Athens Area SD board adopts Act 1 resolution, approves personnel slate, contracts and $5,816 heaters purchase

The Athens Area School District Board of Directors met in November and approved a package of routine financial and operational items, including a recommendation to adopt the Act 1 resolution that would certify the district will not exceed the local Act 1 index.

Superintendent Dr. Stade told the board a memo from the business office showed the district’s expenses exceeded revenues by $1,893,000 and recommended using assigned and unassigned fund-balance categories as outlined in the memo to cover the shortfall. "We exceeded our revenues or our expenses exceeded revenues by $1,893,000," he said, and administration recommended adoption of the Act 1 resolution; the adjusted index for Athens Area School District was stated as 5.1 percent.

The board voted to approve the financial business package, which included the listings of bills, general fund checks, cafeteria bills, earned income tax reports, treasury reports and the fund-balance actions described by administration.

On personnel, the board approved a slate that included support staff resignations, a long-term subcontract position, a student custodian, athletic contracts for assistant varsity boys wrestling and the varsity girls wrestling coach, several athletic volunteer approvals and a sabbatical request. The administration also received authorization to fill non-administrative and nonprofessional staff positions that may arise between the November meeting and the December 2 board meeting, with the superintendent confirming required clearances and retroactive pay as needed. Administration stated the sabbatical meets requirements in Pennsylvania school code and the AAEA collective-bargaining agreement.

The board approved contracts business A and tabled item B. Staff explained the approval for Henry Dunn to provide the district’s annual ACA reporting — the 1095-C forms and proof-of-insurance reporting now required — and clarified Henry Dunn performs that service annually for the district.

Under curriculum and instruction, the board approved student overnight field trips: a history club international trip for 2026 and Science Olympiad overnight travel to State College for January, February and April 2026; administration said the history club trip is largely student-funded. Transportation items approved included adding one substitute bus driver (Chambers) and updates to daily-rate contracts to reflect new vehicles and recalculated routes.

Facilities business included approval of $5,816.27 to purchase four natural-gas heaters for the district maintenance building, to be paid from the capital project fund reserve because the purchase was not in the regular operating budget. The administration said the heaters are needed to protect winter equipment stored in the maintenance building.

During public comment, Tom Van Fleet of Athens Township praised the girls wrestling coaches — Jay White, David White and Rich Davidson — crediting them with building discipline and resiliency in student athletes and noting his daughter became a district champion under their coaching. "Coach White, David and mister Davidson taught her grit, resiliency, how to perform under pressure," Van Fleet said.

Board leadership recognized outgoing members Cindy Cooper and Kevin Rood for their service. The board set its reorganization meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. with committees meeting at 6:15 p.m. The meeting adjourned with no further formal action scheduled.

Votes at a glance: financial business package — approved; personnel slate — approved; contract A (Henry Dunn ACA reporting) — approved; contract B (salary-for-use memo) — tabled; policies presented for second read — approved; curriculum trip requests — approved; transportation updates and driver addition — approved; buildings & grounds heaters purchase ($5,816.27) — approved.