Aug 26, 2018 By The 20 min read

Many area students headed back to school last week and more will return in droves Monday as the 2018-19 school year gets underway.

Local school districts are prepared to receive students and greet them with new educational opportunities and experiences.

The following is a glimpse of what students and parents can expect in their respective school districts in the new academic year.

Albert Gallatin

Albert Gallatin will expand its 1:1 computing initiative to its middle schools when classes begin Aug. 27 by issuing a Chromebook laptop to every eighth-grade student.

The initiative to puts a device in the hands of every student will now reach students in grades 8-11, according to Superintendent Chris Pegg. Sets of Chromebooks have also been issued to each of the district’s five elementary schools for teachers to share in the classroom.

A One Button Studio was installed in the high school library in which students can use video recording software to create projects and presentations. Brand new this year, Pegg said, the studio will increase the district’s technology offerings.

At the elementary level, schools are implementing a computer science initiative through nonprofit Code.org to provide coding and programming activities and lessons. Kano coding kits and Dash and Dot programmable robots are available for student use. All elementary school computer labs are equipped with new equipment, Pegg said.

The district has teamed with the Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission to bring positive behavior programming to its elementary schools. “Too Good For Drugs!” will promote students making healthy decisions.

The district will continue to provide free meals to every student through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. This year students will have the option of selecting a free “grab and go” breakfast meal each morning to eat in class in lieu of eating in the cafeteria.

Belle Vernon Area

The new school year starts at Belle Vernon Area School District on Aug. 27. Lunch prices are $2.35 for elementary students and $2.65 for middle/high school students.

Acting Superintendent Dr. Michele Dowell said that starting this year, STEM and BCIT courses have been added to the district’s elementary schools. BVA also is working on improving its positive behavior support programs.

Dowell added that BVA has made improvements to enhance school safety, such as adding doors to the pods area at Marion Elementary School, creating a district-wide safety committee and creating triage teams for each of the district’s buildings. The entire staff will receive first aid training in September. In addition, each classroom will have a safety backpack.

The district has also agreed to hire a school resource officer. Before the position is filled later in 2018, the Rostraver Township Police Department will handle the hiring protocol and oversee training.

Bentworth

Classes start Aug. 28 for the Bentworth School District. The district’s meal prices for the elementary school are $1.25 for breakfast and $2.20 for lunch, while meal prices for the middle and high schools are $1.25 for breakfast and $2.45 for lunch.

Bentworth Superintendent Scott Martin noted that the district has added 300 Chromebook computers and 200 Chromboxes to its buildings to assist with instructional delivery. The district also updated its Wi-Fi system.

Renovations to the high school are nearly complete and will include a new food court, new restrooms, new doors and windows, new media center, renovations to classrooms and a new press box at the athletic field.

The high school also has a new entry system specifically designed to enhance safety. The district continues to have active shooter drills that will be coordinated with Washington County Emergency Services.

Jason Marvin was hired as high school principal and will join the district in October.

Brownsville Area

Classes in Brownsville begin Aug. 27.

For the first time, the district will offer a transitional kindergarten class at its elementary school for up to 20 students who are in need of extra support prior to entering kindergarten. Superintendent Dr. Keith Hartbauer said data from past years suggests Brownsville students are starting school cognitively and socially behind.

Brownsville Area Elementary School has incorporated Pennsylvania’s School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports System to help build a positive culture at the school, said Harbauer. The system maximizes learning by decreasing “off-task” or negative behavior by promoting accountability and sustainability through tiers of services and supports for all students.

In an initiative that includes eight teachers, co-teaching will occur in select high school classes for the first time to increase classroom support and help teachers reach all levels of learners.

Middle school math and high school algebra will move to block scheduling this year, providing students a double period for those subjects. A new math curriculum has been implemented for all grades.

The district has improved mental health access for students by partnering with a local psychiatrist to bring mental health services directly to students. Hartbauer said students, after speaking to a district social worker, will be able to access mental health workers provided by the office of Dr. Geith Shahoud of Grindstone.

All three schools in the district will once again participate in the CEP to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.

California Area

The California Area School District’s school year started on August 22. Prices for meals are: $2.40, full-paid lunch; $.40, reduced lunch; $1.50, full-paid breakfast; $.30, reduced breakfast. The cafeteria will also now offer a farm-to-table program, chef-made omelet bars and a stir fry bar.

Superintendent Michael Sears said that the district has added a new English language arts (ELA) textbook series for grades 6-12. Two new Chromebook carts were purchased for middle school classrooms. These computers will support the newly purchased ELA series and enhance benchmark testing and instruction. Sears added that the K-8 library was renovated into a media center.

