[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6338699,"mediaKeyId","2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f","parentId",2268813,"title","Board debates proposed shift in school start times; no formal vote taken","audioSeconds",2360,"startMs",8800000,"endMs",11160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f&start=8800&end=11160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f/thumbnail_8800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6338699/Pennsylvania/Board-debates-proposed-shift-in-school-start-times-no-formal-vote-taken","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338699-217f5f1b7f8abc42c9e7d87a6c718cfe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192812&Signature=dLIx5vxkxj0OCcw1A4w39XmlcipsaXXyfUAmfao-R5wwwFk0DlYahfmnpV3NitidrLszKD4iQ3Cc8RMMKfOjXV0JJhd4sc76hhzweAgJQSmhLI8x8Lrd4XyhdyXa99J12CZwLNB8xBmeWeWEc7TRSijLRN4ai8SDiZVIzC75z~MWqLizYDqkECvURZBUr-soewoF~1fiiMZwhiE9DdCzzev1ae0JxUhyRMrzW-qo0nK9bgT5fTmHm9RhGYXasyI3W~uLII84U7DNO3pQAWc78807jzab8peh9jaxhq3bS6nnyGWgGy1IGLDDxz1vjXno6mNrQUZWRfsfYVZA7xlCHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T08:40:20.513Z","article","Superintendent Mister August presented a draft adjustment to start times for the 2025–26 school year that would move secondary start times later in the morning and shift elementary start times to mid-morning. Under the draft, Shippensburg Area High School and the middle school would begin at 8:05 a.m.; elementary schools would begin between 9:05 and 9:15 a.m., depending on the building; the administration included sample schedules with the proposal.

Teacher Sharon Lawrence, science department chair and AP instructor, told the board the plan as drafted would shorten many instructional blocks. “The consequence of cutting 30 minutes out of our day is that the block will have to shorten,” she said, adding that AP class blocks could shrink to about 28–32 minutes in the proposed models and that the change could reduce the district’s ability to align block schedules with Shippensburg University’s dual-enrollment offerings. Lawrence said hands-on science instruction, which the district is implementing under new state science standards, requires longer blocks for experiments and could be harmed by shorter class times.

Superintendent August answered that the proposal was designed to follow sleep-research recommendations for secondary students while remaining within contractual and transportation constraints. He said buildings would still meet state-year-length requirements and that the change would create more planning time for teachers because the teacher workday would not shrink even if some student-contact minutes changed. August said the district performed three community surveys and held a town hall but that earlier surveys showed mixed results; he described the current draft as the least-intrusive option explored.

Board members sharply debated the proposal. Dr. Goats (board member) and Dr. Lyman described national health associations’ recommendations for later secondary start times and said the research supports benefits including improved sleep and academic performance. Other board members and community speakers raised concerns about lost instructional minutes for elementary grades, the logistics of transportation routes and the impact on dual-enrollment and AP scheduling. One board member summarized a quick social-media poll of 189 respondents showing 77% opposition, and another said he had received no community contacts in favor of the change.

Superintendent August said the district is arranging additional outreach and work, including conversations with transportation staff, building administrators and the union; he said the district also will continue to refine building-by-building schedules if the board directs the administration to move forward. No formal board vote was taken on the start-time proposal during the Feb. 10 meeting; the item remained in discussion.

Why this matters: Research groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the CDC have recommended later start times for middle- and high-school students to align with adolescent circadian rhythms. The district’s proposal forces tradeoffs among transportation, collective bargaining, instructional minutes and extracurricular schedules. Board members said implementation would require building-level scheduling changes and coordination with the career-technical center, Shippensburg University dual-enrollment courses and extracurricular schedules.

Next steps: The superintendent said the administration will continue building-level schedule development, work with transportation and seek additional stakeholder input; the board did not vote on the proposal on Feb. 10.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shippensburg Area School District, February 10, 2025 School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Mister August presented a draft start-time schedule on Feb. 10 that would push secondary schools to later start times and elementary schools to mid-morning; the board discussed logistics and academic impacts but took no vote.","taxTitle","Shippensburg Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38807,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6338704,"Shippensburg presenters outline triennial review of school wellness policy; staff wellness committee launches \"Healthy Hounds\"",595,603000,1198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f&start=603&end=1198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f/thumbnail_603000.jpg","/articles/6338704/Pennsylvania/Shippensburg-presenters-outline-triennial-review-of-school-wellness-policy-staff-wellness-committee-launches-Healthy-Hounds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338704-14576338099e10bf3cf311439eda634f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192812&Signature=Qp1FsiYUa0YkJiY~RjVlTt3rEKbG8E8k3gqLTmLTB4lJg83aqJbfMSKmFCt88fzBt~J6bQq7aO3Hx3sd1j6Wrsu0TiURtFxwRd8ZQzBYBOcyjl1ZQE4bZA7T9ymggxPIC45dTb7AOpoqbv-yHPCOTroLWmSmMDvyBd0cXmVhd3f-CF70U3X3BUen02LvIjTKmMgFcpIk5O2Wz-NVqfmtHdz501hpdiH43utBZrNt-fzWbXABW0g7YwONtFe1hds7bgs3LsIeR6hhMEmdAoJXbmq37xm42S~csahz9yCRMWPBT3vWvxTUFB729TQ7-yDm0GM0LdGLZNCWUk1DK5Qq6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Missus DeLong, a district staff member, told the Shippensburg Area School District board on Feb. 10 that the district has reconvened a wellness committee to carry out the required triennial review of School Wellness Policy 2-46.

