JEFFERSON TWP — The South Butler County School District voted themselves out of existence on Wednesday night — regarding their name, that is.

The board of directors also approved a wellness incentive plan in an attempt to lower the number of substitute teachers needed by the district.

The school board voted 8-1 to change the name of the district to the Knoch School District.

The name change must be approved by the state Legislature, and state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, is assisting the district in the process.

Superintendent David Foley said he has no idea when the move might be approved in Harrisburg, but he hopes to celebrate the name change at the beginning of the next school year.

Board member Debra Miller voted against the move because she has concerns about the resulting cost to the district.

Miller asked Foley to track expenses related to the name change should it be approved by the Legislature.

The school board also discussed and approved a wellness incentive bonus recommended by Foley on Dec. 4.The incentive would pay teachers a $1,000 annual bonus in two payments for not taking any of their 10 allotted sick days.As approved by the unanimous vote, the pilot program would begin in late January and last until the end of the school year.Teachers who do not take sick days during that time would receive $500.The vote also included an increase in pay for substitutes from $90 to $95 per day.Board member Matt Cimbala said he feels the move would save about 100 absentee days per year.“I'm very much in favor of this,” he said. “I'm not in favor of the increase (to $95).”Board member David McRandal said he is in favor of the increase in substitute pay.“If you break it down by the hour, you're asking someone to come in here and educate these kids for $11.25 an hour,” he said of the current rate.Board member Rebecca Boyd pointed out that the district pays an amount equaling 30 percent of the sub pay to Kelly Services, which provides substitutes to the district.Foley said there is not one magic measure to reduce the number of subs necessary each day in the district, but the increased pay and wellness incentive could help.A group of parents came to the board earlier this year to implore it to do something about the lack of subs, as some classes were doubling up.

The board also voted to affirm the appointment last week of Matt Cimbala to serve the remainder of the term of former board member Bob Goodlin, who resigned last week.Board member George Zacherl suggested that the board violated the Sunshine Law in doing so, as appointing Cimbala was not on the agenda at last week's meeting.Cimbala's term on the board ended in November, and he did not run for re-election.At Wednesday's meeting, solicitor Tom Breth said he researched case law regarding appointing school board members.“My legal opinion to the board is there was no definitive violation of the Sunshine Act or school policy,” Breth said.He recommended the board take another vote to reaffirm Cimbala's appointment to the board.The vote was six in favor, Zacherl and Miller dissenting, and Cimbala abstaining.