HEGINS - Tri-Valley school board heard from two concerned parents in the Tri-Valley School District at the board meeting April 9 on different matters.
Jenny Wehry attended with her husband, Randy, to voice feedback concerning the recent discussion of the no nits policy at Tri-Valley.
"We recently moved back to the area and one thing we were happy about is that Tri-Valley does have a no nits policy in place," Jenny Wehry said. "The district we relocated from didn't have the policy and there were many problems."
Wehry said she spoke to her own pediatrician and other school nurses outside of the Tri-Valley School District in regards to a local doctor who left it known via a letter to the editor in the local paper that she felt the policy wasn't necessary. The pediatrician and nurses she spoke to all felt the policy was good and should be in place.
"As parents, guardians and caregivers, we want to do what's best for our kids," Wehry said. "I feel the policy is very important, and I believe children should be checked for nits and lice in the beginning of the school year as well as all new students coming into the district."
Mark Dietrich, also a parent of students in the district, addressed the board because he is concerned that Tri-Valley is not offering its students the best possible opportunities to prepare for success in college and the work place. He stated his reasons as follows:
- Tri-Valley offers only one advanced placement course, and there are no opportunities for college credit in the classroom.
- SAT/ACT preparation programs do not exist.
- The state Department of Education rates Tri-Valley High School at the poorest levels in these two important areas: SAT/ACT college-ready benchmark and AP, international baccalaureante diploma or college credit.
- Tri-Valley SAT scores for 2013 were only average as compared to other Pennsylvania schools. Administrators and teachers described the Class of 2013 as the best and brightest in recent memory, so these test scores are disappointing.
- Employers look for the unique problem solving, cognitive and hands-on skills that come only from technology courses (traditionally courses such as woodshop, metalshop and drafting). Tri-Valley does not offer sequential instruction in these key areas.
"Tri-Valley is a small school district with limited cash, and it's easy to use these challenges as excuses for mediocrity. But I think it's time to focus on our strengths - to be optimistic and proactive. Yes, we're small and cash-strapped, but we really do have many of the most important resources necessary to strengthen our educational programs, starting right now," Dietrich said.
He added, "Students attend our schools for a relatively short period of their lives. Each day spent waiting passively for a new governor or for a better budget or for some sort of change in leadership, equates to lost opportunities for students. Now is the time to invest our very real assets in meaningful change, and now is the time to send a clear message that you will not accept being at or below average at anything. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these ideas with you."
The board of directors thanked Dietrich for his comments. In other district business,
- The board approved a school lunch price increase for the 2014-15 school year that takes into account the requirements of the 2011 Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act. The new prices will be elementary, $2.30; high school, $2.55; adult lunch, $3.60; breakfast elementary and secondary, $1.15; and milk will remain the same at 55 cents.
- Although the district experienced another school closing day, the school year will not be extended, however, an additional in-service day will be held June 11 for teachers. The previous October 14, 2013, teacher in-service day has been changed to an Act 80 day. The last day for students will remain June 6.
- Staff changes were made. Effective at the end of the 2013-14 school year, Robert Felty Jr. has resigned as varsity girls' basketball coach. The board appointed Ricky Otto as junior high girls' basketball coach for the 2014-15 school year at a salary of $2,150.