The Brookville Area School District Music Department is proud to announce their 2023 Winter Concerts schedule:

Senior High Winter Concert
Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00 PM
Featuring the Orchestra, Concert Choir, and Concert Band

Junior High Winter Concert
Thursday, December 7th at 7:00 PM
Featuring the Junior High Orchestra, Junior High Choir, and Junior High Band

Elementary Winter Concert
Thursday, December 14th at 7:00 PM
Featuring the 5th & 6th Grade Orchestra, Elementary Choir, and 5th & 6th Grade Band

All concerts will be held in the Brookville Area High School auditorium and will feature a variety of seasonal and secular selections. All performances are free and open to the public. We hope you can join us for wonderful evenings of music making!

October 19, 2023

The Brookville Area School District will no longer be using television and radio to announce weather related delays and closures. The administration surveyed parents last year and asked how they received information about delays and closures. Only one out of 300 respondents looked to television and radio. Going forward, the district will rely on its robocalls, texts and emails to families, as well as the district website and Facebook.

The superintendent continually monitors road and weather conditions. That includes inspecting surfaces, checking temperatures and reviewing forecasts, as well as communicating with road crews, transportation staff and neighboring school districts. Dr. Erich May takes into account those considerations and more when deciding whether school should be delayed, closed or dismissed early.

When school is delayed, buses and vans will operate two (2) hours later than the normal schedule. Depending on conditions, it is possible that a two hour delay will become a closure. It is also possible for school to be held with modified bus routes. The transportation department will attempt to notify affected families by phone whenever a bus is not going to run its entire route.

Brookville Area School District has been approved for up to five (5) remote learning days, which are also called Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs). FIDs are used on days when school is closed for bad weather. It is likely, however, that the district will have one true snow day when classes will be cancelled and the day will be made up in May.

Outside of one traditional snow day, other days when schools are closed will be remote learning days (FIDs) when students are expected to get on their computers and/or do school work that was provided in advance. Depending on conditions, the traditional snow day may or may not be the first day that school is closed for weather. If, for instance, school is closed for an ice storm, families can expect a remote learning day. “It’s the fluffy white stuff that we want for a true snow day,” said Dr. May.

It is more important than ever that the district have updated contact information for parents and families. Parents and guardians are asked to call their child’s school with changes to phone numbers and email addresses.

A reminder that all enrolled students at Brookville Area School District are eligible to receive a nutritional breakfast and lunch each school day at no charge for the entire 2023-2024 school year.

The Brookville elementary yearbook includes Northside, Pinecreek and Hickory Grove students - Kindergarten through 6th grade.

Yearbooks will be delivered to students at the end of the school year.

ONLY students who order a book are guaranteed to receive one.

You can also call 1-877-767-5217 and ask to purchase the Brookville Elementary Yearbook - Brookville PA.

Yearbook sales will continue until March 2024, but the price will increase to $26.

Order by September 9, 2023 for the best deal!

Four outstanding individuals have been selected to the 2023 class of the Brookville Area High School Hall of Fame at the HOF Review & Selection Committee‘s annual meeting on Thurs., Aug. 10.

The 2023 class includes Kenneth Burkett, a 1970 graduate; Brookville resident Dr. John Grottenthaler; the late Larry McManigle, a 1950 graduate; and the late H.C. "Chuck" Taylor, a 1920 graduate. 

The 2023 class selections were announced by John Pozza, chairperson of the school’s ad hoc HOF Committee. 

The four will be inducted at a public assembly during the school day on Thurs., Sept. 21 in the high school auditorium. 

A resident of Fairmount City, Burkett's accomplishments as an archaeologist are many, and he has been recognized by the volume of awards he has received and archaeological projects and publications he has done. 

In 2022 he received: the Society for American Archaeology Crabtree Award for his many important contributions to the field; the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA) Lifetime Achievement Award; the PA Museum Award for the Pollinator Pond Habitat at the Heritage Park; and U.S. Congressional, PA State Senate, PA House of Representatives and Jefferson and Clarion County Citation Awards. In 2021 he also was awarded the annual Dr. Walter Dick Memorial Award from the Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce for his outstanding community service, the highest honor bestowed in the Brookville community.

