Minutes - November 12, 2025 Committee of the Whole/Voting (ADA Compliant)
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 7:05p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with seven members present. Attending were Ms. Bilek, President, Ms. Costanza, Vice-President, Dr. Wells, Mr. Snyder, Dr. Li, Ms. Luther and Ms. Sullivan. Dr. Sommer and Mr. Brenneman were absent.
Recognitions
Mr. DeLattre: Recognition of Fall Teams and Individuals
District 6 Champions and PIAA qualifiers: Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Cross Country, Volleyball, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer
Student Representative Reports
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Representative Alice Haslam and
Junior Representatives Jenna Zelem and Kate Steiner presented their monthly reports to the board.
Public Comment: Jesse Blank, 201 Willow Street, Hollidaysburg addressed the board regarding the proposed changes to Policy 3, and Tony Fink, 316 Walnut Street, Hollidaysburg spoke to the board regarding Policy 321.1.
Committee Report: Mr. Nihart gave a report on the October 15, 2025 Physical Plant Committee meeting.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
The board met Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for personnel, safety, and security.
December Meetings:
December 3, 2025
Reorganization and COW/Voting
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Time: 7:00p.m.
December 10, 2025
Special Voting * If Needed
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Time: 7:00p.m.
All board meeting agendas are available in detail 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.
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, to approve the minutes of the following meetings:
August 6, 2025 Special Voting
October 15, 2025 Physical Plant Committee
October 15, 2025 Committee of the Whole/Voting
October 29, 2025 Special Voting
The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder, to approve financial reports for October 2025. The reports included Treasurer’s Reports, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers for October 2025, Food Service for September 2025, SH Student Store for September 2025 and FY Projection. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Exhibit 1
Dr. Li initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings & 818 Contracted Services, to approve contracts 1 through 11:
Letter of Agreement with Ignite Education Solutions effective August 21, 2025 through June 1, 2026 for secular, neutral and non-ideological Title I reading services at Arrows Christian Academy Cost: $844 Paid by Federal Funds Exhibit 2
Letter of Agreement with Ignite Education Solutions effective August 21, 2025 through June 1, 2026 for secular, neutral and non-ideological Title I math services at Great Commission School Cost: $1688 Paid by Federal Fund Exhibit 3
Rental Agreement with The Casino for the 2026 Senior Prom, Friday, May 22, Total rental fee $3,450 (includes $1,000 security deposit) Paid by Student Activity Funds) Exhibit 4
Four Diamonds Mini-Thon Fundraising Guidelines & Partnership Agreement effective November 12, 2025 through May 29, 2026 for the Penn State Health Children's Hospital No Cost Exhibit 5
Clinical Education Affiliation Agreement with The Pennsylvania State University on behalf of the Department of Kinesiology effective October 27, 2025 through October 26, 2030 for applied learning experiences for Athletic Training Students No Cost Exhibit 6
Contract with Scholastic Book Fairs - Foot of Ten - Spring Fair effective November 12, 2025 through March 24, 2026 for books and educational products available for purchase by students/parents/staff Cost: Parent/Student/Staff Paid Exhibit 7
Contract with Scholastic Book Fairs - Charles W. Longer, Spring Fair effective November 12, 2025 March 24, 2026 for books and educational products available for purchase by students/parents/staff Cost: Parent/Student/Staff Paid Exhibit 8
Contract with Scholastic Book Fairs - Frankstown - Spring Fair effective November 12, 2025 through March 24, 2026 for books and educational products available for purchase by students/parents/staff Cost: Parent/Student/Staff Paid Exhibit 9
Contract with Canva for Education effective October 13, 2025 through October 12, 2028 for content creation services to K-12 education staff and students (creation of presentations, flyers, lesson worksheets, videos No Cost Exhibit 10
Contract with Edlio effective November 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027 for website access which includes website design, dedicated project manager, hosting and technical support Cost: Year 1: $6,380; Year 2: $5760; Year 3 $5760 (Budgeted) Exhibit 11
Amendment to PA-ETEP Agreement with Edulink effective November 11, 2025 through November 12, 2030 for the addition of attachment module to the exiting teacher evaluation software Cost: $1,339 (Not Budgeted) Exhibit 12
