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Athens Area School Board elects Michael Owen president, installs Kathy Jo Minnick as vice president and approves routine contracts and budget benchmark
Summary
In reorganizational business, the board elected Michael Owen president by a 5–4 written ballot, named Kathy Jo Minnick vice president by voice vote, appointed liaisons to PSBA and the Northern Tier Career Center, approved a memorandum of understanding for the Warwick online academy, authorized an E-rate agreement with Questech and interim Pasmo services at $81/hour, and approved the Act 1 budgeting resolution and routine personnel and transportation items.
At its regular meeting the Athens Area School District board completed reorganization and approved several routine items, including a memorandum of understanding for online academies and IT- and interim-support contracts.
After opening nominations, the board used a written ballot to elect Michael Owen president; the secretary announced the tally as "Kathy Jo Minnick, 4. Michael Owen, 5," and the chair declared Michael Owen the successful nominee. The board then nominated Kathy Jo Minnick as vice president and, with only one nominee, approved her by voice vote.
The board appointed Natalie Smart as the district's PSBA liaison and Cindy Cooper as the Northern Tier Career Center primary representative; by unanimous voice votes the board also named Natalie Smart as the Career Center alternate. The IU 17 primary and alternate seats remain vacant for 2025.
Solicitor Mister Barrett presented a memorandum of understanding with the Athens Area Education Association related to the Warwick online academy, describing limited technical adjustments required to satisfy federal program requirements; the board voted to approve the MOU.
On contracts, administration recommended awarding E-rate implementation work to Questech as part of the district's IT-services transition and presented an interim support-services agreement with Pasmo. Superintendent Dr. Stage noted the Pasmo hourly rate is $81, which he said includes Pasmo's administrative fee; the board approved those agreements.
In financial business the administration recommended and the board approved the Act 1 resolution — a budgetary benchmark indicating the district will not exceed the Act 1 index if it raises taxes as part of the 2025–26 budget process. The board also approved routine personnel items (resignations, support contracts and supplemental athletics contracts), overnight Science Olympiad field trips and three new bus drivers after administration confirmed endorsements.
Board members flagged a separate question about prior student-activity account balances that now show zero; the superintendent said he would investigate and return with a clarification.
The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Jan. 14, with committee meetings at 6:15 p.m., and adjourned.
