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Southern York County School District honors board members, remembers longtime director and outlines school updates
Summary
The Southern York County School District on a January meeting recognized school board directors with book donations and student readings, mourned the death of longtime director Ron Gronke, and heard superintendent Dr. Recker provide updates on building projects, student achievements and upcoming calendar events.
Southern York County School District leaders recognized board directors with student-read books, observed the recent death of a longtime director and received a routine superintendent's update at a January board meeting.
School board recognition took center stage early in the meeting as elementary students from Friendship, Southern and Shrewsbury elementaries presented books that will be added to school libraries in honor of individual board directors. The district invited each board director to visit a classroom and read the donated book at an appropriate grade level.
The recognition item drew several short presentations: kindergarten through second-grade students delivered the books to board members including Jen Henkel, Nathan Henkel, Bill Hall, Jim Holly and Elizabeth Sauberman. Board members and district staff encouraged directors to coordinate visits with building principals.
The item that followed was a remembrance for Ron Gronke, a former district director. "Ron Gronke was a beloved member of our community," said Jim Holly, who spoke at the meeting. Holly said Gronke served on the board from 2007 to 2021, sat on the Lincoln Intermediate Unit board and chaired athletics and extracurriculars committees during part of his tenure. "Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends and his presence will be missed," Holly said.
Superintendent Dr. Recker then delivered the superintendent's report. He said schools are focusing on maintaining a "safe, supportive and collaborative" culture and urged staff and community members to report both concerns and positive observations so schools can respond. "If our schools know about it, our schools can do something about it," Dr. Recker said.
Dr. Recker gave several district updates: the high school building project is nearing completion and administrators reported positive feedback on new traffic patterns and the front drop-off. He also recognized orchestra students Jacob Owanowicz, Harrison Mabon, Charlie Schafer and Logan Trimble for participating in the PMEA District 7 orchestra at Manheim Township; Harrison Mabon placed third and will advance to the Central Regional Orchestra Festival at Warwick High School in February.
The superintendent noted student success in the VFW-sponsored Patriot's Pen essay contest. Six students received gift cards for local-level placements—Avery Vickers, Coraline Engle, Sadie Newton, Elsa Swanger and Lucy Boyle from Shrewsbury, and Auburn Swenson from Southern Elementary—and Lyra Reinhart of Shrewsbury won the local competition and will advance to the next level of judging.
Dr. Recker also listed upcoming events: the third marking period/second semester had begun the previous day; the high school will host a scholarship information night on Jan. 23 starting at 5:30 p.m.; parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Feb. 12–13; the middle school sixth-grade transition night is Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.; and schools will be closed Feb. 14 and Feb. 17 in observance of the Presidents Day period. He closed with thanks to parents, staff and volunteers for their support during the high school project and other district activities.
