MIFFLINTOWN — The new school year has been underway for about two months now, and the Juniata County School District Board of Directors filled a few positions on Thursday during their monthly meeting at the Administration Office in Mifflintown.

The school board hired Jeffrey S. Abram for a floating multi-craft position, at a rate of $24.60 per hour effective Oct. 27, for a new position.

The school board also approved the following personnel matters:

• Hired Joseph Berkheimer as a driver;

• Hired Katelynn Ramp as a substitute nurse, contingent upon receipt of required clearances;

• Authorized permanent professional employment contract to Elizabeth S. Book after three years of satisfactory service as a temporary professional employee (tenure);

• Approved Bayana Zimmerman for the Juniata Elementary School Student Assistance Program team;

• Approved a request by Danielle Zimmerman to attend the Pennsylvania Business Educators Association Conference in Grantville on Nov. 21;

• Authorized the administration to fill vacancies that need to be filled before the November 2025 meeting, to include a Juniata Elementary School special education teaching position and an East Juniata Elementary School part-time custodial position, with the names of the individuals to be approved presented at the Nov. 20 meeting.

Extracurricular positions

The school board approved the following extracurricular positions at East Juniata High School:

• Jennifer Hund, student council advisor; and volunteer program advisor and house manager;

• Taleah Neidig, volunteer stage manager and assistant;

• Anna Wisner, volunteer vocal coach;

• Seraphina Malocu, volunteer choreographer assistant and accent coach;

• Patricia Shenk, volunteer head costumer;

• Lisa Symmerman, volunteer costuming assistant;

• Jana Snyder, volunteer costuming assistant;

• Paul Kristula, volunteer lighting design;

• Rodney Feltman, volunteer sound engineer;

• Isabella Malocu, volunteer acting and vocal coach and assistant; and

• Brandon Sheeler, volunteer program advisor.

Donations

The school board approved a $2,000 donation in Earned Income Tax Credit funds from Commonwealth Charitable Management, on behalf of Juniata Valley Bank, to benefit the district’s Advanced Placement program.

Contracts and agreements

The school board approved the following contracts and agreements:

-Affiliation agreement for an academic experience site with Pennsylvania Western University in the area of social work. PennWest was created by the 2022 merger of California University of Pa., Clarion University and Edinboro University.

-Contract with Hummer Turfgrass Systems Inc., of Manheim, for East Juniata High School soccer field turf maintenance. The three-year contract has an annual cost of $8,774 and is billed monthly from March through November of each year.

Facility use requests

The school board approved the following facility use requests:

-Robert Digon, Juniata County Early Childhood Services, East Juniata Elementary School cafeteria, parent meeting, Oct. 2, no fee;

-Sharielle Willow, Juniata Elementary School PTO, Juniata Elementary School parking lot, trunk-or-treat, Oct. 19, no fee;

-Jackson Albert, Ridge Runners, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice, Tuesdays, Oct. 21 through Dec. 16, no fee;

-Stephanie Bonnell, East Juniata boys soccer, East Juniata High School cafeteria, banquet, Nov. 3, no fee;

-Mark Fisher, Juniata Little Indians football, Juniata Elementary School cafeteria, banquet, Nov. 16, no fee; and

-Sharielle Willow, Juniata Elementary School PTO, Juniata Elementary School facilities, vendor show, Nov. 21-22, no fee.

Field trips

The school board approved the following field trips:

-Two East Juniata High School students, Practical Assessment Exploration System Lab, Lewistown, Tuesday, Sept. 30;

-East Juniata Elementary School Student Council, PBIS Student Summit, Huntingdon, Monday;

-Juniata High School bocce ball team, Capital Area Region Youth Summit, Middletown, Wednesday, Oct. 22;

-Juniata High School student, community-based instruction, Bargain Barn, Mifflintown, Wednesday, Oct. 22;

-Eight media studies and related students, National Association for Media Literacy Education and Poynter, Penn State University, Monday, Oct. 27;

-East Juniata Elementary School fourth to sixth grade students, theatrical preview, East Juniata High School, Friday, Oct. 31;

-Juniata High School political science and advanced placement U.S. history classes, Mock Constitutional Convention, Duncannon, Friday, Dec. 12;

-Twenty Tuscarora Junior High School students, middle school reading competition, McVeytown, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026;

-Juniata Elementary School first grade, grade-level field trip, ZooAmerica, Hershey, Wednesday, April 29, 2026;

-Tuscarora Junior High School Outdoor Club, trout release celebration, Port Royal Lions Club Park, Port Royal, Friday, May 8, 2026;

-Juniata Elementary School second grade, grade-level field trip, Promise Ranch, McAlisterville, Wednesday, May 13, 2026; and

-Juniata Elementary School kindergarten, grade-level field trip, Lake Tobias, Halifax, Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Next meeting

The school board will hold its workshop meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the administration office.