Littlestown Area School District still has not received finalized results from last spring’s Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests, Superintendent Judith Berryman told the school board Monday. The delay is preventing the district from completing some teacher evaluations, she said.
Berryman said the district received preliminary results in July, but the state has held the data for further review. She said testing systems crashed during the statewide testing period and that district officials have not received a firm timeline for the results. They may arrive in November, she said, but she questioned how confident the district could be in the data after the extended review.
The delay also affects secondary students who must meet testing requirements to graduate. Retesting is scheduled for December and January, Berryman said. In the meantime, staff are using classroom observations, other assessment data and preliminary results to guide instruction.
The board discussed the testing delay during its regular meeting, held in the district office boardroom and livestreamed on YouTube.
Board members also approved a two-hour early dismissal on Nov. 17 to allow students and families to attend a community Christmas tree celebration. Berryman said the schedule change would help students get home safely before returning for the event.
An Adams County Technical Institute representative reported that the institute is exploring whether the Harrisburg Area Community College building in Gettysburg could support current programs and future growth. A free feasibility study will examine the building’s capacity and infrastructure. The institute is also investigating whether a $500,000 grant could be repurposed for the study or other project needs.
A resident urged board members during public comment to end personal disputes and social media conflicts and to conduct disagreements respectfully. The meeting later grew heated as directors debated whether to amend earlier meeting minutes. The board approved adding proposed language describing concerns about a fellow board member’s conduct and social media activity; another director disputed the allegations.
The board approved several finance and operations items, including agreements for snow removal, HVAC services and generator maintenance, a substitute maintenance contract at $30 an hour, and a resolution for the 2027–28 tax limits under Act 1. The district said it was seeking a second snow removal provider to serve as a backup. Directors also approved surplus items for sale, including leftover floor-protection sheets and a mower.
The board approved personnel recommendations, including staff hires, winter coaches, volunteers, contracted drivers and student trips. It also approved the final reading of the district’s school volunteer policy after discussion of its requirements for reporting arrests or convictions.
In principal reports, secondary school administrators said students were adjusting to the combined middle and high school building. The elementary school principal said a recent fundraiser raised thousands of dollars for field trips.
