LEWISTOWN - Students at Indian Valley and Lewistown high schools interested in bowling will now be able to compete for their schools in sanctioned PIAA matches beginning this coming school year, after action taken Thursday by the Mifflin County School District Board of Directors.

For the past several months, discussions have taken place between the school board and representatives of a local PIAA Bowling League Committee, made up of a group of parents interested in having bowling become a sanctioned sport in the Mifflin County School District. The group told the board that it would take on the responsibility of financing the teams and providing volunteer coaches and transportation to and from matches.

At Thursday's meeting, Rick Keefer, athletic director at Lewistown High School, said the PIAA is simply awaiting school board approval on the matter.

"If you approve it, I can go online the next day and add the sport," Keefer said.

Keefer added that he has been in discussions throughout the process with his counterpart at Indian Valley, who he said also is on board with the idea. He added that several other teams in District 6 are awaiting a decision from the Mifflin County School Board and may opt to join as well. If not, Keefer said there were several teams outside of District 6 that the local schools could compete against, at least during the first year.

The board then voted unanimously to allow both schools to field boys and girls bowling teams at no cost to the district for the next two years.

In other business, the board voted to retain the architectural firm of Hayes Large to coordinate the bidding process for new furniture and equipment for the new Indian Valley High School. During a workshop meeting held July 16, several board members asked Chief Financial Officer Sean Daubert to look into the possibility of any other firms that may want to bid on the process.

On Thursday, Daubert reported he contacted general contractor Reynolds Construction and was told that the company didn't feel qualified to provide the services necessary. The company also said it had no recommendation of other firms. Daubert said he then contacted Hayes Large again and asked them to take another look at their original $49,500 bid. The company came back with a bid of $42,000, which the board then approved by a 7-2 vote.

In other action Thursday, the board approved the following:

The 2009-10 food services operating budget, pending state reimbursement levels. Daubert said the budget is balanced and there will be no price increases for the next school year.

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

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.

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; Beth Henry for Jennifer Yuhas for the first semester; Bonnie Whistler, for Wendy Mauery; and John Bell, for Kristin Benford.

The hiring Todd Peters as a math teacher at Indian Valley High School for 2009-10.

The hiring of Amanda Longnecker as a reading teacher at Indian Valley High School.

The hiring of John Zesiger as assistant principal at Indian Valley High School; and Zeisiger's resignation as IVHS athletic director.

The resignation of Matthew Shoemaker as golf and head boys basketball coach at Indian Valley High School.

Named Nancy Craig and Mark Bonson as volunteer swimming coaches for Lewistown Area High School.

The resignation of Rachel Zook as junior high cheerleading coach at Lewistown High School.

The hiring of Brandi Kohan as junior high cheerleading coach at Lewistown High School.

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.

The hiring of 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.

The election of board member Phillip Nash as a voting delegate to the Pennsylvania School Board Association.

Granted a request by members of the Lewistown and Indian Valley boys and girls soccer teams to move their rivalry games to Oct. 24, for the purpose of playing those games under the lights at Mitchell Field in Lewistown. The girls varsity game will take place at 6 p.m., followed by the boys contest at 8 p.m. The event also will be senior recognition night.

A memorandum of understanding between the Association of Mifflin County Educators and the Mifflin County School District for the utilization and payment of psychology, physical therapy and occupational therapy services during the school year.