[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5974520,"mediaKeyId","5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318","parentId",5838076,"title","Students and parents press Connellsville school board to reinstate class rank; board says process requires formal motion","audioSeconds",1642,"startMs",2610000,"endMs",4252000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318&start=2610&end=4252","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318/thumbnail_2610000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5974520/Pennsylvania/Students-and-parents-press-Connellsville-school-board-to-reinstate-class-rank-board-says-process-requires-formal-motion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974520-e881e3fbdcdf5bace818e12e239e63a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179439&Signature=HbMIUuDShEPig5vQmwQYnDKWXunPdohp59oSsdmbFC7GAWeIHXae88-MCKG2IFTGqGJl8F9PDYoQs~eaHspyclLhraOy-tuMXOaYEQEt7x-awz6YTgdYk0lIHD026cVgTuZBl4UOLWWsN04dHcpY8ooH~TAec154KKegN5zdVeDkZ8L5xOmYpTGDRFCLusZfyKL8f3o-BhGCw5jrDAvraY7oBlTuTBPpMjx5DvmWZs94MayzP7QYIR5xNJFbXHbUZ66ZO0q3RRDUIygu7Gai4fsijmcVQuLYoMKRXQfjns~92bcA7LSj0KXzh7tpSRAj94DBrUy35PxliNL7AyT~RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Connellsville Area School District","date","2025-09-25T00:00:00Z","article","Dozens of students, parents and community members urged the Connellsville Area School District board on Sept. 16 to restore class rank and the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian recognitions that the board removed in a motion in February 2023.

Students described class rank as an academic and financial tool for college admissions and scholarships. Julian Smith, a student, said class rank “is more than just a number to me. It represents four years of hard work, sacrifice, and determination.” Morgan Nicholson, another student, told the board: “Taking away a reason for students to try is taking away the values I believe our school once had.”

The appeals focused on seniors and juniors who said the 2023 change affected their ability to compete for merit-based scholarships and college admission advantages. Parents and community members echoed the students. Jody Mangus, who identified herself as a parent and local judge, said the decision was unfair to the current junior and senior classes and asked the board to “rectify that for them.”

Board members acknowledged the comments but said reinstating recognition requires formal board action. Board member Renzi explained that the February 2023 motion will stand until the board places a rescission or an amendment on a future agenda and secures the votes to pass it: “Not one of us this evening as an individual can say or make any promises… it takes five of us.” Mrs. Driscoll and other board members said they are open to discussing the issue if it is brought back through the appropriate committee or agenda process.

Superintendent Evans and other administrators described the rationale behind the 2023 change as an effort to recognize more students through Latin honors (summa/magna/cum laude) and high school awards rather than naming only the top two students. Evans told the audience that colleges typically review applicants’ full records—GPA, courses, essays, test scores and recommendations—and that many institutions will consider class rank if provided but do not require it.

No board motion to reinstate or to otherwise alter the February 2023 decision was made at the Sept. 16 meeting. Board members said students may still request class rank for college applications and records, but public recognition at graduation remains governed by the 2023 motion until the board votes to change it. Several board members said they planned to discuss next steps in small committee meetings and that any formal change would need to be placed on a future agenda and carry at least five votes to pass.

What happened next: board leaders invited continued dialogue and indicated administrators would meet with board members and stakeholders to determine whether the matter should be referred to a committee (policy, student services or curriculum) for study and possible agenda placement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting 9/24/25","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of students, parents and community members urged the Connellsville Area School District board on Sept. 16 to restore class rank and the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian recognitions removed by a February 2023 board motion.","taxTitle","Connellsville Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",53777,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5974510,"Connellsville board approves personnel moves, vendor purchases and policy readings; hires JROTC instructor under DoD agreement",830,931000,1761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318&start=931&end=1761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318/thumbnail_931000.jpg","/articles/5974510/Pennsylvania/Connellsville-board-approves-personnel-moves-vendor-purchases-and-policy-readings-hires-JROTC-instructor-under-DoD-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974510-63ba744db120dcab6865f9b652914096/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179439&Signature=HCpQvA2Cj05WGX1w-jwmEYLzyluwWiGpvHn1sHyNan5loSBXJJS6d6EB1uqObYb2et8IQ2BrZh0FccH~VJFX-pXUw4WrMbIGGdIDv4tsyQqRCCLD6X4EJ3-L06GtHeeaM8Pmdx~zhx5UiyHxjn6jeOLhCs3CbhUWsBpiR5dj5KAGv95-EMPzXbMowKWJLQPsUSwPkJz7jQuZ-13pRQTu3gZYKcjmuRsBrvvpa0rl-GCUMZiSHXlM-LTBhT7tMCyMIstRXFRz5gfQ1gt5RlLMgOH3vsCfN5CBWsBodbYDyIURygSVeHgV8UxRpqxU47b5WfucEYlLsE5-uMtpOGnyOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Connellsville Area School District board approved a series of routine and substantive items at its Sept. 16 meeting, including personnel actions, vendor purchases and policy readings.

