MIFFLINTOWN — In a continued effort to prioritize student safety and modernize aging facilities, the Juniata County School District Board of Directors voted Thursday night at its regular monthly meeting at the administration building in Mifflintown to approve two major grant applications totaling $4 million for improvements at Tuscarora Junior High School.

The first resolution authorized the district to apply for a $1.5 million Public School Facility Improvement Grant to support a series of safety-related upgrades, most notably the construction of a secure vestibule at the school’s main entrance.

District officials explained that secure entryways — now considered a best practice in school-safety design — serve as the first line of defense by creating a controlled checkpoint before visitors can access the building.

Board members emphasized that the secure vestibule is a long-needed improvement. To qualify for the grant, the district must commit to a 25% local matching contribution, a requirement the board approved as part of the resolution.

In a separate action, the board also advanced another major campus improvement, approving a resolution to seek a $2.5 million Public School Facility Improvement Grant for a comprehensive roofing project at the junior high.

Much of the building’s roof has reached the end of its useful life, and officials noted that maintaining the structural integrity of school facilities is critical to safety as well. This second grant also requires a 25% match from the district.

Together, the two applications would secure substantial state support for critical upgrades, reducing the burden on local taxpayers while addressing essential safety and infrastructure needs.

The district expects to hear back on its grant applications later this year.

Contracts and agreements

The school board approved:

-Purchase of a double-sided, full-color Teksta outdoor LED sign, to be erected at East Juniata High School, from Stewart Signs, of Mifflintown, at a cost of $22,950.18;

-Subdivision of UPI #09-22-020.000 and the agreement of sale to convey approximately 0.2 acres of that property to the Mifflintown Municipal Authority for $7,500. The board also authorized the business manager and the solicitor to execute all documents necessary to complete the transaction;

-Purchase and installation of a curtain in the Juniata High School gymnasium, from Maiden U.S.A. LLC, of Millersburg, at a cost of $25,000.

Personnel matters

The school board approved the following personnel matters:

-Jeffrey Schmidt and Shirley Plummers as drivers;

-Resignations of Margaret Hackenberger, coordinator of special education and school psychologist, effective Feb. 6, 2026; and Emily J. Duncan, LPN/secretary at Juniata Elementary School and Juniata High School, effective Feb. 20, 2026;

-Hiring of Hailey M. Long, Level 2 paraprofessional, East Juniata Elementary School, at a salary of $19.22 per hour, effective date to be determined, due to the transfer of Justin Austin;

-Malin Kint, who transferred from a long-term substitute position as a music teacher at Juniata Elementary School to a substitute vocational-agriculture teaching position at East Juniata High School, and has now transferred to a substitute art instructor position at Juniata High School, effective Feb. 17, 2026.

-Trisha Hoffman and Taylor Spickler as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) coordinators at East Juniata Elementary School for the 2025-26 school year;

-Tasha Geibel as a mentor for Molly Noel;

-Conference requests for Laura Toth, study skin workshop, Summit Hill, March 5, 2026; -Travis Quici, Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association Conference, Hershey, March 18-19, 2026; and Megan Keller, Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) Institute-Food Science and Safety (FSS), Greeley, Colo., June 8-12, 2026;

-Reesa Watto as yearbook advisor at East Juniata High School;

-Penni Abram, Samantha Gates, Brandon Kahley, Ashley Smith, Gene Hoffmaster, Cameron Good, Elizabeth Eargle, Mark Baylor, Damon Batt and Brent Snyder as pit band volunteers.

Other notes

The school board approved:

-Terrance M. Shepler, of Juniata County School District; Linda L. McClure, of Mount Union Area School District; and Nicole R. Stewart, of Southern Fulton School District, to serve as board member representatives to fill three new terms on the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit Board of Directors;

-Matteo Le Pape, from France, as an exchange student at East Juniata High School for the 2026-27 school year.

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Additional information from this meeting will be published in a future edition of The Sentinel.