West Perry board appoints Dr. Lucas Clouse as superintendent after brief procedural dispute

The West Perry School District Board of School Directors voted 8–0 on April 20 to appoint Dr. Lucas Clouse as superintendent for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2026.

The vote came after board member Mr. Nesbit raised a potential Sunshine Act concern before the public vote, prompting the board to recess for an executive session. The meeting resumed and the roll-call vote to appoint Dr. Clouse carried 8 Yes, 0 No.

Dr. Clouse will start July 1, 2026, under a five-year employment agreement through June 30, 2031. The board nnounced the appointment and praised Clouse—or his long record in the district: 19 years of administrative experience including 15 years as an elementary principal and four years as Communication and Compliance Administrator. The board said his local roots and experience provide continuity for the district.

On accepting the appointment, Dr. Clouse said, "I'm honored and humbled by the trust the Board and hopefully the community will be placing in me. I've spent more than half my life either as a student or an administrator here at West Perry," and described plans to develop an entry plan with stakeholder input.

Before the vote, Mr. Nesbit raised concerns that approving a contract prior to allowing public comment on that specific item might violate the Sunshine Act. Mrs. Johnson addressed the procedural question, explaining that under Pennsylvania law boards can hold contracts in a pending state until a formal public vote ratifies them, and the board then proceeded to an executive session to seek clarification before taking the formal vote.

The appointment was one of several personnel actions approved at the meeting, which also included approval of a business manager contract and the appointment of Alison Howard as assistant principal at West Perry High School, effective July 1, 2026.

The board adjourned at 9:06 p.m.