Minutes - September 10, 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, September 10, 2025 in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 7:07p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with eight members present. Attending were Ms. Bilek, Dr. Sommer, Ms. Sullivan, Dr. Li, Mr. Snyder, Dr. Wells, and Ms. Costanza. Ms. Luther participated virtually. Mr. Brenneman was absent.
Also present was Mr. Whitesel, Superintendent, Dr. Boone, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Bell, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resources/Transportation, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Ms. Faith, Foundation Director/Grant Writer, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Attorney Joseph Beard, Solicitor, Mr. McCloskey, Mrs. McConnell, Mrs. Cerully, Mrs. Venios, Mr. Madden and a representative from the Altoona Mirror.
Public Comment
Kristen Bender, 1203 Meadow Lane, Duncansville, Krista Murphy, 2625 Juniata Valley Road, Hollidaysburg, and Katie Farr, 1201 Meadow Lane, Duncansville, addressed the board regarding Policy 321.1 Displays and Décor in the School Setting.
Students Cael Gerchak, James Sutton, Mike Rawlins, HAEA Representative and Steve Benton, HASD SRP addressed the board regarding the proposed change to the Secondary Student Handbook relating to backpacks.
Presentation - Ms. Faith and Ms. McConnell presented information to the board about Rachel’s Challenge, scheduled to take place on September 23, 2025 at the Junior High School.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
The board met in executive session September 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. for negotiations and 6:00 p.m for personnel.
Meetings for October, 2025:
Physical Plant Committee
October 15, 2025 - 5:30PM
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole/Voting
October 15, 2025 - 7:00PM
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.
Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder, to approve Financial Reports for June-July, 2025 and August, 2025. The reports for June-July included Investment Portfolio-Revised June 30, 2025, Treasurer’s Report and Investment Portfolio, and the August, 2025 reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, FY Projections and Investment Portfolio. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 1
Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Li, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, to approve Contracts 1 through 15:
Engagement Agreement with The Reschini Group effective the 2025 reporting year to assist in completion of the 2025 IRS reporting requirements for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Cost: Deposit (non-refundable): $500; $6.50 per 1095 Form (Budgeted) Exhibit 2
Legal Services Consultation Agreement with Sweet, Stevens, Katz, Williams, LLP for The Technology in Education Pool counsel service to give legal advice on technology in education through the Appalachia IU08 effective September 10, 2025 through September 9, 2026 Cost: $630 (Budgeted) Exhibit 3
Contract with Peerstar of Pa effective August 20, 2025 through August 20, 2026 to interact collaboratively to ensure services and interventions are provided to mutual consumers No Cost Exhibit 4
Licensing Agreement with Follett Software, LLC for Follett Destiny Solution® effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 Cost: $4,132.65 (Budgeted-Decrease) Exhibit 5
Contract with Figma, Inc., effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for a collaborative web application for interface design No Cost Exhibit 6
Dual Credit Agreement with University of Pittsburgh effective July 1,2025 through June 30, 2026 No Cost Exhibit 7
Contract with Voyager Sopris effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for Acadience K-6 Digital Reading and Math Assessments Cost: $14,107.50 Budgeted Exhibit 8
Contract with Voyager Sopris effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for Acadience Grades 7-8 for Special Education Reading Assessments Cost: $1,712 Budgeted Exhibit 9
Contract with Mystery Writing effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for a membership for PennMont Academy Cost: $1,199 (Budgeted) Title I Federal Funds Exhibit 10
Memorandum of Understanding with Family Services, Inc. effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to provide counseling and supportive services to enhance safety for students and provide appropriate support to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes No Cost Exhibit 11
Contract with Voyager Sopris Learning effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for REWARDS, reading content assistance in Science and Social Studies for struggling readers Cost: $297 (Budgeted Decrease) Exhibit 12
Science in Motion Service Contract with Juniata College effective September 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to provide a mobile lab for educational services for teacher use Cost: $24,250 (Budgeted Increase) Exhibit 13
Letter of Amendment with Juniata College effective September 3, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for a dual enrollment/dual credit program (Revision to Letter of Amendment approved June, 2025) No Cost Exhibit 14
Contract with Renaissance effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for Fastbridge products and services Cost: $13,138.82 (Budgeted) Exhibit 15
Contract with GSL Government Consulting effective September 11, 2025 to assist in helping to identify, secure, and implement grants currently available from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to renovate, repair or construct new facilities Cost: 15% of the amount of each grant awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania related to the Project to or for the benefit of HASD during the term of the engagement, and for a period of 36 months thereafter in accordance with the Feasibility Phase and Termination Sections Exhibit 16
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Dr. Li initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approve items 2 and 3, Disposal of Obsolete Equipment and Books, and Donations. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 17
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. Whitesel
Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approve the Secondary Student/Parent Handbook Revision – Backpacks. The motion carried on a roll call vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 18
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to approve the Secondary Student/Parent Handbook Revision – Water Bottles. The motion failed on a roll call vote with four yes votes and four no votes. Dr. Sommer, Ms. Luther, Ms. Sullivan and Dr. Li cast the dissenting votes.
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Sommer, Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, to approve personnel actions 1 through 68 dated 9/10/2025 REV 9/09/2025 at 1:55p.m. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 19 and 20
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
Dr. Li initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, to approve the first and second readings of the following policies: Policy 913-AR Non-school Organizations, Groups, Individuals and Policy 321.1 Displays and Decor in the School Setting. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Per Board Policy 004.2 Student Representatives to the Board, Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approved the following Student Representatives to the Board for 2025-2026: Senior Representative Alice Haslam and Junior Representatives Jenna Zelem and Kate Steiner. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to vote for the 2026 Leadership Positions and PSBA Trustees as follows:
2026 President-Elect (Holly Arnold)
(One-Year Term)
January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
2026 Vice President (Matt Vannoy)
(One-Year Term)
January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
2026-2028 Central Zone Representative (Julie Preston)
(Three-Year Term)
January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2028
PSBA Insurance Trustees Kathy K. Swope and Roberta M. Marcus
(Two-Year Term)
January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2028
Forum Steering Committee term ends December 31, 2027:
Tricia Cousino
Jamie Zimeofsky
Christina DeAngelis
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 8:09p.m.
Autumn Fiscus, Board Secretary