001I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which of nations one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. Do we have a roll call of members, please? >> Mr. Francis >> here. >> Mrs. Irwin Adams >> here. >> Mrs. McInness >> here. >> Mr. Minan >> here. >> Mr. Cook >> here. >> Mr. Pacificico >> here. >> Mr. McCauley >> here. >> Mr. Papis >> here. >> Mr. Romanoitz >> here. >> Thank you all. Okay, before we get going, could we classify that is an executive session? It was Yeah. Okay. So, we we had a athletic council meeting which was public and then we had a brief exe executive uh discussion to uh discuss personnel issues. Um so, moving on, we will uh go to number two
002on our agenda, the the Loretta Woodson Award. Good evening. Tonight we have representing the Blair County chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, Donna Mesner, who is the president, Connie Trafficent, and Bill Nougabauer to present our Loretta or their Loretta Woodson award. So, I'll introduce Donna and let her start the presentation. Thank you for allowing us to address you today. Um, I am the president of the local Blair County chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for School Retirees and we represent any school retirey. It can be anyone from a custodian to teachers, administrators, everybody's welcome. Um, so we do have our local chapter. We meet monthly. Um but most importantly why we're why we are here today is that we feel it's very important to recognize those who have given a lot to education and
003um we send out um nomination forms for what we call the Loretta Woodson award and we give it out to one um educator and one non-educator that's a support staff person and it just so happens that this year we sent them out to all the districts But both recipients are from the Altuna School District this year. They had the most applications, the most wonderful letters, and so that's what we're presenting tonight. So, um, I would like to bring up Bill Nukeau. Um, and many of you know Bill. Bill likes to talk. So, he's going to explain a little bit about Loretta Woodson. Loretta Woodson was an educator from the eastern part of the state and she was a very fine educator and saved a lot of her money and put it in a trust so
004that when she retired she could make awards to professionals and support staff people across the state of Pennsylvania if you were uh working at the time that you received the award. Uh we have been very lucky here in region 5 in Blair County to have Altuna receive this award many times. I've been here many times before. Uh I've been to Bellwood. I've been to uh other school districts at Holidaysburg as well to present these. Um the award doesn't come with any money but the award is a very special award because this lady recognized these abilities of these folks and and so she passed that knowledge on to members of Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees and we continue this tradition throughout the state. the person will receive a very nice framed certificate as well as a
005pin and then we're hoping that when they retire they will join our group because we're very active in Blair County. There are seven school districts and intermediate unit that we draw from and we we meet as Donna said once a month and we have charities and activities that we do in the community throughout the year. So we're a very active group. We have uh over 300 members and we meet once a month at Marzone in Duncanville and we get anywhere from 30 to 50 folks every month and they're anxious to do things and give back to the community like they did when they were employed. So that's a little thumbnail about Loretta Woodson and we're very pleased that her money hasn't run out yet. Okay. Do you want to introduce our teacher first of all?
006>> Our professional teacher who is currently employed was going to be shocked, but it's Lynn Ruggles who works at the learning expert. She's worked there since 1991. She thinks she's here for the other one. Dear dear, wonderful. Thank you. >> This is for you. In recogni recognition of unselfish dedication, an exemplary service to Washington Jefferson Learning Express Preschool and the Altuni Area School District in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We thank you on behalf of the youth of today and the future of tomorrow. Thank you. We'll send you the membership information as soon as you retire. >> Okay. And our second person could not be here today, but Val, could you come up when we request um nominations, usually you get one or two about a person. We must have got about 12 um or more
007for this next person. And this next person happens to be Pad, his mom. Uh >> so she could not be here today because of medical issues and things, but she had so many people saying about her unselfishness and volunteering and helping out in classrooms and helping the districts wherever she was needed to be. And we really appreciate that and I'm sure the district appreciates everything that she gave to the um the district. And so Val, if you could give this to Patch, >> I'll stop by tonight. >> Yes. And give that to her and the flowers, we would appreciate it. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> So, thank you. And tell her that we're all thinking about her. So, >> thank you so much. Very nice. >> Thank you. >> And just What's that called
008when you go in when you're not supposed to be in the picture? What's that called? >> See, I'm old. I'm not supposed to remember. You're young. You might >> I don't know. I can't either. Thank you so much. >> Lesley done. Yeah, that was >> like to wish both Lynn and Patch congratulations. two extremely special educators and and and servants to to public education and our students um have really done an amazing job. So, ne next presentation is not on the agenda. Um but we did want to take an opportunity uh tonight from the entire board and the public that are here to to recognize Mr. Francis. Um Mr. Francis has been an amazing volunteer and servant to the Altonary School District and to the school board. uh for for 30 years and this being
