W&J no longer requires ACT or SAT for entrance

Beginning with the 2010-11 freshman class, Washington & Jefferson students will have the option of including SAT or ACT scores on their application. Find out more about it here.
*Since the story ran, Linda Gayle Allan, Director of Public Relations for the Pittsburgh Technical Institute, contacted me to let me know the school is among the regional institutions that do not require the SAT and ACT scores.

Washington High School senior Isabel D'Angelo will have her play performed on stage in Pittsburgh this week. To find out more, read here.

Newly renovated Burgettstown middle/high school opens to rave reviews

Burgettstown spent $32 million to upgrade the building. Find out more about it here.
If you want to see it, the district will have an open house Sunday at 2 p.m., with self-guided tours until 3:30 p.m.

Peters Township approved early bird contract

Peters Township approved a five-year deal with its teachers this week. They will get a raise and pay more for health insurance. Find out more about it here.

Teens lack jobs despite effort

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The Obama administration’s economic stimulus program to find jobs for thousands of teenagers this summer couldn’t overcome one of the bleakest job markets in more than 60 years that had desperate adults competing for the same kind of work.
Almost one-quarter of the 297,169 youths in the $1.2 billion jobs program didn’t get jobs, as more adults flooded the labor market seeking similar low-wage positions at hamburger stands and community pools, according to an Associated Press review of government data and reports from states.
Congressional auditors warned Wednesday that the government’s plans to measure the success of the federal program are so haphazard that they “may reveal little about what the program achieved.” The new report from the Government Accountability Office also said many government officials, employers and participants believe the program was successful.
“After a decade without a dedicated federal summer jobs program, the effort created opportunities for young people that would have not existed otherwise,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a statement Wednesday. “We have succeeded in our efforts to increase job skills and career readiness for our nation’s youth through this targeted program.”
Vice President Joe Biden described the Workforce Investment Act summer program as a way to keep teens out of trouble and off the streets while reinvigorating the country’s summer youth employment program, which had gone dormant for a decade. But the program didn’t prevent youth unemployment rates from soaring to 18.5 percent in July, the highest rate measured among 16- to 24-year-olds in that month since 1948.
“The summer program was basically half-disaster,” said Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston. “It was too little, too late and too poorly constructed to have any lasting effect on our youngest workers.”
Cameron Hinojosa, 16, went through a two-day stimulus-funded workshop on how to write a resume. But he didn’t end up with a job because the summer program in Fresno County, in the heart of recession-battered central California, had already ended.
“When I went in I was hoping I would get a job and was looking forward to getting that extra money,” said Hinojosa, who had planned to share his earnings with his mother to pay bills for their household of eight. “You get some adults that got laid off from their jobs, so you still have to work against them.”
In Illinois, the GAO said, some local officials didn’t follow eligibility rules. Paperwork was missing from some files in California. Some youths who got jobs through the program had trouble collecting their paychecks, waiting in lines up to four hours in the rain, and sometimes police were called to help with crowd control, the GAO said.
In Pennsylvania and Connecticut, bureaucratic holdups kept some young workers from entering training programs until July, cutting into summer job opportunities, the AP’s review found. In California, which received about 16 percent of all funds nationwide, less than half the participants in all stimulus-funded youth job programs reported getting jobs by the end of July, the most recent month for which state and national youth employment figures are available.
“Things are still totally chaotic with this program,” said Rachel Gragg, federal policy director for The Workforce Alliance, a Washington-based group that advocates for more national job training funds. “In many communities they will tell you that they are still struggling to understand where the money is and where it is coming from.”
Despite the challenges, many states put together strong programs that gave needy teens experience in everything from banking to restoring nature trails, as well as year-round skills training and mentoring support, Gragg said.
Labor Department officials acknowledge they are still working out the kinks, and say even if not all participants got jobs, the program has helped youth build valuable professional skills that will serve them and the national economy.
“We don’t think everybody is perfect, but we think there is a lot of good news coming out of this program,” said Jane Oates, the department’s assistant secretary for employment and training. “If there were mistakes made we’re happy to correct them, because we want to make sure that this program sticks around.”
To qualify for the one-time program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, job-seekers had to be 14 to 24 years old and from families living at or below the poverty line, or meet other income criteria. States were encouraged to use the federal money to create summer jobs, but also could use it in year-round programs for youth.
New York, which has run its own summer employment program for years, was ready to channel those funds to placement specialists from Manhattan to the Catskills, and by August, had hired 24,000 youth, job training officials reported.
Massachusetts officials said they had trouble placing teen job-seekers with private employers, many of whom opted out of the program to hire experienced older workers or young college graduates. Labor officials in other states said such problems were common.
“It’s kind of hard to convince companies to hire teens for summer jobs when they’re laying off their adult workers,” Mary Sarris, who heads the North Shore Workforce Investment Board in Salem, Mass. “This is the worst summer we’ve ever seen.”
In November, California auditors cited a litany of financial problems at the Los Angeles County Department of Community and Senior Services, including overpayments to its director and $1.27 million in questionable costs that the agency still hasn’t fully accounted for.
The agency received nearly $15 million in stimulus funds for youth jobs training this summer. Officials said the director’s salary had been adjusted, other accounting problems corrected and about 5,400 participants found jobs.
“There are so many passthroughs before this program actually turns into money that helps the population it’s intended to help that it’s almost criminal,” said Laura Chick, who was appointed inspector general by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to watch over California’s stimulus funds. “If the local board isn’t watching what they’re doing, even less money is getting to where it’s supposed to go, especially if it is being siphoned off to pay for administrative expenses.”
Once the summer program ends this month, states won’t have to show that teens actually got jobs. The Department of Labor’s only requirement is that graduates be more “workforce ready,” a term all states can measure for themselves.
Ashley Maydon, who was among the nearly 2,660 youth the Fresno County board placed with employers, said she was sorry her $8-per-hour summer job would finish at the end of the month.
“I wish it could last longer, because it’s a good experience and it’s my first job,” said Maydon. “It’s really hard to get a job right now, especially if you’re young.”
© 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Trinity East has confirmed case of swine flu

