LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County School Board of Directors heard a great deal of public comment Thursday, June 26, regarding the District’s June 19 decision to cut a music education position through attrition; directors took further action on roll call items as well.

During the second public comment portion of the June 26 meeting, students, community members, and educators filled the Mifflin County Administration meeting room to the brim to voice their opinions on cuts to elementary/middle school music education following the retirement of Lori R. Thomas, a music teacher at Indian Valley Elementary School/IVIS and Strodes Mills Elementary School.

Because the music education cuts were not on the agenda, the members of the public were required to utilize the second public comment period which allows for individuals to voice opinions on any board action.

Jasey Zerby, of the special education department at Mifflin County Middle School, shared her thoughts about the “cutting in half” of the music program through song.

Zerby played a tune on the ukulele with lyrics that called attention to her belief that music fuels creativity in students and increases student focus among other benefits. She conveyed that she feels the cuts are unfair to students who deserve quality education.

Daniel Garner, a 2022 Mifflin County High School graduate from Reedsville, then shared his feelings toward the recent cut.

“I’m going into music education myself and it’s scary to see how established curriculums, schedules, and programs can be diminished,” Garner said.

Garner hoped to convince the Board to restore the music schedule and replace Thomas with reasons including the spiritual enhancements of a music education, learning benefits to students who have a full music education, life benefits like decreased drug use for those who study music, and much more.

Alice Woodring, a Juniata County resident involved in the Lewistown Community Band, echoed the sentiments of those stressing the importance of early music education. “That elementary program leads right into the high school program, and that is so important,” Woodring said.

Woodring said that elementary music led her to take part in the Lewistown Community Band.

Marquise Siennick, Burnham resident and 2025-26 Mifflin County High School 10th-grade student, also shared the importance of the music program and emphasized the pride that the Mifflin County District has in its band and choir.

Siennick said that the music education cuts, with the Board’s consistent support of band and choir, “hurts really bad” as a student.

The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors did not act on any of the public comments because they act only on the agenda created for each meeting.

Athletic regulations

Before the second public comment period, the Board discussed athletic program regulations and the Outdoor School program which some individuals addressed during the first public comment period of the meeting.

Directors moved to approve the 2025-26 Athletic Program Regulations with the exception of an option to be entered into the Post-Season PIAA Tournament Eligibility Standards.

When discussing one option, some directors shared opinions against the proposed option which would allow each coach to determine if their team will enter the PIAA District Tournaments. Each coach would be required to provide written documentation of why their team should be permitted to enter the postseason.

Director Diane Stewart said, “In my mind, option one is lowering the standards. I am not in favor of lowering standards.”

Director Brent Erb felt that the proposed option could be piloted and then revisited next year because the Board approves athletic regulations every year.

Director E. Terry Styers said, “I think as a district we want our athletic program, like our other programs, to be high level. Our other programs have standards.”

The proposed option passed 5-4 in a roll call vote with Stewart, Styers, Board President Zeb Harshbarger, and Director John Knepp in opposition.

The Mifflin County School Board of Directors and Administrators will reevaluate the effectiveness of the .500 rule before approval of the 2026-27 athletic regulations.

Outdoor school

Before the Directors reached the item to eliminate Mifflin County School District’s participation in the overnight fifth-grade Outdoor School program effective at the start of the 2025-26 school year, they heard from individuals in opposition in the first public comment.

Kelly Rivera, of Lewistown, stated that taking away from students due to the Board’s lack of alignment with Penn State’s values is not fair to the students. “You are politicizing this school board,” Rivera added.

Del Fuller, PSEA Central Region president and president of the Association of Mifflin County Educators, said, “In light of the public outcry to not cut another position in Mifflin County School District through attrition, here we are tonight not only cutting a position in music but also dumping the Outdoor School. The board is set to cut another position and decrease opportunities for students.”

Sue Garner, of Reedsville, said that Penn State’s policies are not linked to the effectiveness of Outdoor School. “Let’s not take away these opportunities our kids have,” Garner said.

According to directors, with no motion and no second from directors to approve the elimination of Outdoor School, the agenda item “dies.”