Panther Valley School Board reorganized Wednesday night before its regular board meeting with no changes.

Taking the oath of office were Pat Leonzi, Daniel Matika, Anthony DeMarco, Michael Alabovitz and Marco D’Ancona, all of whom were re-elected in the November election after running uncontested.

Matika was again selected as board president, and D’Ancona as vice president. Board Secretary Renee DeMelfi was selected as a member of the Joint Operating Committee of the Carbon Career & Technical Institute representing the district with Leonzi as alternate.

“Let’s congratulate and thank the board for their hard work,” Panther Valley Superintendent David McAndrew said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work alongside you. I’m very blessed.”

Following reorganization, the board moved through a short agenda.

Among the items approved were conferences totaling $1,435.42 for four staff members. Robert Palazzo, Amber McFadden and Alice Andrews will be guest speakers at the Improving School Conference in Pittsburgh Feb. 4-6, McAndrew said.

As speakers, they will be given free room and other amenities, and Title I funds will cover any additional costs, such as mileage, he said.

Also, Jamie Gallagher will be attending the PASCO Conference in Hershey March 5-8, and received a scholarship to attend, McAdrew said.

“So, both of them are great things for Panther Valley,” he said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a five-year contract with TimeClockPlus for an electronic time clock and time and attendance services. The service will cost $13,260.43 in hardware and implementation, and $4,879.26 a year. Business Manager Jesse Walck said the system is more accurate, an improvement and cheaper than the current punch card system, which costs $7,100 a year.

• Approved an agreement for fees, costs and expenses with Sweet, Stevens, Katz, and Williams effective July 1, 2024. The firm provides legal services for special education.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Panther Valley Education Association to run one Behavioral Health Associates classroom in the elementary school.

• Accepted the resignations of Valerie Matika, HR/payroll specialist, and Irene DeGiosio, executive assistant to the superintendent, both effective June 30, 2024 and for retirement. McAndrew and Walck thanked both of them for their service, dedication and willingness to share their knowledge and experience.

• Accepted the resignation of Sarah Cullen, paraprofessional, effective Nov. 30, 2023.

• Approved the separation of employment of employee No. 1193, effective Nov. 22, 2023. This separation was within the probationary period, per the cafeteria contract.

• Hired Yaniri Espinal De Rodriguez as a part-time general worker at the junior/senior high school, effective Dec. 1, at the current rate of $16.10 an hour.

• Approved three-credit courses for Kayla Kiraly, intermediate school teacher, at Gannon University at a rate of $516 a credit.

• Terminated the boys wrestling cooperative agreement for the next two-year cycle (2024-25 and 2025-26) with Marian Catholic High School due to Panther Valley’s increasing enrollment.

This will not affect the girls wrestling cooperative agreement, as there is no classification. Panther Valley will operate under the cooperative agreement this year for boys and girls wrestling.