MIFFLINTOWN — A familiar face is returning to the Juniata County School District Board of Directors as former director and school board president Mark Wagner was appointed to fill the vacant Region 5 post on Thursday night.

At its regular monthly meeting, the school board approved a new Region 5 representative to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Ray Page, who stepped down effective Jan. 2, 2026.

Wagner will serve the remainder of Page’s term, which runs through December 2027.

Wagner was chosen from a field of three candidates who were interviewed on Jan. 7 at the school board’s workshop meeting. The candidates included: Jennie Guilfoyle, who works in a neighboring school district; Dennis Peachey, who recently retired as the chief financial officer of Valley View Retirement Community in Belleville; and Wagner, who also recently retired as an insurance manager. The candidates introduced themselves to the school board and answered a series of questions.

Of the three, only Guilfoyle and Wagner were nominated for the seat. Both received four votes in the first round of voting, with Gabrielle Fisher, Leslie Milliken, Aleiha Rapp and Terrance Shepler supporting Guilfoyle and Jackson Albert, Helen Casner, Douglas Kline and Angela Varner supporting Wagner. In the second round, Guilfoyle received the same four votes, but Wagner received five “yes” votes as Shepler offered his support. Wagner was then sworn in and sat at the table for the rest of the meeting.

Previously, Wagner had served on the board for Region 5, which covers Fermanagh Township. Wagner and former director Ray Page even ran against each other during one election.

The school board also approved Shepler to a three-year term on the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2026.

Czaplicki hired as new EJHS principal

In administrative changes, the school board approved Dr. Matthew D. Czaplicki as the new principal of East Juniata High School at an annual salary of $112,000 and in accordance with all other provisions of the district’s Act 93 Administrative Compensation and Benefit Program, effective at a date to be determined. He replaces Daniel Koishal, who resigned prior to the start of the school year.

Irrigation system to be installed at East Juniata soccer field

The school board approved a contract with Hummer Turfgrass Systems, Inc., of Manheim, to install an automatic irrigation system at East Juniata High School’s soccer field. The $65,850 project will connect to an existing water source and cover the entire playing surface. Work will include trenching, backfilling, leveling irrigation heads, seeding and sodding where needed and mounting the controller on the maintenance shed.

Personal finance course renamed

The school district’s Personal Finance course will be renamed Financial Literacy beginning with the 2026-27 school year to comply with Pennsylvania Act 35.

Personnel

The school board approved:

-Bryleigh Mellott, Alyssa Lightner and Brian Auker as drivers;

Resignations included: Brooke Vinyard, Students Against Destructive Decisions club advisor at Juniata High School, effective Dec. 9, 2025; and Thomas R. Brotzman, Level 2 paraprofessional at East Juniata High School, effective Jan. 23, 2026;

-Hiring Molly A. Noel, music teacher at Juniata Elementary School, effective Jan. 20, 2026. She replaces Kimberly Watt, who transferred. The hiring is also contingent upon receipt of required clearances;

-Hiring Jodi M. Pellman, Level 2 Paraprofessional at East Juniata Elementary School, effective Jan. 16, 2026;

-The following extracurricular positions for Juniata High School for the 2025-26 school year, including Aaron Geedey as baseball coach, Bradley Eargle as art director/set design for theatrical productions; and Dawn Croisette as Students Against Destructive Decisions club advisor;

-Juniata High School football coaches Marcus Brothers, Kurt Condo, Ben Lauver, Ryan Leister, Colton Shertzer and Dylan Smith to attend the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Clinic in Camp Hill on Feb. 13, 2026; and Elizabeth Sperlich to attend the Highmark Caring Place Grief Talks, on March 11, 2026;

-The hourly rate of substitute paraprofessionals and substitute cleaners to be $14.

Facility use requests

The school board approved:

-Frank Reasner, Cocolamus softball, East Juniata Elementary School cafeteria sign-ups, Jan. 7, 2026, no fee; and as available from March through May 2026;

-Milton Herrold Jr., Big Valley Alliance Church, Tuscarora Junior High School classrooms, ESL Classes Thursdays, following school calendar, no fee;

-Stephanie Wagner, East Juniata rookies baseball, East Juniata Elementary School gym, practice, February through June 2026 as available, no fee;

-Ashley Cameron, East Juniata Key Club, East Juniata Elementary School facilities, babysitting night, Feb. 13, 2026, no fee;

-Jen Field, Juniata Boys Basketball Booster Club, Tuscarora Junior High School and Juniata High School gymnasium and cafeteria, Tournament, Feb. 13-15, 2026, no fee; Feb. 20-22, 2026; and Feb. 21-22, 2026;

-Laine Short, Girls on the Run – East Juniata Elementary School, East Juniata Elementary School facilities, practice, Mondays and Wednesdays, March through May 2026, no fee;

Alyssa Akhtar, Girls on the Run, Mid State, PA – Juniata Elementary School facilities, practice, Tuesday and Thursday, March 2 through April 30, 2026, no fee;

-Bobbie Kerstetter, East Juniata High School After Prom Committee, East Juniata Elementary School facilities After Prom May 2-3, 2026, no fee.

Field trips

The school board approved:

-Six Juniata and East Juniata high school students, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 4 Jazz and A Cappella Festival, State College, Friday, Jan. 16-Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026;

-45 Juniata and East Juniata high school students, “Closer Look” tours, Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, Lewistown, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026;

-Fifth-grade East Juniata Elementary School students, tour, Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, Lewistown, Tuesday, March 10, 2026;

-Juniata High School Health Occupations Students of America, field trip and Surgery Live! Whitaker Center, Harrisburg, Wednesday, March 11, 2026;

-23 second-grade Juniata Elementary School students, trout release, Port Royal Lions Park, Friday, May 8, 2026;

*-Juniata High School Student Council, reward trip, Hersheypark, Hershey, Thursday, May 21, 2026;

-East Juniata High School Class of 2026, Senior Class Week, East Juniata Elementary School, Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

*Indicates trips for which transportation is not district-funded.

Other news

The school board approved:

-Adoption of an Accelerated Budget Opt Out Resolution for 2026-27. This will allow the district to dispense with the more complicated, expensive and accelerated Act 1 budget requirements as long as certain funding conditions are met;

-The 2026-27 school calendar, with August 26, 2026, as the first day of school and May 28, 2027, as the last.

-Contracting with Central Penn Education Associates Inc. for the provision of psychoeducational evaluations for the 2025-26 school year.

Next meeting

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19.