Board of Directors

The Port Allegany School District Board of Directors consists of 11 individuals committed to quality in education. Our board members volunteer their time to represent and ensure the best interests of our students as they review community input, create or review policies, develop budgets, and establish new programs.

• Nine unpaid voting members
• Four-year terms
• Empowered by the state of Pennsylvania
• Duties set by Pennsylvania school laws
• Establishes policies
• Adopts annual budget
• Levies taxes
• Approves expenditures
• Sets school calendar
• Approves curriculum changes

The superintendent serves as a non-voting member. The solicitor, elected and hired for a stipulated fee by the board, advises the board in legal matters and completes various legal activities involving the school district.

• Citizen of Pennsylvania
• 18 years of age or older
• School district resident for at least one year prior to election
• Be a person of good moral character
• Term of office is four years

• Elected by board for three-, four-, or five-year term
• Executive officer in administrating policies and operation of schools
• Advisor of board on school programs
• Makes recommendations to the board relating to professional staff, curriculum, textbooks, school plant, and financial affairs
• Superintendent has no vote

School vacations, holidays, budget deadlines, and board reorganization may change these dates and are advertised in advance. Meetings are held in the high school library.

We encourage and welcome public comment at both planning meetings and at our regular monthly board meetings. The following guidelines will permit meetings to move smoothly and allow sufficient time for all comments to be heard:

• At the monthly planning meetings, public comment will be initiated at the beginning of the agenda.
• All comments and questions will be addressed to the chair.
• Board and staff members will not normally respond to comments or questions from the public during the meeting unless recognized by the chair or the superintendent for this purpose.
• When a large number of citizens wish to make statements, the board may limit individual comments so that all parties may be heard.

If you have a specific question regarding your child, begin by speaking with the teacher involved or with the building principal or administrator. If further discussion is necessary the question may be referred to the superintendent. This procedure enables you to get a direct and immediate response from the individuals directly responsible.

Concerns that remain unanswered may be referred directly to the superintendent. Board members are responsible for matters that affect the entire district, and they should only be contacted about individual problems if the family's concerns have not been addressed by the various staff members involved.

Board of Directors