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Penncrest to pilot phonics toolkit, expand counseling and add interpretation services; Title I plans up for approval
Summary
The district reported several education items on the agenda: Title I school plans presented for review, an MOU to expand outpatient counseling services, a new interpretation-services contract to support students after the regional deaf and hard-of-hearing classroom closed at one high school, and a proposed phonics pilot in K–3.
Penncrest School District administrators told the board they will present multiple education agreements and pilot programs intended to support students this year, including Title I plans, expanded counseling services, interpretation services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and a phonics pilot.
At the start of the education report, Mrs. Feeley said the district’s Title I school plans for all three elementary schools were ready for review and approval. The plans include data and goals the district must submit to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Administrators also noted an affiliation agreement with Crawford County Drug and Alcohol, a planned partnership with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and work with K–12 Career Alliance to bring guest speakers and programs into classrooms.
Interpretation services: the district disclosed that the intermediate unit closed the deaf and hard-of-hearing classroom at Cambridge Springs for grades 7–12. “Some of those students chose to stay,” Feeley said, and the district will run an agreement to secure interpretation services for those students.
Counseling expansion and affiliation: Feeley said the district has an MOU with Nicole Fees to expand outpatient counseling services that have been available in the Cambridge Springs attendance area; the MOU will extend services to Maplewood and Sagertown. The district also reported a new affiliation agreement with Teal College to accept student teachers.
Reading pilot: administrators proposed piloting the University of Florida Literacy Institute Foundation’s Toolbox (a phonics program) in kindergarten through grade 3. Feeley said one teacher from each grade level in each building would pilot the toolkit and compare it with the district’s current phonics instruction over the full school year, with a decision next year on potential adoption. She described the pilot as low-cost for the district.
Board action: Feeley asked trustees to approve a consent agenda covering education items b through i; the board voted to approve the consent agenda as presented.
