Central Valley SD board approves budget items, tax-appeal settlements, contracts and personnel moves

At its March 20 meeting the Central Valley School District Board of Directors approved routine financial reports and payments, settled three tax appeals, authorized contracts including a five-year cyber agreement with Seneca Valley School District and a food service management agreement, and approved multiple personnel appointments including two administrator hires and the superintendent's employment contract.

The actions affect district finances, staffing and vendor relationships for the coming school year. Board votes carried on all items presented with no recorded roll-call tallies in the public transcript; several approvals were noted as "pending solicitor review" or other administrative approvals.

Board members confirmed February payments for the district: general-fund payments of $1,934,831.14 and cafeteria-fund payments of $69,209.89. The board also approved the February Berkheimer tax-collection report and noted zero activity in the construction fund for February as presented in the meeting attachments.

On board-policy items the board approved several settlements and contract actions per a solicitor recommendation. The board authorized a tax-appeal settlement for a parcel (parcel 56-69-0105) reducing the assessed value from $565,300 to $80,300 under case number 2025-10. The board also approved a settlement for an appeal reducing an assessment from $14,929,900 to $13,700,000 (BVPV), effective for the 2025 tax year. A separate settlement reduced an assessment for Banning Properties LLC from $3,478,500 to at-or-above $1,650,000, effective for the 2025 tax year. The transcript records these settlements as presented on attachment E and recommended by the solicitor.

The board approved a 2025—26 food service management agreement with The Nutrition Group pending solicitor and Pennsylvania Department of Education review and approval.

Under education items the board approved the district comprehensive plan for submission to the State Department of Education, including the induction plan, professional development plan (Act 48), gifted-education assurances, Student Services assurances (Chapter 12), Academic Standards and Assessment requirements (Chapter 4) and other state reports. The board also approved a five-year cyber agreement with Seneca Valley School District for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030 (attachment F).

Athletics and extracurricular approvals were routine: the board approved spring coaches and stipends (with head coaches and stipends listed on the meeting attachments) and accepted recommendations to retain listed winter coaches for 2025-26.

The personnel agenda included multiple hires, resignations and a superintendent employment contract. The board approved additions to the 2024-25 substitute list and several cafeteria hires at $15.59 per hour. The board accepted the resignation of John Wehner, business manager, effective April 25, 2025, and the resignation of other district employees as listed on attachments. The board approved Casey Hicks as curriculum director/assistant to the superintendent, effective March 21, 2025, at an annual salary of $114,761 with Act 93 benefits. The board approved Mark Vakovican as high school principal, effective March 21, 2025, at an annual salary of $113,002.32 with Act 93 benefits. The board also authorized the contract for employment of district superintendent with Sean McCreery and instructed proper district officials to sign the agreement.

Superintendent Sean McCreery offered brief remarks congratulating the appointees, saying, "I just want to congratulate Mark, Casey. Welcome them...we're looking forward to working with you." Negotiations chair McDonald told the board, "We have nothing to report at the time."

In finance business the board approved Resolution 2025-08 adopting the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit general operating budget for 2025-26, totaling $2,340,106, as presented on the meeting attachment.

Votes at a glance: all listed motions carried as announced on the record; several approvals remained explicitly "pending solicitor review" or state approval where noted.

The meeting included roll call, routine reports and short board comments recognizing departing and newly promoted staff. No contested votes or extended debates on the listed items appear in the transcript excerpt.