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Butler Area School Board unanimously approves broad consent agenda, adopts parent and family engagement policy
Summary
At its March 9 meeting, the Butler Area School District board approved a multi-item consent agenda including budgets, contracts, overnight student trips and curriculum displays, adopted Policy 918 to align with Title I, and accepted personnel changes including the band director's retirement and naming a replacement.
The Butler Area School District Board of School Directors met March 9, 2026, and unanimously approved a broad consent agenda that included minutes, finance reports, contracts pending solicitor review, curriculum displays and multiple overnight student trips. The board also adopted an updated Parent and Family Engagement policy (Policy 918) and approved personnel changes affecting the band director and building assignments.
The board voted to approve the consent agenda items placed on the docket after a motion by Jennifer Daniels and a second from John W. Conrad; the motion carried with all listed members voting yea. Consent approvals encompassed routine items including approval of the February 9 regular-meeting minutes and February 23 community-engagement minutes; January finance and business reports; personnel and conference reports; and the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV general operating budget for 2026–2027.
During discussion of contracts and agreements, Dr. White said the district removed a Power Purchase Agreement from the agenda. He listed several contract-related updates that will move forward subject to solicitor review, including a reimbursement to the district for selling back old iPads (which Dr. White said will not affect the district’s one-to-one student ratio), a Weber Murphy Fox quote to repair deteriorating stairs at Center Township Elementary School, and an Anderson Coach transportation quote to support students in a joint micro-credential program with Rankin Christian School. Dr. White also noted that the students involved in that micro-credential will present their work at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, coordinated by Marci Mustello.
Mr. Deer told the board the district is beginning a new five-year E‑Rate cycle and recommended approval of quotes from Armstrong and ePlus for Category One and Two services; he noted E‑Rate is a federally funded discount program that reduces costs based on free-and-reduced-lunch eligibility. The board approved those quotes, subject to final solicitor review.
The board approved curriculum actions including a 30-day public display for a proposed Grade 6 Social Studies textbook (Voices and Perspectives), which Dr. Miller said would align sixth-grade materials with grades 7–12, and an update to the AP Literature and Composition anthology recommended by the AP College Board.
Student activities approved under the consent agenda included overnight trips for PMEA District Band and All State Conference, the AGLOA national competition, and an overnight trip to France. The board also approved Dr. Kobil and Dr. Mason to serve as school dentists for the 2025–2026 school year.
On policy, Dr. Slamecka presented the second reading of Policy 918, Parent and Family Engagement, and said the update complies with the federal Title I program’s requirements. John W. Conrad moved and Cecilia Tomko seconded the motion to approve the second reading; the motion carried unanimously.
In response to questions from Butler Radio’s Mr. Saeler, Dr. White confirmed that band director Mr. Kroner is retiring from his position and that Mr. Todd Karenbauer will assume the band director role in the 2026–2027 school year. Dr. White also clarified building assignments: Alicia Beighley will remain principal at Connoquenessing Elementary School and Hope Hull will continue as Principal of Personalized Learning at the Senior High School. Dr. White told the board the district has more than $10 million in identified capital‑project needs and confirmed an event at Pullman Park scheduled for March 16, though he did not provide specifics about that event.
Phil Heasley moved and John W. Conrad seconded a motion to close the meeting; the motion carried by voice vote and the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. An executive session was noted following adjournment.
The meeting record shows unanimous approval on the items described above; where approvals were conditioned on solicitor review, the board recorded that review as a requirement before final contract execution.
