The Loyalsock School Board approved several additions to the district’s faculty and approved several other items at its recent board meeting.

Richard Cummings was named assistant high school principal, effective Aug. 1, with a prorated salary of $83,160 for the 2024-25 school year.

Other faculty appointments include: Jacob Golbitz as a health/physical education teacher, effective Aug. 20; Nicole Duarte-Turi as a secondary school counselor, effective Aug. 20; and Derrick Hicks as a math teacher, effective Aug. 20.

Other staffing approved by the board include Tabetha Springman as part-time food service employee, effective July 11, at an hourly rate of $12.50.

After much discussion, the board approved the purchase of an elementary school sign from WJ Strickler Signs Inc., New Oxford, in the amount of $16,060.

While stating his support for a sign and the fact that staff were polled on which design they preferred, board member David Bjorkman expressed his concern for the cost of the project, while board member Tyler Richardson questioned the aesthetics of the sign versus the school building.

“The Schick school is built out of red brick, and there’s no mountain stone anywhere on the school and architecturally, aesthetically, it just blends better to me,” Richardson said, adding that cost was also a concern for him.

“When you look up square footage prices for supply and install compared to a veneer stone and a brickstone, you’re almost $3,300 more than the stone veneer option for the brick,” Richardson said.

Board member Michael Zicolello also stated his difference of opinion over the design.

“I think all three pictures look really good on a computer screen, but I think when you put the mountain stone in front of the school brick building, that people are going to drive by for years and say ‘what school board put that mountain stone in front of a brick building,” he said.

The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 7.