MIFFLINTOWN — When Mark Wagner returned to the Juniata County School District Board of Directors in January, it felt less like a comeback and more like a continuation of unfinished work.

A Juniata High School graduate, longtime community member and newly-retired insurance professional, Wagner has spent much of his adult life serving the district in one capacity or another. His latest term marks a renewed commitment to a school system he has watched evolve for decades.

Wagner previously served on the board for more than a decade, including time as board president. That experience, he says, is what he brings to the table now — not an agenda, not a list of grievances, but a steady hand and a clear understanding of how the district operates.

“There’s no issues in front of me that I see that I need to look at,” Wagner told the Juniata County School District Board of Directors during his interview on Jan. 7. A week later, he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Ray Page’s resignation.

“I just bring a lot of experience — between 10 and 15 years on the board,” Wagner added.

That experience has shaped his approach to governance. Wagner is not one to make decisions based on emotion or pressure. Instead, he leans on policy, law, and the guidance of the administration.

“The first thing I go to is what’s right — what’s written in the law or policy,” he said. “Having your emotions deal with some of that stuff is not so good, so I usually follow policy first and consensus. I ask the administration for their opinions.”

It’s a philosophy that has served him well, especially in a district where financial challenges are constant and solutions are rarely simple.

A district doing good work — but facing hard math

Wagner is candid about the district’s biggest challenge: revenue. Juniata County’s tax base has remained relatively flat for years, even as costs continue to rise. It’s a reality he has discussed many times, including with Juniata County School District Business Manager Rich Meily.

“Our district is just in a place where we’re doing good things — we’re graduating a good percentage of our kids,” Wagner said. “But our income, the tax bills just aren’t getting up. So we just have to raise taxes every year just to keep the budget going.”

It’s not a message any board member enjoys delivering, but Wagner believes honesty is essential. The district cannot spend money it doesn’t have, and it cannot meet student needs without stable funding.

“The priorities are what the administration puts in the budget — making sure we have enough teachers, giving the kids what they need,” he said.

Importance of communication

For Wagner, the heart of effective school governance is communication — open, honest and ongoing. He believes the board and administration must work together, not in opposition.

“To work with the administration, if there’s no give and take and conversation between (Superintendent of Schools) Mrs. (Christie) Halderman and (Assistant Superintendent) Mr. (Ben) Fausey, and all their people underneath them — if we cannot talk to them freely, it doesn’t work,” he said.

During his early years on the board, Wagner was known for asking questions — sometimes tough ones. He acknowledges that he and administrators “bumped heads a couple times,” but he views that as part of the process, not a sign of dysfunction.

“We did get things done,” he said.

That willingness to ask questions, to push for clarity, and to insist on transparency is something he brings back with him. Wagner doesn’t see himself as a rubber stamp, nor as a contrarian. He sees himself as a steward — someone responsible for ensuring decisions are made thoughtfully and in the best interest of students.

Return rooted in service

Wagner’s return to the board comes at a time when many districts struggle to find volunteers willing to take on the demands of school governance. For him, the decision was simple: he still cares deeply about the district and he still believes he has something to offer.

That experience includes years of navigating budgets, personnel decisions, curriculum discussions and community concerns. It includes understanding the rhythms of the district — the challenges that recur, the victories that matter, the pressures that never quite go away.

It also includes a sense of perspective. After retiring from the insurance industry, Wagner could have stepped back from public service entirely. Instead, he chose to return to a role that demands time, patience, and resilience.

Looking ahead

As he settles into his new term, Wagner isn’t making grand promises or sweeping declarations. He’s focused on the fundamentals: policy, communication, and supporting the administration’s efforts to meet student needs.

“I just want to help,” he said simply.

In a time when school boards across the country face division and volatility, Wagner’s steady, policy-first approach offers something increasingly rare: calm, experience and a belief that good governance starts with listening.

And for Juniata County, that may be exactly what’s needed.