Penns Manor Area School District Board of Directors

03/14/2025

Effective March 12, 2025, a vacancy exists on the Board of School Directors of the Penns Manor Area School District to represent Clymer Borough. In accordance with the School Laws of Pennsylvania, the remaining members of the board intend to fill the vacancy at a public meeting within thirty (30) days. The individual appointed will serve until the First Monday of December, 2025.

In addition to being current resident of the Clymer Borough, Region 1, Section 322 of the Public School Code of 1949 as amended limits eligibility to: “Any citizen of this Commonwealth, having a good moral character, being eighteen (18) years of age or upwards, and having been a resident of the district for at least one (1) year, prior to the date of his election or appointment.” There are further limitation related to those who hold other government offices or position in the School District.

Eligible individuals interested in being considered for this vacant office should submit a letter of application, which must be received (mailed or hand carried) by 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, addressed to the Penns Manor Area School District Board of Directors, C/O Nicole Peterson, Board Secretary, 6003 Route 553 Hwy, Clymer, PA 15728.

The Board of School Directors intends to appoint the new director to fill the current vacancy at the regular board meeting to be conducted on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in the District Office Board Room at the District Office at 6003 Route 553 Hwy, Clymer, PA 15728

12/05/2024

The Penns Manor Board of Education held its annual Reorganization Meeting on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, prior to its monthly committee meeting.

Mr. Robert Packer was unanimously re-elected as Board President, and Mrs. Jill Eckenrode was unanimously re-elected as Board Vice President.

Mr. John Hardesty was appointed as the District's representative to the ICTC Joint Operating Committee, and Mr. Ronald Larch was appointed as the alternate.

The following individuals were appointed as the Tax Collection Committee delegates: Primary Voting: Mrs. Jennifer Sleppy; First Alternate Voting: Mrs. Nicole Peterson; Second Alternate Voting: Mr. Daren Johnston.

Mrs. Jill Eckenrode was named as the District's Liaison to the Pennsylvania School Board Association.

The following banks were named as the depositories of the District funds for 2025:

Marion Center Bank
First Commonwealth Bank
PLGIT Investments
CNB Bank
Wells Fargo, N.A.
Wilmington Trust
InFirst Bank
S&T Bank
PNC Bank
Elderton State Bank
The Indiana Gazette and Mainline were named as newspapers of general circulation for the District.

Committee Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the District Office Boardroom for the year 2025, with the exception of the month of January. The January 2025 Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

Regular Board Meetings (voting meetings) will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the District Office Boardroom for the year 2025, with the exception of the month of January. The January 2025 Board Meeting (voting meeting) will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

The following officers were authorized to use facsimile signatures:
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary

The official list of Board Members is as follows:

Tammy Dalton
Jill Eckenrode
John Hardesty
Ronald Larch
Robert Packer
Richard Polenik
Jody Rainey
Debora Tate
Lisa Wolff

The Board will meet on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. to conduct its monthly Business Meeting.

10/16/2024

10/11/2024

Highlights from the October 2024 Business Meeting of the Penns Manor Board of Education held on October 9, 2024 are as follows:

-Kristen Zeglen, Elementary School Principal, presented to the Board the plan to initiate the "Dolly Parton Imagination Library" in the district. Details to follow.
-Announced that the next negotiations meeting between the District and the Penns Manor Education Support Professionals will be held on October 22, 2024.
-Authorized the District to participate in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Natural Gas Consortium.
-Approved agreement with K & K Electric for "as needed" electrical and snow removal services.
-Approved agreement with K & K Jewart Electric to prepare a wall in the high school gymnasium for the installation of wall pads.
-Hired Kolton Kerchensky as the Boys' Basketball Junior High Assistant Coach 1.
-Approved various sports volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Approved and adopted numerous policies (all policies are listed on the District website)
-Hired Nathan Miller to serve as a Fitness Center Monitor on an as needed basis.
-Approved Kim Zalar as a guest teacher for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Approved the transfer of Krista Gillo from an Instructional Assistant to Secretary B effective October 14, 2024.
-Approved two FMLA requests.
-Hired Emily Adams as a long-term substitute teacher effective December 9, 2024, to fill the vacancy of an elementary teacher, which was created by a Board-approved leave.
-Recognized Dylan Kuzemchak as the PMEA Student of the Month for October.
-Recognized Keira Brady for being named as an Indiana Gazette's Athlete of the Week.

