Pleasant Valley School District's superintendent Carole Geary received a certificate from The College Board announcing that the district earned the award of being on its fifth annual AP District Honor Roll.

"PV is one of 547 school districts in the nation and Canada to receive this award, putting us in the top 4 percent of all 13,588 school districts in the country. It shows we have increased our participation, increased our scores and increased underrepresented population. I'd like to present this to Kenneth Newman, our assistant to the superintendent," Geary said.Newman accepted the award but added that high school Principal John Gress played a huge role in earning the award by getting the teachers and students motivated to achieving the scores.Geary announced that The Growing Place will be renting seven rooms at the former Polk Elementary School, and the former operations facility, (the old Scotty's Fashions) now housed at Pleasant Valley Intermediate School, will be put up for sale.Geary said the teachers recently raised $969.10 which they donated to Operation: Touch of Home.The board approved, 8-0 (director Steve Borger was absent) to hire:• Kelly Collins, to continue to substitute as a health room technician through Jan. 22.• Katie Monahan to continue in the position of long-term substitute teacher through Feb. 25.• Lidia Osman, substitute food service employee/custodian.• Joy Rungo, paraprofessional associate, part-time, PVHS, $10,165.50 prorated.• Jill Skinner, paraprofessional associate, part-time, PVE, $10,165.50 prorated.• Joann Gantt, monitor, PVI at $8.92/hour.• Kelli Conway Busch, substitute paraprofessional associate/paraprofessional associate-library; Kelsey McGarvey, substitute professional associate.The board unanimously voted:• To accept the resignations of Deena Boyne, paraprofessional associate, part-time, effective Jan. 5; Michelle Marino, paraprofessional associate, part-time, effective Jan. 16; Elizabeth Drinkwater, monitor, effective Jan. 9.• To accept the letter of retirement from Gary Eckley, substitute custodian, effective Dec. 31, 2014.• To approve a sabbatical leave of absence for Jenny Laubscher, effective the second semester of the 2014-2015 school year.• To approve an affiliation agreement with Lincoln Technical Institute to define roles and responsibilities in the planning and implementation of the work-study experience for students in the field of education.• To approve a contract with Kenmark Scenic Backdrops for the high school musical drama club at $1,094.• To deny a request for reimbursement of a penalty paid for property for the 2014 school taxes.Susan Famularo, district business manager, said the 2015-2016 preliminary budget is slated for discussion at the Feb. 9 finance committee meeting.