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Board approves routine contracts, personnel changes and a tuition waiver; public commenter urges ArbiterPay and higher game-day pay
Summary
The board approved several contract amendments, personnel items (including adding a long-term substitute to reduce kindergarten class sizes), a tuition waiver for a senior, and routine transportation updates; public commenter Dan Harris urged switching to ArbiterPay for officials and raising pay for ticket takers.
The Montoursville Area School Board approved a series of routine business items on July 15, including contract amendments with Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Associates (for Kleinfelder geotechnical engineering services and kitchen/cafeteria equipment) and a cost‑agreement amendment. The board approved the items by voice vote and roll call as noted on the agenda.
Administrators presented personnel items grouped as agenda items 8.1–8.4. The superintendent described shifting kindergarten enrollment at Leiter School (about 70 kindergarten students with three teachers, averaging roughly 23.3 students per class) and offered two options: reassign a teacher from a larger grade or hire a long‑term substitute for kindergarten. The board discussed class-size goals and approved the personnel package that will allow the district to add a long‑term substitute if enrollment requires it. "I propose to add a long term sub to kindergarten... That reduces it to 17 and a half in kindergarten," the superintendent said, explaining the rationale to keep class sizes aligned with district standards.
In academics, the board approved a request from the parent of student 262340 for enrollment and a tuition waiver so the student may finish the 2025–26 senior year. One board member voiced concern about setting a precedent but was persuaded by the superintendent’s explanation that the district’s per‑pupil capacity means denying a waiver would not save operational costs. The motion passed by voice vote.
During the final public‑comment period, Dan Harris (crossing guard, athletics assistant and Leiter School front‑door staff) asked whether the district would move to ArbiterPay to pay game officials instead of issuing checks and recommended raising ticket‑taker pay to attract reliable volunteers. Harris also asked about transition plans; district staff responded that ArbiterPay will be used starting this year.
The meeting concluded with committee reports, extracurricular updates highlighting student athletic honors, and a motion to adjourn.
