Nov 19, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 2 min read

JEFFERSON – A reading grant could bring the Jefferson-Morgan School District as much as $780,000 over the next six years and could help students in grades K-3 improve their reading skills, Superintendent Dr. Charles Rembold said Monday. Rembold spoke about the Reading First grant, offered by the state Department of Education, during the school board’s planning session prior to directors’ approval at the regular meeting of his submitting the grant application for review.

He said if the district is successful in obtaining the grant, the first-year funds would go toward the purchase of new reading textbooks and supplemental materials, two personnel positions, staff training and student assessment.

One hundred schools in the state are eligible for the funds, Rembold said, and several staff members would be required to attend a three-day conference in Harrisburg if the district receives the funds.

A new program would be used in the elementary school to work closely with students who are having problems reading and would use a system of assistance and intervention to ensure that all students are reading at proficient levels, he said.

The district should know by the end of this week whether they will receive any grant funds, Rembold said.

In other matters, the district approved the excavation of an area in front of the existing Central facility to prepare a practice football field.

Rembold said the project, not to exceed $6,000, will level the site and prepare it for re-seeding before the coldest temperatures of the year so that grass can grow next spring in time for practices.

“We’re going to see if we can rent a dozer and get the operator donated,” Rembold said.

Also with Central, director Mark Pochron inquired whether the district should explore filing an appeal of the assessed value in 2003 of the facility, currently listed at $430,000.

Pochron asked that the buildings and grounds committee review the idea for next year, noting that the countywide reassessment was officially completed last week, thereby ending any chance for an appeal this year.

“I think it is pretty bad taking $430,000 off the tax rolls,” Pochron said.

Directors also conducted the following business:

– Approved the 2002-2003 yearly goals and objectives for business manager Michael Conte.

– Approved Admission of Foreign Language Student Guidelines for the district.

– Set Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. as the time for the board’s reorganization meeting, with the planning and legislative meetings to immediately follow.