Altoona Area School District elects Val Mignon as president, opens application for vacant seat

Val Mignon was elected board president at the Altoona Area School District’s reorganization meeting after a roll-call vote in which all members present voted yes.

The vote came after the board appointed a temporary chair and accepted the resignation of Brian Gieselman, which created a vacancy for the remainder of a two-year term. Solicitor Carl Beard and board members said interested residents must submit a letter of interest and be present for a brief interview at the district’s Dec. 15 meeting to be considered for appointment.

“Thanks, Carl, and thanks to everybody for the confidence that you have in me,” Mignon said after the roll-call vote affirming his appointment.

Why this matters: The appointment fills leadership roles for the new board year and starts the process to replace a departing member. Board leadership sets committee assignments and helps set priorities for the year ahead.

Board action and process: After accepting Gieselman’s resignation, the board opened nominations for president and vice president. A roll-call vote appointed Mignon president. The board then opened, closed and held a roll-call vote to appoint Kelly Erwin Adams as vice president; members voted unanimously. The board also approved its 2026 meeting schedule.

Eligibility and timeline for applicants: Board members and staff confirmed applicants must be residents of the Altoona Area School District and at least 18 years old; district employees cannot serve on the board and would need to resign if appointed. The board requested letters of interest by Dec. 12 and asked applicants to attend the Dec. 15 meeting for interviews.

What’s next: The board will consider letters of interest and conduct interviews at the Dec. 15 meeting, after which it may appoint a replacement to serve the remaining two years of the seat.