The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to approve the removal of “Authorization for the Administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors to explore a Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note (TRAN), if needed” from the agenda. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder, to approve items 3 through 11 as follows:
District-Wide Purchase of Equipment and Supplies District-Wide Purchase of Equipment and Supplies Exhibit 13
Federal Program Budget Adjustments
Federal Program Budget Adjustments:
2025-2026 Budget:
2024-2025 Title I Increase (Carryover): $28,221
2024-2025 Title II Increase (Carryover): $9,621
2023-2024 Title II Increase (Carryover): $1,164 Exhibit 14
Application and Certificate for Payment #5 - Garland/DBS, Inc.: $130,543.01 Exhibit 15
Collection Fees Charged to Municipalities for 2026
Per Capita: $.55/bill
Collection Fees Charged by Blair County Tax Collection Bureau effective January 1, 2026
Current & Delinquent Earned Income / Net Profit: 3%
Flat Rate Occupation Tax effective January 1, 2025: 3%
(Tax Exempt if income is less than $1,500)
Per Board Policy 618, Student Activity Fund Control, Requests to Establish New Student Activity Accounts:
New Student Activity: SH Positive Behavior Intervention Support (SHPBIS) - No. 85
Purpose: To create meaningful and effective PBIS events and activities to promote a healthy and effective climate at the school.
New Student Activity: JH Agriculture (Ag) Club - No. 80
Purpose: To develop members to become leaders, grow in the knowledge of industry and have success in a future career all through agriculture experiences locally and nationally. Exhibit 16
Close Student Activity Accounts
Per Board Policy 618-Student Activity Fund Control, the closure of student activity accounts Chrome Squad, Account #99 and Faith Friday, Account#78.
Per Board policy, 229 - District Fund Raising, the approval of the following fundraisers: SH Student Council, Account #73 and CWL Student Council, Account #46 Exhibit 17
Per Board Policy 702, Gifts, Grants and Donations, the approval of a donation from Gallagher Insurance for 4 Coats for the Junior and Senior High
The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Regarding the unassigned fund balance carryover, Ms. Sullivan noted for the record that the district is evaluating the possible use of metal detectors, along with their operation and placement within schools, and that the matter will be addressed further if it is determined to be feasible.
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. Whitesel
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Luther, to approve items 1 through 4:
New Course Proposal: Advanced Placement Human Geography - Grade 9 Exhibit 18
Web-based Resources with Student Accounts - additions, deletions, and updates to the web-based resources that require student accounts.
Website Name: We Will Write
URL: https://wewillwrite.com/
Grade Levels: K-12
Privacy Policy: https://wewillwrite.com/privacy
Terms and Conditions: https://wewillwrite.com/terms
Cost: Free plan (no purchases for paid plans)
Purpose: To assist students with developing a more positive view of writing, and practice writing modalities in a variety of engaging ways.
Winter Sports Master Field Trip List - Per Board Policies 230.1 Student Expenses for Conferences/Competitions and 121 Field Trips, student field trips in excess of 150 miles, out of state, or overnight are submitted for approval and authorization for the Superintendent to approve additional trips as needed throughout the 2025-2026 school year resulting from advancement in PIAA school sponsored sports playoffs. Exhibit 19
Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, personnel actions 1 through 41 dated 11/12/2025 REV 11/10/2025 at 1:38p.m. Exhibit 20
The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Mr. Whitesel acknowledged the resignation of Justin Arthur, Director of Technology, and extended his best wishes in his new position.
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Li, Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, to approve the following policies on a first reading:
Policy 217 Graduation
Policy 819 Suicide Awareness, Prevention and Response and Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations the following policies on a second reading:
Policy 003 Functions
Policy 008 Organization Chart
Policy 102 Academic Standards
The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Ms. Luther initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Sullivan, Per Board Policy 701.7 Facility Advertising, Sponsorship, and Naming, to approve the naming of the District's Planetarium to the Marschak Planetarium, based on Fred Marshack’s years of service and dedication to the District’s Planetarium. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
There being no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Autumn Fiscus, Board Secretary