LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors Thursday, Feb. 19, discussed soliciting requests for proposals for school photography services for the upcoming contract period.

Directors recommended approval to authorize the district administration to prepare and solicit requests for proposals for the three-year period beginning July 1, 2026, and concluding on June 30, 2029.

The district currently has a contract with Strawbridge Studios, Inc. of North Carolina for K-12 photography services including senior photos and group pictures with no cost to the district.

Board President Zeb Harshbarger said, “I wanted to bring this to the board because of the fact that we had been reached out to pertaining to looking at other services for school photography. Obviously, since it was a local business, I at least wanted to entertain the idea.”

Macabe Sitler, owner of MSP Studios and Mifflintown resident, offered his services in addition to his current contract with the district as a sports photographer.

“When schools partner with local businesses, the impact stays right here in our community,” Sitler said.

Sitler shared that MSP Studios photographs all the youth sports programs in Juniata County which include baseball and football.

He added that MSP Studios formed an LLC at the beginning of the year with more than 15 employees with a few of those employees who have already undergone background checks through the district administration.

Sitler emphasized that MSP Studios has the personnel to provide school photography services.

He stated that MSP Studios can match the incentives offered by the existing contract holder for school photography services at no cost to the district.

Harshbarger later said, “The consensus that I’m getting is to go through with the (request for proposal) process, but only for the school photography process, but to keep athletics as is with MSP as our provider for the athletics photos.”

The board will explore bids for school photography services to consider local options but “is content with Strawbridge,” according to Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner.

Directors will vote on bids at 6:30 p.m. today in the district’s administration building.