The Littlestown Area School Board struggled through yet another contentious meeting Monday as tensions surrounded the early renewal of employee contracts for assistant superintendent, business manager, and administrative staff.
At issue was the approval of Timothy Mizel as Assistant Superintendent, Thomas Showvaker, as Business Administrator, as well as the Act 93 Agreement that will cover 15 administrative positions. These are all current contracts that don’t expire until June 30, 2025.
Interim Superintendent Don Bell said that negotiating the contracts now would “create stability and pave the way for an avenue of success for the new superintendent,” who will be inundated with many other responsibilities. The extra cost for the 17 renegotiated positions in the next budget is $55,000, but Bell said money will be found within the budget and not affect any potential tax increase.
Board member Duane Sullivan asked why the contracts were being negotiated one year before they expire. “I don’t think this came out of session and the public has not had enough time to digest this. We don’t need to go this route.” He added that creating the contracts now might “tie the new superintendent’s hands behind his back and not allow him to pick his own staff.”
Littlestown resident Susanne Johnson agreed. “These contracts aren’t fiscally responsible and give the appearance of shady dealings.”
Some board members disagreed. Brian Layer said, “We have a good group of administrators who are going to have a tough job in front of them when we do merge (schools) in a couple of years and so we want them to stay. I’m ready to go into this merger with them.”
With a split vote on each, the board approved the contracts. Sullivan and Fred Miller voted “no” to all.
Mitzel was approved as Assistant Superintendent with a five-year contract beginning at $149,000 plus benefits. Showvaker, LASD business manager, was also given a five-year contract, beginning at $102,800.
The approval of the Act 93 Agreement will keep 15 members of staff on board within a three-year contract including the Building Administrators, Director of Pupil Services, Facilities Manager, Director of Educational Services, Director of Transportation, Athletic Director, 10-Month Administrators, Assistant Business Manager, Assistant Director of Technology, Database Administrator and executive assistants to the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. Salaries, with full benefits, range from $43,000 to $118,000 with raises added each year.
Other positions approved include Carrie Mummert as Board Secretary for a four-year term, effective July 1 through June 30, 2028, and Brian Lawyer, Board Treasurer for one year. He replaces Carl Thompson who has recently taken on the role of board president.
An additional contract was created for Bell to continue to serve as interim superintendent if needed between July 1 and September 30 until the new superintendent is in place, continuing with the $500 per day four-day-work week with no benefits. In addition, the board voted to approve Bell as Independent Mentor to the Superintendent from October 1 through December 31. In this position, he will not be on site but will provide unlimited access to guidance, support, and professional advice to the Superintendent in their role within the education institution. That contract will pay Bell, who has 19 years of superintendent experience, $3,000 per month.
The approval of the 2024/25 proposed final budget hit a snag when the board initially voted “no” by a 5/4 vote. During a discussion, board member Janelle Ressler asked if the district’s financial obligations could be met without a one percent tax increase.
Thompson explained that the one percent tax increase will only be used to begin the process of putting money aside for the new Adams County Technical Institute (ACTI) which is in the process of acquiring a new site on which to build new facilities.
Lawyer said he believed that putting the money aside to earn interest would be better than “facing a big hit later or telling LASD students they can’t participate in ACTI. “
A motion was made for a new vote and approved five to four, with Danielle Brenneman, Nick Lovell, Sullivan, and Miller, voting “no.” The final budget will be approved in June.
Several volunteers were approved to work in the district, along with three board members, but Sullivan was not among them causing the final disruption of the evening. Sullivan, who refuses to stop wearing a body cam during meetings, said he didn’t understand why he received the negative vote.
“I don’t see how this board can deny me volunteer status over assumptions and innuendos,” he said. Sullivan said he has volunteered numerous times at the concession stand and received no complaints. In addition, he followed through with all of the procedures established to vet volunteers and added, “My record is clean. Not so much as a parking ticket. This is absolutely not acceptable.” Sullivan stated that several board members have a personal vendetta against him.
Board members Lovell, Brenneman, and Stever Yerger were approved as volunteers.
Featured Image Caption: Littlestown Area School District celebrated April and May Students of the Month at Monday’s Board Meeting. From left, Hayden Rodeheaver, 7th Grade; Rhett Robinson, 1st Grade; Rylee Vance, 12th Grade; Ian Paul, 12th Grade; Sara Honeycutt, 12th Grade; Sophie Lookingbill, Kindergarten; Alyssa Few, 8th Grade; Margaret Fry, 3rd Grade. Missing – Garrett Hutchison, 12th Grade.
Judith Cameron Seniura is a freelance reporter. She began her journalism career in the early ‘70s and has written for newspapers, magazines, and other media in Ontario, Canada, Alaska, Michigan, Nebraska, San Antonio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.