The next Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m.

The next Business Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m.

For a complete agenda of the October meeting, please visit the District website.

09/13/2024

At their Monthly Business Meeting held on September 11, 2024, the Penns Manor Board of School Directors addressed the following:

-Approved an agreement with ARIN IU 28 to provide English language development teacher services to the district for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Approved to revise the 2024-2025 school calendar to reflect a change in the order of snow make up days that will be used for the school year. Snow make up days will be used as follows: April 22, 2025, March 21, 2025, March 24, 2025 and April 17, 2025.
-Approved a number of outside placement for students.
-Hired Kristin Griffin as an after school tutoring instructor for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Approved an engagement agreement with the Reschini Group for the 2024 Affordable Care Act Employer Reporting.
-Accepted and approved the school liability insurance quote from Liberty Mutual presented by Walbeck Insurance Agency for the period October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
-Hired Michael Shaffer as the Jr. High Boy' Basketball Assistant Coach 2.
-Approved Policy 815.1 (Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education)
-Hired Jaden Tornatore as the Assistant Marching Band Director, effective upon receipt of all required employment clearances.
-Accepted the resignation of Amanda Cessna, with regret, as an Instructional Assistant.
-Acknowledged the retention of Daren K. Johnston, District Superintendent. The Board of School Directors intends to retain Daren K. Johnston a District Superintendent for a further term of three (3) to five (5) years.
-Approved a Resolution of the Board of School Directors of the Penns Manor Area School District Denying the Withdrawal of the River Valley School District From the Indiana County Technology Center effective June 30, 2025.
-Approved a Resolution of the Board of School Directors of the Penns Manor Area School District Appointing Weiss Burkhart Kramer LLC as Special Counsel in matters involving the Indiana County Technology Center.
-Approved an International Travel Program proposal by EF Education Tour and Mrs. Lisa Donatelli for the summer of 2026

Please note this is not a complete listing of agenda items that were voted upon. For a complete agenda, which includes all agenda items, please refer to the District website.

07/17/2024

Representatives of the Penns Manor Area School District and the Penns Manor Education Support Professionals met for the purpose of contract negotiations on July 16, 2024, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the district boardroom.

Concerns from both sides were openly and productively discussed.

Another meeting has been scheduled for mid-August.

07/11/2024

The Board of Directors met on Wednesday, July 10, for its regular monthly Business Meeting. Some of the items voted on and approved are listed below. For a full agenda, as well as all motions in entirety, please visit the District's website.

-Announced that the next Negotiations Session with the Penns Manor Education Support Professionals is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, at 11:00 a.m.
-Approved changes to the 2024-2025 handbooks for the elementary school, high school and Penns Manor Cyber Academy.
Approved setting adult meal prices in the cafeteria, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year as follows: adult breakfast: $2.40; adult lunch: $4.70.
-Approved an agreement with ROGEL Electric to replace the power disconnect and install flashing light assembly for the lights at the intersection of 403 and School Road at a cost of $2,249.50, as presented.
-Approved hiring David Gramling as the Boys' Track and Field Heach Coach, effective immediately, pending all clearances and required training.
-Accepted the resignation of David Gramling as the Boys' Track and Field Assistant Coach 2, effective immediately, and granted the Administration permission to post and advertise, if necessary, for this position.
-Hired Adele Dolney as the Junior High Volleyball Assistant Coach 1, effective immediately, pending all clearances and required training.
-Approved revisions to various policies, as presented. All Board policies and administrative regulations appear on the District's website.
-Granted tenure to Mrs. Jessica Marron
-Granted tenure to Ms. Hannah Tibbott
-Hired Mrs. Skyler Branton as a long-term substitute Reading Specialist, with an anticipated starting date of August 19, 2024, to fill a temporary vacancy created by an approved leave, with an anticipated ending date of November 20, 2024.
-Hired Mrs. Ruth Turano as a long-term substitute Special Education Teacher, with an anticipated starting date of August 19, 2024, to fill a temporary vacancy created by an approved leave, with an anticipated ending date of October 25, 2024.
-Appointed Ronald J. Saffron, Esquire, as the District's Solicitor for a one-year term.
-Approved Jamie Empfield as the District's photographer for all district sports teams and band photos for the 2024-2025 school year, as presented.