By Dawn Goodman
Staff Writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
Trinity East Elementary School has one confirmed case of H1N1, or swine, flu, Acting Superintendent R. Tim Marks said Wednesday.
Marks said a letter was sent home Tuesday to Trinity East parents, letting them know about the confirmed case and reminding them what they can to help prevent its spread. The letter was sent only to Trinity East families. Marks said if there is another case, the principal in that school will send a letter to the community.
The third-grade boy will be out of school for five to seven days, until he hasn’t had a fever or taken medicine for 24 hours, Marks said.
Based on the advice of the boy’s pediatrician, the district will treat all flu cases the same, Marks said. That means any student with the flu must remain home until they haven’t had a fever or taken medicine for 24 hours, he said.
Marks said the best prevention is good hygiene, including hand washing and sneezing into your elbow.
He said he also explained in the letter what the district is doing to prevent the spread of the flu.
That includes bringing in a substitute custodian to help the full-time custodians wash desktops and doorknobs on a daily basis. Marks said areas that are touched regularly must be cleaned.
Trinity has installed foam soap in classrooms and bathrooms because students like it better, he said.
The district also placed additional sanitizers around the schools, had preventive training for staff and placed information about H1N1 on the district Web site at www.trinitypride.org.
At the beginning of the school year, Marks also sent a letter home about swine flu prevention.
Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://orbehindthedesk.blogspot.com.

Peters Township reports cases of swine flu

Before long, there will likely be cases in every district. Right now, it's been publicly reported in Ringgold and Peters Township. Ringgold instituted its action plan. Since then, absences have returned to normal, according to Superintendent Gary Hamilton.

Draft of national math and English standards released

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices an the Council of Chief State School officers released the first draft of national standards in math and English Monday.
The standards define the knowledge and skills students should have to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing, academic college courses and in workforce training programs, according to National Governors Association news release.
Those who want to provide feedback must do so by Oct. 21.
To find out more about the proposal, visit here.