009his last meeting um we felt like there's really not an appropriate way uh to acknowledge the service and what he's meant to the community and to the school district. Um there's not really a a sufficient way to do that. So we just wanted to thank you for everything that you've done. Um we will continue to do so. You will be missed uh by everyone here and and we want to thank you again from our teachers, from our students. You will not find a more dedicated and a more compassionate um servant who advocates for education for students and for our teachers and the staff here in the Altuna Area School District. We talk about wearing the A. you you will always wear the A and we want to thank you and we have a small token
010of our appreciation. This was something I know I was very appreciative to receive and hopefully uh it's something that you can keep in your home. So Dave, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thanks for everybody. Appreciate it. Thank you. I It's It's so rewarding and I like to thank everyone. You know what? I said it before. This is just a great a great board. It's a great a great atmosphere and we have an administrative staff. We have a board, but we have a great staff. But we care about kids and that's the most important thing that everybody at this table cares about or the kids and that they're getting a a great education and uh just thank you. I'm going to miss it and there's no question about it. I'm going to miss it.
011I'm going to miss the people. I'm going to miss different uh aspects of going to plays or different things. And uh thank you and uh guys are going to do a great job. So, we'll just thank everybody. Val, as the two years that you were, you did a heck of a job and and and I got to say that doing negotiations and and different things, you uh you spearheaded a lot of good things. So, and Kelly, you're going to do well. So, uh so good luck to everybody and I'm going to miss you. And if you ever need me, just give me a call. Thanks. >> Thank you very much. and be careful of what you offer. We may be reaching out sooner than later, but >> no doubt he'll be back. >> I agree.
012I agree. But again, thank you. And you know, just from the bottom of my heart, I mean, you you you were on the board that hired me um almost 30 years ago now. So, I do appreciate everything you've done for not only myself, but for our community as a school district. >> Well, you were a good hire. >> Thank you. you can become a consultant for the PSBA. That's probably the logical next step. They could probably use some help. So, and thank you Dave. Your leadership for all of us uh sort of showing us the way and the proper decorum. Nobody runs a faster meeting than Dave. Uh Greater Altuna Career Technology Center. I mean, it's he's like an auctioneer, man. I I could only hope to get that good someday, but >> he does
013a tremendous job. But thanks so much for all your leadership that you you've showed and demonstrated to us. >> Thank you. >> All right. An emotional night here. Um now we can move on to uh number three on our agenda, hearing from citizens. Do we have anybody who would like to step up to the mic and speak to us? If you would like to have at it and just share your name and where you're from. No one. Okay, we'll move on to item number four. Uh, approval of the regular board meeting minutes from the October 20th, 2025 meeting. Uh, do I have a motion to approve those minutes? Do I have a second? Any discussion? All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. We'll move on to five list of payments. Um we are
014asked to prove the following list of payments. The cafeteria fund, the general fund, student activities, student activity club balances and budget transfers under A. Under B, uh the financial reports were uh shared with us pertinent to the cafeteria pertinent to the cafeteria income statement for September and the cafeteria balance sheet for September. And most importantly, C administration seeks approval to enter into a borrowing agreement with a financial institution for up to $40 million. These funds are necessary to maintain payroll and operational continuity during the federal and/or state budget impass. The agreement stipulates that interest payments will be deferred until the corresponding federal and/or state funding is received. The anticipated expiration date for the short-term borrowing is June 30th of 2026. Um, seeking a motion to approve items 5 A through C. Do I have a
015second? Any discussion or questions on any of these, particularly C? >> Just just on C, what's the interest rate? Uh so the interest rates we're looking at right now at approximately 3.5% from one of the larger lending institutions in the area. Um we've seen anywhere from 3.5 to to low fives. Uh all of our locals that we have met with have been very gracious in their offers. Um some of them have lending caps that are a little bit lower than what our needs may potentially be. Think of these more like lines of credit as opposed to a true loan where we would only be accumulating interest on monies that we would pull down in the event that there is a continued state budget impass and we would have to do that. Um, the reason we're
016asking for permission tonight is we need to be in a position that in the event that this would extend uh beyond the end of December, early January, we would be in a position to where we would need to utilize borrowed funds in order to meet payroll and daily operational cost. >> So, what do you anticipate uh for say like for payroll in December, Gene, what what do you like would what would the first payment be? Would it be like 8 million or 10 million? I believe we can meet our operational expenses through the month of December. So we would have to borrow in January and we would probably have to borrow about 10 million a month to cover costs. >> Yeah. >> So and and we pay interest on that. Correct. We won't get reimbursed.
