[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6660038,"mediaKeyId","2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6","parentId",2438160,"title","Votes at a glance: consent agenda, instructional media services, volunteer coach and policy first readings approved","audioSeconds",117,"startMs",7513000,"endMs",7630000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6&start=7513&end=7630","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6/thumbnail_7513000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6660038/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-consent-agenda-instructional-media-services-volunteer-coach-and-policy-first-readings-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660038-ab006ff27fabe43b070959fc475c53cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143123&Signature=h1cNP5cCbTj3pgVz1v3I0RRWmrUQEcl0fW64p6U6y4e-DkxaozWOSOr5JTsyB0GI7aAe7FDGw~8sD8kO24F48JRXvd4DnvLxH6nojlNuA7v97pkWSRNgyv0ynuFTzxfOv49~tjkuK9mRGs3SQR9PDPADY1KeB1k0hUXlDrncHp5ifBt17zZDAL9kJv0PH0K3~HxWYI~PCbndW~9JQEGx49i6bTGm9OywTOCGHVab6ZM4KyIsK88-tLNoaqIyg2LiZG~2ZrcWwTN9pTCsW48DhC1Ql6iZPhPRfikyIJ2RyOJDoOOm7eKeep0eIX2uE6ffW1qrZeUpk1xj56KJqSjn2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mifflin County SD","date","2025-02-28T02:16:59.637Z","article","At the meeting the Mifflin County School District Board approved several routine and roll‑call items.

Consent agenda: The board approved consent agenda items A–J by roll call. (Vote recorded by roll call; the motion passed.)

TIU 11 instructional media services: The board approved an instructional media services agreement with TIU 11 for the 2024–25 school year at a total cost of $19,358.75 after brief discussion about product usage and the district’s per‑student rate. Roll call recorded Yes votes from Mr. Herb, Mr. Harshberger, Miss Salvo, Mrs. Stewart, Mr. Styers and Mr. Wright; No votes from Mr. Knapp and Mr. Baker. (Outcome: approved.)

Personnel: The board approved a pulled personnel item that appointed Jonathan T. Baker as a volunteer softball coach for the 2024–25 school year; the motion passed on roll call.

Policies (first reading): The board approved first readings of draft policy updates (policy numbers referenced from PSBA updates) as a first reading with board members able to submit suggested edits to the policy committee. Roll call approval was recorded.

What to watch: board members noted that policy and student‑handbook text will be reconciled; staff said handbook updates and website posting are in progress and will be available for review before the next reading.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02-27-25 MCSD School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the consent agenda, a $19,358.75 TIU 11 instructional media services agreement, a volunteer softball coach appointment and first readings of updated policies; roll‑call outcomes are summarized below.","taxTitle","Mifflin County SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",55226,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660043,"Board approves cooperative sports MOUs with Belleville Mennonite School after debate; amended fee set at $250 per visiting student",2019,5755000,7774000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6&start=5755&end=7774","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6/thumbnail_5755000.jpg","/articles/6660043/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-cooperative-sports-MOUs-with-Belleville-Mennonite-School-after-debate-amended-fee-set-at-250-per-visiting-student","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660043-87743b8d1150d28ef6fa099d08678162/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143123&Signature=MkWc7NO1DoP6Is~vkG97zxI3Ge4DMrZQZwW67xNVONiPAIHviTEk2ItvgCZXLQ~M28IOEmp8Nz-nrtxQVrVJVX3Z2A-UChZAV~4eiGbQhoho-wZUwZcjAmAVY374CIsiLggw3MbsnktiQLEEoQEbsMifPFYvuETf1JWhyY7NkP9Xx1gaPOqlvXDbeMaZUwNvKaguHEuQ4KWx6L-xk~ysyKlmANTT9dxMx~G8KIrX0oodUNbydMhae5pkXTmxJXmUI1lHQ0JcKC7TsnDUVM947nxqjCfaIw0P6oE83ktEfJgKr-lcEM28tJfZ3SSOeLmy4jtmnABauXx3iCLNx8TO4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mifflin County School District Board approved cooperative‑sponsorship memoranda of understanding (MOUs) allowing Belleville Mennonite School (BMS) students to participate on Mifflin County High School teams after an extended debate over costs and fairness.

Board members discussed two MOUs: one for the 2024–25 school year covering baseball, softball and boys lacrosse and a second for 2025–26 covering girls soccer, field hockey and football. The MOUs authorize cooperative sponsorship under PIAA rules and set financial arrangements for direct costs associated with adding visiting players.

During public comment and board discussion, some members and parents opposed charging BMS students or families substantial fees; others argued the district should recoup incremental costs tied to additional athletes. Parent testimony described a family whose son chose the academy and asserted academy and vocational pathways should not be discouraged.

After debate, the board amended the financial agreement and set a flat fee of $250 per Belleville Mennonite School student athlete listed on PIAA rosters. The amendment was proposed and then approved in roll‑call votes. The board president said the amount would be revisited in future years if needed; board members noted the district can terminate or renegotiate MOUs.

Voting and outcome: the amendment to charge $250 per BMS student passed on roll call (Yes: Baker, Herb, Harshberger, Nepp, Salvo; No: Stewart, Styers, Wright). The overall amended MOUs were approved thereafter. The board president and others said the PIAA requires cooperative arrangements to be “mutually beneficial”; some board members pressed staff to confirm compliance with PIAA rules before final implementation.

