NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock County Board of Education has agreed to accept two fuel tanks from SAL Chemical of Weirton at little cost.

According to School Superintendent Suzan Smith, the company contacted the central office and offered to donate the fuel tanks if the board paid the cost of transportation from Weirton.

The board discussed placing the tanks at or near the bus garage in New Cumberland, considering the possibility that the buses may be centralized to that location in the future.

"It would probably be a good saving (of money) if we placed those right where the buses would be," board President Jerry Durante said.

Of the two tanks, it is the 8,000-gallon diesel tank that the board has its eye on. The other tank is a 1,000-gallon gasoline tank.

According to Durante, the schools currently have two older 10,000-gallon tanks, located at Oak Glen High School.

Smith stated that one new 10,000-gallon tank normally costs around $55,000.

"We would have to set them up and we would have to put about one foot of concrete around those," Smith said.

The board did not make an official decision on where to place the fuel tanks, though it did unanimously vote to accept them and the cost of transportation.

Smith stated that the cost of transporting the fuel tanks will have an influence on their eventual location.

In other business, the board approved an un-audited version of the 2008-2009 Annual Financial Statement.

Smith stated that the auditor is currently in the county to review the statement.

"I've met with him so far about four times, and he continually tells me that everything's looking good," Smith said.

Central School Board Office Treasurer Joe Campinelli stated that once the statement has been audited, it will become the official document for future review and use.

Smith informed the board on progress with the Weir Middle School and Weir High School heating and air conditioning (HVAC) project, stating that she visited the schools Wednesday.

"They've really been able to work these last few days," Smith said. "Right now, everything is on schedule."

Smith stated that she will return to Weirton today for a progress meeting on the project.

The board approved the following:

- Overnight trip for the Weir High Key Club to Charleston, W.Va., to participate in a Fall Rally on Nov. 7-8

- Overnight trip for the Oak Glen High School Drama Department to Morgantown, W.Va. to compete in the West Virginia Theater Conference on Nov. 5-8

- One set of bills in the amount of $159,183.37