Juniata County schools ready for first day

Summer projects progress or wrap up

MIFFLINTOWN -- Summer is fading fast in Juniata County, and the familiar rhythm of a new school year is beginning to take hold.

Teachers are back in their classrooms, hallways are being swept to a shine and families are counting down to Wednesday, Aug. 26, when students return for the first day of school. After a season of construction crews, staffing updates and steady preparation, Superintendent Christie Holderman says the district is ready to welcome everyone back.

"It's hard to believe we are doing this again," Holderman said. "We do have many things to celebrate.

"It's been a whirlwind of a week, but things are looking great," Holderman added.

Some of Holderman's comments came during the Juniata County School District Board of Directors' workshop meeting on Wednesday night at the administration building in Mifflintown; others came during a separate interview.

One of the most visible changes students, parents and teachers will notice is at Tuscarora Junior High School in Mifflintown, where work continues on a new secure entrance. The project will shift the school's main entry to the rear of the building, a move Holderman said will strengthen safety and improve how visitors are screened.

Construction has been steady through the summer, and while finishing touches will continue into the fall, the redesigned entrance marks a significant upgrade to the district's security system, Holderman said.

Tennis courts

At Juniata High School in Mifflintown, construction crews have been busy on another major project: new tennis courts. The courts have been in planning for some time, and the district expects them to be completed by late September or early October.

Once finished, the courts will give student-athletes a modern playing surface and expand options for physical education classes. Holderman said the project is on track and will be a welcome improvement for both the tennis program and the broader school community.

Fourth-year Juniata head coach Logan Aurand hopes the new facility helps launch a girls team in the fall of 2027, something he has wanted to start for years. The boys team will use the new courts for the first time in the spring of 2027.

"They look really good," said Aurand, who has viewed blueprints of the finished courts.

Aurand admits he checks out the courts often to see how they are coming along. "Daily," he shared about how often he peeks at them.

New principal at East Juniata

Staffing updates are also shaping the start of the year. East Juniata High School begins 2026-27 with new leadership as Amy Sherman steps into the principal role.

Sherman taught at Monroe Elementary School and most recently served as assistant principal at Juniata Elementary School.

Holderman said Sherman's experience across grade levels and her familiarity with the district make her a strong fit for EJHS as it heads into the new year.

Staffing expanded

The district is also expanding student support services. Juniata County is adding another school social worker to meet growing needs across buildings, and Holderman said she hopes to bring on an additional security staff member as well. Both positions reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen the district's safety net and ensure students have access to the resources they need.

Teachers returned to their buildings recently, unpacking supplies, arranging classrooms and finalizing lesson plans. Schedules and class lists were released earlier this week on Sapphire, giving families their first look at the year ahead.

Final prep steps

Summer also brought the usual mix of maintenance work, technology updates and building improvements that rarely make headlines but keep schools running smoothly. Custodial teams spent the past several weeks deep-cleaning classrooms, refreshing hallways and preparing common areas for the return of students. Transportation staff have been reviewing routes and bus assignments to ensure a smooth start on the first morning.

Holderman said the district continues to encourage families to reach out with questions about schedules, transportation or online learning options. The district maintains virtual pathways that mirror the structure of online charter schools, giving families additional flexibility in how their children learn.

As the calendar edges toward late August, Holderman said she feels the familiar mix of anticipation and pride that comes with opening day. The summer months, she noted, are always busy behind the scenes, filled with planning, hiring, construction and preparation that most families never see. But the reward comes when students walk through the doors, greet their teachers and settle into the routines that define the school year.

The athletic fields will soon greet athletes as football, soccer, golf and cross country get underway. The soccer field at East Juniata High School has been irrigated, Holderman said, and new signs have been added. It looks "fantastic," Holderman explained.

"See you soon," she delivered in her back-to-school message to families, a simple sign-off that captures the spirit of a community ready to gather again.

The official start of the 2026-27 school year signals the close of another Pennsylvania summer that always seems to pass too quickly.