Key issues raised during the discussion:
- Scope of direct athletic costs: board members disagreed on whether to include coaches’ salaries, transportation, event staff, officials and PIAA fees in the per‑student calculation. Several members argued only equipment and consumable costs should be recovered from visiting students.
- Equity and county finances: several board members emphasized that local taxpayers already fund district athletics and cautioned against pricing out students from lower‑income families.
- Administrative flexibility: board members noted the district can amend the MOUs, adjust fees, or terminate the cooperative sponsorship if it proves disadvantageous.

Notes: the board directed staff to include clear language in the MOU about the $250 charge and to document which cost categories are covered. The board also discussed offering fee assistance on a case‑by‑case basis so financial hardship would not bar participation.","After extended discussion over fairness and cost allocation, the board approved MOUs allowing Belleville Mennonite School students to play on Mifflin County teams and amended the financial agreement to charge $250 per visiting student.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660049,"Mifflin County reports mixed PSSA/Keystone results; district to prioritize math, targeted interventions",4113,953000,5066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6&start=953&end=5066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2438160-9555dd569b6b5da3ef62481fa2b7bdb6/thumbnail_953000.jpg","/articles/6660049/Pennsylvania/Mifflin-County-reports-mixed-PSSAKeystone-results-district-to-prioritize-math-targeted-interventions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660049-06476509e493723409ee080ccc5222a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143123&Signature=PnAQ~7HYs4kUaRycVGIon7Thge5fuF6B4cicF8KRkB2xn-rlfHrUIJPaB8j1jYrRS3THjLvxTwz01CLXVPIASPmYbpVpE0DwbnL-A13F~eKhas-xmUANxb~pSSfO7nhac6izNFo-dXQvDD1Ah4GPffWNsuQP4KhKzyqeP2rzWrFAE44XM~JeL-rc6UGrbB3Taa7GhCHHEb4JBr85A66rF6Dsnb9TPmpeHQk19VH-OOqM-6aBemy4FY00QfaXcRCcCQVtXsCsfXISiiLcYQoq2UqOjXNAP-vkrK6jVQTPOAGU6Os7mIZ6JQq3yyp0GYBrLv3LY8Oo8bc5AUXJ9dJtIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Academic Officer Mr. Diarmet told the Mifflin County School District Board that district students produced mixed results on state assessments, with the district trailing state averages in early grades on PSSA ELA and math but performing competitively on several Keystone exams.

Diarmet said district results show the familiar pattern of rising scores in grades 3–5 and a drop in grades 6–7 before another increase by grade 8. “If the dot is on the line, that means our students are growing the equivalent of one year,” Diarmet said while describing the state growth metric used to assess progress on Keystone exams.

The report outlined subject‑level findings: district third‑grade ELA and math lag the state average, fourth‑grade science remains relatively strong, and fifth‑grade ELA exceeded the state average while fifth‑grade math improved from the previous year. At middle school grades, Diarmet said PSSA math proficiency statewide is low — “less than 35” percent proficient or advanced in some grades — and the district sees a corresponding decline at sixth and seventh grades. Keystone performance (algebra 1, biology, literature) generally tracked the state, he said.

Why this matters: state assessments factor into Act 158 pathways to graduation, and the district uses achievement and growth measures to identify school improvement needs. Diarmet said Mifflin County High School remains under an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) identification, with consultants and monthly meetings in place to address that status.

Board members pressed for specifics on planned actions. Diarmet described a multi‑pronged approach: finishing a K–5 math pilot, rewriting K–5 math curriculum over the summer, scheduling professional development for teachers before rollout, and continuing algebra supports at the secondary level. The district added “Math 9” for ninth graders and plans a new applied‑math course (referred to as Math 10 in discussion) to give students hands‑on, career‑relevant math before taking required algebra 1. Diarmet said the district will use academy partnerships to develop applied lessons and a catalog of academy‑based activities teachers can use in math instruction.

The chief academic officer also described schedule changes at the middle school that created block periods to deliver targeted interventions in ELA, and similar efforts to find additional intervention time for math. He said counselors and middle school staff had created extra math time for sixth‑grade Level 3 students this year.

Board members repeatedly emphasized preserving electives and arts while pursuing academic gains. “If all we want to do is focus on our math scores … we can put a kid in math class after math class,” Diarmet said, adding he did not want to sacrifice extracurricular and arts programs that board members praised earlier in the meeting.

The presentation included data on AP enrollment and exam performance (many courses outperformed national averages) and noted that no students in the last two years had failed to graduate due to Act 158 pathways. Diarmet said the district will continue MTSS (multi‑tiered system of supports) efforts and integrate STEEL (science, technology, engineering, environmental literacy and sustainability) standards to combine science and ELA skills and preserve instructional time.

Board and public reaction: board members praised the district’s elective programs and asked that course‑selection counseling and parent communication begin in eighth grade, so students headed to the academy can select appropriate preparatory courses. A parent speaker during public comment urged the board not to “deter a student who is head and shoulders beyond” by discouraging academy participation.

What’s next: Diarmet said curriculum work and professional development will continue over the summer, the district will pilot and refine math 9/math 10 sequences, and the board will review school plans tied to Title I and state improvement designations as they are completed.","Chief academic officer reviewed PSSA and Keystone results showing district performance trailing the state in early grades and a mid‑level dip; board discussed curriculum updates, new math courses and expanded intervention time.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: consent agenda, instructional media services, volunteer coach and policy first readings approved

Board approves cooperative sports MOUs with Belleville Mennonite School after debate; amended fee set at $250 per visiting student

Mifflin County reports mixed PSSA/Keystone results; district to prioritize math, targeted interventions