HASD Meets New Board

There was a major reorganization in the Hollidaysburg Area School District Board of Directors as four new members took the oath of office at the December Reorganization and Committee of the Whole Voting Meeting. New members included: Michele Luther, Missy Sullivan, Dr. John Wells, and Dr. Ying Lee. Kenneth Snyder retained his seat on the board, and holdover members on the board were Carmen Bilek, Scott Brenneman, Jennifer Costanza, and Ronald Sommer. Bilek was unanimously elected president of the board by a 9-0 vote replacing Ronald Sommer and Costanza was unanimously elected vice president. Both, from the time of their election to the board, vowed to strive for a balanced budget and to be watchdogs on spending. Bilek announced the school board would do committee assignments as soon as board members express their areas of interest and where they would like to be assigned.

The board also voted not to exceed the Act 1 index for any taxes raised for the 2024-05 school year. The Act 1 index for Hollidaysburg is 6.4 percent or .6418 mills. The total potential revenue increase at the Act 1 maximum would be almost $1.6 million. The vote not to exceed the Act 1 index provides the district more time to prepare a preliminary budget with various tax options. The school district's various tax levies and other revenue sources will be sufficient to balance the school district final budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 based on maintaining current taxes or increasing tax rates by an amount less than or equal to the Act 1 index.

There was a finance meeting for the district prior to the meeting. Board secretary Autumn Fiscus revealed that the district for the 2022-23 fiscal year actually ended with a surplus of over $1.6 million even though they projected a deficit of $3.2 million.

During the public comment sector, unsuccessful candidate for the school board Cory Hartman congratulated the board then told them that everything the Republican candidates ran for on their platforms had already been accomplished and achieved by the past board. He asked them what they would do with the rest of their term.

Frankstown Township resident Scott Barger offered the new board his congratulations and wished them the best of luck going forward.

The new course proposal for World Geography as an elective in the district was passed by a 9-0 vote. There is currently a course for U.S. Geography but nothing for world geography. The utilization of certified therapy dogs which are available for animal -assisted activities at Frankstown Elementary School during the school day was tabled until there was further review on the program. Labrador Retrievers, Levi and Ranger, and their handler, Wendy Bush, have been trained and are a Certified Pet Therapy Team through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Inc.

The next Committee of the Whole/Voting meeting will be held Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Senior High Library.