Southeastern Greene to have eight-period school day
Students in the Southeastern Greene School District will return to school to see several new faces and take part in an eight-period school day after the board approved the moves at a recent meeting. District Superintendent Dr. Philip Savini Jr. said the eight-period day will allow students attending the Greene County Career and Technology Center to take the classes they need, including math and reading training.
Savini said vocational-technical students will attend reading and math classes at the high school in the afternoon and the vo-tech school in the morning.
Savini previously said students weren’t receiving a full period of learning their level of math at the school because numerous math courses were being taught during one class period.
The goal of more math and reading training is to improve students’ Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores, Savini said.
In another move aimed toward improving PSSA scores, the board is considering making an after-school tutoring program mandatory for students who are failing classes or scoring below proficient on PSSA tests, said Savini.
According to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, students must be 100 percent proficient in reading and math by 2014.
Under teaching positions, the board hired the following: Gwen Yoney and Tonya Cottrell as high school math teachers; Nicole Welsh as a chemistry/physics teacher; Amber Messer as earth and space science teacher; Jeremy Reed as a social studies teacher; and Rose Palya as an elementary teacher.
Salaries will start at $32,000, Step 1, a bachelor’s degree level. The positions were vacant because of retirements, said Savini.
In other business, the board scheduled an information meeting for parents on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.
Parents will learn about changes occurring in the district, including those in curriculum and personnel. Also presented will be an update on the high school and elementary school renovation project, Savini said.
The renovation project includes completing electric and wiring at the schools and final installation of a new network to allow for better computer operations and for software programs to run up to speed.
Savini said, “Because the wiring was old, computers were shutting down or running slowly. These upgrades will give us full access to all software programs at one time and allow us to utilize web-based programs.”
The updates are expected to be complete shortly before school starts.
The board also:
– Created a Tax Study Commission, as required by state law. The district is seeking volunteers to serve on the commission.
Volunteers will study the district’s current tax structure and make a recommendation to the board on which form of property tax relief should be placed on a voter referendum during the May primary election: an increase in earned income tax or a changeover to a personal income tax.
People interested in serving on the commission can call Savini at 724-943-3630.
– Announced the regular meeting was continued until Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. The board may hire a home economics teacher at that meeting.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.