Athens Area SD hears FFA demonstration; approves routine contracts and calendar change

Athens Area SD — The Athens Area School District board met in April and heard a demonstration and program overview from the Athens Middle FFA, approved routine contracts and personnel items, and adopted a corrected 2025–26 calendar. The district solicitor also updated the board about an offer on the Lowe’s property and a tentative settlement in a pending lawsuit.

The board began the meeting with the pledge of allegiance and the unanimous approval of the March 11 minutes. The largest presentation was from the Athens Middle FFA, brought to the board by the chapter advisor and members. The advisor told the board the new floriculture class has "40 students" and highlighted hands-on work across the program, saying students have "grown over 500 heads of lettuce" hydroponically and produced fundraiser wreaths and miniature greenhouses. The FFA officers conducted a formal chapter drill to demonstrate parliamentary procedure and moved a board-reporting motion during the demonstration.

Vice president Serrano Marica moved "that we update our school board on our middle school FFA program"; the motion was seconded. Officer Kylie Hill moved to amend the motion by striking "yearly" and inserting "biannually." The amendment passed on a voice vote — "The ayes have it" — and the main motion, as amended, will have the chapter report to the board biannually.

Superintendent Dr. Stade thanked the FFA and highlighted other student achievements, including an Odyssey of the Mind team advancing to world finals. He also referenced reporting posted on the Ed Votes PA site about cyber charter spending, saying a Reach cyber school spent "over $350,000" on Google and Facebook advertising (about "$359 per student," as reported). Dr. Stade framed the figures as a caution about where local tax dollars flow when families choose national cyber providers.

Solicitor Mr. Barrett briefed the board on a property matter: the board previously authorized an appraisal of the Lowe’s property, but before appraisal work concluded the district received an offer from Lowe’s. Barrett said commissioners appear willing to accept an offer that may be less than the board’s appraisal and the district’s legal fees; he will refine numbers with the business manager and superintendent and return with details. He also reported a tentative settlement on a previously discussed lawsuit and said he would forward settlement documents to the superintendent for review.

On consent and routine business the board: approved the general fund checks and cafeteria bills; accepted personnel items including a support resignation, a professional resignation and one professional retirement (Mr. Haggerty, recognized for 20+ years of service); approved three contracts — the Misericordia Clinical Education Agreement (renewal/update), an Endless Mountain Therapy Association renewal/name update, and the lawn-mowing bid recommendation to Collins Lawn Care and Landscaping (the low bid was rejected for disqualifying mistakes); moved nine policies from first read to second read; approved an FFA overnight trip request to Penn State activities week; and approved a corrected district calendar that makes April 7 a full student day and removes June 9 as a staff professional-development day so that June 8 is the final staff day and June 5 remains the last student day.

Board members also heard that the career center has paid off bond and interest payments, is adding welding coursework, and reported a 94% pass rate on the NCLEX-PN among its 2024 graduates versus an 83% national average.

The board scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, May 13 (committees at 6:15 p.m.; board at 7 p.m.) and announced a brief executive session for personnel matters following the meeting. The chair adjourned the meeting.