In 2021, Burkett proposed and won approval from the PA Historical and Museum Commission to have a state historical marker placed in western Clarion County marking the site of the Parkers Landing Petroglyphs, one of the rarest prehistoric sites where native peoples inscribed images into the bedrock outcrop of the Allegheny River. He also spent almost 20 years excavating the Fish Basket Native American Village sites near New Bethlehem that eventually earned a state historical marker from the commission.

On behalf of the history center, he also received the PA Museums’ Special Institutional Achievement Award in 2020 for the Stones N’ Bones 3-Gallery Exhibit at the PA Museum’s annual conference at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

A student of the Central Technical Institute based in Kansas City, MO, Burkett is a requested speaker at various venues on topics from Scripture Rocks Heritage Park to archaeology and Native Americans.

From 1988-2000 he was the EMS director at Clarion Hospital and from 1996-2000 the regional EMS inspectorfor the PA Dept. of Health. Burkett is also a paramedic in Jefferson and surrounding counties, and still assists Emergency Management of Jefferson County with consultations and event assistance. 

Burkett has served on the boards of the North Fork Chapter 29 of SPA, the PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, PA Lumber Heritage Region, Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hawthorne Fire Dept.

He served on the WRC Senior Services' board, focusing on bettering the lives of seniors in the community. He also volunteered his time for various fundraisers and festivals at Brookville's Immaculate Conception Church. The community showed their appreciation and gratitude for Dr. Grottenthaler and his work by making him the Grand Marshall of the 1996 Western Pennsylvania Laurel Festival.

Dr. Grottenthaler played a key role in the development of prospective teachers. He believed that teaching was a noble profession. Consequently, he not only promoted the profession but touted his staff and faculty in his daily interactions. His dedication and commitment to making the district a focal point of the community was extremely important to him.

He respected the views of students, parents, teachers, staff and the school board. He believed in a team atmosphere and felt that every person or group he worked with were there for the students of the district. His time as superintendent wasn't about him as a leader; it was about creating an educational experience that benefited both the students of the district and the community. In other words, it is and was the BASD community that played a large role in Dr. Grottenthaler's success. He loves Brookville and has remained a resident after retiring.

He earned his Bachelors degree from Clarion State Teachers College in 1957, and his Masters degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and Doctorate in Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1970. 

In 2013, he received the distinguished alumni award from his alma mater, the Deer Lakes School District in Allegheny County, just outside Pittsburgh.

McManigle, who passed away in 2016, was a leader of youth and adults on various projects within the Brookville community, through his dedication to personal growth, hard work and education. He was also an active member of the Brookville Presbyterian Church.

He improved the lives of the many people who had the privilege of being mentored by him. His memory and example will carry on through the many stories of those who respectfully remember him as their teacher, as their coach and as their patriarch.

Teachers at BAHS gave Mr. McManigle the quality education and mentorship he strived for, as well as the opportunity to play sports that served him well in pursuing his own career as a teacher and coach.

McManigle earned his Bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University in 1954. After receiving his degree, he joined the military and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal at Fort Sill, OK while serving as a Specialist 3rd Class with the US Army's 18th Field Artillery Battalion from 1954-1956.

After leaving the military, he started his first teaching job working at the former Summerville High School. Eventually, when the school district consolidation took place, he began working at the Brookville High School.Multiple generations of families had him as a teacher or coach in school until his retirement in 1993.

As Taylor’s former track coach Jimmie Curran at Mercersburg stated, “As far as I can see, his success never spoiled his work ethic, as is the case with so many young athletes.” Curran said Taylor knew how to keep his head straight in both failure and success in the true spirit of a sportsman.

Professionally, Taylor worked overseas in Switzerland a few years before returning to his hometown of Brookville for good in the early 1930s. He worked for the W.J. Sandt Co. in Brookville, an oil and gas wholesaler, for the rest of his professional life, retiring in the early 1970s. 