Western Pennsylvania teachers strike for second time in past year

SAXONBURG, Pa. (AP) — Teachers at a western Pennsylvania school district have gone on strike for the second time in a year, in a disagreement over wage increases and the length of the school day.
Teachers in the South Butler County School District went on strike Monday. Under state law, they can strike until Oct. 7. State law requires 180 days of instruction.
Last year, the teachers were on strike from Oct. 23 to Nov. 18. The district serves about 2,850 students in the Saxonburg area, some 35 miles north of Pittsburgh.
The teachers want a 4.3 percent wage increase and retention of the current school day. The board wants to increase salaries by 2.03 percent reaching 4.34 percent in 2012-13. It also wants to add 10 minutes to the day.
© 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

California reduces youth sports fees

By Dawn Goodman
Staff writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
California Area School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to waive almost all fees for youth sports organizations to use district athletic facilities.
The only fees they will still have to pay pertain to insurance and security, said Superintendent Linda Mancini.
She said the organizations within the district will not have to pay for utilities this year, either. Because the football stadium is new, the district isn’t sure how much the utilities will cost, Mancini said.
She said the board will revisit whether youth organizations should pay for utilities next year.
The issue came up after the board approved a policy for facilities fees because it was building a new stadium. Under the policy, organizations not affiliated with the district must pay $750 a day for use of the stadium if they don’t sell tickets and $1,000 a day if they do. The policy didn’t preclude youth sports organizations from the fee.
Mancini recently met with parents involved with youth football to explain that it was a misunderstanding.
She talked to surrounding districts about what they charged to outside organizations without asking if they have a separate fee for youth sports. She said when she asked again about youth sports, most said they didn’t charge.
Mancini told the parents at that meeting she thought the board would change the fees for youth sports, an action that took place Wednesday.

Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://orbehindthedesk.blogspot.com.

Canon-Mac evaluates realigning voting districts

The school board directed administrators to collect data - from the election office and U.S. Census - to help determine where the lines should be. It's just the first step in a lengthy process.

U.S. Department of Education announces Blue Ribbon Schools

No Washington or Greene County schools are on the list, but I thought readers might be curious about which schools are there.

9/11 as a lesson, not a memory

The Washington Post recently had a story about teaching students about 9/11 because they were too young to remember the terrorist attacks. Six schools around the country have debuted new curriculum about it. One of the victim's brothers helped create curriculum.

President Obama's Address to Students

There has been some talk about whether schools should have shown Barack Obama's address to school children. In addition to concerns many parents voiced or school officials may have faced,the noon time airing did create a logistical challenge. Washington High School taped the address in full and has planned to air it in its entirety in its social studies classes. Parents have received notification and may opt their child out if they so desire. This should satisfy all involved, as the content has been fully revealed and parents/students can make their informed decision.


Benjamin Marasco

Washington High School students honor 9-11 victims

By Dawn Goodman
Staff Writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
Selbie Jones doesn’t know anyone who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“But I remember what happened on 9-11,” the Washington High School senior said Friday as she placed flags in the ground next to the school in honor of the victims. “I remember how bad people in New York felt.”
On that day, terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. A fourth plane hijacked by terrorists crashed in a Shanksville field.
Placing the flags is out of respect for those who died in the attacks, she said.
“It’s the least we can do as Americans,” Jones said.
She was one of dozens of Washington High students who arrived at 7:15 a.m., before school started, to place the flags.
“It’s a little thing to do, but it supports our country and it lets everyone know the patriotism Wash High has,” said senior Bill Powell.
It’s the second year the student body created the flag honorarium. Last year, senior and student government president Brendan Marasco came up with the idea. This year, his younger brother, Benjamin Marasco, organized it again.
“It’s a great thing to remember them and honor the lives that were lost when terrorists attacked our fellow Americans,” said Benjamin Marasco, the sophomore class president.
The students placed 2,977 miniature flags along Jefferson Avenue, one for each victim and the emergency responders who died trying to save them. Later, the school had a moment of silence and the band played the national anthem.
“It’s amazing to see how much students care about their country and want to honor the lives lost,” Benjamin Marasco said.
Tenth-grader Lindsey McNutt said she missed out on it last year so she wanted to make up for it this year.
“Just to honor 9-11,” she said.

