MIFFLINTOWN — With a deadline looming for sizable rebates for creating a solar program in the Juniata County School District, board members listened intently to representatives from GreenWorks Development LLC, of Harrisburg, Thursday night.

In the end, despite a $1.5 million rebate before them, board members tabled voting on a contract proposal from GreenWorks until they could gather additional information on the subject.

GreenWorks representatives guaranteed the $1.5 million rebate could still be secured if a contract was approved in the next day or two. If the contract was approved in the next week, the chances of securing the rebate are less likely.

If the decision is made after Dec. 1, the rebate would be in the $750,000 range.

With electric costs expected to continually increase, the installation of six solar arrays could produce 115 percent of the school district’s annual electric usage. The district’s electric bill last year was around $350,000.

According to the plan, the district would lease the solar arrays from a group of investors for five years. Starting with the sixth year, the district could purchase the program outright.

There is annual service fee for the solar arrays is $400,000, which would be paid monthly in 12 installments.

The arrays would be installed at all Juniata County schools either on the ground or on rooftops.

The computer labs in Juniata County schools will soon be getting an update.

The school board approved the purchase of new 24-inch Apple iMac computers for secondary labs and offices at all schools by a 7-2 vote. Helen Casner and Douglas Kline voted against the purchase.

At last week’s workshop meeting, board President Angela Varner said the district set aside just over $1.61 million in funding for technology.

In other news, the board approved facility-use request for Juniata High School After Prom Parent Association to use Juniata High School’s facilities for the after-prom party on April 29-30, 2023.

The board approved a slate of sports coaches:

• Domonic Kirchoff as junior varsity baseball coach at Juniata High School.

• Korey Martin, Justin Towsey and Randy Treaster as volunteer baseball coaches at Juniata High School.

• Andy Apple and Clint Mitchell as volunteer junior high school basketball coaches at East Juniata High School.

The board approved student-related field trips:

• Juniata High School Ensembles, performance at Locust Grove Retirement Village, Nov. 17.

• Juniata High School Choir, performance at Locust Grove Retirement Village, Dec. 15.

• East Juniata FFA, midwinter convention at Pennsylvania Farm Show, Harrisburg, Jan. 9, 2023.

• Nine members of the Juniata Chorus, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 4 Chorus Festival, State College, Jan. 12-14, 2023.

• Three students at East Juniata High School, senior trip to Iron Rooster, Cockeysville, Md., and Maryland Zoo and National Aquarium, Baltimore, Md., April 6, 2023.

The board approved the creation of an LPN or Level 2 paraprofessional support staff position at Juniata Elementary School.

The board accepted the following resignations:

• Maddie Hummel, East Juniata Elementary School paraprofessional, resigned effective Nov. 1, 2022.

• Terry Naugle, Juniata Elementary School part-time custodian, effective Nov. 15, 2022.

• Heather Billman, East Juniata Elementary School teacher, effective Nov. 18, 2022.

• Megan Carraher, Juniata Elementary School and Tuscarora Junior High School teacher, effective at a date to be determined.

The board approved the following transfer as Steven J. McLaughlin goes from a general science teaching position to a vocational-agriculture teaching position, both at East Juniata High School, effective at a date to be determined.

The following personnel will be approved, contingent upon the submission of required employment documentation:

• Lisa Ciccocioppo, Juniata High School paraprofessional 1, hired effective Nov. 16, 2022, at an hourly rate of $14.76.

• Laine Guiser, East Juniata Elementary School kindergarten teacher, hired effective Nov. 21, 2022.

• Daniel Smith, East Juniata High School science teacher, hired to be determined.

The board approved Danielle Schrack as a substitute nurse.

The board approved the following department chairs:

• Heather Dreibelbis, nursing.

• Colton Shertzer, secondary computer science.

• Robert St. Clair, elementary computer science.

• Krista Snyder, elementary specials.

• Ashley Cameron, co-chair, secondary electives.

• Bradley Eargle, co-chair, secondary electives

• Elizabeth Sperlich, counseling

The board approved the first reading of a revised policy for school bus drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers.

The board approved tenure for Riley Shertzer to become a permanent professional employee after three years as a temporary professional employee.

The board also approved the following conference requests:

• Aaron Bennett and Suzanne Lutinski to attend the PaPBS Implementers’ Forum on Nov. 30 in Hershey.

• Leann Crimmel and Clint Mitchell to attend the PaPBS Implementers’ Forum from Nov. 30-Dec.1 in Hershey.