Also this year, the district is introducing “Career Cruising” — a program that helps middle and high school students build future career plans by linking school to real life. Students will learn how to connect academic achievement and classroom engagement with career exploration and guidance.

As part of its efforts to improve its mental health services, the district’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) team will work with Washington County to provide screenings and services to students in need. School-based mental health treatment services with a licensed clinician are also now available for students.

To enhance school safety, the district has changed its student dismissal procedures for grades K-6. A parent pick-up car line has been set up to eliminate the need for adults to enter the school building. Students and teachers, grades K-4, will continue to participate in various levels of lock-down procedure drills and monthly drills, including classroom barricades, will be held. An architectural firm is currently completing a district-wide feasibility study for the school district to include recommendations for major security upgrades.

Carmichaels Area

The district starts school Aug. 27.

Fred Morecraft, a 15-year veteran of the district who started as a sixth-grade teacher and became principal of the elementary school three years ago, became the district’s new superintendent July 1. Taking over as elementary school principal is Marc Berry.

New curriculum changes this year include Ready Jam, a language arts resource and reading program for the third-grade students. At the high school, a weighted curriculum has been introduced for certain classes that grades students on a five-point scale instead of the previous 100-point scale, which should boost GPAs and give students a more competitive edge.

Brand new this year are two AP courses — Introduction to Statistics and Anatomy and Human Biology — through which students can earn college credits through Westmoreland County Community College.

Middle and high school students will be able to take advantage of USA Test Prep, an online individualized program that prepares them to take tests in all subject areas and also promotes independent thinking. The district is also implementing a new Career Cruising program for students that will better prepare them to write resumes and make better career decisions.

At the elementary school, a new makerspace is available for robotics, coding, green screen apps and 3-D printing.

Security issues have been strengthened using Raptor, a visitor management software program linked to the state in which visitors scan their I.D. to let the district get feedback on the individual entering the building.

The cost of meals at the school will be $1 for breakfast at the elementary and middle schools, $2 for lunch at the elementary school and $2.20 for lunch at the middle and high schools.

Central Greene

Rebounding from a stressful summer in which she and the school board made critical decisions on teacher furloughs, Superintendent Dr. Helen McCracken is projecting a bright educational future for students in the Central Greene School District when classes get under way Aug. 23.

The district will be adding to the new smART space at the elementary school, which fosters creativity through digital fabrication tools. Funded in part by a $2,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greene County, the district will be able to purchase supplies for the digital fabrication tools as well as makerspace materials.

The district is one of 13 school districts in Pennsylvania to be awarded a grant from Chevron and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, which will also be used to fund the smART space and STEAM initiatives. Additionally, the Greene County Memorial Foundation awarded the district $1,300 for a new AED, which are used to treat cardiac arrest.

With a $6,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation, Margaret Bell Miller Middle School will support healthy eating and physical activity, McCracken said. Technology-based support will connect fitness to academics and provide a way to measure and document success.

Costs of meals at the school will be $1.20 for breakfast, reduced, 30 cents; elementary lunch, $2.15, reduced 40 cents; middle and high school, $2.25, reduced 40 cents.

Charleroi Area

Classes started at Charleroi Area School District on Aug. 23. Lunch prices were set at $2.25 for elementary students and $2.45 for middle/high school students.

According to Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich, Charleroi is introducing aquaponics, a new learning strategy for the science department. Student can learn about aquatic animals and hydroponic plants through direct observation and learning opportunities. Science students will also be using Fader Drones to learn about altitude, auto landing and other aerodynamic functions. In addition, the district has entered into a partnership with “Redefining Success” to bring specific math content geared for students in grades 3-8.

This year, the district has upgraded its technology infrastructure by providing middle school students with Chromebooks as part of a 1:1 technology initiative. The elementary school is also equipped with 300 Chromebooks and all classrooms will have SmartBoards and interactive technology capabilities to enhance 21st century learning.

In addition, the district is finishing a $1.3 million capital improvement project that includes paving the entire campus parking lots and entrance road, infrastructure replacements such as light posts with LED lights and guardrails, safety and security window film for the cafeteria and main entrance windows, high-tech security cameras and state-of-the-art security doors for key entrance areas in the buildings. As part of a partnership with the Charleroi Regional Police Department, the district is also staffing its elementary center with a full-time school resource officer. To create a safer and more inclusive school system, the district has initiated a partnership with SafeSchools to help manage solutions for staff and student training and assist with bully reporting and incident tracking. All staff members will have access to hundreds of online courses covering important safety topics.

