A different approach

To help manage costs for purchasing natural gas, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District is joining a statewide government risk pool program.

The school board on Monday authorized the district to enter into an agreement with the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool. The purpose of the program is to "transfer risks of increases in natural gas costs due to weather-driven demand and other market forces away from the school district."

H-M-S will join the pool on Jan. 1, 2024. Superintendent Patrick Carlin recommended doing so now to take advantage of the current natural gas market and warm...