Jul 7, 2009 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Summer vacation for Connellsville Area School District students will not extend into the second week of September, but instead end Aug. 31, according to a revised school calendar the board will likely approve at its Thursday meeting. The later start date for the 2009-10 school year was approved several months ago when it was anticipated the district would close schools and realign grade levels, giving maintenance, teaching staff and administrators ample time to adjust to the changes. However, the plans were nixed after Democratic and Republican nominees for school board positions, along with two current board members, asked a Fayette County Court of Common Pleas judge to halt the reconfiguration of the elementary and secondary programs that would implement a kindergarten through grade four elementary program, grade five and six intermediate program, grade seven and eight junior high school program and a grade nine through 12 secondary program.

The realignment-only plan was a compromise after four of the five consolidation supporters did not garner party nominations in the primary election.

The board opted to maintain the current kindergarten through grade six elementary program, grade seven through nine junior high program and grade 10 through 12 high school program before the judge ruled in the matter.

District Superintendent David Goodin said Monday following the agenda-setting meeting that the additional week would not be needed to implement any changes.

“We’ll go back to the original schedule,” he said.

Teachers will report Aug. 27 for in-service.

In other matters, the board also learned that the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center project is “moving along,” according to the project manager John Pappas of Eckles Construction Services Inc.

“Now that the students and staff are out of the building, the contractors are able to work throughout the entire building on all phases of the project,” he said. “The main focus during June was demolition in the existing front classroom wing, lobby and administrative offices.”

Pappas said that work would continue in the area and dining room and kitchen throughout July.

He also advised the board that revisions to the initial plan are being considered to accommodate an additional classroom and planning center.

Cost changes, Pappas added, are now being reviewed by contractors and the architectural firm and will be presented at the August meeting for board approval.

The $15.3 million project is to be completed in December.

The board is also likely to take action in the following matters at Thursday’s regular meeting:

– Approve the attendance of Jennie Becker, Dawn Shultz, Sara Rider and Karen Sanzone at an “Improving PSSA Scores” July 21 workshop at Duquesne University with all costs to be paid for through federal funds.

– Authorize a three-day student workshop at the senior high school to acclimate incoming sophomores to the building and course requirements. The workshop is scheduled for July 22-24.

– Reassign Dr. Tammy Stern as the director of curriculum for elementary and secondary programs and Ronald Keefer as the director of federal programs and technology. Stern, who also served as the high school principal, and Keefer shared the curriculum duties following the resignation of Dr. Philip Savini.

Keefer formerly oversaw the federal and technology programs. Goodin indicated that the high school principal position would be posted and likely filled at the August board meeting.