Rachelle Ackerman

The agenda for the meeting includes several key areas of business. Under Finance, the Board is set to approve December 2025 bills and the Treasurer's Report for December 2025, along with the Student Activities Fund Quarterly Report for the period ending December 2025. In Policy, the Board is recommended to adopt revisions for Policy No. 218.1 (Weapons) and Policy No. 803 (School Calendar). Operational items include the adoption of the 2026-2027 school calendar. The Personnel section covers approvals for new administrative personnel under Act 93, administrative support personnel, LTESPA personnel transfers, and appointments for a Professional Employee, spring athletic personnel, and acknowledgements of retirements/resignations. The Board will also consider the adoption of a resolution relating to Student #27177.

The board meeting included the recognition of School Board Recognition Month and the presentation of a book collection to board members. Financial and personnel matters were addressed, including the appointment of several new staff members, salary adjustments for administrative support personnel, and the approval of an addendum to the Act 93 support personnel agreement to establish a Director of Public Relations position. The board also handled bus driver and event staff appointments, approved an assistant band director, and acknowledged retirements and resignations. Additionally, the meeting covered board representative assignments for various committees and included discussions regarding event staff training, venue facility rules, and the potential formation of a buildings and grounds committee.

The meeting commenced with an Executive Session spanning from 5:30 p.m. to 6:58 p.m. to discuss Student Discipline, Personnel, and Policy matters. Key agenda items included public comments regarding a coaching position and softball coach continuity. In Finance, the Board approved expenditures for December 2025, the Treasurer's Report for December 2025, and the Student Activities Fund Quarterly Report for the period ended December 2025. Policy actions involved adopting revised Policy No. 218.1 (Weapons) and Policy No. 803 (School Calendar). The Board adopted the 2026-2027 school calendar. Personnel actions included approving administrative personnel under Act 93, including Justin Van Fleet (Director of Innovation & Instructional Technology) and Dylan Casale (Athletic & Activities Director). Approvals were also granted for an LTESPA personnel transfer for Lauren Frisco, the appointment of Kathleen Popowycz as a Professional Employee (District Librarian/Gifted Teacher), and the spring athletic personnel list. The Board acknowledged the resignation of Kimberly Bigelow, a Food Service Employee. Finally, a Resolution relating to Student #27177 was adopted.

The key discussion topics for this meeting involved administrative matters and policy adoptions. The Board was asked to adopt several revised or renamed policies, including Policy No. 011 (Principles for Governance and Leadership), Policy No. 234 (Pregnant/Parenting/Married Students), Policy No. 807 (Opening Exercises/Moment of Silence/Flag Displays), Policy No. 904 (Public Attendance at School Events), and Policy No. 909 (Municipal Government Relations). Personnel actions included the approval of a new Director of Public Relations under Act 93, the approval of a full-time custodial employee under the LTESPA Agreement, the transfer of an employee to part-time food service, and the approval of the revised list of spring athletic personnel.

The meeting agenda included several key items for discussion and potential action. Recognized presentations included guests speaking on 'Music in Our Schools,' specifically recognizing a recipient of the 2026 Advocacy in Action Award and a PMEA Citation of Excellence winner, followed by a Modern Band Performance. A Special Education Plan Presentation was also scheduled. Financial discussions involved the approval of January 2026 bills and the Treasurer's Report for January 2026, along with accepting the Independent Auditors' Report for the year ended June 30, 2025. Program and Operations items included approving the Program of Studies for the 2026-2027 school year. Personnel actions recommended for approval included hiring several part-time paraprofessionals and a custodian, approving a revised list of spring athletic personnel, and terminating a probationary full-time maintenance employee effective February 4, 2026. Other business encompassed approving the Intermediate Unit 17 General Operations Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, approving facility usage for the Extended School Year Program, and approving an Apple Lease Purchase Agreement and the purchase of Smart Boards.