LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology in Lewistown opened the 2025-26 school year with a slight decrease in enrollment, but administrators believe the downturn isn’t worrisome.

During Thursday’s Operational Committee monthly meeting at the Academy, Academy Principal Mark Crosson provided updated numbers from Sept. 5, which indicated school enrollment had dropped to 426 students, a 3.7 percent decrease from enrollment figures released in August.

Of the 426 students, 336 were from the Mifflin County School District – a decrease of 12 students – and 90 were from the Juniata County School District – four fewer students.

During the Operating Committee’s meeting in August, Crosson had said enrollment for many programs at the Academy were at full capacity: auto mechanics technology; cosmetology, early childhood education, construction trades, health professions and welding technology.

Of the 442 students, 348 were from Mifflin County and 94 were from Juniata County, according to the Academy’s enrollment report. Of the 94 Juniata County students, 65 attend Juniata High School and 29 are from East Juniata High School.

“They are down,” Crosson said of the enrollment figures. “We had a number of students from the beginning of the school year who went to their guidance counselor and said they did some things over the summer or worked somewhere over the summer.”

As a result, two or three students decided not to attend the Academy, Crosson explained.

“We had a couple of students who were working and wanted to co-op; however, the co-op experience didn’t align with the task list (for their [particular program), so we weren’t able to approve it because it has to match,” Crosson said. “They decided they were just going to stay at the high school.”

Despite the decrease, administrators are upbeat about the new school year. “We’re off and running,” Crosson said. “The students are highly engaged.”

Administrators were pleased with the 16 cooperative agreements that are currently in place for students, which started on Friday, Sept. 12.

Exterior door upgrades

Funding from a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Grant, which totaled $70,000, is being used to upgrade all original exterior and two interior doors that have been identified by the safety assessment and safety team as a risk to the integrity of the physical security and structure of the building, Academy Administrative Director Laura Hicks said. Hicks believes the project will be completed within six weeks.

Wagner recognized

Academy Business Manager Ryan Wagner was recognized for achieving his master’s of education in School Business Leadership.

Personnel matters

The operating committee accepted the following personnel matters:

Resignation of Nathan M. Mayes, master maintenance, effective Sept. 5, 2025;

Resignation of Lorie A. Hall, part-time custodian, effective Sept. 8, 2025;

Resignation of Larry E. Winn, construction trades instructor, effective upon hire of replacement;

Transfer of Jean Aungst from part-time practical nursing secretary to full-time practical nursing secretary retroactive to Sept. 8. The part-time position has been dissolved;

Transfer of Charles Culbertson, from maintenance assistant to master maintenance, retroactive to Sept. 8, 2025; and

Hiring of John M. Kreider as construction trades instructor, at a salary of $48,500, effective pending completion of new hire paperwork and clearances.

Field trips

The operating committee learned students and staff have scheduled the following field trips:

Agricultural science students will attend various career workshops at Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, Penn State, on Sept. 18, 2025;

Early childhood education students will visit various schools on various dates to supervise PBIS Activities. ECE students will receive CDA hours for completing these events: East Derry Elementary School on Oct. 31, 2025, Jan. 29, 2026 and April 2, 2026; and Lewistown Elementary School on Nov. 21, 2025, Feb. 12, 2026 and April 10, 2026;

Automotive, welding and collision students to the educational day at the races to observe career presentations from the NHRA and Air Force, on Sept. 12;

Health professions students to Central Penn College in Summerdale, Cumberland County, for a school tour. Students will also participate in lab activities, on Oct. 3; and

Early childhood education students – 45 total – will be escorted to the LUMINA Center in Lewistown to participate in toddler time. Students leave at 9:45 a.m. and return by 11:15 a.m. Students receive childhood development associate hours for the event.

Next meeting

The Operating Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9.