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LEWISTOWN -- The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors Thursday added a special voting meeting on winter sports coaching personnel at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 after discussing prior basketball coaching approvals and other business.
Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner said the district is awaiting completed paperwork before approving 19 coaches for various winter sports.
Varner said the number includes six boys' basketball coaches.
Wade Curry, head coach for boys' basketball at Mifflin County High School, said at Thursday’s meeting that waiting until the regular Nov. 19 voting meeting to approve the remaining basketball coaches would cut into another week of the preseason and cost the team gym time.
The district will approve coaches with completed paperwork Thursday, Nov. 5, and the remaining coaches at the board's regular voting meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Earlier in the meeting, Curry stated in the first public comment that the boys’ basketball season begins Friday, Nov. 20, and that some preseason activities were canceled before the district approved seven basketball coaches at the Thursday, Oct. 15 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Directors emphasized the need for better checks and balances to prevent retroactive personnel approvals and ensure paperwork is completed on time.
Directors also approved ending the Volunteer Jr. High Football Coach status of Seth J. Napikoski effective Oct. 23 in an 8-1 roll call vote.
Director E. Terry Styers said he believed the board brought up the motion because of an issue with playing time.
"I’ve always felt that playing time should not be a major point of conversation in school boards," Styers said.
Directors also:
•Approved the resignation of Director R. Brian Ketchem as the alternate member of the Operating Committee for the Mifflin County Academy of Science & Technology, effective immediately;
•Approved Director Paula Dickson to serve as the alternate Operating Committee member for the Mifflin County Academy of Science & Technology for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year;
•Approved Outdoor School for Lewistown Intermediate School fifth-grade students on April 6 through April 9, April 13 through April 16 and April 19 through April 22, 2027, at Camp Blue Diamond (part of Shaver’s Creek Center);
•Approved Styers S. Oden as a volunteer track coach for the winter and spring seasons effective Oct. 23. Director Styers abstained from this roll call vote while the remaining eight directors approved the motion;
•Approved Koleen Nickel, board secretary, to register majority votes for Pennsylvania School Boards Association officer elections;
•Approved a sports photography services agreement with MSP Studios, LLC from Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2029;
•Authorized district administration to prepare and solicit intellectual property licensing agreements covering use of the Mifflin County School District’s trademarked property for marketing, manufacturing, and distribution of apparel and accessories sold to retailers and consumers. At a minimum, the one-year period licensing agreements are to be structured as a royalty on a percentage of defined net sales with an up-front fee and a minimum annual guarantee;
•Approved use of the Mifflin County High School gym beginning at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027, for the Mifflin County Elementary Wrestling Association.