LEWISTOWN - Prior to its monthly committee-of-the-whole meeting on Thursday, the Mifflin County School District Board of Directors conducted a special voting meeting for the purpose of giving its stamp of approval to an energy savings project currently underway at the Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center.

The project, proposed by Pennsylvania Power and Light in December 2008, includes upgrading the school's heating and cooling systems, removing asbestos and upgrading equipment relating to energy, District Superintendent David Runk said.

The board passed a resolution authorizing financing in the amount of $1,722,363, to be provided by the school's joint operating committee, which, Runk said, already has passed it.

"The CTC board has approved it and this needs to be done by both Mifflin and Juniata County school boards as well," Runk explained.

In other action taken during the special voting session, the board accepted, with regret, the resignation of David Sutton, director of buildings and grounds, effective Oct. 25, due to retirement.

Addressing the board after the vote to accept his resignation, Sutton stated, "I've got to thank the board, along with the administration, for all their help in backing me up over the years. I think we've made some real progress. This (retirement) was not an easy decision to make. I thank you all."

The other item of business during the special session was the hiring of Gregory T. Durland as a chemistry teacher at Indian Valley High School for the 2009-10 school year.

Workshop Meeting

During the workshop meeting, Runk told the board that he has not heard any new information regarding the state budget impasse going on in Harrisburg. He said he attended a meeting at Penn State University earlier in the week with about eight to 10 other superintendents from across the state.

"They've basically done what we did," he said. "They started their budget process with the preliminary budget back in February. Here we are, in the middle of July, and we still don't have a state budget. Just remember, we were very conservative with our revenues so, optimistically, we hope we'll be all right."

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several members of the boys and girls soccer teams from Lewistown Area High School were on hand to speak to the board, requesting that the rivalry games between Lewistown and Indian Valley be played at Mitchell Field in Lewistown under the lights. Runk said he has been working with the athletic directors from both schools and found that Oct. 24 is suitable to both teams with the girls game tentatively set for 6 p.m., followed by the boys game at 8 p.m. If the board approves the request at next week's business meeting, the evening also would be senior recognition night for players on both teams.

In other business, Jerry Myers, construction manager for Reynolds Construction, was on hand to present his monthly update on the new Indian Valley High School construction project. Myers said routine work is progressing on schedule, with more steel work planned in the days ahead.

"We're moving right along," he said. "We've had really good weather, which has really been a big help."

Myers said the construction of a paved parking lot behind the school will be forthcoming which, he added, should alleviate problems with mud runoff in the neighborhoods adjacent to the project.

On a related note, the board discussed a proposal from Hayes Large Architects to coordinate the bidding process for new furniture at the new high school. Chief Financial Officer Sean Daubert said should the board accept the proposal, priced at $49,500, the company would have a representative come in who will go through all the construction documents and work with school personnel to determine the best furniture.

"They would build in specs in a way that we won't end up with poor quality furniture. We would then take those specs out to bid," Daubert explained.

Two board members, Kirk Rager and Walter Harpster, asked if any other companies, namely Reynolds, which also is quite familiar with the school project, were contacted about coordinating the bidding process. Daubert said he was unsure whether Reynolds would even be interested. Runk then said the administration will do research to see if there are any other companies that would be interested in coming up with proposals of their own.

In other business, the board heard from a representative of the local PIAA Bowling League Committee, a group of parents from the area interested in having bowling become a sanctioned sport in the Mifflin County School District. Several months ago, the group approached the board and said it would take on the responsibility of financing the teams if the board would grant them permission to compete in the PIAA. Committee member Diane Van Horn said original cost estimates for both schools would run approximately $16,000; however, she said those estimates have been reduced to about $6,000 due to people volunteering to be coaches and parents volunteering transportation to and from bowling matches. She said the group has raised $2,600 so far with several fundraising events scheduled. The season runs from November through January. The board will vote on the matter next week.

Other agenda items expected to be voted on during the July 23 business meeting include:

The revision of job descriptions for two Mifflin County School District positions: director of information systems and webmaster coordinator.

A recommendation that the following teachers be approved for tenure: Cynthia Pierce, John Zesiger, Stephanie Rainey, Ellen Hartsock, Heather Benfer, Jessica Scott, Leslie Sweeney, Michael Grove, Robert S. Lepley and Leah Wolfe.

A recommendation that the following mentors be approved for the 2009-10 school year: Joseph Korona, for Jason Donaldson; Linda K. Gardner for Gregory T. Durland; Rebecca Filson for Jillian Fink for the first semester; and Beth Henry for Jennifer Yuhas for the first semester.

The recommendation that the resignation of Rachel Zook as junior high cheerleading coach at Lewistown High School be approved.

A recommendation to hire Brandi Kohan as junior high cheerleading coach at Lewistown High School.

Recommended approval of a change order in the amount of $5,227 for a deck shaft opening with the installation of fire dampers at the new Indian Valley High School construction project.

A recommendation to hire Benjamin Young as a math teacher at Indian Valley Middle School for the 2009-10 school year.

A recommendation to hire Stephen Black as the district webmaster, effective July 24.

After the committee-of-the-whole meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss two personnel issues: Consideration of the staff performance evaluation form for Act 93 employees who are non-administrators, and to discuss candidates for the vacant assistant principal position at Indian Valley High School.