Punxsutawney Area School District board approves disciplinary consequences in two expulsion cases

The Punxsutawney Area School District Board of Directors voted unanimously, 9-0, to approve disciplinary consequences in two student expulsion matters during its public meeting. The board said written adjudications for both cases were provided to members late the same day via email.

The board approved disciplinary consequences for two separate students identified in the meeting as student A and student B. The board’s reading of the motions said each approval adopted the written adjudication "as fully set forth herein." The board also noted each student’s expulsion hearing had been scheduled for April 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., respectively.

Why it matters: Expulsion decisions affect individual students’ educational status and are formal actions recorded in district minutes. The board’s unanimous votes conclude the district’s public-agenda consideration of these two matters for this meeting.

Details of action and votes

- Student A: The presiding officer read a motion to approve the imposition of disciplinary consequences for the case described in the written adjudication and asked for questions. After no questions were raised, a motion to approve was made and seconded; Trevor (board member) was recorded as the second. A roll-call vote recorded “yes” from Mr. Blows; Mr. Cardamone; Deb Hutchinson (board member); Mrs. Evans; Mr. Horner; Mr. Konderski; Mrs. Laska; Mrs. Smith; and Mr. Yount, for a 9-0 vote in favor.

- Student B: The presiding officer said the second item was nearly identical to the first and asked for a motion. Trevor (board member) moved to approve and Doug (board member) seconded. A roll-call vote recorded “yes” from Mr. Cardamone; Deb Hutchinson; Mrs. Evans; Mr. Horner; Mr. Konderski; Mrs. Laska; Mrs. Smith; Mr. Yount; and Mr. Blows, for a 9-0 vote in favor.

Board procedure and other notes

The board chair (presiding officer) indicated written adjudications were distributed to board members via email the same day. Board staff member Susan was noted as having taken the roll earlier in the meeting. No public comments were recorded for the public agenda; the two student disciplinary matters were the only items on the public agenda for action. Following the votes the board adjourned the public meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Student A: Approved (motion seconded by Trevor); roll-call vote 9-0. - Student B: Approved (motion moved by Trevor; seconded by Doug); roll-call vote 9-0.

The meeting record does not include the text of the adjudications in the public transcript; the board stated those documents were provided to members by email on the day of the meeting.