OCTORARA, PA — The Octorara Area School Board approved more than $143,000 in building and athletic facility improvements at the October 19, 2026, regular board meeting while considering a potential middle school renovation and broader athletic facility upgrades that could shape future district spending.
The board authorized eight facilities-related expenditures totaling $143,161.31, including improvements to baseball fields, heating and cooling systems, fencing and building security.
The largest expenditure is a $75,000 proposal from Windview Athletic Fields for improvements to the district’s junior varsity and varsity baseball fields.
Other approvals include $23,920 to Johnson Controls Building Solution LLC for high school chiller removal and replacement, and $18,430 to Smucker Fencing LLC for safety fencing at the middle school.
The district also approved $9,800 for middle school damper actuators and wiring, $6,650 for exterior door lock-core replacements, and $4,803.31 for high school boiler actuators and installation.
An additional $4,558 was authorized for fencing around middle school equipment.
The expenditures follow facilities discussions at the October 13 board work session meeting that included the district’s Athletic Master Plan and a possible middle school renovation project. Those larger initiatives remain under consideration.
Board President Brian Norris also reported discussions about a campus weather-alert system, with further evaluation planned before deciding whether to purchase the technology.
Beyond capital improvements, the board approved additional spending on student support services, including a $53,860 proposal from Devereux Educational Strategies & Solutions for behavior interventionists.
The district authorized an agreement with Kelly Pediatric Therapy for behavior technician services at $38.99 per hour and approved PsychoEd Specialist LLC to provide psychological services as needed.
The board also approved curriculum updates for the 2026-27 academic year and an articulation agreement with Harrisburg Area Community College.
Staffing decisions included the hiring of Brett Doan as an intermediate school art teacher, effective November 23, at a prorated annual salary of $92,828. Doan replaces Savannah Geisler, who resigned.
Luann Johns was hired as a middle school learning support teacher, effective December 1, at a prorated annual salary of $95,250. She replaces Kasaundra Willis.
The board also approved Margarita Jacobs as people services specialist, effective October 14, at a prorated annual salary of $71,000. The revised position replaces Nicole Broomell, who transferred.
Additional personnel actions included hiring Shannon Steppat as a food service employee at $15 per hour for four hours daily and approving Maria Sosa, Maria Estrada and Luz Sosa as translators at $44.80 per hour for the school year.
The board accepted the resignations of school psychologist Yvette Line-Koller, food service employee Patricia Sullivan, and junior high boys’ wrestling coach Garth Ladley.
It also approved a salary adjustment for Emily Wheeler, increasing her salary from $65,399 to $67,679 following completion of graduate credits, along with revisions to supplemental compensation arrangements under an agreement with the Octorara Area Education Association.
In other business, the district approved a three-year Heath eTools contract at $4,920 annually and an agreement with Mobile Health for employee measles, mumps, and rubella immunity testing.
The board approved second readings of policies governing academic standards and virtual attendance and wellness checks. First readings were approved for policies addressing curriculum, extracurricular activities, student-initiated groups, and social media.
During the October 13 work session, administrators also discussed changes to elementary school progress reporting as the district transitions from trimesters to quarterly reporting for the 2026-27 school year.
The district’s finance committee reported receiving a payment from the Chester County Intermediate Unit for back pay associated with the welding program. Additional discussions covered a possible van purchase, breathing apparatus for the Homeland Program, and discounted batting cage equipment.
The Education Committee is scheduled to meet October 26 at 6 p.m. The next facilities committee meeting and board work session are scheduled for November 9, followed by the regular board meeting on November 16.
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