MONTGOMERY — The Montgomery Area School Board voted unanimously to implement curriculum changes that will replace one of the junior/senior high school’s three lunch periods with a 30-minute study hall in the 2017-18 school year.

The change will give students the opportunity to complete homework and study or meet with teachers as needed. The study hall also will give athletic teams and other clubs an opportunity to meet without interrupting classes, high school Principal Joseph Stoudt said.

The curriculum change brings with it a change in graduation requirements. Students would normally need to attain 27 credits, but only will need 26 starting with the 2017-18 school year.

In another matter, the school board met the local Act 1 tax index of 3.4 and will not apply for exceptions from the state. It still is too early to tell whether there will be any change in the tax rate, however, business manager and board secretary Grant Evangelisti said.

The board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of board member Gus Spizzirri effective immediately.

Spizzirri served on the board for nearly 20 years and had been a teacher with the district prior to his service, Superintendent Daphne Bowers said.

“It’s sad to see the resignation, but I’m sure it won’t be the last we see of Mr. Spizzirri,” she said.

The board will hold a special meeting Feb. 14 to interview and presumably fill the vacancy, Bowers said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a bid from D.A.D.’s Landscaping to mow and mulch as well as do summer trimming at a combined cost of $5,300.

• Approved a request from Montgomery Elementary basketball teams to hold games in the high school gymnasium Jan. 21 and 28 and Feb. 4 and 25.

• Approved the addition of Ken Aikey as a bus driver for Mowery Transportation.

• Approved the following 2016-17 coaches: Connor Hunter, varsity track head coach, $3,500; Charlie Hall, varsity track assistant coach, $2,831; Tracey Johnson, varsity track assistant coach, $2,858; Whitlow Wertz, varsity baseball head coach, $4,325; Sean Ross, varsity baseball assistant coach, $2,878; Kenny Harer, varsity softball head coach, $4,325; Mark Tagliaferri and Charles Zook, varsity softball assistant coaches, $1,212 each; and Kim Harer, Kevin Bryson and Kaylee Harer, varsity softball volunteers.

• Approved the addition of Barbara Ross and Kelly Skyro as part-time cafeteria workers, each at an hourly rate of $9.50.

The next regular school board meeting will be held 7 p.m. Feb. 21.