The next Board Committee Meeting will be held on August 7, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Boardroom.

The next Business Meeting will be held on August 14, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Boardroom.

05/12/2024

The following items were approved at the Penns Manor Board of Education's monthly Business Meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 2024:

-Approved agreement with Ignite Education Solutions for the 2024-2025 school year to provide a Drop Out Prevention Program that will be located at the Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School.
-Approved a Dual Enrollment Agreement with Mount Aloysius College for the 2024-2025 school year and authorized the appropriate board officers to execute the agreement on behalf of the district.
-Approved a Dual Enrollment Agreement with PA Highlands Community College for the 2024-2025 school year and authorized the appropriate board officers to execute the agreement on behalf of the district.
-Approved the list of graduate for the Class of 2024, as presented, pending completion of all Penns Manor Area School District's graduation requirements.
-Approved the Audit Engagement Letter presented by Kotzan CPA & Associates, P.C., in regards to the audits to be conducted for the year ending June 30, 2024, June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
-Approved entering into a one-year contract with Metz Culinary Management for the supervision and operation of a food service program for the Penns Manor Area School District effective July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, at a guaranteed expense to the District's General Fund not to exceed $139,000.
-Adopted the proposed preliminary District Budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, as presented, in accordance with the provisions of Section 687 of the Public School Code 1949, as amended, 24 P.S. 6-687, and as presented to the Board, as follows: Expenses: $19,872,824; Revenues: $19,536,504, providing for a millage rate of 15.3768, being no tax increase over the current rate on all real property within the Penns Manor Area School District upon which the county taxes are levied and assessed and the use of $336,320 of the District's Fund Balance to balance the 2024-2025 fiscal budget.
-Granted the Administration permission to sell any unused district equipment through a sealed bid process.
-Hired Mr. Orry Baker as an Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach.
-Hired Ms. Amber Lockhart as Athletic Director at a base salary of $7,000 from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
-Approved a lengthy list of software quotes and agreements for the 2024-2025 school year.
-Hired Brittany Pileski as a 4.5 hour cafeteria worker effective April 16, 2024.
-Approved two (2) FMLA requests for staff.
-Accepted the resignation of Mrs. Emily Dospoy as a cafeteria monitor effective May 2, 2024, and granted the Administration permission to post and advertise for this position.
-Approved increasing Mrs. Emily Dospoy's work hours per day from 4.0 hours per day to 8.0 hours per day at her current Secretary B hourly rate of $12.50 effective May 3, 2024.
-Recognized various students and groups for their recent achievements.

For a complete summary of items voted upon, please refer to the District's website.