The district formed a reconstituted committee in April 2024 and adopted the name Healthy Hounds. “We are a peer group of dedicated employees committed to educating and promoting healthy, happy and safe lifestyles for our Shippensburg community,” DeLong read from the group’s mission statement during the Committee of the Whole presentation.

The committee used the Pennsylvania Department of Education assessment tool on Jan. 21, 2025, and identified goals across seven policy domains: public involvement/notification/assessment; nutrition education; nutrition promotion; physical activity; physical education; other school-based wellness activities; and nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold on school property. DeLong said the committee planned an action-planning meeting during the district’s upcoming “unconference.”

Key goals the committee proposed include more communication to families through announcements and newsletters; training for all staff on the wellness policy and ways to integrate health into curriculum; sharing a list of healthier snack options from Chartwells, the district’s food services provider; pursuing daily age-appropriate opportunities for students to accumulate 60 minutes of physical activity as recommended by the CDC; forming a student food advisory group for menu feedback; and educating booster clubs and PTOs about federal nutrition rules for concessions and fundraisers.

DeLong described recent pilot activities the group organized for staff and students. The district offered a half-day of staff wellness activities in June 2024 and ran a winter wellness “bingo” in January 2025 that drew 83 staff participants; prizes include gift cards, a three-month Planet Fitness membership and a free personal day. DeLong credited a $2,500 “Live Healthy” grant from Capital Blue Cross and local support from Sue Fink and the Greyhound Foundation for funding outdoor play equipment used at the middle school.

Board members and public speakers asked clarifying questions during the presentation. One board member asked whether mental health was covered by Policy 2-46; DeLong answered that mental health is included broadly under wellness but that there is no single separate mental-health policy and that related items appear across other policies and building-level programs. In response to a public comment about energy drinks being sold at the high school, DeLong said the products meet federal school-lunch program standards but that she and food-services staff are discussing removal. “Getting rid of those is not out of the question,” she said.

The committee signaled plans to post the new assessment and implementation goals on the district website and to accept new participants. DeLong said the larger district wellness committee will meet again before the end of the year to review progress.

Why this matters: School wellness policies direct nutrition and physical-activity programming for students and shape what food is sold and served on campus. The committee’s stated goals touch on family communication, staff training, student activity and nutrition, and the district has adopted specific, short-term activities — from staff wellness events to a student food advisory — intended to improve implementation.

The district did not take a formal vote on the policy today; DeLong presented the triennial assessment and recommended goals for implementation and public posting.","District staff launched a reconstituted wellness committee, the Healthy Hounds, and presented goals from a triennial review of Policy 2-46, including more family communication, staff training and student physical-activity targets. A district grant funded outdoor play equipment and staff wellness events.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6338690,"Parent urges immediate district action on online predation after son’s death; superintendent schedules FBI outreach for parents and staff",1377,10688000,12065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f&start=10688&end=12065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f/thumbnail_10688000.jpg","/articles/6338690/Pennsylvania/Parent-urges-immediate-district-action-on-online-predation-after-sons-death-superintendent-schedules-FBI-outreach-for-parents-and-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338690-84ba838a72ff61cbfa5778e92141eb9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192812&Signature=adNMGJm4gYAtynkf32G3S78NPE1eguNNdoDb4TFLjarmq5AcidJ3ay3a0xuKZUzEhyZPU5snZqGmPGiasVmUiW-LhcM7Zsu-DQRI4VTycM3acbXZjXVWkTsAd0H8aSNQaToTvFpkBzIY1K25XchhiaJxhDgOhLLGF35DYYIrW37QzFUM~jKAEoy~h~O7fKL1F4ohKgymFBlzaXuPvPMl3vPwi2ew25974WcuLB52MzAu8xwSArUlNKT8cyI6p2NefbIu677fKX5wAdvNDrj4AUl5j~PFhB3wl9dxLjyP5NbY02RaGO98sbljWyJg8jlXxlQ-rOBt0HlrLjiSj115dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tricia McCheskey, a Shippensburg Township parent, delivered an emotional public comment at the Feb. 10 board meeting asking the district to take immediate action to educate parents, faculty and students about online predation, sextortion and related threats. McCheskey said her son, a 13-year-old middle-school student, was “preyed upon, blackmailed, and extorted” and later died; she described the dangers of social and gaming apps and urged the board to provide training for staff and immediate, age-appropriate education for students and families.

“My son was the victim of a crime,” McCheskey said. “He did not do anything wrong. He was preyed upon, blackmailed, and extorted. He was a child.” She called for urgent, concrete education and said optional sessions next year are insufficient: “Optional sessions for your staff and talking with students next year is not okay.”