Hands-on learning

By Dawn Goodman
Staff writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
AVELLA – Erin Rice held a spreader over a flame Tuesday, making sure the scientific tool was sterilized before she used it in an experiment.
Then, the eighth-grader spread salmonella over a container. It was the next step in her experiment about natural selection.
“I think it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s interesting to learn new stuff.”
She is one of roughly 70 Avella students using the University of Pittsburgh’s mobile lab while it’s at the school until Tuesday. The lab, paid for by the National Center for Research Resources, is self-contained and allows students to use current, high-end equipment to perform experiments, said Allison Legg, director of outreach programs for the biology department at the University of Pittsburgh.
Avella students were using the lab for an experiment about evolution and natural selection, said Brian DiRienzo, Gene Team coordinator. The Gene Team uses the mobile lab to bridge current research with the high school classroom.
When predator and prey meet, some prey do better than others, DiRienzo said. The students are looking at two kinds of salmonella to determine which would do better against amoebas, he said.
“It’s pretty interesting,” said 10th-grader Troy Midler as he and his science partner, 10th-grader Clayton Rush, injected saline in test tubes before adding salmonella.
What the students find out during their experiments will become part of Pitt research about salmonella, Legg said.
Evy Breitigan, an Avella biology teacher, said she hopes the hands-on lesson helps students realize that science is not something that is dry and only out of a textbook.
“Science is all around these students,” she said.
Legg said Pitt has had an outreach program since the early 1990s. The mobile lab allows Pitt faculty to bring more equipment to schools than what they could pack in their trunks, she said. Use of the mobile lab began in January. Though Breitigan has worked with Pitt to bring science lessons to Avella students for several years, this is the first time the mobile lab is at the school.
The mobile lab will be open to the community from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

Avella students respond to Obama's speech to students

Avella students watched his speech live via videoconference Tuesday. See what they said about his speech here.

Money talks for school districts

There's a range for starting teacher salaries and for maximum teacher salaries in Washington and Greene counties. Find out more about it here.

President Barack Obama speaks to students Tuesday

President Barack Obama spoke to students around the country Tuesday. View the text of his speech here.

AYP, PSSA results

I talked to some of the schools that made Adequate Yearly Progress.
I also talked to some of the schools that didn't.
If you want to see the PSSA results by district and school, go here.
If you want to see the AYP results by district and school, go here.

C-M union votes to make strike possible

A Canon-McMillan teachers’ strike isn’t imminent, but it is possible.
The Canon-McMillan teachers union voted Wednesday night to authorize its bargaining team to “take whatever action they need” to motivate progress on its expired contract.
The contract expired Aug. 15. Canon-McMillan is one of seven Washington and Greene County districts negotiating expired contracts.
Joe Grosso, the union’s lead negotiator, said Thursday evening that the bargaining that started in January has been going slowly. He said the union would like to see a faster pace.
He said he thinks both sides are bargaining in good faith. The next negotiating meeting will be Sept. 10.
The vote doesn’t mean a strike is imminent, he said. However, it gives the bargaining team the authority to call for a strike, or take other steps, if efforts to obtain a fair contract fail. Grosso said the vote is showing confidence in the bargaining team, not asking for a strike.
“We don’t want to strike, we don’t intend to strike, but we need to make progress,” Grosso said.
Grosso said Wednesday’s meeting was not called specifically for contract negotiations. The union’s bylaws call for a meeting at the beginning of the school year.
During the meeting, an update of negotiations was given. Someone from the floor, not a member of the negotiating team, made the motion to authorize the negotiating team to take action if necessary, he said. The vote was unanimous, he said.
David Andrews, the attorney representing the district in the negotiations, said he was surprised by the union’s action, considering that there are two negotiating sessions scheduled in the next two weeks, that the state doesn’t have a budget yet and that the economy in Southwestern Pennsylvania is not doing well.
He said he thinks substantial progress had been made on several issues. Andrews said he thinks the two sides will reach agreement soon.
The talks at the negotiation table have been professional as they work through issues, he said. However, there have been a number of issues to work through, he said.
“It takes time to work through those issues,” Andrews said.
Neither side would say what the issues are.

Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://orbehindthedesk.blogspot.com.

AYP results

Fifty-seven of the 70 Washington and Greene County schools made Adequate Yearly Progress this year. Thirteen did not. Find out what schools have to say about that in Friday's Observer-Reporter.

