Latest News - Brookville Area School District

Park, Richards selected for 2026 BAHS Hall of Fame

4 hours ago

Dr. Fred Park of Sigel and Dr. H. Edward Richards of Brookville have been selected for this year’s class of the Brookville Area High School Hall of Fame.

Dr. Park served on the school board for 20 years. He was vice president of the school board, the board’s representative to the Jeff Tech Operating Committee, and the chairperson of the JOC.

Dr. Park received a special citation from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association in recognition of his “ongoing school board service, and the long-term contributions of individuals who bring their energy, talent, and values to the guidance of youth and public education.”

Dr. Park began his career as a fourth grade teacher at the former Summerville Elementary School in 1965. He moved to the former Longview Elementary in Brookville as a fifth grade teacher in 1966 before returning to Summerville as a sixth grade teacher in 1967.

He was named acting elementary principal in 1968 before returning to the classroom to teach sixth grade at Northside West in 1969 and the new Hickory Grove Elementary in 1970.

After 18 years at Hickory Grove, Dr. Park was named assistant elementary principal in 1984, and then principal in 1990, a position he held for 10 years before retiring from the district in 2010.

In "retirement," Dr. Park worked for 10 years at Clarion University as a learning skills specialist in Student Support Services. Also during "retirement," Dr. Park served the Raiders by supervising the football study table and monitored players’ grades.

He received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 1994, his Principal Certification from Duquesne University in 1972, his Masters in Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1968, and his Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Clarion University in 1965.

Dr. Park is a past member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa, the Pennsylvania Association of Developmental Education, the IU6 Elementary Principal Association, and the Jefferson County Chapter of the American Red Cross, where he was both chairperson and vice chairperson.

Dr. Park is an alumnus of the BAHS Class of 1961, the final graduating class at the high school in Sigel.

Dr. Richards graduated from Brookville in 1967, where he excelled in academics and athletics, including football and basketball, and was the starting quarterback as a senior on the football team.

He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, graduating in 1971 and serving his country as a cadet and as a U.S. Army officer. He then went on to attend dental school at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, graduating in 1975 with a specialty in dentistry and oral maxillofacial surgery.

Dr. Richards returned to Brookville upon graduation and operated a successful dental practice on Main Street for 50 years, working with Dr. William Weaver.

Dr. Richards also volunteered with the U.S. Army Reserves and was deployed to Afghanistan for several weeks performing his specialty for our troops stationed there.

He has served as Board Chairperson for Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Jefferson Manor, and the Brookville Planning Commission.

He has also volunteered for several community organizations, including the Brookville Football Boosters, the Brookville Food Pantry and Immaculate Conception Church.

Dr. Park and Dr. Richards will be formally inducted at a special school ceremony open to the public on October 8 at 1:15 in the Brookville Area High School Auditorium. They will also be introduced during halftime of the Raiders’ homecoming football game on October 9.

There are now 27 members of the Brookville Area High School Hall of Fame: Al Lefever, Robert Himes III, James Calder, Kate Hynes, Tina Nabatchi, Nathan Smith, Col. James Harding, William Kutz, Dr. Karl Nolph, David Taylor, Dick Bowley, Robert Pence , Dr. Uma Chapa-Perni, John DeMotte, Andy Hastings, Rhonda Mays, Ken Burkett, John Grottenthaler, Larry McManigle, H.C. “Chuck” Taylor, Thad Turner, Becky Aikman, Dr. Nicholas Ondrasik, Sean Taylor, Bob Tonkin, Fred Park and Dr. H. Ed Richards.

visit page

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Students

4 hours ago

Brookville Area School District is pleased to announce that all enrolled students are eligible to receive a nutritional breakfast and lunch each school day at no charge for the entire 2026-2027 school year.

No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate without paying a fee or submitting an application as part of the district's participation in CEP (Community Eligibility Provision).

visit page

SUN Bucks Benefit Information

4 hours ago

The Department of Human Services is currently issuing the 2026 SUN Bucks benefit ($120 per eligible student) to the families of all eligible students. Please visit https://www.pasebt.com/#familyresources for information.

visit page

Brookville Board Evaluates Superintendent

4 hours ago

The Brookville Area School Board conducted its annual evaluation of Dr. Erich May. The Board uses an evaluation rubric from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

Dr. May earned distinguished or proficient ratings in the Objective Performance Standards: Student Growth and Achievement, Organizational Leadership, District Operations and Financial Management, Communication and Community Relations, Human Resource Management, and Professionalism.

As part of the formal evaluation, the board also monitored the status of annual goals set by the superintendent. These involved academic achievement, elementary renovations, communications and advocacy.

visit page

Keep the Kids Reading

4 hours ago

If students don't read over summer break, they lose some of the growth they achieved over the school year. To help kids avoid the "summer slide," families can take them to our public libraries.

Brookville's Rebecca M. Arthurs Library is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 to 6:30 and Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 to 4:00. The Summerville Public Library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 6:00 and Friday from 9:30 to 2:00.

Another source for summer reading material is Watershed Books. The nonprofit bookstore is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 to 5:00 and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00. Let's keep the kids reading!

visit page

Survey of Parents of Students with Disabilities

4 hours ago

Pennsylvania’s State Performance Plan requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 include collecting and reporting data on the involvement of families in special education programs. Specifically, states must report annually to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the public on State Performance Plan Indicator 8, which is the “percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who report that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities.”

Like many other states, Pennsylvania is collecting this data through a large-scale survey. Pennsylvania reports results of the survey to OSEP in its State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report. This report is posted on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) websites. Reporting on local educational agency (LEA) performance is done through the Special Education Data Reports on the PennData website.

