Mark Crosson

LEWISTOWN — When Mark Crosson retired from his post as principal at Mifflin County High School at the end of the 2021-22 school year, the longtime administrator wasn’t ready to hang it up just yet.

Extenuating circumstances with his parents’ health forced Crosson into an early retirement. However, from the day one of his retirement, he had expressed an interest in substituting for the Mifflin County School District in his retirement.

“After 23 years as an administrator at the district, we’re going to need some big shoes to fill,” said Mifflin County School District Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner said after the school board accepted his letter of retirement in January 2022.

For the past three years, Crosson has filled in superbly when needed, lending a friendly helping hand to administrators and educators, along with vast three decades of experience.

Now, the district has asked Crosson to take a bigger role, accepting the role of acting principal at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology for the remainder of the 2024-25 school

year. Crosson had been filling in as a substitute, but he was anxious for more of a permanent role.

The decision was unanimously approved by the Academy’s Operating Committee at its regular monthly meeting in the school’s Encore Room, located at 700 Pitt St., Lewistown, on Thursday night. Crosson’s term is effective Sept. 13, 2024, through June 30, 2025, at a salary of $350 per day.”You bring a tremendous amount of expertise to this position and have a good-working relationship all-around, so we’re looking for good things here,” Operating Committee member Diane Stewart said.

Crosson’s hiring was necessitated by the resignation of Gary Heverly Jr., who had served as the Academy’s principal since Aug. 10, 2023. Heverly worked at the Academy for one year after spending nine years working as a career counselor at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap. His resignation was also accepted by the Operating Committee on Thursday and was effective Sept. 3, 2024.

Crosson decided to retire in 2022 due to the ailing health of his parents. His mom passed away in 2020 and his father had battled through some of his own health issues for the last two years.

“A principal works a ton of hours,” Crosson said. “It was difficult trying to make sure my dad makes it to his doctor’s appointments and got all of his medications. I made a choice for my family to retire early but still be on the substitute list.”

For Crosson, at times as a substitute, it was like he never stepped away.

“If I go to the middle school or the junior high school or the high school, I’d have a brother or sister of someone who was in high school when I was the principal, or a cousin,” Crosson recalled.

Crosson is anxious for his new role at the Academy, returning to work in a career he is truly passionate about.

“I love getting to the know the kids,” Crosson added of working with students at the Academy this year. “This year at the Academy, I’ve been getting to know the Juniata County kids as well.”

The administration at the Academy has undergone some major changes recently as Laura Hicks became the new administrative director and Ryan Wagner was hired as the business manager.

“He and Laura Hicks work well together,” Varner said of the new administration lineup. “She is very appreciative of his help and knowledge and the experience that he brings to the table.

“This helps the teachers and kids as a bunch of kids know him from Mifflin County (being the principal),” he added. “It’s basically a win-win; he brings a lot of value.”

Crosson is anxious to be part of a new administrative team at the Academy, which has flourished in recent years with not only increasing attendance boom but several state and national achievements by its students.

“I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Mr. Varner and the school district,” Crosson said. “I’m very loyal to them, and I really want to help Ms. Hicks.”

We’re working to get a lot of procedures and processes in place,” he added. “I’m looking forward to it and enjoying it.”

In other business

The Operating Committee approved the following personnel matters:

· Administrative Director Laura Hicks as the Academy’s school safety and security coordinator.

· Hiring of Chrissie Hassinger as a full-time practical nursing instructor, starting at $49,100, contingent upon the receipt of all required paperwork for onboarding.

· Hiring of Darwin Hetrick as a part-time evening custodian, contingent upon the receipt of all required paperwork for onboarding.

· Hiring of Nicole Lewis as human relations generalist, effective Aug. 23, 2024, at the annual rate of $5,000.

· Adjusted salary of Jennifer Dressler from $49,975 to $50,950, effective Sept. 12, 2024.

Contracts approved

The Operating Committee approved the following contracts and agreements:

· A contract with NRG Building Services, of Harrisburg, for the upgrade of the Tridium N4 Building Automation System for $25,400.

· New affiliation agreement with Mount Nittany Health, of State College, for educational programs, effective Sept. 12, 2024.

· New affiliation agreement with Penn Highlands Healthcare, of Huntingdon, and renewed affiliation agreement with Valley View Retirement Community, of Belleville, to establish a terminal trade preparatory course in practical nursing.

Next meeting

The Operating Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Encore Room at the Academy.