017Plus we're losing money that right now from our investments that we're paying our bills at right now. >> Correct. >> And what what do we what do you anticipate we're losing? I think I calculated that we've lost about $300,000 year to date on >> $300,000 because the left and right can't meet >> uh to to do a budget and people in the middle like our educational system taxpayers I'm surprised taxpayers aren't up in arms. Uh I I'm upset. You know, I want to find a moderate right. I got vowed to run for state senate. you know, he's a he's a great he'd be he'd be somebody that uh that that would work for the people, not just for the party. And uh I just think that it's ridiculous that we have to pay interest. We're
018losing money and the taxpayers are just sitting there. No one's complain. I don't hear anybody complain. I be I'm up in arms. But you But that's me. I'm up in arms when Notre Dame loses or Penn State wins. But uh but uh I just I just think that uh it's it's ridiculous. I I'm surprised that pe more people aren't complaining and and these elected officials can what what are they saying? I I don't know. I I'm I'm completely baffled by the whole thing and they should be ashamed of themselves. We >> we have met with local legislators and they they they promise that they are working. Um the most recent information that we've received would indicate that there is a there is an agreement pending or or hopefully in the near future. Um we've been
019told as early as uh before Thanksgiving, but again until that happens, we need to be in a position which is why we're asking that in the event that there is an impass that we are in a position to remain operational. >> I'm curious now we're losing all this money here. What? Statewide. Just think all the all the money that's being lost, all the interest that's being paid statewide. >> Absolutely. Not to mention the money that they've not distributed. That is money that they are they are making revenue on. So they have generated by last count approximately $50 million in additional revenue from monies that have not been distributed just to school districts in in interest in interest they need. And people have lost their jobs from the county level and different areas because of this
020unbel they should be ashamed and and I think they are the the taxpayers and school districts and counties and townships an apology. >> Is it is the only state in the United States that doesn't have a budget? Is that is that it's correct? >> I mean you've divided you know 103 102 in the house and it's just >> yeah there's no center. There's got to be moderate somewhere in this state that >> that can run a state, I think. >> Okay. And I think it was recommended, you know, boards across the state, school boards across the state put forth a resolution, but let let's be honest, it it wouldn't matter at all. So, I mean, it's just don't listen >> and BS. So, uh that's why I didn't really get behind that. I think the
021mistake I made at the technology center is I wanted to bring up this whole thing at the at the technology center to reunite you know the technology center as a board but you know there's people face like Maholliesburg only one or two representing the board they're not representing the you know they're not representing the whole board just themselves so but good luck with all that all right anybody else right well all in favor of approving Items 5 A through C. Please signify by saying I. >> I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. We'll move on to six. Why we're all here? Education. Under A. Administration would like approval to accept the UPMC donation the amount of $560 to support t-shirts for the AJHS National Junior Honor Society trips in spring of 2026. Under B, administration requests retroactive
022approval for the donor's choose project for supplies, STEM items, and flexible seating for Ebner Elementary in the amount of $391.85. Under C, administration requests approval of the attached revised between AASD and Southern Alagan's Workforce Development Board and the Onetop Partners. The revised extends the agreement by one year now ending June 30th, 2026. Theou was first board approved on March 20th, 2023 with a term of March 1, 2023 through June 30th, 202025. Under D, we were provided a list of volunteers to approve. And under E, we were uh provided a list of field trips to approve uh their secondary field trips. So I will seek a motion to approve items 6 A through E. Do I have a second? Any discussion on any of these items? Okay. All in favor of approving item 6 A through
023E, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. We will move on to seven. Uh we were provided a list of personnel agenda items which we all had the opportunity to uh read. Um do I have a motion to approve these items under 7A? Do I have a second? Any discussion on any we saw in uh 7A? No, but I'm glad to see that Justin finally gets to start next week after coming to all these meetings. >> Yeah, that's awesome. Um, anybody else? All right. All All in favor of approving item 7A, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. Under eight, business operations. Under A, uh, we can all read and we see that Blur County Tax Claim Bureau has received and is requesting approval of the following repository bids
