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Meetings result in positive change at Southeastern Greene

By Angie Oravec 4 min read

A districtwide informational meeting for parents addressed a number of positive changes happening within the Southeastern Greene School District, and district officials urged more parent involvement in their children’s education. Positive changes from electrical upgrades and building improvements to curriculum changes and grants approved to support those programs were discussed.

District Superintendent Dr. Philip Savini Jr. informed numerous parents in attendance that district schools are working to provide to students skills that prepare them for civic life so they can become a professional in the community.

Since the No Child Left Behind Act has geared school districts to go to standard-based programs, the district is continually working to advance their standards, said Savini.

Utilizing not only report card grades and attendance records, but also several software assessment programs allows for immediate information and feedback for teachers to use to assess student performance.

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests are a long-range method to assessing student performance, while software programs such as Homeroom.com, DIBELS and 4Sight are short-term methods, said Savini.

Combining the methods make for a continual assessment program that allows educators to determine where the district needs to improve for the benefit of students.

Teachers are overwhelmed with all the new tools, so with expanding grants and funding sources, the district was able to employ teacher coaches to provide some input into student assessments, he said.

District Curriculum Coordinator Annette Powelko said over $900,000 in 2006-07 grants include a $162,000 Accountability Block Grant that will pay for school tutors to provide for small group instruction in reading and math, a $71,622 tutoring grant for students kindergarten – grade 12 to provide for after-school and summer tutoring for students below proficient in reading and math and a $14,178 grant for a dual enrollment program that permits students to take college classes for credit while in high school.

Powelko stressed that parent involvement in their child’s education is extremely important. Not only should parents attend school social events, but also PTO meetings, visit the schools, help with packing backpacks, create a quiet place for studying, study the student handbook together and talk to students about their homework.

“When parents and teachers work together, the results can be powerful,” said Powelko.

Junior/Senior High School Principal Randy Brooks said the high school schedule has switched to an eight-period day to meet an expanded curriculum.

Greene County Career and Technology Center students, after receiving over two hours of training at the school, will return to the high school to eat lunch and receive four academic classes.

Brooks said vocational-technical school students being able to take classes in, for example, anatomy and physiology was not an option before and is one of the most important parts in changing the education.

“We’re looking at what jobs students can get in the area,” said Brooks, referring to designing the new curriculum. “Health is one that jumps out.”

Brooks said other added courses include analytical reading, adding statistics show the district’s reading ability is not moving up with the state’s and country’s ability.

“It’s evident they (students) don’t like to read. We’re doing everything we can to change that,” he said.

New visual aids in junior high classrooms should increase student interest, while a required reading program in history and English will make reading outside the classroom mandatory.

Each classroom will be equipped with its own reading library and books will be pulled from these shelves for students to read outside the classroom.

Written communications and creative writing are course add-ons in the English department, noted Brooks, while physical education and physical fitness classes will be implemented at the junior high level.

Math scores must improve, he said, noting Principles of Physics is an introductory program to engage students in higher-level math courses. Other courses will involve teaching web design and computer information.

Brooks said not all students are made for college, and we also need skilled laborers such as carpenters and electricians.

That’s why parents’ help to discover where their child’s interests lie and encourage them to do their best on assessment tests is crucial, said Brooks, noting the options for students are endless, including a future in nanotechnology, an emerging program, or in the resurrected mining degree program.

“We need you to decide to put out their best efforts in these diagnostic tests so we can make a realistic assessment,” Brooks told parents. “You’re the most important key in improving education and achievement in students.”

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