To ensure that parents from every LEA in the Commonwealth are included in the survey, PDE developed a sampling plan that was approved by OSEP. Under this sampling, each year PDE collects data from a representative sample of parents in approximately one-fifth of the LEAs in the Commonwealth. This year, Brookville Area School District was selected for participation in this survey.

Not all parents will receive the survey as it is a sample within each LEA. Parents receiving the survey were selected from PA Special Education Data using a stratified random sample of school age students in each LEA. Surveys will be mailed directly to the parents from Leader Services. Parents may direct questions about the survey to the Special Education Consult Line at (800) 879-2301. Of course, parents are also welcome to reach out to Brookville's Special Education Department at (814) 849-1109.

visit page

Kindergarten Registration is Open!

4 hours ago

Kindergarten Registration is open!

Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10

Your child must be 5 by July 1st.

Please call Northside to schedule your appointment.

814-849-1118

visit page

How to Motivate your Children

4 hours ago

A booklet from The Parent Institute offered the following ways that parents can motivate their children:

1. Teach children to set goals for themselves.
2. Talk about schoolwork every day.
3. Recognize success.
4. Remind your child that he can.
5. Reward your child with your time.
6. Motivate your child to write more.
7. Catch your child being good.
8. Help your child learn to set long range goals.
9. Help your child learn to break large jobs into smaller, achievable tasks.
10. Show your appreciation.
11. Teach your child positive self-talk.
12. Encourage your child to take part in an after-school activity.
13. Help your child see the progress he or she is making.
14. Encourage your child's creative problem-solving.
15. Keep track of every book your child finishes to motivate reading.
16. Point out role models to your child.
17. Play "Beat the Clock" when your child dawdles.
18. Help your child compete against herself.
19. Teach your child to create positive mental pictures of success.
20. List your child's successes and your own.
21. Listen to the messages you pass on to your child.
22. Teach your child to "save dessert for last."
23. Share your own excitement with your child.
24. Help your child see something he can be proud of – even in defeat.
25. Praise your child.

That list was first published in 1991, but it's held up well. Children will try and succeed when and where they believe in themselves.

visit page

Help Us Keep Kids Safe

4 hours ago

Jefferson County leads the state in school safety citations. According to a recent report by USA Today, there were 8.9 traffic citations involving school or bus safety for every 1,000 drivers over a five year period ending in 2024 here in Jefferson County.

That’s a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand, it means that local law enforcement are prioritizing the safety of our students and staff. But it also means that too many area drivers are committing offenses involving school buses and school zones. Drivers are reminded to wait for school buses with their red lights flashing and to slow down in school zones. Drivers are also asked to slow down and move over when approaching walkers, runners, bikers, construction workers, linemen, and first responders.

visit page

Notice for Employees, Former Employees, and Retirees

4 hours ago

1095 Forms will no longer be mailed.

Individuals who wish to receive a copy of their 1095 can email jorcutt@basd.us or write to Jill Orcutt Brookville Area School District, PO Box 479, Brookville, PA 15825.

Individuals with questions can call Jill Orcutt at 814-849-1126.

visit page

BASD Seeks to Expand Pool of Substitute Teachers

4 hours ago

BASD wishes to expand our pool of enthusiastic people who would like to work as substitute teachers. Did you know that anyone with a Bachelor's degree, regardless of the major, can apply to be a substitute teacher? The District can obtain an emergency permit through the PA Department of Education, which is valid for one school year. Additionally, districts can request a re-issuance of emergency permits for day-to-day substitutes on a yearly basis. Requirements include the following:

Proof of Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
Background clearances
U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien status (green card)

If you are interested, please contact us for more information on the processes and procedures; we can help you. Please contact Judi Anthony at 814-849-8372, Ext. 1119, or by email to: janthony@basd.us.

visit page

U.S. Selective Service Information

4 hours ago

I'm writing to provide information on the U.S. Selective Service System and answer any questions you and your students might have regarding registration requirements.

We would greatly appreciate your assistance with informing your 17/18-year old students the requirement to register and encouraging them to register with the U.S. SSS as soon as possible. Please feel free to refer to our agency's website for more information: http://www.sss.gov.

I'm based in the Pittsburgh area and I would be happy to answer any questions regarding registration requirements as needed. My contact information is in the signature block below.

Thank you for supporting our nation's defense.

Joe Miller

Joseph C. Miller

Major, U.S. Air Force
Detachment PA 1-13
U.S. Selective Service System
PHONE: 412-952-3642
EMAIL: joseph.miller@sss.gov

visit page

Property Tax Relief - Homestead and Farmstead Exclusions

4 hours ago

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 2026 will be mailed out in December. 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 $335. If you had been approved for the 2025 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 2026 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, 2026.

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 814-849-1526 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.

visit page

School Closing/Delay Information

4 hours ago

Brookville Area School District utilizes a number of resources to inform the public of school closings and delays. The following is a list of those resources.

NOTE: Due to the potential for technical difficulties on any given day, it's important to not rely on a single source for school closing/delay information.

School Messenger - The district's mass notification system used to send automated phone calls, text messages, and emails to GUARDIANS and district staff. More information about the SchoolMessenger system can be found HERE.
BASD Website - www.basd.us
BASD Facebook - Facebook.com/BrookvilleSD
BASD Instagram - instagram.com/brookvillesd
Electronic Sign - Located at the main drive entrance to Brookville Jr./Sr. High School on Jenks St.

Updated January 13, 2025

visit page