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Albert Gallatin Area School Board approves elimination of 23 positions, creates one Grade 5 role
Summary
At a special April 29 meeting, the Albert Gallatin Area School Board approved a blanket personnel action eliminating 23 positions for the 2026–27 school year and authorized creation of a Grade 5 position at AL Wilson Elementary; one trustee abstained on a single listed position.
The Albert Gallatin Area School Board on April 29, 2026 approved a blanket personnel motion eliminating 23 listed positions for the 2026–27 school year and authorized creation of one Grade 5 position at AL Wilson Elementary.
The motion to seek blanket approval for Personnel Items A was moved by David Howard and seconded by Eric Miller and passed with the board voting in favor. Trustee Paul Dunham abstained from Item 11 only (Grade 7/8 ELA at AG North Middle); the minutes record that all other members supported the personnel action.
Superintendent Christopher Pegg and business staff were present; the board had met in executive session for personnel matters earlier in the evening. Before the vote the board waived the public forum portion of Policy 903 for this meeting by a roll-call motion in which trustees Janesko, Porupski, Planiczka, Dunham, Moser, Robinson and President Jeff Myers voted aye and Trustees David Howard and Eric Miller voted nay.
During the public comment period, Kristin Dunham addressed the board about the proposed furloughs, stating the cuts “will cause larger class sizes and will affect student’s educational outcomes.” The minutes record no further public testimony or staff presentation elaborating financial or operational rationales for the specific eliminations.
The listing of the 23 positions includes classroom sections and certified subject positions across the district and several classified roles. Specific items named in the minutes are: Grade 3 and a Kindergarten section at AL Wilson Elementary; kindergarten and grade sections at Friendship Hill, George Plava, Masontown and Smithfield elementaries; Grade 6, Grade 7/8 Math and Grade 7/8 ELA at AG North Middle; Grade 6 and Grade 7/8 ELA at AG South Middle; a math and a learning support position at AG High School; one secretary; one custodian; three hall monitors; four 180-day teacher substitute positions; five elementary intervention specialist (tutor) positions; one secondary assistant principal position; two third-party therapist positions; and the Director of Transportation/McKenney-Vento Liaison/Secondary Supervisor/Maintenance duties to be transferred to the district superintendent.
Separately, the board voted unanimously to create one Grade 5 position at AL Wilson Elementary for the 2026–27 school year; that motion was moved by Carl Planiczka and seconded by Ryan Porupski.
The meeting began at 6:00 p.m., included an executive session called at 6:01 p.m. and reconvened at 7:08 p.m., and adjourned at 7:47 p.m. The board announced its next regular meeting for May 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the D. Ferd Swaney cafeteria.
The minutes do not record the board’s stated financial rationale, projected savings, or staffing plan details beyond the enumerated positions and the single abstention on Item 11; those details were not specified in the minutes and therefore are not reported here.
