Daniel Koishal

MIFFLINTOWN — For the second time in less than two years, the Juniata County School District will need to hire a new principal at East Juniata High School.

In September 2024, Daniel “Bo” L. Koishal, who previously served as an English Second Language, or ESL, teacher in the district was unanimously approved as the new principal at East Juniata High School in Cocolamus by the Juniata County School District Board of Directors.

On Thursday night, those same directors approved Koishal’s resignation during their monthly meeting at the administration building in Mifflintown. Koishal will step down, effective Dec. 19, 2025.

Koishal, who replaced former Principal Michael Maclay who retired, was paid an annual salary of $108,000. Previously, Koishal was employed by the Dover Area School District as the dean of students at Dover Area Middle School in Dover, Pa. Koishal was also a teacher in the Hanover Public School District for nearly 20 years.

The search for his replacement will begin immediately. Juniata County School District Superintendent of Schools Christie Holderman said interviews will be held within the next one to two weeks with prospective candidates.

Personnel

The school board also approved the following personnel matters:

• Resignation of Krista J. Snyder, music teacher at Juniata Elementary School, effective Dec. 12, 2025.

• Alyssa Messick, volunteer choreographer at East Juniata High School; and Denise Primak, volunteer bocce coach at Juniata High School as extracurricular positions.

• Hired Robert G. Brubaker as a part-time custodian at East Juniata Elementary School, at an hourly rate of $16.91, effective at a date to be determined. Brubaker fills a vacancy created by the transfer of Preston Fosselman.

• Conference request by Trisha Hoffman to attend the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association Conference, State College, on Dec. 4, 2025.

The board was also informed that Level 2 paraprofessional Tara Zangrilli’s assignment has been modified to include a half-day at Juniata Elementary School and a half-day at Juniata High School. Additionally, Malin Kint will transfer from a long-term substitute position at Juniata High School to a long-term substitute music teaching position at Juniata Elementary School, effective Dec. 2, 2025.

Property

The school board approved district administrators to obtain an appraisal for the former Mountain View Elementary School property, which is to be sold.

Bids

The school board approved the administration to proceed with the process of soliciting bids for Tuscarora Junior High School secure vestibule construction and East Juniata High School auditorium restroom upgrades.

Special Presentation

Student leaders of the Juniata High School FFA chapter made a special presentation to the school board about their organization and the benefits it provides to members.

Donation

The school board approved a gift of $100 from Brant Guilfoyle to offset the cost of outstanding lunch accounts.

Facility use requests

The school board approved the following facility use requests:

• Tasha Geibel, Juniata Outlaws travel softball team, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice, as available from November 2025 through June 2026, no fee;

• Robert Digon, Juniata County Early Childhood Services, Juniata Elementary School cafeteria, family night curriculum, Nov. 6, 2025, no fee;

• Kaci Blessing, Tuscarora Junior High School football, Tuscarora Junior High School football facilities, banquet, Nov. 13, 2025, no fee;

• Jenise Hoffman, East Juniata High School girls soccer, East Juniata High School cafeteria, banquet, Nov. 16, 2025, no fee;

• Donald Bell, First Baptist Church of Juniata County, Dietrick Field, flag football, Nov. 27, 2025, no fee;

• Aleiha Rapp, Helping Hands of Juniata County, East Juniata High School gymnasium, volleyball tournament, Nov. 30, 2025, no fee;

• Stephanie Wagner, elementary girls basketball, East Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice and scrimmages, Dec. 2, 2025, through March 31, 2026, no fee;

• Emily McConnell, Juniata fifth- and sixth-grade basketball, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice and scrimmages, Thursdays and Saturdays from December 2025 through March 2025 as available, no fee;

• Travis Fike, East Juniata third- through sixth-grade basketball, East Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice and scrimmages, Mondays through Saturdays from December 2025 through February 2026, no fee;

• Tom Feltman, elementary girls basketball, East Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice and scrimmages, Dec. 2, 2025, through March 2026 as available, no fee;

• Robert Digon, Juniata County Early Childhood Services, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, parent meeting, Dec. 11, 2025, no fee;

• Rachel Hayes, Juniata third- and fourth-grade girls basketball, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice and scrimmages, Thursdays, December 2025 through February 2026, no fee;

• Zach Allen, Eagles 11-U baseball, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, practice and workout, Fridays or Sundays, mid-December 2025 through March 2026, no fee;

• Meagan Apple, East Juniata High School boys and girls basketball, East Juniata High School gymnasium, shoot-a-thon fundraiser, Jan. 4, 2026;

• Robert Digon, Juniata County Early Childhood Services, Juniata Elementary School gymnasium, parent meeting, Jan. 15, 2026, no fee;

• Jill Condo, Juniata High School Class Parent Association, Juniata Elementary School facilities, After Prom, April 25-26, 2026, no fee.

Transportation

The school board approved the following transportation matters:

• Hired Steven Yohn, Jasmine Miller, Alycia Reyes and Gene Herrold as drivers;

• Shuttle service between Basom Park in Richfield and East Juniata Elementary School for Dec. 8 and 11, 2025, for holiday program attendees.

Field trips

The school board approved the following field trips:

• Two East Juniata Elementary School students to attend a theatrical performance at East Juniata High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025;

• Juniata High School band, Veterans Day event, Juniata Elementary School, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025;

• Fifteen Juniata and East Juniata high school students, district band rehearsals, Mifflin County High School, Lewistown, Thursday, Nov. 20, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, 2025; and Jan. 15 and 29, 2026;

• Juniata High School freshmen, tour, Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, Lewistown, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025;

• Juniata High School Clarinet Ensemble, performance, Four Season Senior Center, Mifflin, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025;

• Nine Juniata High School students, community-based instruction, Sal’s OIP, McAlisterville, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025;

• Seven Juniata High School students, PMEA District 4 Choral Festival, Three Springs, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, through Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026;

• East Juniata FFA, Mid-Winter Conference and Farm Show, Harrisburg, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026;

• Twenty Juniata and East Juniata high school students, career exploration, Geisinger School of Nursing, Lewistown, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026;

• East Juniata High School FFA, Agricultural Cooperation Establishes Success (ACES) conference, Harrisburg, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, and Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.

• *East Juniata High School Intro to Theater/Advanced Placement Literature Students, theatrical production, Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, Lancaster, Sunday, March 15, 2026.

*Indicates a trip for which transportation is not district-funded.

Board finale

Long-time director Joseph R. Shearer attended his last school board meeting on Thursday as he did not run for re-election in the November general election. Shearer, who is the board’s vice president, serves Region No. 8, which covers Port Royal Borough and Spruce Hill and Turbett townships.

Next meeting

The Juniata County School District Board of Directors will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the administration building in Mifflintown.