Connellsville Area

After two years of acquiring technology for use by students and staff, including a complete 1:1 computing initiative and the installation of several high-tech learning spaces, Interim Superintendent David McDonald said the district has decided to examine its use of that technology.

This year, Connellsville will ensure students are using their devices efficiently in the classroom and that teachers are comfortable incorporating technology effectively within the curriculum to drive learning in the district.

In addition to previous technology investments, the district has purchased Nearpod, an interactive classroom software tool, for teachers in grades K-12 to engage students with interactive lessons, assessments and virtual field trips, said McDonald.

Through the district’s embrace of Google’s G Suite for Education and Chromebooks, the district was recently named a Google for Education Reference District for its demonstration of excellence and leadership through the innovative use of technology to drive impact and positive learning outcomes, a recognition it will strive to uphold, McDonald said.

McDonald said from a security perspective, teachers are reviewing ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) crisis-management training as the district continues to make changes and look at ways to increase security measures in all buildings.

The school year begins Aug. 27. The district will again offer free meals through the CEP.

Frazier

Frazier School District begins the 2018-19 school year Aug. 27.

The district recently purchased 440 new Chromebooks for high school students to use as part of the district’s 1:1 computing initiative that puts a device in the hands of each student in grades 3-12. The new Chromebooks replace old devices at the high school level that have been used since the start of the 1:1 initiative four years ago and are nearing the end of their life cycle, said Superintendent Dr. Bill Henderson.

Utilizing an Innovation Grant obtained through the Intermediate Unit 1, the elementary school has installed a “tinker space” for students to engage in hands-on projects. Students will collaborate to apply solutions to real world problems using Lego Education WeDo 2.0 kits. The space, designed to enhance students’ spatial, fine motor, problem-solving and creativity skills, will also offer a green screen and video center where they can use short film and stop film animation.

Frazier Middle School will offer pre-algebra in seventh-grade, while the high school adds three new courses through the Project Lead the Way curriculum: Principles of Biomedical Science, Aerospace Engineering, and Engineering Design and Development.

New school safety procedures will be in place this year, with all students and visitors subject to security screenings upon entering all buildings. Each day after 9 a.m., one entrance will be used at the elementary/middle school.

Meal prices will remain at $1.35 for breakfast, $2.05 for elementary lunch and $2.45 for secondary lunch.

Jefferson-Morgan

The district starts on Aug. 29 and will welcome Aaron Giorgi to the high school/middle school staff, where he will teach courses in math and chemistry.

Superintendent Joseph Orr said the district will be hiring a new Director of Special Education/District Assistant Principal prior to the beginning of the school year. However, the new programs and special projects are what has Orr excited as the 2018-19 school year is about to begin.

A Project Lead the Way course on Principles of Engineering Design will give students two engineering course opportunities in grades 9-12, Orr said. Students in eighth grade will have a second engineering course — automation and robotics — available as well.

A partnership with Carnegie Mellon University offering computer science at the high school level begins this year with Computer Science Academy being offered to students in grades 9-12. Middle school students will also learn computer science and use “Finch” robots as a component of that course work.

Additionally, he said the elementary school has partnered with Intermediate Unit 1 to provide space for an Early Intervention Classroom for children of the school district area.

This will be the first year the school district begins its partnership with the West Greene School District for participation in its Vocational Agriculture Program and a partnership with the Albert Gallatin Area School District for participation in its JROTC Program.

Lunch prices this year reflect a 10-cent increase. The elementary lunch price is $2.20, while the middle/high school lunch price is $2.30.

Laurel Highlands

Dr. Jesse Wallace said the district’s 1:1 computing initiative is in full force at the high school and will be introduced at the middle school level this year. In its second year, the technology initiative will put a tablet or device in the hands of all students within four years.

The district’s four elementary schools were recently designated “smart schools” by WQED and PBS, who will provide the district with educational resources, including professional development, curricula, instructional practices, tablets and coding programs, among other things. Wallace said the district was one of only four in the nation chosen for the distinction.

Similar to the one installed last year at the high school, a One Button Studio was built in the middle school media center for students to create projects and presentations using video recording software.

Through a grant, Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots will be introduced in the middle school in an effort to promote coding, programming and STEM subjects. The science curriculum at the elementary level has been realigned.

Visitors to district schools will notice an increase security presence, as Laurel Highlands strengthened security district-wide by hiring and stationing armed district police officers at all school buildings to help ensure the safety of students and staff, an effort of which the district is proud, said Wallace.