Personnel and hires: The board approved numerous leaves of absence (medical, childcare and disability leaves) and ratified multiple resignations and retirements presented during the personnel portion of the agenda. The board approved the conditional hire of Colonel David Davis as the district’s JROTC instructor, effective Aug. 19, 2025, for the 2025–26 school year, “in accordance with the agreement with the Department of Defense” and contingent on required credentialing, physical examination, TB test, drug screening, required clearances and compliance with board policy 303 and Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations. Several long‑term and emergency substitute approvals and additions to substitute lists were also approved, contingent on background checks.

Purchases and contracts: The board authorized a purchase of 40 Lenovo laptops from GovConnect at a cost of $30,700; approved adding applicant tracking and staff onboarding modules to the CSIU financial software at a cost of $2,996.25 for 2025–26; and authorized travel requests for multiple staff members to attend professional conferences (Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials and others), with costs specified in individual motions. The board approved agreements with outside providers in special education, including the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit and Penn Highlands Connersville Regional Center for Autism, and approved service contracts with Hoffman Academy for therapeutic learning environment services at a stated per‑day instructional rate.

Policies: The board took a formal vote to approve the second reading of these policies: 11 (principles of governance and leadership); 222 (tobacco and vaping products); 227 (controlled substances and paraphernalia); and 903 (public comment and board meetings). The board also approved first readings of policies 707 (use of school facilities) and 815.1 (use of generative artificial intelligence in education), moving them forward in the review process.

Voting: The motions on these items were presented as moved and seconded and carried by the board. The minutes reflect routine “Aye”/“Opposed” confirmations for the motions; the transcript records the motions passing with “Motion carries,” but the meeting audio did not include recorded roll‑call tallies in the excerpt.

Implementation notes: Several approvals were explicitly contingent on receipt of required documentation (credentialing, background checks, completed contracts), and some travel or software costs were to be covered by particular grants or budgets (for example, Carl Perkins grant funds for career/technical travel and CMS/DHS technical assistance funding for Medicaid‑related travel). No item was tabled or failed during the meeting excerpt.","The Connellsville Area School District board on Sept. 16 approved multiple personnel actions, vendor purchases and policy readings, including hiring Colonel David Davis as the district’s JROTC instructor under a Department of Defense agreement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5974513,"Connellsville food service wins Silver Child Hunger Hero award after first-in-county grab‑and‑go summer meals pilot",160,488000,648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318&start=488&end=648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318/thumbnail_488000.jpg","/articles/5974513/Pennsylvania/Connellsville-food-service-wins-Silver-Child-Hunger-Hero-award-after-first-in-county-grabandgo-summer-meals-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974513-68fae8e283819ad080b0c9ed0fe34ac9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179439&Signature=NLgU4dphcP-FnVnaF8vvQrQEsrYGC6UGGy5WVe9WRrlXm1jGcWqWS5fd~YqFpLKd~0SaVJNolUnTpeHmMhWyYwfzj-uhDakhJbrjHvobhs7VwcD6PP2~ecdiBqKW7c0VZWNMzGvpncFv8q2st6TwmGq5e7gwKIuZN84Co3mVjS3GyCjar-zUwOGcMSDSoq6G5MiJVbZxPxMpKYjXo-I7CrjSF8-DXwf~8IOt8ijfRc6bSBZOOP-TMVjPl1aViyLYk3MvyhqGrH-sS2S~71D73-x76VvsdCsmdNn3Q~33ettYyMQio2nJne~i4PhUVYFb7ESXoF01TiGT1maANcFqwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becky Perrigo, Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator for Fayette County with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, presented a Silver Child Hunger Hero award to Connellsville Area School District food service staff at the Sept. 16 board meeting for the district’s work feeding children during the summer months.

