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JCSD administrators: ‘We’re ready for the new school year’

MIFFLINTOWN — Administrators at Juniata County School District are looking forward to the start of the new school year, they said Thursday during the regular board of directors meeting.

Interim Superintendent Christie Holderman thanked everyone involved in preparing the school buildings for their time.

“Our principal team, custodians and secretaries have worked extremely hard this summer and really have things looking great,” she said. “We’re excited to open all the buildings…thank you to everyone.”

The first day back to school for Juniata County School District students is Aug. 22.

Clint Mitchell, principal at East Juniata Elementary School, and Andy Kinzer, principal at Tuscarora Junior High School, also praised maintenance workers and custodial staff for getting the schools ready.

“Things are really shaping up,” Mitchell said.

Aaron Bennett told the board that Juniata Elementary School would be changing its parent pickup procedures going into the new school year.

Bennett said parent pickup will be by the tennis courts, where it was when the school was Fermanagh-Mifflintown.

“When the last bus leaves, the parents will enter through the front of the school and they will be able to exit on (Route) 35 or Schweyer Avenue…Hopefully that will eliminate some of the issues from last year,” he said.

Bennett said a video illustrating the route will be available on the school’s website.

Wendy Jerrehian, East Juniata High School principal, said EJ will be piloting a program called Rachel’s Challenge, an antibullying campaign that focuses on promoting kindness, on Sept. 13.

In unrelated news, the board, in a 6-3 vote, approved the addition of four assistant principals within the school district at an annual salary of $79,751, effective today.

Johnathan Sliski was approved at East Juniata High School, Michael Maclay at East Juniata Elementary School, Brett Kennington at Tuscarora Junior High School and Kelli Strawser at Juniata High School.

Dissenting the vote were board members Mark Wagner, Troy Woodward and Joseph Shearer.

Woodward said he maintains that he is against adding the positions so soon after the school consolidation.

“It’s nothing personal, but I am against the positions. I think the timing is a little bit off and I think we should consider waiting to see how the new setup works so that we know where we need to place people and how.”

Wagner said he voted against the action because he would have preferred to see three assistant principals, rather than four.

The board also authorized administration to advertise for sealed bids for Thompsontown-Delaware Elementary School separated from the land.

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