Superintendent Mister August responded that the district’s administrative team had met with the FBI in January to discuss online sexual exploitation and that the FBI will provide sessions at multiple levels. August said the FBI will return for staff sessions and will hold an evening event for parents on March 18, with additional training planned for the district faculty in June. He invited McCheskey to participate in those events.

Several board members and community members echoed calls for an ad hoc mental-health committee and for increased counseling capacity and student supports. A board member summarized feedback from students and recommended more frequent, face-to-face check-ins and mentor/peer-support ideas; other board members highlighted the district’s role in convening resources and the need to prioritize counselor access.

Why this matters: McCheskey’s testimony described a criminal incident involving a student and called for immediate, districtwide prevention and awareness work. District and law-enforcement partnerships, including FBI briefings, are typical precursors to community training; the superintendent announced specific upcoming parent and staff training dates.","A Shippensburg parent urged the board to prioritize education and prevention on online predation and sextortion following her son's homicide; the superintendent said the district has worked with the FBI and scheduled parent and staff sessions this spring.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6338694,"Board approves branding guide and audited financials, amends committee restructure; several items sent to policy committee for revision",1930,6543000,8473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f&start=6543&end=8473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2268813-1320a0bdf1bb09a98c5cff754778026f/thumbnail_6543000.jpg","/articles/6338694/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-branding-guide-and-audited-financials-amends-committee-restructure-several-items-sent-to-policy-committee-for-revision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338694-970257f6b6617889efbde2bb4a045437/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192812&Signature=WCgERjkFiKOqs1Qrq-oueHHZq-EGRVQuRx4Ca5e9EPHVZtZ24my6~6FchZWNg1Z6H4xQkSEv5v-I6oyouqpXJ8OJevaqSSVlV2bIwrJAUQNKky284oXrfEB9Cq4q5Y7crJ-HJ6lZMDvmvZhv~RBaD4eZ8-IYNIC1TixjF1nmXJVPgF6g1t1u9unuNON9hoG9OkMX5v6wA~T9bbRzP-h1S0inOYE0pEyw2jgeGWqndn5ZYqSNB0vd5jvwmXfZLrjv3tDz3y7CnTLYNljHPoAPrZ-UYHdKN-JywLM~vGmUO4P6XtGQfm6JHwCoa0tB-WoMr0YkD5Co9bqjgHWjQLvUVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shippensburg Area School District board voted on several administrative items during its Feb. 10 meeting, approving a suite of routine items and advancing a restructure of board committees for further revision.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval as amended: The board approved the agenda change (item 4f6) to revise an effective date for an employee action. Motionmaker: Mr. Bard; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Consent agenda (items 4a–4f): The board approved minutes, bills/payments and routine financial reports, field-trip requests, a revised 2024–25 calendar that adjusts dates after snow days, the 2025–26 senior high program of studies and personnel items including retirements and resignations. Motionmaker: Mr. Carey; second: Mr. Scott; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- District branding guide (item 5a): The board adopted an updated district branding guide and updated logos, a package that the administration said will be phased into district materials. Motionmaker: Dr. Lyman; second: Mr. Donovan; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- 2023–24 local audited financial statements (item 5b): The board approved the district’s local audited financial statements for fiscal year 2023–24. Motionmaker: Mr. Scott; second: Mr. Carey; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Committee restructure (item 5c)

The administration proposed a reorganization of standing and ad hoc committees and advertised meeting times. During debate board members amended the proposal to remove a specific posted time for the Facilities & Safety committee. Dr. Goats moved the amendment; the amendment passed on roll call, 7–1 (Mr. Scott voted no). The board then voted to send the committee-restructure document to the policy committee for additional revision; that motion passed on roll call, 6–2 (Mr. Scott and Mr. Donovan voted no).

What the administration said: The committee-restructure plan would set standing committee responsibility for facilities/safety and budget/finance and identify special/ad hoc committees and the Committee of the Whole’s role for policy work. Administration said advertised meeting times could be refined and that policy language (policy 005) would be updated to reflect the changes.

Why this matters: Committee structure determines how board work is partitioned, how committee meetings are publicly posted under Sunshine rules, and how the board assigns topics for detailed review versus Committee-of-the-Whole discussion. Several board members asked for clearer language and suggested the policy committee prepare a revised draft.

Other board business: The board also heard routine reports on curriculum and curriculum-development work, teacher professional development (LETRS training), enrollment figures and donation reports. The board accepted a retirement announcement for Denise Simmers, a middle-school art teacher.

Each of the above motions and roll-call results were recorded on the meeting record.","At its Feb. 10 meeting the Shippensburg Area School District board approved the district branding guide, the 2023–24 audited financial statements and multiple consent items, and amended a proposed committee-restructure plan. The board voted to send the committee-restructure document to the policy committee for revision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board debates proposed shift in school start times; no formal vote taken

Shippensburg presenters outline triennial review of school wellness policy; staff wellness committee launches "Healthy Hounds"

Parent urges immediate district action on online predation after son’s death; superintendent schedules FBI outreach for parents and staff

Board approves branding guide and audited financials, amends committee restructure; several items sent to policy committee for revision