Wian elected board vice president

Mifflin County approves food service budget, personnel items

LEWISTOWN -- Cody Wian was elected vice president of the Mifflin County School District's Board of Directors by an 8-0 vote Thursday as directors completed a leadership change and approved several personnel, food service and student support items.

Wian will serve until the board's December organization meeting. His election followed Brent Erb's selection as president by a 6-2 vote and Rose Salvo's appointment to the board by a 5-3 vote.

Salvo defeated Duane K. McMullen Jr., Daniel Schomaker, and Diane Stewart for the seat vacated by Zeb Harshbarger. Her term runs through Dec. 6, 2027.

The board tabled the appointment of its representative to the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 Board of Directors. Salvo was nominated for the position, but the directors delayed the vote because she wasn't present to answer questions.

The intermediate unit appointment would run through June 30, 2027, completing the term previously held by Harshbarger.

The board also approved the district's 2026-27 food service budget, which includes a 5-cent increase in meal prices. The measure passed 6-2, with Jessica Baumgardner and Paula Dickson voting against it.

Baumgardner said she didn't support charging families more for meals after the district recently raised property taxes.

District officials said new federal reimbursement rates will provide about $41,000 in additional subsidies. The district still recommended the 5-cent increase because a recent collective bargaining agreement raised wages for cafeteria employees.

Directors unanimously increased the cafeteria substitute rate from $13.25 to $14 an hour for the coming school year.

The board also approved Koleen J. Nickel as school board secretary from Aug. 1 through June 30, 2029. Nickel will complete the four-year term previously held by Nicole Lewis and receive a prorated annual stipend of $3,000.

Board members thanked Nickel for accepting the position and praised her service as a district secretary.

Other unanimous approvals included a contract with Lynne Garvey, a certified registered nurse practitioner, to review special education evaluations, reevaluations, and individualized education programs for the School-Based Access Program. Garvey will receive $15 for each document reviewed.

The board approved a sponsor-to-sponsor agreement with Summit Early Learning Inc. covering Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, along with an addendum extending services to Aug. 31 through Sept. 30, 2026.

Directors also approved an agreement with Midd-West School District for nonpublic Title I services at Sacred Heart and Mifflin County Christian Academy.

The board adopted a job description for an assistant athletic director but didn't vote to fill the position.

Administrators said the job previously existed without a formal description. The position carries a base stipend of $2,240 and traditionally has been assigned to a teacher who receives two or three free class periods each day to assist the athletic director.

The new job description prohibits the assistant athletic director from serving as a coach because administrators believe the two roles could create a conflict.

Board members discussed whether office staff or student interns could provide temporary help. Administrators said the athletic department expects to have one student intern and has used interns successfully in past years.

The board also discussed whether to fill a vacant 210-day assistant principal position at Mifflin County High School.

High school administrators said the position remains necessary because of discipline, attendance requirements, teacher supervision, and growing student mental health needs.

Administrators reported that the high school held 225 School Attendance Improvement Conferences during the previous school year. Each conference typically takes about 30 minutes and requires additional documentation and follow-up with families.

They said reducing the high school's administrative staff would limit the time principals spend in classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, and other areas where their presence helps prevent problems.

Former administrators also described an earlier attempt to operate with fewer assistant principals or share one administrator between the high school and junior high. They said the arrangement left the administrator divided between buildings and reduced opportunities to build relationships with students.