024which are listed. And under B, I think there were uh, two capital reserve payments to approve. Um, seeking a motion to approve items 8A and B. Do I have a second, Justin? Anybody like to discuss any of these items? All right. All in favor of approving items 8A and B, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. We will move on to nine, facilities and maintenance. Administration requests and recommends acceptance of the base bid alternate number one and alternate number two from JC Orinson Incorporated to replace the storefront in windows at Logan Elementary School. Total project cost not to exceed $1,310,000 including contingency payment to be made from the capital reserve fund. Do I have a motion to approve item 9A? Do I have a second? Any discussion? All right. All in favor
025of approving item 9A, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. We will move on to 10. New business. Under A, administration requests approval to participate in TIPS National Cooperative Purchasing Program offered by Region 8 Education Service Center in Pittsburgh, Texas. Under B, administration requests and recommends approval to accept the proposal from GOTO to provide telephone, voice, conferencing, and related support services. Onetime startup costs approximately $45,566 to be paid from the 2627 operating budget. Monthly recurring cost for the life of the 68-month contract, approximately $7,784. Monthly recurring costs are neutral with existing services. Under C, administration requests approval to accept the proposal from UDNI to install and provide onboarding services for the goto telephone system priced not to exceed 41,250 to be paid from the 2627 operating budget. Under D, the Altunary School
026District Athletics Office requests approval for the Altuna Elementary Wrestling to use the AAHS fieldhouse on November 15th, 2025 for the purpose of an elementary wrestling tournament. The cost of maintenance, overtime, and security will be paid by Altuna Elementary Wrestling. And finally, under E, uh, motion to approve agreement with parents of student number 956786 in the district and to authorize the board president to sign any necessary paperwork to effectuate same. Do I have a motion to approve items nine or 10 A through E? I have a second. Anybody like to discuss any of this? I will just do my typical since I will be signing the confidential settlement and general release. It's another area that I've sort of dug into and it's amazing to me because I've worked with attorneys my whole career but anytime we're
027involved in one of these suits or one of these settlements because they're all settled it seems. Um, I'm used to when I work with a a law firm, there's varying rates paid, right? You have a parallegal, you have an associate, and you have a partner. In all these cases, they're all partner rates, right? They're all the the the the guy at the highest part of the food chain. Most of them are like $400 an hour and all the bills that we've paid throughout are um in the $7 to $9,000 range. It's like a cookie cutter thing that's going on. And um it's just another thing that that annoys me and I will continue to bring up with uh state legislators unless I become one someday. I don't know yet, but may try. But um just
028amazing you know there's never any parallegals never do any work on these cases. It just really blows my mind. There's no uh copying of papers or research done. It's all done by the partner level people. So, just another thing um taxpayer money and I understand we're protecting students and making sure they get all the things they need, but this has become a little significant industry for for these law firms. Um, so that's all I had to say on that. So, that being said, anybody else like to chime in on anything? Okay, I will uh all in favor of approving items 10 A through E, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. Um moving on to 11. Committee reports. Any committee chair reports? Uh board president's report. I would just report as Brad
029alluded to that I was invited to be in an audience with uh Judy Ward and the rest of the superintendent in in Blair County. Um um you know being on the board of Greater Altuna Career Technology and the board of IU8 and then this board. Um I felt like I could be a voice for everybody there and um and you know Judy was Judy was great. My anger was not directed at her. um it was directed at the system. So we brought up all the things that we bring up here quite routinely in the fact that uh you know these cyber charter schools are accumulating massive funds in in their reserve and um how unfair that is to to us. the the point it to a fellow school district there and you know again as
030I said before they they they are challenged to put a roof on a 80-year-old building um and a cyber charter school is going to build a building in this community for about probably 30 or $40 million. I mean something's really wrong and um as you know I I'll never shut up about it until this is solved. I hear that's on the table maybe that we we may solve it. Um and I I was reading the the audit report that the the auditor general did in the state of Pennsylvania. How much does it cost us to provide cyber charter? >> We can provide cyber in in its most expensive form at about 20% of the rate that we're being charged for the minimum cyber student in a public cyber charter for us about 2,00 to 2500
