The recent trial in a school funding lawsuit involving Panther Valley was eight years in the making.

Over that time, school officials had to supply a large amount of data, testimony and evidence. Though the judge in the case has yet to issue a decision, the district’s efforts have earned it recognition around the commonwealth.

“It was a lot of work for these districts and we wanted to make sure they knew that people around the state appreciate their effort, and that we thank them for stepping forward and participating in the trial,” said Sandra Miller, advocacy coordinator for the Education Voters of Pennsylvania.

Miller presented Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. with a plaque during the Panther Valley school board meeting Wednesday night. Her organization is thanking all six districts involved in the lawsuit, which argues that Pennsylvania’s state government is not upholding its constitutional responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient system of education.

Several Panther Valley teachers were on hand to help receive the honor, wearing buttons which said “thorough and efficient,” referencing the Pennsylvania Constitution’s Education Clause.

Education Voters of Pennsylvania promotes a pro-public education agenda in Harrisburg. During the trial they attended in person, held watch parties and public rallies to urge lawmakers to provide fair funding.

Miller said the six superintendents in the case, and Panther Valley fifth-grade teacher Tara Yuricheck, showed courage by getting on the stand and being candid about the challenges they face due to insufficient funding.

“It’s difficult to sit in a public forum and state they’re not able to do everything they want to do for their children,” she said. “These people go into education because they care about kids, they want to do the best for their students.”

She said that Harrisburg has an obligation to provide funding which is adequate and equitable - meaning the budget for education should be larger, and distributed more equally among school districts.

She repeated a statistic heard often during the trial, that the state only provides 38 percent of the overall funding which goes into the state’s 500 school districts. The rest comes from local taxes. Forty-four states provide a larger share of the overall education funding in their state.

“They don’t need to wait for the trial to be resolved. They now can solve this by fixing the way schools are funded,” she said.

McAndrew accepted the award with thanks for the education voters. He said that they are one of the groups which helped lay the groundwork which enabled the trial to take place.

“Thank you for advocating for us,” McAndrew said.

In other business, the school board:

• Accepted the retirement of Terence Bonner Jr. effective March 1, and the resignation of JROTC instructor Judah Whitney effective May 1.

• Approved a $71,432.05 contract with Singer to replace the walk-in cooler/freezer at Panther Valley Elementary.

• Approved $27,900 contract with Cooper Electric for LED lights for the Panther Valley High School, which will be installed by district staff.

• Approved the purchase of a Regular Cab Dump Truck 4x4 for $55,993.

• Approved the purchase of a new PrimeroEdge point of sale system for the cafeteria for $14,615.

• Authorized Portnoff Law Associates to list two properties in Nesquehoning for sheriff sale, 227 W. Mill St., and 236 W. Columbus Ave.