In a rare rebuke, the Seneca Valley School Board rejected the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School's proposed $7,351,613 budget for 2025-26 at its March 10 action session.

The motion to approve the BCAVTS budget with budgetary reserve failed on a roll call vote, with all members present voting no. The rejection signals potential concerns about the vo-tech's spending, though board members did not elaborate publicly on their reasoning.

The board did approve the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV's $4,442,185 general operating budget on a voice vote, with Seneca Valley's contribution set at $161,240. MIU IV Executive Director Dr. Wade Killmeyer and Director of Business Services Maureen Werwie presented the budget, explaining that the unit serves 27 school districts across Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties. The district contribution amount was set more than 30 years ago, with fluctuations based on enrollment.

The meeting also featured an unusually strong lineup of student recognitions.

The Seneca Valley Academic Decathlon Team won first place at the Western Pennsylvania Regional Competition at Moniteau High School, setting a new school record with a team score of 44,601 points — the highest in Seneca Valley history. Senior Rohin Jayaraman set a new Pennsylvania state record with an individual score of 8,483 points. The team, led by math teacher David Reichard, advanced to the state competition at Pope John Paul II High School.

Two CyberPatriot teams excelled in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition among 4,023 teams nationwide. One team advanced to the Gold Division, while the other placed second in the state in the All-Service Division Silver bracket and advanced to the National Semi-Finals, finishing eighth nationally. The teams are led by computer programming and mathematics teacher Diane Koegler.

Eight Science Honor Society members competed at the 68th annual Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science at Slippery Rock University, with seven earning first-place awards and advancing to the state competition. The Seneca Valley Foundation covered their entrance fees.

The JROTC Raider Battalion Marksmanship Team finished 43rd out of more than 1,200 teams at the Army JROTC Service Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio. Senior Wesley Marks set a new school record with 545 points, earning 39th place individually.

Ryan Gloyer Middle School eighth grader Lanie Koliscak was named a Top 10 national winner in the 2025 VFW Patriot's Pen essay competition. Selected from more than 68,000 entries nationwide, Koliscak earned honors at regional, state and national levels for her response to the theme "My Voice in America's Democracy." She read her essay to the board.

"She is wise beyond her years," board member Leslie Bredl said.

Security guard Angelynn Kline of Ryan Gloyer Middle School received the All-Star Award. Co-Principal Trisha Butschle called Kline "a guardian of safety, a beacon of kindness, dedication and compassion" who has earned the trust of everyone in the building.

In policy action, the board gave final approval to a revised anti-bullying policy (Policy 249) on second reading and approved the school board meeting calendar for August 2025 through June 2026. Two student adjudications were also approved.

The board approved several student trips at no cost to the district, including a middle school ski trip to Telluride, Colorado, in January 2026 and pre-season cross country training camp in Jennerstown. Other approvals included a security contract with Capital Asset Protection Inc., a Waste Management renewal for waste removal, and the Connoquenessing Valley Elementary re-roofing project through Duro-Last Inc. via the Interlocal Purchasing System cooperative.

The board also approved the comprehensive K-12 School Counseling Plan under Chapter 339 and agreements with Cray Youth and Family Services and the Watson Institute for special education programming.

General fund bills totaled $8,522,260.69 and construction fund bills totaled $921,394.99. There was no public comment.

Vice President Jeff Widdowson presided. President Eric DiTullio, Susan Harrison and Fred Peterson were absent. The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.