Student meal prices will remain at $1.10 for breakfast, $2.25 for elementary lunch and $2.50 secondary lunch.

The district begins classes Aug. 27.

Monessen

Classes will start at the Monessen School District on Aug. 27. Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students.

Thanks to a grant from ArcelorMittal, the district is expanding its STEM program to include grades 4-6. Students will learn how to perform various engineering tasks. Grant money will also be used to purchase Chrombook computers for fourth- and fifth-grade students.

The district was awarded two School Safety Grants that will be used to purchase a new identify badge system that will account for employees and visitors. Grant money will also be used to buy additional cameras for the elementary school, security locks for the middle and high school classrooms, protective film for windows in the elementary school and new portable radios.

This year, Monessen School District will offer ALICE training for its students and it will use a School Safety Grant to provide training for teachers about bullying, cyber safety for students, suicide prevention and additional SAP training.

Also, Patty Hallam was hired as director of special education and student services.

Ringgold

Aug. 27 is the first day of classes for students at the Ringgold School District. Students lunch prices will be $2.30.

New Superintendent Megan Marie Van Fossan said the district is equipping its high school teachers with interactive whiteboards and it will now provide Chromebook computers to its seventh- and eighth-grade students. Students in grades 9-12 already are using Chromebooks.

Ringgold has entered an agreement with Blackboard Inc. to upgrade the district’s website and to offer an app that can be downloaded on smart phones and tablets. This app will enable parents to keep updated on school delays and cancellations, open houses and sporting events. Students will also be able to check their grades on the app. More features will be added to the add in the coming years.

Starting this year, teachers will participate in “Professional Learning Time” — an initiative that will allow teachers to share classroom experiences and educational ideas with their colleagues. This will help teachers to customize learning experiences to better meet the needs of their students.

During the 2018-2019 school year, Ringgold hopes to enhance school security by adding door jambs for its buildings.

Southeastern Greene

Southeastern Greene School District is placing an emphasis on technology-based instruction.

Superintendent Rich Pekar said the district will be introducing computer coding in grades 3-12. He said Code Monkey and Code Combat, coding software programs for elementary and secondary school curriculums, respectively, will be available to students this year when classes begin Aug. 27.

Learning to code not only teaches children how to solve problems with information technology but it actually helps nurture creativity, logic, critical thinking and problem solving skills. Pekar noted games also provide real-time feedback, allowing students to adjust their solution path and understand concepts more holistically, instead of being limited to just “correct” or “incorrect” answers.

The district also is planning to purchase IXL software, a cloud-based service provided by IXL Learning, which can be accessed via Android and iOS, and through its web-based interface.

The district also updated the cameras and door alarms.

Southeastern Greene may become eligible for free breakfasts and lunches for all students in the district.

Uniontown Area

Classes will start Aug. 27 at the Uniontown Area School District.

Dan Bosnic, assistant to the superintendent, said the district has partnered with Technology Education and Literacy in Schools, or TEALS, to create a computer science course this year at the high school that will utilize industry professionals in the classroom.

The nationwide program, supported by Microsoft’s philanthropy arm, provides curriculum and pairs high schools with trained computer science professionals from across the technology industry to serve as part-time teachers.

The high school is also adding an Advanced Placement course in Statistics.

At the middle school level, district schools will offer a coding program in computer classes that the district feels will interest student and open them up to potential careers paths, Bosnic said.

The price of student meals are $1.35 for breakfast, $1.95 for elementary lunch and $2.10 for secondary lunch; all prices reflect a 5-cent increase. The district will offer free meals through the CEP to students at Ben Franklin School, Lafayette School and Uniontown Area High School.

West Greene

The district starts school on Aug. 27 and has combined the middle and senior high schools. The elementary school includes grades K-6 while the combined junior and senior schools include grades 7-12. The district implemented the realignment due to declining enrollment and the opportunity to offer more courses for grades 7-12.

The district added two vocational agriculture teachers.

Curriculum changes include expanding STEM education in the middle school and adding small-scale robotics, 3-D printing and Code Monkey — a coding software program, to the elementary school curriculum.

Students can also expect strict adherence to the district attendance due to the state requirement, which will be assessed by the Future Ready Index.

Thanks to a $180,000 grant from Consol Energy, the district was able to hire school resource officer, Jared Edgreen, a former Secret Service agent and Waynesburg native.

The district is now working on securing a second grant to cover equipment needed for the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) drills for active shooter/civilian response training.

The cost of this year’s meal will be $1.10 for breakfast, $2 for elementary student lunches and $2.20 for junior and senior high school students.