Central Valley board reviews routine business, hears federal funding alert and approves personnel appointments

At a March meeting of the Central Valley School District board, members reviewed routine agenda items including payments and budget reports, discussed a state update on possible U.S. Department of Education staffing cuts, and recorded several personnel actions and administrative items.

The superintendent reported an email from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education indicating that the federal Department of Education was expected to cut staff "almost almost to 50%," but that, "as of right now, there will be no effect on federal program or federal funding at this time," according to the superintendent. A board speaker added that the district's federal funds currently represent "about 500,000," and that those funds largely support Title I and ASAP staff.

Why it matters: federal program funding and staff supported by those dollars pay for services and positions used directly in classrooms and student supports. Board members said they were watching developments closely and asked staff to follow state guidance as it arrives.

The meeting agenda included multiple routine approvals that were presented for board action. Those items included confirming February 2025 general fund payments in the amount shown on the agenda; confirming cafeteria and construction fund payments; approving a Berkheimer report for February 2025; ratifying a settlement agreement involving a student (student number 1002294) subject to solicitor review; and authorizing tax appeal settlements as described on the agenda. The board also considered adoption of a resolution (identified on the agenda as 2025-08) to approve the 2025–2026 Intermediate Unit general operating budget totaling $2,340,106. The transcript records these items as presented on the agenda; the transcript does not record final vote results for those agenda items.

Education and policy items presented for board approval included a request to submit the district comprehensive plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The submission materials listed the required state reports to be included: an induction plan ("Chapter 49"), a professional development plan (Act 48), gifted education plan assurances ("Chapter 16"), student services assurances ("Chapter 12"), and academic standards and assessment requirements ("Chapter 4"). The board was also asked to confirm release time for staff development requests shown on a meeting chart.

Personnel items presented on the agenda included additions to the 2024–25 substitute list (pending clearances); approval of a revised supplemental position at the high school; approval of Clyde Thorhauer as a full-time second-shift flex custodian (pending clearances) effective March 10, 2025; acceptance of the resignation of Joan Wehner, business manager, effective April 25, 2025; approval of Casey Hicks as director of curriculum, effective March 21, 2025; approval of Mark Vakovican as high school principal, effective March 21, 2025; and revised leave dates for a cafeteria general worker (employee ID 1932) with an unpaid leave through March 7, 2025 and planned return March 10, 2025. Those personnel items were presented on the agenda; the transcript records them as motions or agenda items and does not record separate roll-call vote results in the provided text.

Athletics and extracurricular items on the agenda included approval of spring coaches and stipends pending receipt and acceptance of required clearances, and a recommendation to retain several winter coaches for the 2025–26 school year. Building-usage requests and field-trip notifications were presented as informational items.

School reports during the meeting highlighted recent student activities: Central Valley High School appeared on a quiz show that will air on Saturday, the high school musical ran for three nights, the concert band traveled to Orlando, the guidance office held a career day with more than 40 speakers, and the Unified Bocce team reached regional finals. Todd Lane Elementary reported collecting 2,182 boxes of cereal in a food drive. Kindergarten registration at one elementary site was reported as about "40 to 50" students signed up so far.

Board member financial comments touched on charter and cyber school funding. Board member Ambrose said proposals under discussion at the state level could standardize charter-school payments (he referenced a suggested $8,000 per student figure in reporting) and cited audit reporting about a cyber school's fund balance rising from $108 million in 2020 to $219 million in 2023. He urged public engagement with state representatives on the subject.

Votes at a glance: the transcript shows a motion to adjourn the meeting that was seconded by Marcel Castro and carried on a voice vote. The transcript does not contain recorded roll-call outcomes for the other agenda motions presented in this segment.

The board also noted that it had met in executive session before the meeting and would hold an executive session immediately after the meeting to discuss personnel matters; no executive session outcomes were stated on the record.

Looking ahead: board members asked staff to monitor state and federal developments about education funding and to report back as guidance becomes available.