By David Sassaman CONTRIBUTING WRITER MILLERSBURG
• The Millersburg Area and Upper Dauphin Area school boards met in a joint special meeting April 15 prior to Millersburg’s regular monthly public meeting.
Each board took the first steps toward a possible future merger of the districts by approving two sets of identical motions.
The first motion accepted a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Education for the express purpose of paying for phase one of a merger feasibility study.
The second motion appointed the Pennsylvania Economy League, Inc. to conduct the study itself. The total cost is not to exceed $80,000.
Costs beyond the grant amount will be evenly split between the two districts.
Gerald Cross of PEL attended the meeting. After acknowledging the boards’ actions, he said work would “start tomorrow” on the study, with an expected public presentation by early fall.
The study will include options to guide the boards in their decision-making process going forward.
In a joint press release announcing approval of the motions, district officials stated that the $50,000 grant would be awarded to Millersburg. However, the understanding is that both school districts ‘‘are jointly obligated to pay for the study and that UDASD is thus an indirect beneficiary of the PDE Grant.”
The press release also confirmed the anticipated ‘‘early fall’’ rollout of the study.
‘‘The districts will continue to include and inform stakeholders throughout this process,’’ the release stated.
Orr named to council seat
At their April 15 meeting held following the joint session, board members heard from high school freshman Amelia Orr, a member of the school Student Council.
Student Council organizations are tiered as district, regional, state and national levels. Orr ran, and was elected as, the district’s Region F representative. This is a two-year term, and is the first time a Millersburg student has been chosen for this seat.
As the representative, Orr will attend conferences, quarterly meetings and other administrative functions at the regional level.
Other Business Superintendent
Thomas Haupt announced several major personnel changes. • Thomas Acker, the district’s extracurricular coordinator, resigned effective April 3. His duties will be split between Tammy Schade and Rebecca Riland for the remainder of the current school year. Each will be paid $11 per hour.
• Two teachers are retiring at the end of the current school year. Elementary teacher Arlene Dyba is retiring after 35 years of service. Susan Minnich, a Title I teacher/reading specialist, has been with the district 18 years.
• Resignations also were accepted from Mariah Armor, assistant girls’ basketball coach, effective April 9; and Victoria Slemmer, a high school band color guard instructor, effective Saturday, June 1.
• Ashley Zimmerman and Denise Williard were approved as athletic event workers for the remainder of the school year.
SEE MERGER • PAGE A3