Hamburg Area School District board approves budget opt-out, $1.7M in invoices and personnel actions

Vice President Thomas DeAngelo called the Hamburg Area School District board to order at 6:30 p.m. and said the meeting was held virtually because of inclement weather. The board unanimously approved a series of routine and budget-related items during a meeting that lasted roughly 12 minutes.

The board approved a 2026–2027 General Fund Preliminary Budget Opt-Out Resolution (Exhibit XXVIh-87) on a motion by Director Laura “Lolly” Lesher and a second from Director Toni McFadden; the roll-call vote was 8–0. The board also approved multiple financial reports and invoices on a motion by Director Tonia Krick and a second from Director Birgit White, including General Fund invoices totaling $1,714,919.29 (check nos. 0000083071–0000083138 and D001005084–D001005155), Food Service invoices totaling $86,782.41 (0000008775–0000008779 and D000000940–D000000950), and Arbiter payments of $13,684.75. Those motions carried by unanimous roll-call votes.

The board approved new or revised extra‑curricular position descriptions (Leo Club Advisor; Ski Club Advisor; “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Club Advisor; Yearbook Advisor) on a motion by Director Toni McFadden and a second from Director Daniel Sarna; that motion carried 8–0.

In personnel business, the board accepted retirements effective at the end of the 2025–26 school year for Michael Bohrman (Perry Elementary classroom teacher), Beth Horrigan (middle school science teacher), and Kelly Rollman (middle school ELA teacher). The board recorded a certification that Temporary Professional Employee Sara Linderman attained professional status effective December 2024, approved a long‑term substitute appointment for Wyatt Conrad (Middle School), and confirmed extracurricular staffing changes including Veronica Heckman’s move to High School Field Hockey Head Coach (effective Jan. 27, stipend $5,889) and Richard Koenig as Marching Band Assistant Director (stipend $2,000). Those personnel actions were approved on a motion by Toni McFadden and a second from Laura “Lolly” Lesher, 8–0.

During board reports, Business Manager Michele Zimmerman had no items to add for the Berks E.I.T. Committee, Vice President DeAngelo shared Joint Operating Committee meeting briefs, and Director Toni McFadden said the Committee on Legislative Action discussed SB 315 (cyber charter reform) and SB 1014 (a K–12 “bell‑to‑bell” cell phone ban). No public comments were offered.

The board reviewed upcoming dates including a committee meeting on Feb. 9 and the next regular board meeting on Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m. on a unanimous motion.

Votes at a glance - Approval of previous minutes (Dec. 15, 2025 and Jan. 12, 2026): Mover Tonia Krick; seconder Daniel Sarna; outcome: approved, roll-call 8–0. - 2026–2027 General Fund Preliminary Budget Opt-Out Resolution (Exhibit XXVIh-87): Mover Laura “Lolly” Lesher; seconder Toni McFadden; outcome: approved, roll-call 8–0. - Financial reports and invoices (General Fund $1,714,919.29; Food Service $86,782.41; Arbiter $13,684.75; treasurer reports): Mover Tonia Krick; seconder Birgit White; outcome: approved, roll-call 8–0. - Extra‑curricular position descriptions: Mover Toni McFadden; seconder Daniel Sarna; outcome: approved, roll-call 8–0. - Personnel actions (retirements, hires, transfers, volunteers): Mover Toni McFadden; seconder Laura “Lolly” Lesher; outcome: approved, roll-call 8–0. - Adjournment: Mover Birgit White; seconder Laura “Lolly” Lesher; outcome: approved, roll-call 8–0.

Next steps: meeting minutes were later recorded on Feb. 24, 2026; the board’s next listed meeting is Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.