LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors appointed a director to fill a vacant board seat on Thursday.

Directors held a brief interview period for candidates Erin Barlup, who was absent due to travel out of the country, and Riley Taylor to fill a vacant seat with a term ending Dec. 6, 2027.

Taylor offered a brief overview of why he should be considered a candidate to fill the seat.

Taylor is a 2016 graduate of Mifflin County High School who wants to become more involved with the school district.

He stated that he has been a nurse for about 8 1/2 years and desires to get involved in local government to contribute to his community after navigating adulthood for many years.

Following the interview portion of the appointment process, directors nominated a candidate to fill the board seat vacancy and serve as a member of the Mifflin County School District Board of Directors beginning Dec. 18, 2025, through Dec. 6, 2027.

Director Jessica Baumgardner nominated Barlup; the directors made no further nominations.

In Director E. Terry Styers’ absence, the board held a roll call vote to appoint Barlup to the vacant seat.

Directors approved Barlup’s appointment in a 6-7 vote, with Director R. Brian Ketchem voting against the motion.

The board will swear in Barlup at a later date.

The board then held committee appointments to the policy committee with one open seat, the athletics committee with two open seats, and the technology committee with one open seat.

Board President Zeb Harshbarger said that he received an email from Styers stating that he would like to sit on the athletics committee. Harshbarger then granted Styers the seat on the athletics committee.

The board decided to keep the remaining committee seats open for Barlup to determine when she is available.

More board updates will be available in a future edition of The Sentinel.