Montoursville Area school board backs athletics bill, approves hires and tables McCall Fields drainage study

The Montoursville Area School board met Wednesday evening and voted to support a resolution backing House Bill 41 on public and private school athletics, approved several staff hires and tabled a proposed drainage study for McCall Fields pending further review.

A board member raised concerns about a $13,500 proposal to examine drainage at McCall Fields, asking whether the fee included contracting and design work and questioning a roughly $8,000 line-item for geotechnical work. "We're looking at $13,500 just to look at it," the committee member said, urging the board to consider an open request for proposals to compare firms and services. District staff replied that geotechnical work informs the design and is typically required for stormwater permitting and that the district could solicit additional bids.

After discussion, the board rescinded an earlier motion grouping items 3.1–3.7, approved items 3.1–3.5 as a group and voted to table agenda item 3.6 (the McCall Fields proposal). A board member moved to table the item and the motion carried by voice vote.

On agenda item 3.7 the board approved a resolution expressing support for House Bill 41, which a board member characterized as a response to competitive imbalances in postseason athletics. "Out of the 6 classifications, 5 of them were won by private schools," the committee member said while urging support for the resolution. The resolution passed by voice vote.

Under personnel business (item 4.1) the board approved additions to district staff, listing Catherine Bergen, Tracy Elmer, Erin Runkle, Misty Emmick and Evan Silstra as new hires. The approvals were moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote.

The board concluded with a final public comment period and adjourned; several members thanked a remote caller who had joined from Pittsburgh.