The December 8, 2025 meeting of the Seneca School Board lasted 15 minutes.

It was long enough to approve changes to School Volunteer Policy at a second reading. The new policy would employ a more stringent screening process for volunteers coming into the school. Board member Adam Green moved to approve the changes and Charles Clark seconded the motion. It appeared the voice vote in favor of the changes to volunteer policy was unanimous.

Sarah Sime, the district’s director bookkeeper, gave a brief financial report indicating the activity so far for three months into the year, is in sync with the 25-26 budget.

Sime also pointed out an audit report for 24-25 was completed and copies were furnished for the board. She also noted the budget will be filed with the state by December 15.

Seneca District Administrator Alex Osterkamp reported that two boilers supplying heat to the gym failed recently.

BS Refrigeration fixed the problem by replacing the control panel and a switch. Osterkamp told the board the control panel and switch were last serviced in 1996.

Osterkamp told the board the district’s Chevy Traverse van had two struts replaced and the wheels aligned. He said it is running quite well now.

The Seneca Area School District Monthly Recognition Award went to Ica Boylen, for again providing her homemade scarves to the kindergarten and first grade children, and to the Seneca Youth Leadership Group, for creating and distributing the Annual Holiday Gift Baskets.

At the November Seneca School Board Meeting, fourth grade students Clareen Kriel and Jack Heisz put on a robotics demonstration in the hallway.

Kriel and Heisz were part of group of 11 students, who built and programmed a Lego Robot with help of three high school mentors.

In the hall, the students demonstrated the robots ability to work through a maze and navigate through other situations.

Clareen reported building and learning to program the robot was something she really enjoyed.

Jack liked learning how tires work as part of the project.

Amy Mitchell, the 4H Youth Development Agent in Crawford County, said one of the main goals of the project was getting youth interested in robotics. She noted another goal was teaching some coding and building skills, as well learning life skills of working on a project with others.

Mitchell also noted the interest and enthusiasm of the 11 students in seeing the project through to the end.