Seneca Valley's Board of Education approved a combined $12 million in budgetary commitments and celebrated a wave of student achievements in science and the arts at its March 9 action session held at Senior High School. The board's most significant financial actions included approval of the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School 2026-27 budget at $7,571,783 and the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV general operating budget of $4,552,816, to which Seneca Valley will contribute $161,240. General fund bills totaling $1,511,790.36 and construction fund bills of $1,049,386.98 were also approved. In a smaller but notable deal, the board approved an addendum to a naming rights agreement with the Khara Family for the district's baseball field, worth $25,000 paid over ten annual installments of $2,500 each, running through June 2035. The evening's student recognition segment showcased the depth of Seneca Valley's academic programs. A total of 18 students in grades 7 through 12 competed at the 69th Annual Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Region 9 competition at Slippery Rock University on Feb. 21, with 14 earning first-place awards and four more taking second place. Among the standouts, ninth-grader Maddalyn Beichner earned a perfect score for her project "How Does Gray Water Affect Our National Parks?" and received the SRU Junior High Biology Award. Eighth-grader Cam Swope took home the Ernst P. Hall Award in Junior High Physics for his flywheel energy conservation research, while seventh-grader Anaya Kandikuppa earned the PJAS Region 9 Director's Award in Junior High Biochemistry. The board also recognized Camden Armstrong and John Rieger, who were selected for the PMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble — Armstrong as one of only two alto saxophonists and Rieger as one of five trumpeters chosen statewide. Ten chorus members participated in the PMEA Region Chorus festival, 24 band students performed at the District Jazz Festival (the most from any district), and 17 band students were selected for the District 5 Band Festival. In instructional matters, the board approved three grants: a $900 Chemical and Genetic Analysis of a Local Waterway grant from the Grable Foundation for biology students to study fish populations and water quality on campus, and two $7,500 grants from the Highmark Foundation — one for a traverse climbing wall designed for student inclusion and another for functional fitness equipment at the Seneca Valley Alternative Opportunities Center. The board also approved a research study by gifted programming teacher and doctoral candidate Megan Oldenski, who will examine how gender, grade level, and prior participation influence domain selection in gifted enrichment projects. Student trips were approved for the Academic Decathlon team traveling to Hershey March 12-14 and the Pennsylvania Junior Classical League club heading to State College May 23-24, both at no cost to the district. Other business included setting June 19 as the annual Kennywood picnic date, approving additional bus drivers through First Student Inc., and authorizing disposal of obsolete textbooks from six elementary and middle schools. The board noted three letters received from community members Jason Shorr, Doug Boyd, and Sandy Thompson. The Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV proposed budget was also presented by Interim Director Brenda Marino and Business Manager Maureen Werwie. The district's All-Star Award for March went to Jessica M. King of the security department, nominated by Officer Jason Young, Director of Safety and Security. Looking ahead, the district's production of "Disney's Frozen the Musical" runs March 12-15 at the Intermediate High School, with tickets available through ShowClix. Spring break is scheduled for March 30 through April 3.