Gettysburg Area School District’s Board of Education welcomed one new administrator, remembered another, and discussed football players from Fairfield playing for the Warriors during its meeting on Monday.
Biggins Promoted
As part of the meeting’s human resources recommendations, the board voted 5-3 to hire current Dean of Students Christine Biggins as the high school assistant principal. The en bloc motion included several other hires, resignations, and retirements.
Board members Kenny Hassinger, Tim Seigman, Jeremy Davis, Alice Broadway, and Al Moyer voted favorably. Michael Dickerson, Michelle Smyers, and Cynthia Ayers opposed the motion. Ryan Morris was absent. Board members who voted “no” did not cite their reasoning or specify whether Biggins was the cause of their opposition.
Biggins has been a Gettysburg Area High School teacher since 2009. She previously taught at Delone Catholic, Mechanicsburg Middle School, Gettysburg Area Middle School, and Gettysburg College. She is also a Cumberland Township supervisor and has served on various district committees, and as president of the Gettysburg Area Education Association.
In a statement, Biggins said she is passionate about ensuring students receive the best possible educational opportunities.
“Over the years, I have been fortunate to witness the growth and success of so many of our students,” she said. “It has been an honor to contribute to their academic journeys, and I am eager to continue this work by supporting our educators, collaborating with parents, and fostering an environment where all students can thrive.”
Superintendent Jason Perrin praised Biggins’ appointment.
“I hope you enjoy the new role and are able to leverage relationships you built in the high school,” he said.
In December, two members of the public expressed support for Biggins’ application and criticized the board for what they believed to be a prolonged hiring process.
Litten Memorialized
As Biggins began her career as an administrator, colleagues and board members remembered a former leader who died last year.
Steve Litten Served as Gettysburg Area Middle School Principal from 1996-2012. Litten died in December 2024 from injuries sustained in a car accident.
Several of Litten’s colleagues asked the board to name the Gettysburg Area Middle School Gymnasium in his honor.
“The Middle School, as you know it, was shaped by him,” teacher Tony Floyd said.
Floyd described Litten as an energetic principal whose enthusiasm spread to staff and families. He was known for the mantra, “The best stuff is in the middle.”
The board unanimously supported the proposal and fast-tracked it by moving it from an information item to an action item.
“Steve Litten was one of the most progressive and most respected middle school principals in the tri-county area,” Moyer, a retired educator, said.
Smyers became emotional as she spoke of Litten.
“He was probably the only administrator in this entire district that my kids actually liked, because the best stuff really was in the middle,” Smyers said.
The committee initially requested a plaque to signify the gym’s new name. Floyd said the committee would raise money for the plaque’s cost, estimated at around $800. Hassinger and Seigman encouraged them to think bigger and explore lettering above the gym’s doors and a photo of Litten.
Football Co-op
The board expressed no opposition to allowing Fairfield Area School District football players to join the Gettysburg Warriors. The board is expected to formally vote on the proposal at its Feb. 18 meeting.
In December, the Fairfield Area School District Board of Directors voted 7-2 to develop a cooperative football agreement with Gettysburg Area School District for three years. Fairfield Athletic Director Keith Bruck said in November that he and High School Principal Brian McDowell do not believe the district has enough students to support football. Enrollment has decreased annually for 20 years, Bruck said.
Gettysburg Athletic Director Kody Godsey suggested that the district calculate the total cost of the program and divide it by the number of players to determine the amount to charge Fairfield per player.
Godsey said Gettysburg and Fairfield would be committed to a cooperative agreement for at least two years. After two years, the schools could ask the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association for permission to dissolve it. After four years, they can independently decide whether to renew.
Godsey said he has participated in cooperative agreements in the past and advised everyone to be patient during the first year or two if the Gettysburg/Fairfield agreement is approved. In his experience, issues are usually resolved.
“It’s going to have its bumps, but at the end of the day, I think it is what is best for the kids,” Seigman said.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.