Minutes - January 15, 2025 Committee of the Whole (ADA Compliant)
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 7:08p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with nine members present. Attending were Ms. Bilek, President, Ms. Costanza, Vice-President, Dr. Wells, Mr. Brenneman, Dr. Li, Ms. Luther, Mr. Snyder, and Ms. Sullivan. Dr. Sommer participated virtually .
Also present were Mr. Whitesel, Superintendent, Mrs. Boone, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Prosser, Director of Special Education, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource/Transportation, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Ms. Faith, Foundation Director/Grant Administrator, Mrs. McConnell, Mrs. Cerully, Mr. Keagy, Mr. Madden, Attorney Joseph Beard, Solicitor and an Altoona Mirror representative.
Public Comment
Rick Karcher, 124 Stonehedge Road, Hollidaysburg addressed the board regarding the addition of a pickleball court at or near the tennis courts at Charles W. Longer Elementary.
Board Member Recognition
Students from all district schools recognized the board for their service as part of School Board Recognition Month.
Student Representative Report
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Representatives Jefferson McCoy and Madison McLaurin and Junior Representative Alice Haslam presented their monthly report to the board.
Presentations
Presentations to the board on the 2024 PA Outstanding Visual Arts Community was given by Alysia Watt and the Art Department.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
Announcements: The board met in executive session on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 for personnel.
Meetings for February, 2025:
Curriculum Committee
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Time: 5:00p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street|
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole/Voting
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
All board meeting agendas are available for public viewing (3) days prior to each meeting date on BoardDocs. BoardDocs web address is https://www.boarddocs.com/pa/hasd/Board.nsf. Interested parties should enter the public site.
Dan Bradley from Young, Oakes, Brown and Company reviewed the Financial Statements and Auditor's Report on Basic Financial Statements for Year Ended June 30, 2024 and the Blair County Schools Health Consortium Audit for Years Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024 with no findings.
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder, to approve the following:
Per Board Policy 619-District Audit, Financial Statements and Auditor's Report on Basic Financial Statements for Year Ended June 30, 2024 and the Blair County Schools Health Consortium Audit for Years Ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Exhibits 1 and 2
Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, the minutes of the December 4, 2024 Reorganization - Committee of the Whole/Voting meeting. The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Mr. Brenneman initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Li, to approve Financial Reports for November, 2024, items 1 through 7 and December, 2024, items 1 through 5. The reports for November included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers, Food Service for October, 2024 and SH Student Store for October, 2024. The reports for November included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Budget Transfers, Food Service for November, 2024 and SH Student Store for November, 2024. The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibits 3 and 4
Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approve contracts 1 through 5.
Memorandum of Understanding with The County of Blair effective December 3, 2024 through December 3, 2027 to establish transportation procedures with The County of Blair, on behalf of Blair County, Children, Youth and Families (BCCYF) to ensure the provision of transportation for foster care students and a Transportation Plan with The County of Blair, on behalf of Blair County Children Youth and Families (BCCYF) effective December 3, 2024 through December 3, 2027 to provide transportation to district students in foster care required by Every Student Succeeds Act Cost: Transportation Costs reimbursed by CCYA Exhibit 5
Contract with Health Equity effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027 for an HSA Threshold Administrative Fee Cost: $1.75/Per Account Per Month (Budgeted) Exhibit 6
Audit Agreement with Young, Oakes, Brown & Company, P.C. for Years Ending June 30, 2025, 2026 and 2027 Cost: Year Ending 2025: $31,295; Year Ending 2026: $32,225, Year Ending 2027: $33,195 (Budgeted, $8 increase over budget) Exhibit 7
Contract with Prismworks Technology effective March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 for PSP support for directory, wired/wireless network infrastructure monitoring Cost: $18,600/yr (Budgeted) Exhibit 8
Contract with CAIU for SentinelOne Master Subscription Agreement effective January 16, 2024 to June 30, 2026; the Sophos contract is ending - switching to a different product. Renewal cost would be more expensive at $22,050 annually Cost: 1/16/2025 to 6/30/2025: $9,620; 7/1/2025 to 6/30/2026: $19,240 (Budgeted) Exhibit 9
The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Luther initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman to approve a Capital Reserve Project for the 1st Phase of the Senior High Roof Replacement Project in the amount of $2,610,860. The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 10
Mr. Snyder initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approve items 3 through 7:
Federal Program Budget Adjustments:
2024-2025 Budget:
2022-2023 Title II Decrease: $4,746
2022-2023 PCCD School Mental Health and Safety/Security Grant (38275) Increase $32,300 (Carryover)
2023-2024 PCCD School Mental Health Grant (42972) Increase $139,849 (Carryover)
2023-2024 Title I Increase $19,278 (Carryover) Exhibit 11
Authorization for the following Central Office Administrators to approve or agree to terms of service and acceptable use when prompted as part of setup, configuration, update and/or requisition process:
Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Director of Human Resources/ Transportation
Business Manager
Accounting Operations Director
Director of Special Education
Director of Technology
Foundation Director/Grant Administrator
Director of Physical Plant
Director of Food Service
Per Board Policy 706.1 Disposal of Surplus Property/Textbooks/Supplies, disposal of various obsolete equipment and books. Exhibit 12
Per Board policy, 229 - District Fund Raising the following fundraiser:
Podcasting Club/JH #81
Dress Down Day: March 21, 2025
Estimated profit: $125.00
Per Board Policy 618-Student Activity Fund Control, closure of the following student activity accounts:
Foot of Ten Reading Club - No. 49
Little Aevidum - Foot of Ten Elementary, No. 27
The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. Whitesel
In recognition of Board Recognition Month, Mr. Whitesel, on behalf of the administrative staff, commended the board for their dedication to the school district. Board members were presented with a Certificate of Recognition from PSBA.
On recommendation of Ms. Bilek, Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to table the motion to approve the following new course proposals until February:
New Course Proposal:
SH - Civil Rights Movement Causes: and Consequences
SH - Personal Finances
SH - College Bound Chemistry 2
SH - Geology
SH – Oceanography
The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Luther, to approve the following:
Capstone Research Project by Jessica Zorger and Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, personnel items 1 through 70, dated 1/15/2025 REV 1/15/2025 at 1:36p.m. The motion carried on a voice vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibits 13 and 14
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
Ms. Bilek announced that the 2025 Board Committee list remains the same as 2024. Recommendations for new committees or expansion of current committees are to be directed to Ms. Bilek for discussion with the full board.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 8:13p.m.
Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary