MIFFLINTOWN — The Juniata County School District Board of Directors will head into summer after approving a $51.4 million budget for the 2026-27 school year without a tax increase at its regular monthly meeting at the administration building in Mifflintown on Wednesday night.

The budget keeps the real estate tax rate steady while outlining continued funding for district programs, operations and services. Several board members discussed implementing a smaller tax increase due to worrisome revenues in the future.

The board approved a proposed real estate tax rate of 81.592 mills. The plan also includes a $5 per capita tax, a $5 residence tax, a $10 flat-rate occupation tax, a 1% real estate transfer tax, a 0.5% earned income tax and a 5% amusement tax. All taxes are effective July 1, 2026.

Internship program

The school board approved Julia Martin, Calla Mianulli, Sylvia Brubaker, Selena Mayall-Marker and Carolina Jaramillo as student interns at Juniata Elementary School, and Brooklyn Devinney at East Juniata High School for the 2026-27 school year.

Facility use requests

The board approved the following facility use requests:

•Melissa Gentner, Big Valley Alliance Church, use of Tuscarora Junior High School facilities for ESL classes on Thursdays during the 2026-27 school year, no fee;

•Justin and Katelyn Frontz, East Juniata Elementary Basketball, use of the East Juniata Elementary School gymnasium for practices and scrimmages, June 2026 through May 2027 as available, no fee.

Contracts and agreements

The school board approved contract proposals with:

•Pittsburgh Stage Inc., Sewickley, for stage repairs at East Juniata High School at a cost of $40,703. Work includes upgrading existing supports to meet current industry safety standards, along with delivery and installation;

•Cocolamus Creek Disposal Services Inc., McAlisterville, for refuse removal under a three-year service contract for district buildings. The total cost for the 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years is $159,249.12;

•Snow removal contracts for district properties for the 2026-27 through 2028-29 school years, awarded to Zimmerman’s Excavation, Mifflintown; JBS Services, Richfield; and Shade-Chris Excavating, McAlisterville;

•Koppy’s Propane, Carlisle, for propane services for the 2026-27 school year;

•Tuscarora Intermediate Unit No. 11 for practical assessment exploration system lab services;

•A memorandum of understanding with the Juniata County Education Association establishing an eSports advisor position at each high school with a yearly stipend of $1,400;

•Renewed membership with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to include Keystone Agenda services for agenda management and policy support.

Student board representatives

The school board approved one student representative from each high school to serve as a non-voting member of the board, effective at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

Personnel matters

The school board approved the following personnel matters:

•Hired Jessica Wacker as a driver;

•Retirement of Tammy S. Ehrenzeller, paraprofessional at East Juniata High School, effective June 2;

•Transfer of Dawn L. Croissette from a full-time Juniata High School English teaching position to the combined roles of Juniata County Virtual Academy coordinator and librarian, with a $5,000 stipend, effective July 6. The coordinator position is an Act 93 position; she will be considered a .5 Act 93 employee and a .5 CBA employee;

•Transfer of Tyler P. Inch from a full-time East Juniata High School mathematics teaching position to East Juniata High School athletic director and part-time math teacher, effective July 1, with a $7,500 stipend. The athletic director is an Act 93 position; he will be considered a .5 Act 93 employee and a .5 CBA employee;

•Transfer of Tyler S. Clark from a full-time Juniata Elementary School teaching position to Juniata High School/Tuscarora Junior High School athletic director and part-time teacher, effective July 1, with a $7,500 stipend. The athletic director is an Act 93 position; he will be considered a .5 Act 93 employee and a .5 CBA employee;

•Information only: Elizabeth Book is transferring to a math position at East Juniata High School;

•Hired Cheri L. Peck as a long-term substitute teacher at East Juniata High School, effective Aug. 18;

•Hired Madison P. Wolfe as kindergarten teacher at East Juniata Elementary School, effective Aug. 18;

Hired Madelyn Repsher as kindergarten teacher at Juniata Elementary School, effective Aug. 18;

Hired Amanda Yoder as fourth-grade teacher at Juniata Elementary School, effective Aug. 18;

Hired Elizabeth Beward as special education teacher at Juniata Elementary School, effective Aug. 18;

Approved supplemental department chair positions across elementary and secondary levels;

Approved an educational sabbatical for Elizabeth R. Sperlich for the 2026-27 school year;

Created a Level 2 paraprofessional position at Tuscarora Junior High School to meet student needs beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Field trip

The school board approved a field trip for East Juniata High School National Honor Society students and Student Council members, along with Juniata High School SADD students, to participate in the United Way Day of Caring on Sept. 16, at a location to be determined.

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Further information regarding the Juniata County School District Board of Directors meeting will appear in a future edition of The Sentinel.