The Seneca Valley School Board approved a budget resolution capping the 2025-26 tax increase at 4 percent, the Act 1 index established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, at its January 13 action session. All nine board members were present.

The board also advanced two significant capital projects: approving Addendum #1 from CannonDesign for architectural and engineering design services on the Intermediate High School and Performing Arts Center project, and awarding the Evans City Building Demolition contract to Upgrade Demolition, pending solicitor review. Both items passed on roll call votes with all members voting in the affirmative.

General fund bills totaled $7,216,514.89, while construction fund bills came to $632,052.20 across December and January combined.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence for Dr. Ralph Cianflone, who passed away December 27. Cianflone dedicated over two decades to the district as Director of Elementary Education and State and Federal Programs before retiring in 2001.

Haine Middle School Assistant Principal Jeremy Womer was recognized as Pennsylvania's 2025 Outstanding Assistant Principal by the Pennsylvania Principals Association, making him eligible for the national honor. Communications Director Linda Andreassi praised Womer for his work leading positive behavioral interventions and his multitiered framework for instructional support.

"He has been a shining light and I am so glad that the state now gets to see how outstanding he is," Superintendent Dr. Vitale said, predicting he would win at the national level as well.

Bus driver Josh Phipps of ABC Transit received the January All-Star Award, presented by Haine Middle School Principal Dr. Erin Wilcher. She described how Phipps greets every student with a smile and attended a student band, chorus, and orchestra concert in December because the students had personally invited him.

Two juniors, Roshini Umesh and Samuel Boyer II, presented their campaign as Student Visionaries of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Their fundraising goal is $75,000 with a reach target of $100,000, and they plan events including penny wars, bracelet sales, movie nights, and sponsoring a basketball game. Board member Tim Hester, a small business owner, offered to help.

Dr. Matt McKinley presented the 2025-26 Program of Studies, which adds 12 new courses including Advanced Experience Criminal Investigations, Astronomy 2, Advanced Experience Fashion Design, and multiple business classes. Two courses on artificial intelligence will also be offered. McKinley reported that teacher cohorts at each building are using Co-Pilot and Magic School, an AI platform with approximately 80 tools for lesson plans, assignments, and assessments.

Board member Mike Jacobs noted the goal of AI integration is not to replace jobs but to make educators more effective. McKinley said his hope is that time saved translates into family time and rest for teachers.

In music achievements, 36 students earned positions in the PMEA District 5 Honors Band at Grove City College, more than any other school in the four-county district. Twenty-eight students in grades 7-9 participated in the District 5 String Fest. Senior High teacher James Lucot was named a Righteous Among the Neighbors honoree by the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh for his dedication to Holocaust education.

The board approved a Horizontal Movement and Personal Leave Memorandum of Understanding with the Seneca Valley Education Association and revised two policies: Policy 616 on Payment of Bills and Policy 227.1 on Drug and Alcohol Awareness for Athletic Programs and Student Drivers, both on first reading.

In business and finance, the board approved a Frontline Education time clock system, renewed the Butler County YMCA Corporate 25 Community Partnership for employee membership discounts, and authorized budget transfers.

Fred Peterson reported from Vo-Tech that all 16 Programs of Study are at 90 percent attendance or better, and a new teacher was hired for adult education to certify students in emissions and inspections. DiTullio reported the PSERS contribution rate is set at 34 percent, with the fund ratio at 64.8 percent and projected to reach 82.3 percent by 2032.

Student trips were approved for orchestra students to Erie for PMEA Districts and the Raider Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge team to Manheim. A future trip to Tokyo, Japan in June 2026 was acknowledged at no cost to the district.