Minutes - January 14, 2026 - COW/Voting
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met January 14, 2026, for a Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 7:07pm. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Mrs. Fiscus took roll call with eight members present. Attending were Ms. Bilek, President, Ms. Sullivan, Vice-President, Dr. Antonowicz, Dr. Li, Ms. Luther, Dr. Blank, Dr. Wells, and Ms. Eardley. Mr. Snyder was absent.
Also present were Mr. Whitesel, Superintendent, Dr. Boone, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Bell, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Rodkey, Director of Technology, Mr. McCloskey, Mrs. McConnell, Mrs. Cerully, Mr. Keagy, Mrs. Venios, Mr. Madden, Attorney Dambeck, Solicitor, and an Altoona Mirror representative.
Public Comment
Cael Gerchak, 613 Robertdale Drive, Duncansville, addressed the board regarding concerns involving the board and district students. Sheldon Gray, Hollidaysburg, addressed the board regarding the location of Planet Aid containers at Frankstown Elementary School.
School Board Member Recognition
Student representatives from each building addressed the board in honor of school board member recognition month.
Student Representative Report - Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Representative Alice Haslam and
Junior Representatives Jenna Zelem and Kate Steiner gave their monthly report to the board.
Mrs. Bilek announced that Foot of Ten Elementary School was officially recognized as a Distinguished Kindness School by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation as of January 7, 2026.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
The board met in executive session Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM for personnel.
Meetings for February, 2026:
Curriculum Committee
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Time: 5:00p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole/Voting
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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.
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Blank, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2025 Reorganization - Committee of the Whole/Voting and December 17, 2025 Special Voting meetings. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Dr. Li initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Sullivan, to approve Financial Reports for November, 2025, items 1 through 7. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers, Food Service for October, 2025 and Senior High Student Store for October, 2025. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. Exhibit 1
Dr. Li initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Sullivan, to approve Financial Reports for December, 2025, items 1 through 7 with the exception of three books on the List of Payments: No. 175906, Page 34, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Page 35, Sugar Shack. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers, Food Service for November, 2025 and Senior High Student Store for November, 2025. After discussion, Dr. Li amended her motion, seconded by Ms. Sullivan, to table three books on the List of Payments: No. 175906, Page 34, Creepy Pair of Underwear, and Page 35, Sugar Shack, and to approve the remainder of the Financial Reports. The book Spy School Blackout, Page 34 was purchased in error and will be returned. The motion carried on a roll call vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 2
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, per Board Policy 006 Meetings, to approve the following contracts/agreements:
Contract with Global Data Consultants LLC. effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 for the annual renewal of GDC silver plan for PSP support for directory, wired/wireless network infrastructure monitoring Cost: $18,135/yr (Budgeted) Exhibit 3
Third Amendment to T-Mobile Renewal Agreement with T-Mobile effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027 for renewal of the T-Mobile for Education Agreement Cost: $9,600 (Budgeted) Exhibit 4
Contract with Renaissance effective December 3, 2025 through June 30, 2026 for onboarding services for Fastbridge No Cost Exhibit 5
Contract with National Inventors Hall of Fame effective December 17, 2025 through July 30, 2026 for manuals, materials, t-shirts, training, marketing, etc. for the Camp Invention program to be held at/by HASD No Cost Exhibit 6
Contract with Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 effective December 8, 2025, through June 30,2026 for professional development services to provide instructional coaching district-wide Cost: $2,400 Exhibit 7
Information Only: Contract with Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. effective January 30, 2026 through January 30, 2028, for electricity (Penelec) Cost: from 0.06095/kwh to 0.07198/kwh; Increase of 0.01103/kwh Exhibit 8
Independent Contractor Agreement with Justin Arthur effective January 15, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to provide technical training services to the District Cost: $150/hr. (Not Budgeted) Exhibit 9
Contract with GSL Government Consulting effective January 15, 2026, as needed for grant applications Cost: Success fee equal to 15% of each grant awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania related to the project Exhibit 10
Services Agreement with Dr. Debra Springer effective January 15, 2026 through June 30, 2026, to provide psychological services for students (Cost: Detailed in Paragraph #4, Compensation-Not Budgeted) Exhibit 11
Educational Institution Agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services effective December 23, 2025, through December 23, 2030 (Pending Solicitor Review) for licensed health care personnel to provide supplemental staffing services, distance learning services and managed care services Cost: Rates listed in Exhibit A are billed only if the services are used Exhibit 12
The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Ms. Luther initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Antonowicz, to approve items 2-6:
Federal Programs Budget Adjustments:
2025-2026 Budget:
2023-2024 Title I Increase: $13,401 (Carryover)
2023-2024 Feminine Hygiene Grant Increase: $2,199 (Carryover)
2023-2024 PCCD School Mental Health: $65,773 (Carryover)
2024-2025 School Safety and Mental Health Grant: $82,432 (Carryover) Exhibit 13
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 Student Support Services
Director of Technology
Foundation Director/Grant Administrator
Director of Physical Plant
Director of Food Service
Blair County Tax Claim Repository Bids:
Accept bid from John W. Brenner for:
Map No. 02.00-12C.-002.02-000 (Land Only) - $20
Accept bid from Kathleen E. Zeek for:
Map No. 02.00-13E.-047-00-000 (Land Only) - $50
Accept bid from Robert E. Hileman for:
Map No. 08.00-15B.-073.00-000 (Land Only) - $100 Exhibit 14
Per Board Policy 706.1 Disposal of Surplus Property/Textbooks/Supplies, the disposal of various obsolete equipment, and books. Exhibit 15
Per Board Policy 618-Student Activity Fund Control, closure of the following Student Activity and transfer of funds: Close: FOT Gaming Club, 52 and transfer the remaining balance of $4.63 to FOT Student Council, 38. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. Whitesel
Ms. Luther initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Blank, to approve New Course Proposals: German 4/5 AP, Grades 10-12 and Spanish 4/5 AP, Grades 10-12 and Personnel, Items 1 through 50, dated 1/14/2026
REV 1/13/2026 at 2:45p.m. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Exhibits 16 and 17
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Li, to approve a Statement of Rights, Waiver of Hearing and Agreement in the case of student ID# ending in 22 Exhibit 18 and Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations Policy 810 Transportation on a first reading. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Ms. Bilek announced that the 2026 Board Committee list was on the agenda. She noted that Cara Eardley will assist Dr. Blank and Dr. Li on the Library Committee. Dr. Blank will replace Ms. Luther on the IU08 Committee and will attend the January meeting.
New Business
Ms. Sullivan asked for an update on metal detectors.
With no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Bilek adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m.
Autumn Fiscus, Board Secretary