Trinity residents advise school district consultant

By Dawn Goodman
Staff Writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
About 70 people attended a meeting Thursday to talk to a consultant about how improve the Trinity Area School District.
Consultant Jim Manley described it as a positive discussion and said that the audience had a lot of good suggestions and dialogue during the two-hour meeting.
He said parents brought up the need to have a vision for Trinity’s future and to make sure that every one is working toward that vision.
Parents had a variety of questions, ranging from students being stimulated intellectually to creating orderly and caring school environments to high school reform.
Manley it was a discussion about the kindergarten through 12th grade system.
“It was great to see that kind of turnout,” he said. “It was almost like a symposium on education.”
He’s already visited all Trinity elementary schools and will spend time at the middle school and high school over the next two weeks.
He spoke with teacher leaders, administrators and parents while visiting each elementary school. Manley will do the same at the middle and high school. He is also asking for middle and high school student input.
The board hired Manley to come up with suggestions for improving the district. He plans to have recommendations for the board in early March.
Manley said he will establish four or five priorities the district can complete in 2010 and will give specifics about how those priorities can be implemented.
He said concerned citizens who couldn’t attend Thursday night’s meeting can contact him with questions or concerns at jcmanley@consolidated.net. They can also call the district administration office at 724-223-2000 to get in touch with him.

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Trinity consultant explains how he will review district

A consultant is reviewing Trinity School District operations and plans to report his findings to the board and community in February.
In December, the school board hired James Manley, who worked in education for almost 42 years, most recently as superintendent Pine-Richland School District, to review curriculum and other areas of the district.
Manley gave a presentation at Thursday’s school board meeting, detailing exactly what he wants to review and how he will do it.
He said he’s looking for ways to enhance student achievement. His report will explain what Trinity does well and how the district can improve.
Manley said he will review a number of areas, including leadership, governance, vision, core values, curriculum, instruction, technology education, school climate, whether the school is conducive to learning, accountability and use of data.
He is spending Tuesdays and Thursdays in the district and will spend time at each school. He will talk with principals, go in classrooms and talk with teachers and parents. Manley plans to meet with parents and students in the evening for those who don’t have time to meet with him during the day.
He also hopes to include middle and high school students in the discussions.