MIFFLINTOWN — The Juniata County School Board held its annual reorganizational meeting on Thursday night, and the board of directors elected a new face to serve as its president.

Jackson Albert, who is in his first team as the school director representing Region 7, which consists of Beale and Milford townships, was elected by a 7-2 vote to replace Angela Varner.

During the meeting, which was held at the administration office in Mifflintown, Douglas Kline was nominated to serve as temporary board president to run the board elections. Albert, nominated by Troy Woodward, and Varner, nominated by Martha Jane Shirk, were the two directors up for the position.

In a roll call vote, Kline, Casner, Varner, Woodward, Ray Page, Joseph Shearer and Cindy Treaster voted for Albert; Albert and Shirk voted for Varner.

Shearer was re-elected as vice president of the board of directors by an 8-1 vote. The only vote not for Shearer was cast by Page, who supported Casner.

Additionally, Albert was unanimously approved to serve on the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit No. 11 Board of Directors as was Varner to the position of Pennsylvania School Boards Association liaison.

The board also voted to continue holding its regular monthly meetings on the third Thursday of the month, with the exceptions being June when it will be moved to Wednesday due to the Juneteenth holiday; July when there is not typically a meeting held; and December when the reorganizational meeting is slated.

Workshop meetings will also continue to be held the Wednesday of the week prior to the regular monthly meetings. The starting times for both meetings will remain at 7 p.m.

In other business at its regular meeting on Thursday, the school board approved:

• An academic affiliation agreement with Central Penn College, of Summerdale, for educational and training in the occupational therapy assistant program.

• A facility use request by Zach Allen, of the Eagles 10-under baseball team for the Juniata Elementary School gymnasium for practice on Fridays or weekends, as available, at no fee.

• Field trips for the Juniata High School political science students to attend a tour and mock proceeding at the U.S. Middle District Court in Harrisburg on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024; and Juniata High School students to attend community-based instruction at Walmart in Lewistown and Bing’s Diner in Burnham on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

• Tenure for Joelle C. Stahr after three years of satisfactory service as a temporary professional employee.

NEXT MEETING

The school board will hold its workshop meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. at the administration office.