💙💛 Board Highlights – October 20, 2025 Regular Board Meeting 💛💙
Board Highlights offers a quick, informal recap of the latest LASD Board meeting. For complete details, please see the official agenda, minutes, and video recordings.
The Littlestown Area School District Board of School Directors held its Regular Board Meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, conducted in person and livestreamed for public convenience.
🕊️ Board Acknowledgment
The Board recognized the passing of former longtime board member Bob Hahn, who served the District for over 20 years and was a dedicated member of the fire company, among many other contributions to the community.
🎓 Student Representative Reports
High School
MiniTHON is hosting Trunk or Treat on October 25, a candy bar fundraiser next week, and Powder Puff Football and Volleyball Tournaments on November 8. They’ve already raised over $4,000 this school year to fight pediatric cancer.
Astronomy Club focused on Saturn and its rings last month; this month’s topic is Jupiter.
FFA will send seven students to represent Pennsylvania at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis (Oct 28–Nov 1), competing in Agronomy and Forestry. Their fundraiser selling fruit and poinsettias (grown in the HS greenhouse) runs Oct 22–Nov 20.
Junior Class is selling R&K Subs to raise funds for prom and their class trip. Prom theme voting is underway — top choices include Fairytale and Masquerade.
Interact Club completed its monthly trash pickup and will host Trick or Treat for UNICEF.
FBLA kicked off the year with strong participation: 46 attendees at the first meeting, 37 at the Regional Leadership Workshop, and 17 at the PA FBLA State Workshop in the Poconos. Members are preparing for regional and state competitions.
Student Council hosted a successful Homecoming on Sept 24 (“Let’s Dance”) and is now organizing the Veterans Day Assembly on Nov 8.
Middle School
The middle school launched its Bolt Pride lesson on Caring, and held its first Pride Reward Day with outdoor field-day activities.
A Pumpkin Decorating Contest begins this week to support PBIS — winners will turn the admin team into a human ice cream sundae!
Halloween Spirit Week (Oct 27–31):
Mon – Pajama Day
Tue – Tee Day
Wed – Wacky Day
Thu – Halloween Headgear
Fri – Black/Orange/White Color Day
🏫 Building Principal Updates
High School – Dr. Becker
As the first marking period concludes, Dr. Becker thanked staff for their dedication to preparing students for life beyond LASD.
Highlights included:
Use of Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDTs) to guide instruction and align with Keystone Exam readiness.
Implementation of Firefly Benchmarks in Biology aligned to new science standards.
Both Field Hockey and Volleyball teams qualified for District III playoffs — both will host home games this week (Wed & Thu at 6:00 PM).
Good luck to the Blue Band, competing at their Championship Show on November 1!
Middle School – Mrs. Golden
Mrs. Golden discussed how teachers and administrators use PVAAS data to understand student growth and guide instruction.
PVAAS measures student progress relative to expectations and helps teachers group students, set goals, and plan lessons.
Administrators use data in reflection meetings to celebrate growth and plan instructional adjustments.
LASD integrates CDT and iReady data for more accurate projections and targeted supports.
ACES – Mr. Moran
The Pumpkin PACES fundraiser (replacing Race for Ed) exceeded its $15,000 goal by raising $20,718.50.
Students and families created 145 pumpkins in four themed categories (School spirit, A Fall theme, Most creative, Storybook character)
Two book donations were approved to support reading initiatives:
South Mountain Audubon (animal-themed books)
Shining Hope Visits Niagara Falls by a local author (for 2nd grade students)
A Safety Tabletop Exercise will be held next week with Dr. Naylor and SRO Mr. Lorenz.
5th Grade Firefly Assessment results are being analyzed to support instruction aligned with the new STEEL standards.
Mr. Moran thanked the Thunderbolt Foundation and community partners for continued support.
🏭 Adams County Technical Institute (ACTI)
Mr. Shawn Eckenrode, ACTI Executive Director, joined the Board for a Q&A regarding the 2025–2026 Operating Budget Amendment.
Key discussion points:
LASD’s cost share (15.11% vs 19.36%) is based on current student enrollment.
Questions were raised about staffing in Allied Health, salary structure, and a proposed superintendent stipend.
Board members expressed several concerns about the amendment, including its timing, significant additional cost, the need for more open and timely communication from ACTI, and the precedent that would be set by paying the Superintendent of Record a stipend when that has not been past practice.
The Board made it clear that it is fully supportive of ACTI and career and technical education but has concerns about this specific amendment and some of the governance and communication issues currently being experienced with ACTI.
It was clarified that if four out of five school districts pass the amendment, it is approved.
Mrs. Ewen asked Mr. Eckenrode if ACTI had considered establishing a foundation. He stated that it has been a thought for several years but has not yet been acted upon. Mr. Lovell suggested pursuing the creation of an ACTI Foundation and offered his help and support to get it off the ground.
🗳️ Agenda Voting Items
The Board approved all voting items on the agenda except the ACTI Budget Amendment.
📄 To view all approved agenda items, click here to view the 10/20/25 Board Briefs.
🧑🏫 Acting Superintendent Report – Dr. Moyer
Shared a story highlighting the compassion of ACES staff and the importance of supporting students beyond academics.
Invited the public to the Community Forum on October 29 at 6:00 PM (MAMS Auditorium) — an opportunity for positive discussion and Q&A with the Board and Acting Superintendent.
Recommended that the Board formally announce in November that MAMS will transition into the new Middle/High School for the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
Encouraged the community to discuss concerns directly with him instead of on social media.
🆕 New Business
Mrs. Ressler requested that costs for lawsuits against the district be posted on the district website.
The Board reiterated its desire for Right-to-Know (RTK) costs to be posted as well.
🎥 Livestream Update
The Board is pleased to report that the livestream and audio quality showed significant improvement during the October 20 meeting. Continued monitoring will ensure consistency moving forward.
🗂️ View Full Meeting Materials
All agendas, minutes, and recordings are available here:
🔗 https://www.lasd.k12.pa.us/page/2025-2026-board-documents
Approved minutes serve as the official record of Board action.
📅 Next Meetings
At the request of the Administration — due to the fact that there are two sets of committee meetings scheduled in November and no pressing agenda items requiring attention on November 4 — the November 4, 2025 Committee Meetings (Finance, Property & Supply and Curriculum, Co-Curriculum & Policy) have been CANCELLED.
The next Work Session of the Board of School Directors will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Boardroom.