Principals Outline Their Yearly Goals

Principals for each of Chartiers Valley’s four schools laid out their education goals for the year and how it relates to the district’s new strategic plan.

The principals presented their objectives and the obstacles they face this year during Tuesday night’s school board workshop meeting.

Superintendent Brian White praised their efforts and the work of the faculty to implement the strategic plans in just under a year. He thanked the staff and faculty for overcoming problems associated with the new changes.

“(It was) a lot of planning, a lot of work and a lot of detailed planning,” White said.

Principal Ronald Yasher and Assistant Principal Julie Hopp told the board about the Olweus Bully Prevention program they are implementing. The program includes weekly classroom meetings with students to discuss problems, a list of school rules against bullying and a COLT pledge that students will recite.

The Response to Instruction and Intervention, or RTII, offers initiatives that target groups of students depending on their classroom performance. Some students who need more help will receive focused help, the principals said. The school is breaking data down to the classroom and individual levels to target and fix problems.

Principal Leslie Fields told the school board they are looking at specific areas to improve by using a “3D approach” of Data, Diagnose and Deliver. The system moves children ahead when they master certain subjects, although Fields said they are trying to learn better ways to implement that approach to improve reading.

She and Assistant Principal Marc Hubert are also trying to advance the arts by utilizing the school district’s new website and making it easier for parents to find activities that will interest their children. They are also trying to get more parents involved in volunteer work through the Math Club and school library.

Principal John Ackermann said the use of data has been key for teachers as they set up a lesson plan to help their students. He and Assistant Principal Patrick Myers said they are asking for feedback from teachers to target what approach is needed for individual students, even those who are overachieving.

Co-principals Amy Wodnicki and Thomas Samosky said the new project-based learning initiative with each student and teacher receiving a laptop computer has been an improvement for education. Advanced Placement classes and testing is also something that is being encouraged by the faculty. However, Samosky said the staff and school board might need to have serious discussions about overhauling and improving the high school curriculum.

Another key component is an anti-bullying effort that solicited information from the students about where and when there are the biggest problems. Samosky said they were surprised to learn much of the bullying happens in the classroom, which will help the teachers know what behavior to expect in the future.

Also during the meeting…

The school board will consider applying for grant money to purchase solar panels. David Jason of Green Roads Energy told the board that the grant application must be in by Oct. 31, and that the $10 million in funds would be awarded in January. Jason, who is also a Scott Township commissioner, said that his company would write the application and submit it without payment, although the school district must pay the $100 application fee. Even if it was awarded grant money, Jason said the school district is not obligated to use the funds. The board will vote on the matter at its next meeting on Sept. 27.