04/13/2024

The Penns Manor Board of Education met on Wednesday, April 10, for their regular monthly Business Meeting. Some of the items approved are as follows:

-Approved and authorized the Superintendent to submit the 2025 through 2028 Educator Induction Plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as presented. The plan has been open for public review for the past 30 days.
-Granted the Business Manager to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) and advertise in the District's designated newspapers of general circulation for the purchase and delivery of propane fuel.
-Approved the Indiana County Technology Center general operating budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, in the amount of $7,711,332 with Penns Manor Area School District's share being $387,302 before any Vocational Education subsidy.
-Hired Travis Holby as the Head Junior High Football Coach.
-Hired Chadwick Barnhart as the Girls' Track and Field Assistant Coach 1, effective March 12 2024.
-Approved the following sports volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year, pending the receipt of all current clearances, cardio and impact testing, and the coaching education courses, as required by PIAA: Greg March (Track); Mark Matko (Baseball); Rick Cooper (Baseball).
-Approved a five-year agreement with the Wilson Group of Pittsburgh, PA, for the lease of two Sharp MFP BP-70M90 copiers and one Sharp MFP BP-70M55 copier.
-Approved the revisions to several polices as administrative regulations, as presented.
-Granted the administration permission to post and advertise for a 4.5 hour cafeteria worker.
-Approved the Senior Class trip to Washington, DC, from May 18, 2025 to May 20, 2025, contingent upon the senior class's ability to secure lodging, ticketing and transportation arrangements that allow for a 30-day refund policy in the event that the senior class is unable to travel due to a school closure, state or federal mandate, administrative or School Board directive or other factors that prevents the senior class from traveling.
-Approved the high school Gifted Program to travel to New York City, New York, from June 24, 2024 through June 25, 2024. ESSER funds will be used to cover the cost of the trip.
-Recognized numerous students for their outstanding achievements.

For a complete agenda, which includes all motions and approvals, please visit the District website.

04/08/2024

The Penns Manor Board of Education will conduct it's monthly Business Meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

03/16/2024

The following is a brief summary of the Penns Manor Board of Education's monthly Business Meeting held on March 13, 2024. To view the complete meeting agenda and approvals, please visit the District's webpage:

-Approved the 2024-2025 school calendar
-Approved an agreement with Canton's Driving School, Inc., to provide Behind-The-Wheel Training
-Approved the 2024-2027 District Special Education Plan
-Approved budgetary transfers for the 2023-2024 fiscal year
-Approved agreement for Fire Alarm Cellular Monitoring with Berkshire Systems Group, Inc.
-Hired Allison Baker as the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach
-Hired Aaron Packer as the Junior High Football Assistant Coach 2
-Accepted the resignation of Karlie Horwat as Girls' Jr. High Basketball Assistant Coach
-Approved a one-year agreement extension with ARIN IU 28 RWAN E-rate Consortium
-Accepted the retirement resignation of Marguerite Thornton as an 11-month secretary
-Accepted the retirement resignation of Christine Carpenter as a certified elementary teacher effective July 31, 2024
-Approved the advancement of Dr. Alison Decker on the pay scale from Master's +20 Step 3 to Doctorate, Step 3
-Hired Skylar Branton as a long-term Reading Specialist to fill a vacancy created by an approved leave with an anticipated start date of April 30, 2024

03/11/2024

The Penns Manor Board of Education will conduct it's regular monthly Business Meeting on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Board Room.

Some of the items on the agenda to be voted on include:

- Approval of the 2024-2025 School Calendar
- Grant permission to post and advertise for Extended School Year Credit & Recovery
- Approve the 2024-2027 District Special Education Plan
- Approve agreement for Fire Alarm Cellular Monitoring
- Approve agreement for Fire Alarm Inspection & Testing
- Approve hiring of Varsity Head Volleyball Coach
- Approve hiring of Junior High Assistant 2 Football Coach
- Award E-Rate Project
- Approve one-year ARIN IU 28 RWAN E-Rate Consortium Agreement
- Accept the retirement of Mrs. Marguerite Thornton as 11-month secretary
- Accept the resignation of Mrs. Christine Carpenter as Elementary School Teacher
- Hire long-term Reading Specialist to fill vacancy created by an approved leave

Please visit the District's website to view the full agenda for the March 13 meeting.