Eric Haugh News Today

The Altoona Area School Board approved a general fund budget with a smaller tax increase than planned. The board was unable to get the votes for a proposal to

amollenauer@altoonamirror.com The Altoona Area School Board voted 7-2 to approve compensation plans for nonunion employees at a special meeting Thursday. Employees affected are those in bill management, central office administration, support staff and noninstructional administrators. The plan includes adjustments to health care as well as a four-year timeline for employee raises. From 2021 through the 2025 fiscal year, the district will not make health insurance coverage available to employe...

amollenauer@altoonamirror.com The Altoona Area School Board voted 5-4 to renew Superintendent Charles Prijatelj’s contract, extending his employment through the end of July 2024. Prijatelj’s current salary is $176,800, and an increase for the first year of his contract will be contingent on his evaluation. Voting in favor of renewing Prijatelj’s contract were board Vice President Dr. Frank Meloy, Mike Baker, Dave Francis, Rick Hoover and Ron Johnston. Votes against were from board Presi...

amollenauer@altoonamirror.com The Altoona Area School Board voted 7-2 on Tuesday to transition all students to a hybrid model, with elementary students beginning Feb. 8 and secondary students on the 16th. The hybrid model will break students into groups A and B, with A meeting in-person Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday, and B meeting Tuesday, Thursday and every other Friday. Special education students will return full time and in-person Feb. 8, and all teachers will report on-site the ...

amollenauer@altoonamirror.com The Altoona Area School Board on Tuesday scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Jan. 26 to revisit a return to school plan. That meeting will be a working session where a new motion is anticipated regarding whether to send students back. On Thursday, the board voted 5-4 to remain on a virtual learning model until two weeks after the first round of staff and teacher vaccinations. It remains unclear when these vaccinations will take place, and in the meantime, some...