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Penncrest superintendent reports cell-phone policy success, seeks bus drivers and proposes locker/book-bag change
Summary
Superintendent reported early positive feedback on a new student cell-phone policy, described ongoing transportation staffing shortages that have required double runs and vans for after-school activities, and said a proposal to require students to use lockers (or clear backpacks) will come to the board in October.
Penncrest School District Superintendent reported initial positive feedback from principals and teachers after implementing a new cell-phone policy, appealed to the community for bus drivers to address ongoing route shortages, and said the district will propose a policy change to require students to store backpacks in lockers.
The superintendent said principals and teachers reported the cell-phone change produced “a very positive start” and that she would provide a fuller update next month. On transportation, she said the district is “in great need” of bus drivers, that contractors have had to run double routes and send buses back out to pick up students, and that after-school athletic transportation has been especially affected because drivers are not able to complete late routes.
The superintendent appealed to community members and retirees for drivers and asked the public to be patient as transportation vendors work through the shortage. She described accommodations the district has used, including using vans and adjusting schedules.
Safety and security measures: the superintendent said the district will present a proposal in October to require students to put book bags in lockers when they arrive; the proposal will permit clear book bags as an option so staff can see contents. She said the locker plan is part of a layered approach to safety that builds on the new cell-phone policy and other measures the district will not disclose publicly for safety reasons.
Why this matters: transportation reliability affects students’ arrival, participation in extracurriculars and families’ schedules. The proposed locker rule represents a change in daily routines that will require board approval.
Other remarks and context: the superintendent thanked building staff and contractors for cooperation after a difficult opening at Cambridge Springs following renovations. She also said director Johnson and she have been attending seminars on safety and security and that some elements of the district’s safety plan will remain confidential.
