The Gettysburg Area School District Board of Directors once again named Kenny Hassinger and Michael Dickerson its leaders during their annual reorganization meeting on Monday. Hassinger will serve as president and Dickerson will be vice president.
The board first elected Hassinger president in December 2019 and reappointed him in December 2021. The board appointed Dickerson vice president in December 2021.
Also during the meeting, the board welcomed two new members, Alice Broadway and Cynthia Ayers. Broadway served on the board in 2019 to fill a vacancy. Ayers is new to the position. They replace outgoing members AmyBeth Hodges and Timon Linn.
District Business Manager Belinda Wallen, acting in her role as a notary public, administered the oath of office to Broadway, Ayers, and returning board members Al Moyer, Tim Seigman, and Dickerson. Citizens voted the five into office during November’s General Election.
Plan for the year
Also during the reorganization, the board voted to keep its traditional meeting schedule of the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. If the regularly scheduled Monday is a federal holiday, the board will meet on Tuesday.
The board holds its meetings at the District Administration Building on Biglerville Road and streams them on the district’s YouTube page. The public may share comments at board meetings, email the entire board at board@gasd-pa.org, or contact individual board members through email addresses on the district’s website.
Budget resolution
Immediately following the reorganization meeting, the school board held its regular monthly meeting. The board unanimously voted to not raise taxes in 2024 above the state-allowed index of 6.2 percent. The resolution states the district is not eligible for exemptions allowed under Act 1 of 2006.
Whether the board will raise taxes at all in 2024 is yet to be seen, Hassinger said.
“Please do not take this out of context and say that is what we are discussing, because that is not what we are doing here,” Hassinger told the board.
Central Registration
Superintendent Jason Perrin shared a proposed new job description with the board, Central Registration Secretary. Perrin said the new position will replace one that is currently vacant so no additional funds are needed.
Currently, new families to the district register at the school their children will be attending. This often causes miscommunication, Perrin said. He plans to move all registration to the District Administration Building on Biglerville Road so every family is receiving the same information from one source. The Central Registration Secretary, also known as a registrar, will be charged with ensuring everyone is on the same page.
“I promise you, it is going to be helpful,” Perrin said.
The board will vote on Perrin’s proposal during its Jan. 8 meeting. The board will not meet on Dec. 18.
Featured image caption: Alice Broadway, Al Moyer, Tim Seigman, Cynthia Ayers, and Michael Dickerson recite the Oath of Office during the Dec. 4 Gettysburg Area School District reorganization meeting. (Submitted photo)
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.