Vicki McHugh

The document outlines the agenda items for a combined Board Workshop and Special Meeting. The Workshop agenda included budget presentations from CLIU#21, LCCC, and CCTI, as well as discussions regarding Finance/Facilities, specifically addressing a Lower Towamensing Township no-parking ordinance, Hatzel & Buehler change orders, and construction projects. The subsequent Special Meeting agenda included procedures for public participation, motions related to nominating and appointing a new School Director to fill the vacancy left by a resignation, administering the Oath of Office, and adjournment procedures.

The regular board meeting included student reports recognizing achievements from elementary, junior high, and high school students across various programs such as Leader in Me, Student Council, STEM Makerspace, FBLA, and Band. The Superintendent welcomed new staff members, including the incoming Director of District Facilities and a new principal. Assistant Superintendents provided updates on safety protocols, cybersecurity funding eligibility, and state budget allocations which resulted in increased funding for basic education and special education. The board approved several personnel actions, including hiring a new Building Secretary, approving FMLA and sick leave extensions, appointing Marlena Stroup as Elementary Principal, and approving the hiring of the new Director of District Facilities. The board also addressed the resignations of the District Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent for Academic Programs and Technology, approving resolutions to fill these vacancies. Furthermore, key financial actions included approving revised insurance renewals with documented savings, accepting a donation, and approving various second readings and adoptions of district policies. A motion to table the authorization for the high school water line replacement engineering design was carried.

The meeting agenda included several key items. Discussions covered the JHS Environmental Club proposal and the 2026-2027 Act 1 Resolution regarding tax increases, stating they would not exceed the 4.7% adjusted index. The board planned to approve the 2026 calendar for regular and workshop meetings. Other significant motions involved accepting the resignation of a School Director effective January 18, 2026, and a motion to censure Earl Paules for disruption, disclosure of confidential information, interference with operations, and unethical behavior. The consent agenda addressed financial approvals, appointing a delegate to the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee, accepting numerous donations for various clubs and activities, approving personnel changes including a new custodian, acknowledgments of horizontal movement, leave requests, advisor/coach appointments, and accepting one retirement. Other actions included approving affiliation agreements with Widener University and Liberty University, approving the formation of a new Environmental Club-JHS, approving a field trip request, and the first reading of several updated policies.

The regular board meeting followed an executive session held for legal and personnel matters. Key discussions included the proposal to create a STEM Club at the Junior High School level, which was subsequently approved. Public participation raised concerns regarding a high school water line issue and comments made about previously voted-on contracts. The board approved the consent agenda, which included authorizing payments for accounts payable, retroactively approving the natural gas agreement rate with UGI Energy Services starting in January 2026, approving retroactive uncompensated leave requests, and approving new club advisors and coaches. Further approvals covered the removal of substitutes, acceptance of a custodian's resignation, an engagement letter with Fox Rothschild, LLP for labor services, and multiple retroactive agreements for medical services (St. Luke's Physician Group), affiliation (Keystone College), and client services (Soliant Health, LLC). In open session, approvals were granted for engineering design services for the high school water line replacement, soil sampling services, and asbestos investigation/abatement oversight services. Significantly, the board voted to rescind motions passed at the November 25, 2025 meeting regarding the resignation and reappointment under new contracts for both the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent for Academic Programs and Technology. Public participation near the end addressed board procedural matters, staff evaluations, and considerable concern over the decision regarding the cross country coaches.

The annual reorganization meeting addressed several organizational actions. Following the roll call and public participation, Director King was nominated and elected as Temporary President. The Certificates of Election were read, and oaths of office were administered to newly elected or seated directors. The primary order of business involved the election of the President, resulting in Director Haas winning the position for a one-year term, and the election of the Vice President, with Director Mazepa winning the position for a one-year term. Appointments were made for the PSBA Liaison and the Alternate Carbon Career Technical Institute Representative. The board also took action to approve the January 6, 2026, date for the next board workshop/meeting, after first tabling and then rescinding the tabling of the 2026 meeting calendar approval. The meeting concluded with an announcement of an executive session immediately following adjournment to discuss personnel and safety concerns.