September 29, 2026 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting Agenda

Moment of Silence

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Recognition of Visitors and Guests

Presentation from Sarah Emery, Regional Manager, The Nutrition Group 

Review and Approval of Minutes

Regular meeting minutes of August 25, 2026

Work Session minutes of September 22, 2026

Additions and Deletions to the Agenda

Additions - Personnel #5b, #7; #8; Operations #2

Recognition of Achievement

Old Business

New Business

Academic/Extra-Curricular

1. Approval of field trip requests for 2026-2027.

2. Approval of activity requests for 2026-2027.

3. Approval of the purpose statements and officers for clubs and activities for the 2026-2027 school year.

4. Approval of cooperative agreement with Franklin Area School District for girls wrestling, starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

5. Approval of the MOU with VGEA for parent-teacher conferences for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Operations

1. Approval of the request from the F-ROC Basketball nonprofit youth basketball organization to use the gymnasiums at Rocky Grove Junior-Senior High School and Valley Grove Elementary School for practices and open gym sessions from mid-February through the end of June 2027 in accordance with Policy 707, Use of School Facilities.

2. ADDITION: Approval to hold a Donuts with Grandparents event at Valley Grove Elementary School on a date to be determined. 

Policy

1. Approval of a second reading of policy 815.2 Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education.

2. Approval of a first reading of Policy 113.3, Screening and Evaluations for Students With Disabilities.

Finance

1. Approval of the financial reports for the period ending 7/31/2026 and the list of bills and payrolls.

2. Approval of the 2026-2027 agreement with Riverview IU6 to accept IDEA-B Pass-Thru funds in the projected amount of $165,745.05 and expend for appropriate special education expenses in accordance with IDEA-B regulations.

3. Approval of the 2026-2027 sub-grant agreement with Riverview IU6 to accept IDEA-Section 619 Pass-Thru funds in the projected amount of $3,024 and to expend to support kindergarten eligible children, 5 years of age who are either receiving special education services or remaining an extra year in Early Intervention.

4. Approval of the addendum to the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Partnership Agreement Addendum between Family Children and Community Association Pre-K Counts Program (Lead Agency) and Valley Grove School District (Partner Agency).

Personnel

1. Approval of supplemental contract resignations.

2. Approval of supplemental contracts for 2026-2027.

3. Approval of volunteer coach for 2026-2027.

4. Approval of the following conference requests:

• Carrie Beightol to Highmark Caring Place in Erie, PA on September 30, 2026 for the Caring Team for Grieving Students Summit. Estimated cost is $94.24 for mileage. Meals are included.

• Carrie Beightol to the PA School Counselor Association Annual Conference in State College, PA, December 2-4, 2026. Estimated costs are $350 for registration, $202.16 for mileage, $60 for membership dues and $298 for lodging. (Meals are included with the conference registration).

• Jodi Hoover to Cranberry Junior-Senior High School for PMEA Junior District Chorus on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, on the condition that students qualify and participate. Estimated cost is $16.72 for mileage and up to $50 for meals.

• Jodi Hoover to Marion Center High School for PMEA District III Chorus on Wednesday, January 27 through Friday, January 29, 2027, on the condition that students qualify and participate. Estimated cost is $190 for mileage, $240 for lodging and up to $150 for meals.

• Katherine Hatfield to PennWest Clarion for PMEA District III Band on Thursday, January 14 through Saturday, January 16, 2027, on the condition that students qualify and participate. Estimated cost is $240 for lodging and up to $150 for meals.

• Amber Nolan-Johnston, Kevin Weisenfluh and Brooke Emanuele to the 2027 PDE Data Summit in Hershey, PA on March 22 through March 24, 2027 for special education, information technology, PIMS and child accounting training. Estimated cost is $164 per night for lodging (2 rooms), $340.48 for mileage, $375 each for registration and up to $25 each per day for dinner. (Breakfast and lunch are included in the conference registration.)

5. Course Pre-Approval Requests

a. Erynn Miller - American College of Education
• LIT5373 Digital Media for Literacy Instruction (3 credits, Fall 2026)
• LIT5353 Selecting Texts for Literacy Instruction (3 credits, Fall 2026)
These courses are part of a Master of Education in literacy program. Tuition costs will be reimbursed at the current state rate of up to $557 per credit as required in the collective bargaining agreement. Completion of these courses will give Ms. Miller a total of 24 credits beyond her bachelor’s degree and meet the requirement to obtain level II certification. Valley Grove has reimbursed her for 9 credits.

b. ADDITION: Emily Wright - PennWest University
• READ 7158 - Literacy Leadership (3 credits, Fall 2026)
• READ 7168 - Disciplinary Literacy (3 credits, Fall 2026)
These courses are part of a Reading Specialist, MEd program.Tuition costs will be reimbursed at the current state rate of up to $557 per credit as required in the collective bargaining agreement. Completion of these courses will give Ms. Wright a total of 30 credits beyond her bachelor’s degree and complete her master's degree program. Valley Grove has reimbursed her for 9 credits.

6. Approval of unpaid leave with an anticipated beginning date of 1/15/2027 for employee #1731. (Unpaid leave to commence after the use of available sick time/maternity leave/FMLA days)

7. ADDITION: Acknowledgment of FMLA leave for employee #1719. 

8. ADDITION: Approval of retirement for employee #1632. 

Information

Information from Board Members

1. Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 – Dr. Melanie Anderson

2. Venango Technology Center Joint Board – Cindy Swendsen

Information from Superintendent and Supervisory Staff

1. Report from Tessa M. Simmons, Superintendent

2. Reports from Administrative Team

3. Report from Holly Smith, The Nutrition Group Food Service Director 

4. Report from Terry Tantlinger, Facilities Manager/Lead Maintenance

5. Enrollment Report

Future Business

1. Work Session, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Rocky Grove Junior-Senior High School Library

2. Regular board meeting, Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Rocky Grove Junior-Senior High School Library

Adjournment