the state's revenue, as funding will be delayed at least six weeks due to the state budget impasse.
Despite funding uncertainty, Baker and Wright both said they are "excited" for the students to come back to school next Wednesday.
Starting a school year without a state budget poses different challenges, Wright said, but when it's "the start of the school year, it's exciting to have students back."
"We're still doing last minute preparations, but we are ready for the kids to be back," Baker said.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.