PSSA, AYP results delayed a few hours

PDE is now saying they will be released at noon.

Pennsylvana Department of Education plans to release PSSA, AYP data Thursday

PDE says the data will be released at 9 a.m., tomorrow, though the time could change. I will post some information about the results here tomorrow and have more details in Friday's Observer-Reporter.

Ringgold enacts swine flu plan because of high number of absences

Ringgold does not have a confirmed case of the swine flu but is enacting its H1N1 plan because of a high number of absences in sixth grade, Superintendent Gary Hamilton said Tuesday.

Backpacks: One size does not fit all

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — The racks of back-to-school items can be overwhelming, but with some expert and parental advice, tackling the sea of backpack choices doesn’t have to be so hard.
First and foremost, not all backpacks are alike. There are many aspects to consider when purchasing one for back to school.
What grade is the student in? “Each student has different needs,” explained Walmart spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman. “The kindergartner does not need the size or the compartments that a junior in high school student does.”
The younger student’s needs are not as great, because there are not as many books or as much homework carried back and forth from school. However, compartments for crayons, markers and art projects may be important to have.
One size does not fit all: Ideally, the bottom of the backpack should align with the curve of the lower back, and not more than 4 inches below the waistline, according to a recent Consumer Reports article. A backpack’s shoulder-strap anchor points should also rest 1 to 2 inches below the top of the shoulders.
Inspect before you invest: Julia Schnett of Leola has learned to thoroughly inspect her purchases, because she has had bags that failed to last the entire school year when she was being frugal.
“This is one instance it is wise to spend some money,” Schnett said. “It will be worth it in the end. The kids use these every day and some use them hard, lugging many books back and forth and through the halls, in some cases.”
Things to look for on the inside and outside of a backpack before you buy, according to Schnett, can include:
—Sloppy stitching or loose threads, which can indicate poor manufacturing.
—Raw, exposed fabric edges, which can fray and weaken the fabric, and possibly get stuck in the zipper.
—Zippers without covering fabric flaps. Zippers that are not protected by flaps of fabric may allow water to seep in.
Comfort, convenience and safety are important: Features to look for include wide, padded, contoured shoulder straps that distribute the pack’s weight over a large area of the shoulder; an abdominal strap, which can help distribute the pack’s weight evenly on the back, waist and hips; and reflectors or reflective fabrics on the pack to add visibility when kids travel to and from school at dusk or dawn.
Bright colors are also very popular this school season, according to Cheeseman.
“The bright colors are also easily identifiable for younger children,” Cheeseman said. “They will know which bag is theirs at just a glance.”
It will also help the parent to identify the child in the school rush.
Prevent injury with a lighter load: To avoid injury, carry no more than 15 percent of your body weight in a backpack, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association.
In May 2002, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported backpack related injuries sent almost 6,000 students each year to emergency rooms. A 2000 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimate states that, when backpacks are used incorrectly, more than 13,260 injuries in children 5 to 18 years old are treated at hospital ERs, doctor’s offices and clinics.
The Division of Orthopedic Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center recommends these simple guidelines to prevent any unnecessary injuries to your child throughout the school year:
—A rolling backpack is a good option if your child has to carry a very heavy load, assuming your child’s school permits their use. But school terrain is much more challenging to negotiate with wheels than your average airport.
—Always encourage your child to use both shoulder straps and make sure the straps are tight — unless it is a bag designed to be used as a sling, or one-shoulder, bag.
Ricky Del Villar, 10, of Lancaster prefers the messenger-style bag that goes over one shoulder. Ricky said it’s more convenient and easier to get off and on.
The compartments in the bag are also a plus for Ricky because, he said, “it’s easier to keep it organized.”
Arrange your child’s supplies and books so the heaviest items are closest to the center of his back and all compartments are used.
It’s also smart, if you can, to wait until after the first day of school to see what the needs of your student will be.
“If his or her locker is at an out-of-the-way place, he may need to carry a lot of books throughout the day,” Schnett said. “This will require a sturdier backpack.”
For older students, another popular school bag is one that doesn’t look like a school bag. Fashion-forward teens are using big, satchel-style bags that make a fashion statement and have compartments so the teen can keep all of his or her school supplies handy.
© 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.