Moline school board members on Monday approved buying natural gas for Moline High
School, Coolidge, Garfield, Lincoln-Irving and Washington schools through Vanguard Energy Services fora 19-month period.

Facilities director Darryl Snyder said the contract is expected to save the district nearly $42,000 over the course of a year.

A memo by Mr. Snyder stated the five buildings in the contract represent 321,749 therms of natural gas for a sample 12-month period, at a cost of $178,547. Buying the natural gas for the same period under the new agreement would have cost $136,713.

Previously the district locked into a set price for a period of time, he said. Now it will follow the market, with the district projecting how much natural gas it will need per month based on prior use.

Each month, the district will pay the additional cost for exceeding the projected use or will receive a credit for the amount not used. At the end of each month, the cost for the next month will be determined on the market rate of natural gas.

The natural gas contract will start in January 2013.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of head varsity high school football coach Christian Sant Amour. He will remain at the high school as a physical education teacher. For more on the story, see C1.

Board members on Monday also agreed to pay superintendent David Moyer an additional $925 for moving expenses, nearly 20 percent more than the $5,000 included in Mr. Moyer's compensation package. Board members approved the increase in a 5-2 vote, with board members Bob Vogelbaugh and Alan Anderson casting no votes.