LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors tabled a motion that would have filled openings for the federal programs coordinator and principal position at Strodes Mills Elementary School on Thursday.

Frank Miller, who is currently both the federal programs coordinator and principal of Strodes Mills Elementary School, will retire from both positions on June 30, 2026.

Director Mark Baker motioned and Director Erin Barlup seconded to table the vote on options to fill Miller’s position.

“I would like to see some type of other budget-neutral position offered for us to vote on,” Baker said.

The motion passed 6-3 with Board President Zeb Harshbarger, Director E. Terry Styers and Director Cody Wian in opposition.

After the Feb. 19 Committee of the Whole meeting when a second option was eliminated, the board had two existing options including:

Option 1

•Change the existing combined Strodes Mills Elementary School principal and Federal Programs Coordinator position to Strodes Mills principal only. Chief Academic Officer Steven DeArment would assume the federal programs role.

•Change the existing combined Lewistown Intermediate School and East Derry Elementary School principal position to Lewistown Intermediate School principal only.

•Change the existing combined Lewistown Intermediate School and East Derry assistant principal position to Lewistown Intermediate School assistant principal only.

•Add an East Derry principal position. This is a new administrative position.

Option 3

•Change the existing combined Strodes Mills principal and Federal Programs Coordinator position to Strodes Mills principal only. DeArment would assume the federal programs role.

•Change the existing combined Lewistown Intermediate School and East Derry principal position to Lewistown Intermediate School principal only.

•Change the existing combined Lewistown Intermediate School and East Derry assistant principal position to Lewistown Intermediate School assistant principal only.

•Add an East Derry principal position. This is a new administrative position, offset by eliminating the principal position at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology.

•Eliminate the principal position at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology.

Baker stated that district administrators should create additional budget-neutral options to fill Miller’s position that also work well for the schools involved.

Baker then motioned and Director Brent Erb seconded to explore other options to fill Miller’s position, followed by a 9-0 vote to pass the motion.

The board will meet next on Thursday, March 19, for its Committee of the Whole meeting.

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