BR adds elementary life-skills class
Published: March 10, 2010
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Blue Ridge eighth graders Brett Hepler, Mary Mangel, Kristin Carlson and Cayli Allen presented their anti-bullying efforts to the school board. Anti-bullying group member Lauren Whitney was absent from the photo.
Blue Ridge 5th grade girls’ select chorus, under the direction of Kristin Small, sang for the school board at Monday night’s meeting. From left: Bryanna Shelanskey, Callie Wyatt, Brooke Marvin, Megan Houlihan, Skylar Secord, Isabella Cosmello, Jessie Purdum and Paige MacConnell.
The Blue Ridge School Board discussed the curriculum committee’s recommendation to add a life-skills class to the elementary school for the remainder of the school year.
The class would include early elementary students with intensive needs and require the district to add a special education teacher to the faculty.
Special Education director Mark Fallon said about five students could be placed in the class and the class could also provide part-time support to several other students.
Board President Alan Hall asked how the district would benefit from adding the class.
Fallon said the Intermediate Unit has said the district has not serviced some of the lower level students very well this year.
In the long run, said Fallon, some lower level students will advance and the district should be able to reduce some of the personal care assistants.
Blue Ridge offered a life-skills program until a few years ago but dropped the program when there were no local students in need of the specialized education.
Hall asked if there was a chance the program could be opened back up for students from other districts in the county.
Fallon said Blue Ridge could probably take on a couple of more students from other districts.
Hall said, “No matter what happens we need this position next year.”
“It sounds like something we need to be doing,” concluded Hall.
Superintendent Chris Dyer said, “This is one of our recommendations to the board.”
“We’ve looked at it quite thoroughly,” said Fallon.
Positions necessary for the program will be posted and advertised.
District principals presented an analysis of the 2009 PSSA results.
The principals discussed positive growth trends and inconsistencies shown in grade-to-grade comparisons.
Elementary principal Matthew Button said the alignment of the curriculum, understanding of expectations and professional development have attributed to positive progress in PSSA results.
Button said, “We should see progress moving upward in the next two to three years as the pieces fall into place.”
The board approved a $200 in-kind donation to the Foster Grandparent Program.
The transfer of teacher Laura Irwin from high school learning support to elementary learning support, beginning in the 2010-11 school year was approved.
Affiliation agreements with Mansfield and East Stroudsburg universities were approved.
The board also approved the dual enrollment agreement and memorandum of understanding with Lackawanna College for the 2010-11 school year.
The 2010-11 proposed Intermediate Unit budget was approved by the board.
Board members also passed a resolution urging the state legislature to act on school employee pension reform.
Adam Palmatier, of New Milford, was hired as a personal care aide for the remainder of the school year.
The board also accepted the resignation of personal care aide Debbie Starks, with regret; and the resignation of William VanCott as the junior high track coach, with regret.
Board members Shane Rumage and Joel Whitehead cast dissenting votes against the list of substitutes for the remainder of the school year.
The list was approved in a 7-2 vote. Shane Decker, New Milford; Rhonda Levine, Nicholson; Darci Margets, Great Bend; and Traci Sienko, Great Bend, were added to the substitute list.
Rumage also lodged the lone vote against the approval of the list of names presented for coaching and activity positions.
Positions approved were: Shane Decker, assistant JV baseball coach; Rebekah Harris, scorer/timer; Charlene Kempa, Jr. High track; Joseph Kempa, Head Coach Track & Field; and William Rupakus, Jr. High Track.