He was recognized both nationally and internationally for his accomplishments, both at the Sandt Co., the Pennzoil Corporation’s first oil and gas wholesaler, and in athletics for his prowess in track & field. Taylor was previously inducted into the former Brookville Sports Hall of Fame and received the Brookville Chamber's annual Dr. Walter Dick Memorial Award for community service in 1965.

Taylor, who passed away in 1988, was the long-time board president of the Brookville Area Chamber and the Brookville Area Industrial Foundation.

June 22, 2023

Dr. May received high marks for maintaining a regular presence in district buildings and at district events; regularly assessing district facilities and equipment and maintaining or updating as required; working with the board and district officials on financial and budgetary priorities; and demonstrating professional and personal integrity.

As part of their annual evaluation, the board also monitored the status of the goals set by the superintendent. Dr. May’s annual goals were as follows: overseeing numerous renovation projects – Northside window replacement, HVAC installation at the high school gym and auditorium, and stadium renovations; the addition of mental health specialists to serve district-wide; the organization of in-service trainings devoted to safety/security and teaching/learning; and continual analysis of staffing levels.  

Brookville Area School District does not have a foreign exchange student this fall, so districtleaders are encouraging local families to consider hosting an international student.

“It’s a great way to add some diversity to our schools and community,” said SuperintendentErich May. Dr. May added, “Exchange students add something special to our schools, but theyalso create a great experience for host families.”

Study abroad programs bring people together, increase cultural understanding, and promote afriendlier world. Families who would consider hosting an exchange student can work withvarious agencies, including the Pan Atlantic Foundation.

In fact, Pan Atlantic has a representative right here in Jefferson County. Mrs. Beth Weiland, ofCorsica, is currently hosting a student from Thailand. She would be happy to answer questionsfor potential host families, and she can be reached at bethderek@windstream.net.

Pan Atlantic does offer full year placements, but they are currently looking to place students forthe second semester, starting in January. This five month commitment includes room andboard, but natural families send spending cash, and the agency provides health insurance forstudents. Host families just need to set an extra place at the table.

Pan Atlantic students all speak English, although improving their skill with the language is oneof the goals of the program. Students from Korea, Spain, Italy and Germany are looking forhomes for January. For more info, call Mrs. Weiland or visit www.iwanttohost.org.

The Taxpayer Relief Act provides for property tax reduction allocations to be distributed by the Commonwealth to each school district. Property tax reduction is then provided to homeowners through homestead and farmstead exclusion(s). School districts are required to notify homeowners by December 31 of each year if their property is not already approved for this tax reduction. Applications for 2020 will be mailed out soon. Please note, if you own multiple properties, you will receive applications for each property that is not already approved. A property owner can only have one PRIMARY residence receive the homestead exclusion. A primary residence is where you intend to reside permanently until you move to another home.You may not claim multiple properties as your primary residence.

Tax reduction varies from year to year based on the Commonwealth’s distribution of funds and the number of homestead/farmstead properties that are approved. In recent years, approved homesteads in the Brookville Area School District have each received an annual tax reduction of approximately $200. If you had been approved for the 2019 Fall School Real Estate Taxes, you would have noticed a homestead credit listed on your tax bill and, if applicable, an additional farmstead credit up to the same amount. In order to be considered a farmstead, the property needs to be the primary residence of the owner, be at least ten contiguous acres in area, and include buildings or structures that are used for the purpose of commercial agricultural production.

If you receive a 2020 Application for Homestead and Farmstead Exclusions that lists your PRIMARY residence, please read the instructions carefully. If you believe you qualify for the homestead or farmstead exclusion(s), you need to return a completed form to the Jefferson County Assessment Office by March 1, 2020.

If you have been previously approved for a homestead or farmstead property tax reduction and the property no longer qualifies for the homestead or farmstead exclusion(s), you must notify the assessor at 849-1526 within 45 days of the change. Any person who files an application that contains false information, or who does not notify the assessor of a change in use which no longer qualifies as homestead or farmstead property, will be required to pay the taxes due, plus interest and penalties, and pay any applicable fines.

If you have any questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to call the business office at Brookville Area School District at 814-849-1103.

Updated November 6, 2023