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Central Valley School Board highlights start-of-year events, assessments and transportation updates
Summary
Central Valley School District administrators reported start-of-year highlights at the September workshop, including a high-school appearance on a regional TV quiz show, a career partnership with Shell, PBIS and club rollouts at the middle school, kindergarten orientation attendance at Center Grange, and transportation updates related to Chapel Road construction.
Central Valley School District administrators used the September workshop to brief the board on start-of-year activities, student programs, assessment schedules and transportation updates.
High school Principal Dr. Hartsell said five students — Dominic Cejeda, Brooke Ladekos, Liam Carnes, Camden Bittner and Caitlin Strother — filmed an appearance on the KDKA quiz show; the program is scheduled to air Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11:30 a.m. He also described a Challenge program partnership with Shell that will provide career-exploration workshops and monetary awards for 15 students (five seniors, five juniors and five sophomores) based on attendance, academic improvement and community service. The high school has enrolled three students in the Graduation Alliance program with the goal of awarding Central Valley diplomas. Dr. Hartsell also announced a planned homecoming parade and bonfire on Wednesday, Sept. 24; the parade is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on a loop near the high school and conclude on the school grounds, with food trucks and a bonfire at the district’s 18-acre site.
Middle school staff reported a PBIS kickoff in which 44 eighth graders helped lead a schoolwide event. The middle school has started band and chorus and offers more than 20 clubs; the first open house of the year is Sept. 17. Administrators said benchmark testing (NWEA MAPs and other diagnostics) is under way or scheduled in the district’s buildings and that the data will be used to form enrichment and remediation groups.
At Center Grange, officials reported a kindergarten orientation on Aug. 20 that welcomed about 160 new kindergartners and families and a PTA-run “kindergarten bash.” The school has begun DIBELS and will continue NWEA MAPs testing; staff will use the results to form small-group instruction. Center Grange will partner with the Beaver County Rehabilitation Center (BCRC) for community-based job-skills and independent-living instruction and to facilitate student community-based instruction as part of transition services for eligible students.
Transportation and operations updates acknowledged a better start to the school year for bus service under Frye Transportation Group, though road work on Chapel Road caused PM dismissal delays that required coordination among transportation staff and school principals. Administrators also reported ongoing facilities work (plumbing repairs and other maintenance) and the completion of camera installations at the high school and the middle school.
The district reported that the state budget remained unsettled as of the meeting and that an update from the governor might come on Sept. 25. Separately, representatives from a regional intermediate unit said New Horizon began the school year at leased space in the Midland Innovation Technology (MIT) building after mold was discovered in joint compound at the New Horizon facility; the unit said the relocation will likely continue through the school year and will add expenses for renovations.
Ending: Administrators praised staff and contractors for a smooth opening of the school year; the board received the updates and moved on to other agenda items.
