The Upper Adams School Board voted Oct. 20 to hire a fundraising consultant to help seek money for a proposed turf field at Biglerville High School and authorized bids for separate stage-lighting and sound-system projects at the school.
The board’s 8-1 vote approved an agreement with Ghostwriter, a fundraising firm. The district said about $38,000 in interest from funds designated for the turf project, along with roughly $18,000 to $19,000 remaining from a $125,000 permitting allocation, would cover the consultant’s cost.
The board did not approve construction of the field. District officials said the project’s estimated cost had risen from about $1.5 million to between $2 million and $2.1 million after permitting issues. Superintendent Todd Dishong said the required permits are now approved and valid for three years.
Two speakers urged the district to continue pursuing a turf field. Jebb Nelson, speaking about soccer, cited the heavily used grass field’s worn sidelines and uneven surface, which he said can affect play. He also said turf would make scheduling more reliable and could help the district host postseason games.
Morgan Martin, Biglerville’s field hockey coach, said the team practices and competes on turf at most away games and has difficulty adjusting to the district’s grass field. She said weather-related cancellations and trips to other schools for scrimmages add costs and limit opportunities for athletes. Martin also said a turf venue could improve access for spectators and increase concession revenue.
Music teacher Rei Phillippi asked the board to address both the auditorium’s aging lights and sound equipment. He said the lights generate enough heat to cause concern for students performing onstage, while the school’s microphones have produced static and interference. Phillippi said the district borrowed equipment for a musical last year, but its own microphones continued to cause problems.
The board unanimously authorized the district to seek bids for both projects, with the option for companies to bid on lighting, sound or both. Phillippi also told the board that replacing the existing lights with LEDs could reduce electricity costs substantially.
The board held a proposed policy on automated external defibrillators and CPR at its first reading, pending more information about when staff and coaches could be trained. The policy is intended to bring the district into compliance with Pennsylvania’s Greg Moyer’s Law, which gives school districts until May 2029. Administrators said they were considering a phased training schedule.
In another personnel action, the board rejected a proposed permanent $5,000 salary increase for the secondary campus’s sole assistant principal, then approved a one-time $5,000 stipend for the 2026-27 school year. The stipend passed 7-2 after board members discussed the additional duties she has taken on and whether a permanent raise could set a precedent.
The board also heard a presentation from Biglerville Elementary third-grade students and their teacher about classroom “transformations,” in which lessons are staged as themed activities. Students described a classroom book tasting designed to encourage them to explore different genres.