Perrigo said Springfield Elementary served as a drive‑through grab‑and‑go distribution site two days a week and that on its best day more than 250 children received multiple days’ worth of breakfast and lunch. Across four district summer sites, district food staff served a total of 28,419 meals this summer—an increase of 156 meals compared with last year—despite operating two fewer sites than the prior season. Perrigo called it the district’s most successful summer in 11 years.

Perrigo told the board that grab‑and‑go sites are more accessible to families by saving time and transportation costs and that data show such sites in the food bank’s service area serve roughly 300 more meals than congregate locations. She said Connellsville was the first district in Fayette County to apply for and operate a grab‑and‑go site this summer.

Matt (identified in the presentation as a district food service representative) accepted the award on behalf of the staff. Perrigo noted the district previously earned the program’s Silver Award and presented the plaque at the meeting. Board members asked staff to stand so the board could recognize cafeteria workers present in the audience.

No board action was required. Perrigo thanked the district and encouraged continuation of the grab‑and‑go model where appropriate.","Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank recognized Connellsville Area School District for operating the county's first grab‑and‑go summer meal site and serving 28,419 meals across four sites this summer, an increase over last year.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5974516,"CAHS Patriots organizer outlines package shipments, Warriors Rock concert and fundraising needs",471,0,471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318&start=0&end=471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5838076-9e85fe67645accb2d23bba019af59318/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/5974516/Pennsylvania/CAHS-Patriots-organizer-outlines-package-shipments-Warriors-Rock-concert-and-fundraising-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974516-b0d7d1d48cc269a5f1d9354ca17ed790/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179439&Signature=Sv4HTz6EMkTjP7GNHEToAWLxuFcytwoAPTGURpXkIyWPZXck2LU8~u1BSbS8YvTBv2IgeaLjnPABnT-dU5n51Xc-hHuDtcP59lT3gTcFNRiFFOa6pAC55gF6d7jI-nbaYvByJ6GkaXW8l24Fe8jx~mt8lh9OGbbkSm138Q8JbPEu08YlImLb0n6vC6pSVcwLx9PWggsLuzjCYjo4WFLcVZ6dchW~NRedUQqiioqyn4A6vvSQdi0NWxS-sOJvwlcmgDzp2a~PsaPhsEm59FZg4WoJ2wtuOszb1R0Yj~Te9XRY9~UNRzV2FfJtC1L3iJmk197tCFuHd4RMuCGfVMJx9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An organizer for the CAHS Patriots told the Connellsville Area School District board on Sept. 16 that the volunteer group has shipped more than 13,000 care packages to U.S. service members and veterans and is seeking community support for an upcoming Warriors Rock benefit concert.

The speaker, identified at the meeting as an organizer of CAHS Patriots, said the group has shipped 13,137 packages to “some of the harshest places on earth.” She said each package contains roughly $50 worth of merchandise and postage has risen to $23 per box; she calculated that a 100-package holiday shipment requires about $7,300 to prepare and mail.

The group will present Warriors Rock on Nov. 1, an event that will include music and recorded veteran stories. The organizer said the event will include a buffet by Sean’s Smoking Barbecue and encouraged community members to attend. She also described an online memorial the group maintains for local veterans and said CAHS Patriots is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charity.

The organizer recounted that the group was featured in a Fox News documentary, A Christmas Tribute to the Troops, and that the organization has sponsored wreaths at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies near Bridgeville for the last 14 years. She said the group has sponsored “almost 7,100” wreaths and that volunteers also run regular meal programs for local veterans.

No board action was requested or taken. The organizer asked for community attendance at the Nov. 1 concert and noted ongoing fundraising needs to cover shipping and operating costs.","A Connellsville-area volunteer group described its long-running effort to support deployed service members and veterans, detailed shipping costs for care packages and promoted an upcoming Warriors Rock concert fundraiser Nov. 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students and parents press Connellsville school board to reinstate class rank; board says process requires formal motion

Connellsville board approves personnel moves, vendor purchases and policy readings; hires JROTC instructor under DoD agreement

Connellsville food service wins Silver Child Hunger Hero award after first-in-county grab‑and‑go summer meals pilot

CAHS Patriots organizer outlines package shipments, Warriors Rock concert and fundraising needs