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JCSB welcomes some new and some familiar faces

Board discusses other business, personnel matters

By Greg Williams 4 min read

MIFFLINTOWN -- The Juniata County School District Board of Directors welcomed some new and familiar faces as it reorganized for 2024 during its monthly meeting at the Administration Building in Mifflintown Thursday night.

Three new directors - Jackson T. Albert, Ray D. Page and Cindy L. Treaster took their seats after posting victories in the November election.

"Welcome to our new members," said school board President Angela Varner, greeting the trio.

Albert represents Region 7 (Beale and Milford townships and was the top vote-getter from a write-in campaign. Former director David J. Fry did not seek re-election.

In Region 5 (Fermanagh Township), there will be a new face as Page, who served previously on the board, replaced Mark F. Wagner. Page received 416 votes of the 506 votes cast. Wagner, who had 63 write-in votes, decided not to seek re-election. He changed his mind before Election Day, but his write-in campaign was not successful.

In Region 2 (Fayette Township), Malinda "Mindy" Carvell did not seek re-election and was replaced by write-in candidate Cindy Treaster who garnered 276 votes.

Two board members - Douglas E. Kline in Region 3 (Delaware and Susquehanna townships) and Martha Jane Shirk in Region 6 (Mifflin, Mifflintown and Thompsontown) also remained on the board after successful re-election campaigns.

Varner, who represents Region 1 (Monroe Township), was also chosen to continue as school board president during the

reorganization part of the meeting. Page was also nominated. Joseph R. Shearer in Region 8 (Port Royal Borough and Spruce Hill and Turbett townships) will also continue as vice president.

Additionally, Shirk was appointed to the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit No.11 Board of Directors, and Varner to the position of Pennsylvania

School Boards Association liaison.

Future meetings at 7 p.m.

The school board voted to change the starting time of its regular monthly board meetings to 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, with the exception of July and December 2024.

The December 2024 organizational and regular meeting will both be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

A motion to change the time to 6:30 p.m. as well as another to keep the meetings at 8 p.m. failed to gain enough support.

The school board voted to continue workshop meetings at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. All meetings will continue to be held at the Administration Office, located at 146 Weatherby Way, Mifflintown.

Facility-use requests

The school board approved the following facility-use requests:

· Frank Reasner, Cocolamus softball, East Juniata Elementary School gym, conditioning and practice, December 2023 through July 2024, as available.

· Johnna Towsey, Juniata High School National Honor Society, Juniata High School facilities, babysitting fundraiser, Dec. 9, 2023; and Juniata High School facilities, gift-wrapping fundraiser, Dec. 16, 2023.

· Tiffanie Burger, Girls on the Run, East Juniata Elementary School gym, program sessions, Mondays and Wednesdays from March 11, 2024, through May 8, 2024.

Field trips

The school board approved the following field trips:

· East Juniata High School theater program students, AMC Movie Theater, Selinsgrove, Tuesday, Dec. 19.*

· East Juniata High School National Honor Society, delivery of donated items, Shelter Services Inc. and NuVisions Center, both of Lewistown, Tuesday, Dec. 19.

· Juniata High School FFA, Pennsylvania FFA Mid-Winter Convention, Harrisburg, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

· Four Juniata High School band members, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 4 band, Flinton, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, through Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.

· Health professions students, Geisinger AIM HI Career Exploration event, Lewistown, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

· Four Juniata High School students, Regional Poetry Out Loud competition, Newport, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.

· Four Juniata High School Orchestra members, PMEA District 4/6 orchestra, Johnstown, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, through, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024.

· Juniata and East Juniata high schools FFA, ACES FFA Leadership Conference, Harrisburg, Saturday, Feb.10, 2024, through Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.

· Two Juniata High School jazz musicians, PMEA District 4 Jazz Festival, East Juniata High School, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, through Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.

· 30 Juniata Elementary School students, PBIS Reward, Texas Roadhouse, Selinsgrove, Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

*Indicates trips for which transportation is not district-funded.

Personnel

The school approved the following personnel matters:

· Resignation of Erin Cook as East Juniata High School Student Council co-advisor, effective Oct. 13, 2023.

· Hiring of Ryan T. Leister as Tuscarora Junior High School social studies teacher, effective no later than Jan. 19, 2024, contingent upon receipt of required clearances. Leister replaces Joshua Imes, who has resigned.

· Hiring of Hillari A. Ayers as a substitute secretary; and Ian B. Sonan as a substitute custodian, contingent upon receipt of required clearances.

· Issuance of a permanent professional employee contract, or tenure, to Lacie M. Solt, after three years of satisfactory service as a temporary professional employee.

· Approved Marcus Brothers as a mentor for Catherine Durst.

· Approved an annual stipend of $2,000 for the board secretary.

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