Punxsutawney Area School District

The agenda for the voting meeting included several key actions requiring approval. In Athletics, approval was sought for a resignation of a track coach and the hiring of coaches for tennis and softball. Transportation required approval for a new driver and monitor. Buildings & Maintenance sought permission to advertise and distribute RFPs for custodial and cleaning services. The Cafeteria agenda included a purchase order for white milk from Turner Dairy. Federal Programs & Curriculum required approval for an EdInsight data software purchase and a StuderEducation agreement. The Superintendent requested approval for conferences, field trips, a revised 2025-2026 school calendar, the Comprehensive Plan, and a motion regarding a student expulsion adjudication report. Personnel matters included action on sub lists, several cafeteria worker resignations, a leave without pay request, hiring a full-time head custodian, and initiating new RFP processes for professional sub services and cafeteria supplemental staffing. Financial items included approval of financial summaries, occupation tax exoneration requests, budget transfers, various purchase orders, and a cyber insurance renewal recommendation. Finally, payment of bills for the General Fund, Cafeteria Fund, and Construction Projects was requested.

The agenda for the voting meeting includes several items requiring approval. Financial matters include the purchase order for 'Bingo for Books,' receipt and consideration of the Independent Single Audit for FY 2025, and a resolution regarding real estate tax rates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Personnel actions involve additions/deletions to substitute lists, acceptance of resignations (Instructional Assistant and Lifeguard), hiring of a Speech and Language Pathologist, and soliciting RFPs for substitute employee and supplemental cafeteria employee services. Athletics agenda items cover the resignation of a softball coach, hiring volunteer coaches, recognizing elementary athletics as an extension of high school programs, accepting a donation, and approving a 3-year agreement for Hudl services, along with budget transfers for wrestling and cheerleading expenses. Transportation requires approval for new drivers/monitors and new bus stops. Buildings & Maintenance seeks approval for proposals from HHSDR related to high school roof replacement and stadium walkway replacement, and a resolution for the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program. Cafeteria business involves awarding bids for refrigerator and holding cabinets. The Superintendent's section addresses field trips, renewal of the eAcademy Consortium Agreement, and first/second readings for several policy revisions and new policies related to purchasing, curriculum, and student groups. Payments for General, Cafeteria, and Construction Funds are also scheduled for approval.

The Punxsutawney Area School District's Comprehensive Plan aims to prepare and empower every student to learn, lead, and thrive by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and purposeful leadership. Key focus areas include improving academic achievement and growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics through curriculum alignment, structured literacy, and effective instructional practices. The plan also focuses on enhancing early childhood development and kindergarten readiness, increasing student engagement and career readiness through additional opportunities, and addressing chronic absenteeism by fostering a positive school climate and strengthening family partnerships.

The agenda outlines business for both a Committee Meeting scheduled for January 8, 2026, and a Voting Meeting scheduled for January 13, 2026. Key items include recognizing DECA students, addressing a tabled purchase order for Scholastic Inc., and approval of minutes from prior meetings in December 2025. Reports cover numerous items requiring approval at the voting meeting, such as accepting softball coach resignations and hiring new volunteer coaches, creating elementary sports programs (basketball and wrestling), approving new bus stops, securing proposals for high school roof and stadium walkway replacement, awarding bids for cafeteria equipment, approving workshop and consortium agreements, reviewing several policy revisions and new policies (including on bullying and extracurricular activities), reviewing financial summaries, accepting audit reports, and adopting a resolution regarding real estate taxes. Personnel actions include resignations, advertising RFPs for substitute services, and hiring a Speech and Language Pathologist. The agenda also includes payment of bills for General, Cafeteria, and Construction Funds.

The agenda includes discussions and possible actions on a PSBA proposal for services and the appointment of board members as voting delegates at the 2025 PSBA Delegate Assembly. The board will review resignations and consider hiring for various athletic positions, as well as award bids for athletic supplies. Permission to rebid LPG services will be discussed. The agenda also covers a purchase order for a pole vault pit, an agreement with Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, bids for bread and milk, and the Cafeteria Fund Budget for 2025-2026. Additional topics include science resources, an ESL teacher for PAES Summer School, a Title III MOU with AIU3, discarding science textbooks, conferences and field trips, Knox Law rate increases, the annual School Safety Report, and Flexible Instruction Days. Furthermore, the board will discuss changes to the NJHS by-laws, the creation of a student Future Educators Club, financial summaries, year-end budgetary transfers, insurance products, an agreement with Delta Dental, a transfer to the Capital Projects Fund, and various purchase orders. The adoption of the 2025-2026 General Fund Budget, authorization for the homestead/farmstead exclusion, and the appointment of a Board Treasurer are also on the agenda. Personnel matters include resignations, retirements, hiring for supplemental and professional positions, confirmation of the Superintendent's goals, the Job Description for Assistant Superintendent, and the hiring of an Assistant Superintendent. Finally, the agenda includes reports from JEFF-TECH School and I.U.6, communications, payment of bills, and new business.