ATGLEN, PA — The Octorara Area School District Board of School Directors approved contracts, personnel actions, facilities spending, and policy items at its regular meeting on Monday, March 23, after a month in which the board also filled a vacant seat and advanced a $5,000,000 state grant request for middle school upgrades.
The March 23 meeting, which was rescheduled from March 16 and held at Octorara Area Middle School, included a presentation from Devopar representatives Dr. Sue Sneath and Chris Celmer on the district’s cyber and charter school impact. Their presentation said Octorara students attend 10 cyber or charter schools and that nine of them are underperforming, including eight in Comprehensive School Improvement and one in Targeted Support and Improvement. The presentation said charter and cyber tuition totals about $5,274,116, or 7.93% of the district’s budget.
The board approved the treasurer’s report for the period ending February 28 and approved payment of bills totaling $3,315,878.38 from the general fund, $15,809.75 from the cafeteria fund and $188,729.00 from capital projects.
Among the action items approved Monday was a consulting agreement with Educational Leadership Consulting for board professional development at a cost of $2,900. The board also approved the 2026-2027 school calendar, a compensated professional leave for Learning Support Teacher Donald Barrett for the first semester of the 2026-2027 school year, and unpaid medical leave for employee “A” from about April 9 through April 20.
The board accepted a $500 donation from Serv-I-Quip to Octorara Intermediate School for third grade indoor recess games and approved a new Literature Club at Octorara Area High School.
Facilities-related approvals included a $1,600 appraisal agreement with Eberly Appraisal Services for the old maintenance building at 234 Highland Road, a $4,550 proposal with Frey Lutz to replace a room ventilator at the middle school, $15,532 in proposals with Precision Fire Protection Inc. for sprinkler repairs at the intermediate and high schools, a $5,780 estimate with D.J. Cross Inc. for air duct cleaning in the high school gymnasium, a $1,697 estimate with Economy Glass for middle school window replacement, and a $5,735 proposal with Premium Power for new radiator installation on the middle school generator.
The board also approved the 2026-2027 high school course selection guide, the district’s career and technical education program application and admissions process, a kindergarten readiness program scheduled for Tuesdays through Thursdays from June 30 through July 30, a settlement agreement and release for student “A,” memorandums of understanding with the Coatesville Area School District for Homeland Security and Protective Services and other career and technical education programs, an agreement with HealthEquity as the district’s flexible spending account provider, and an office space lease advertisement flyer for The Learning Annex.
On policy matters, the board approved first readings for Policies 103, 104, 105.2 and 606, covering discrimination and harassment affecting students and staff, exemption from instruction, and tax collection. It approved second readings for Policies 123 and 807, covering interscholastic athletics and opening exercises, moment of silence and flag displays.
Personnel actions at the March 23 meeting included the resignations of Patricia Sullivan as a food service employee effective February 17, Leisly Semanyk as an instructional assistant effective June 5, Raven McCoy as an autism support teacher effective June 5, and Allison Hickey as fall and winter head cheer coach effective March 11. The board also approved a salary adjustment for school counselor Amy Rozzi and hired Ashley Walton as a food service employee at $15 per hour for five hours per day, pending completion of required documents.
The board’s March 9 work session included a separate board vacancy action. At that session, the board accepted the resignation of Region 2 Director Jere Zimmerman, effective February 18, 2026. It then appointed Danielle Peck to fill the vacant Region 2 seat through the next municipal election in November 2027. The roll call vote showed Peck receiving votes from Ms. Metzler, Mr. Hoffman, Ms. Guilford, Mr. Norris, Mr. Trotty and Mr. Rossi, while Ms. Dougherty and Mr. Fox voted for Dr. Rohrer.
Also during the March 9 work session, the board approved a revised resolution seeking a $5,000,000 Public-School Facility Improvement Grant from the Commonwealth Finance Authority for middle school HVAC, chiller plant and electrical upgrades. District officials also reviewed facilities needs, including playground resurfacing, maintenance storage building appraisal, sprinkler repairs, window replacement, radiator installation, obsolete equipment for auction, and field work.
Committee reports at the March 23 meeting added more budget context. In the absence of Finance Committee Chair Mr. Hoffman, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Stabile said the committee reviewed Chester County Intermediate Unit budgets and a district financial overview that included local revenues, the rising cost of the collective bargaining agreement, charter school tuition, mill comparisons in Chester and Lancaster counties, real estate tax options, and preliminary budget expenditures and revenues.
The March 23 meeting opened with Mr. Norris announcing the death of retired longtime Octorara teacher Dennis Simmons, followed by a moment of silence. Public comment later included students from Junior Girl Scout Troop 4642 requesting after-school clubs at Octorara Intermediate School and feminine hygiene products in bathrooms rather than only in the nurse’s office. During board comments, Ms. Metzler thanked the Girl Scouts for their advocacy and said their voices matter.
District administrators also used the meeting to highlight other developments. Dr. Propper said Pathway 21: School Work Experience is intended to help Life Skills students develop job readiness, and Superintendent Dr. Dutkiewicz announced the district’s updated website had launched that day.
The board is scheduled to hold its next Facilities Committee Meeting and Work Session on Monday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively, followed by a Policy/Finance Committee Meeting and regular board meeting on Monday, April 20, and an Education Committee Meeting on Monday, April 27, all at Octorara Area Middle School.
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