031per student. >> Okay. Because in that report I saw that the average, this isn't a special education student, this is just the average for a student in the state of Pennsylvania is $13,000 is the tuition they're charging all the public schools in this state. $13,000 when we could do it for less than three. So people want to protest and and and this is something to be mad about. This is money out of everybody in this community's pocket and nobody seems to be upset about it except us. So again, every time I have an opportunity, I will uh I will share some information with everybody and keep it on the front burner until this is solved. That's it for me. Now to better things with Miss Krug. >> Good evening. The second marking period is well
032underway and students are preparing for the holiday break with many exciting activities. The AHS girls soccer team won the District 6 championship against State College after a very successful season. Junior Ashlin Nos and freshman Emma Eders both qualified for the state cross country meet in Hershey. Ashlin finished eighth in the state. Congratulations to all of our fall athletes. After a successful fall sports season, winter sports like basketball, swimming, wrestling, indoor track, and botchi are set to begin their seasons shortly. The Altuna Area Junior High School will have performances for their fall play, James and the Giant Peach, on November 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Tickets can be purchased at the door. $10 for adults and $5 for students. A free senior citizen preview will be held Wednesday, November 19th at 700 p.m. The high school just
033performed their fall play, Monty Python's educational show, last weekend on Friday and Saturday, which was very successful, and I was involved in myself. The Advanced Jazz Band is beginning their winter performances throughout Altuna at places like Juniata Gap and the Altuna Grand Hotel. The Neil Armstrong Planetarium will have three showings of the classic Holiday Sky Show Season of Light on Saturday, November 22nd at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. Reservations will be taking started starting Friday, November 14th. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students. Last week, Mrs. Skeck's principles of biomedical science classes went to UPMC Altuna to learn about the different career opportunities UPMC has to offer. The annual AHS Turkey Bowl will be held on Tuesday, November 25th to to kick off Thanksgiving break. The Turkey Bowl will include 12
034teams of AHS juniors and seniors competing in a powderpuff football game to see who will hold the 2025 championship title. The Altuna Area School District is off school tomorrow, November 11th, for Veterans Day. and Thanksgiving break will be from November 26th to December 1st this year. Thank you. >> Okay. Thanks. Um Mr. Hatch, thank you. Um we had mentioned at our last uh board meeting the the passing of one of our very own, Mr. Ted Beam. Um tonight I would just like to utilize my time for a more formal acknowledgement of Ted. TB was born on March 24th, 1952 and passed on September 25th, 2025. On that date, we lost a colleague, teacher, friend, youth sports enthusiast, and public servant in Ted Beam. Ted served the Altuna Area School District as an English teacher at
035Keith Junior High School and at the Stevens Alternative School. His passion for public service led him to serve the city of Altuna as a city councilman and to serve Blair County as a county commissioner for a two-year term. His passion for youth sports and athletics led him to become a very respected PIAA sports official where he retired after 43 years. He officiated both basketball and football where he earned the opportunity to officiate a PIAA state football championship. certainly a feather in any official's cat. After actively officiating, he assisted many officials from around the region as an officials evaluator. In addition to his officiating, Ted was actively involved with Penn State football for 53 seasons. First in broadcasting, then as a spotter working in the booth, and finally as a Nitny Lions game clock operator at
036Beaver Stadium. He was also the game clock operator at the Bryce Jordan Center for the Penn State men's and women's basketball teams. Ted never stopped serving and never stopped caring for his family, friends, and the community. And he will be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences to his wife Carol and all of their extended family. Ted was a great person, great man, great to be around, and he will be sorely missed. Um, wanted to acknowledge him tonight. So, thank you. Thanks, Brad. Um, moving on. Do I do we have an employee unions response? I'm sorry. Oh, okay. Thank you. Um, middle management. No, Mr. Beard, solicitor. Okay. I think then I will seek a motion to adjourn this meeting. Do I have a second?