Schuylkill Valley board elects officers, approves routine appointments and contracts at reorganization meeting

At its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 3, 2024, the Schuylkill Valley School District board of school directors elected its president and vice president, approved committee appointments and routine personnel and contract items, and tabled one student settlement agreement.

Elections and appointments: The board elected David Mahl as president and Alfonso Rossi as vice president following nominations and roll-call votes. The board also appointed Linda Lash and Franklin Amarell as representatives (and alternates where noted) to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association liaison role and named members to standing committees including policy and personnel; curriculum and technology; budget and finance; buildings and grounds; and student services and activities. Committee membership and representative terms were announced during the meeting.

Personnel and routine approvals: The board approved a resignation with regret (Joanne Cummins, part-time food service, effective Nov. 22, 2024), co-curricular appointments (Megan DeAngelo, audiovisual club advisor and technical director, stipends listed), substitute approvals, volunteer approvals for the 2024–25 school year, and processing of bills through Dec. 20, 2024 (to be ratified at the January 2025 meeting). The board voted to approve an agreement naming Dr. Jordan as district dentist, approved homebound instruction for student 4305 for up to three months under Policy 117, and approved a virtual-education agreement with the Brandywine Virtual Academy for student 3414. The board also certified the Sterling Act school tax credit for calendar year 2023 in the amount of $11,602.19.

Tabling and other motions: The board moved to table a proposed settlement agreement related to student 4205. The motion to table carried without recorded opposition.

Vote format and tallies: Many routine items were approved by unanimous voice vote (recorded as passing 9–0 in the meeting record where a roll call or tally was used). Specific roll-call votes were recorded for officer elections earlier in the meeting. Where the meeting used voice votes, the minutes record a passed motion without an itemized roll-call tally.

What the board did not do at the meeting: The board did not adopt any motions specifically addressing the public comments about staff turnover, exit interviews or special-education cuts raised during the public-comment period; it proceeded with the reorganization agenda and routine approvals.