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Chambersburg Engagement Center registers 66 students in first weeks; district highlights wraparound services
Summary
Chambersburg Area School District officials reported that the newly opened Chambersburg Engagement Center has registered 66 students in its first 15 days and is providing enrollment, WIDA screening and a Keystone Health Clinic navigator to connect families to health care and vaccination services.
The Chambersburg Engagement Center (CEC) has been open since Jan. 6 and registered 66 new students in its first 15 days, district staff reported at the Chambersburg Area School District Board of Directors meeting on Jan. 28, 2025.
District staff said the CEC is already screening students for WIDA levels, helping families complete free-lunch applications and processing some school cafeteria account payments, freeing classroom teachers from administrative tasks. "We've had 66 new registrations, 48 of them are ELL students," Kurt Widman told the board. "Forty-one speak Spanish, seven speak Haitian Creole, and 18 speak English."
The CEC also hosts a navigator from Keystone Health Clinic who helps connect newly arrived students to required health services, including vaccinations and physicals. Widman said that arrangement has sped enrollment and reduced time teachers spend away from classrooms. "It's the biggest win in just getting kids in our classrooms quicker and keeping the teachers in front of all their students," he said.
Superintendent and board members who spoke at the meeting described the center as a central intake point for English-language-learner (ELL) services and a place where families can complete paperwork and access health services. The board announced a ribbon-cutting event with the Cumberland Valley Business Association set for Feb. 27 at 1:00 p.m.; district staff said tours and photos will be part of the event.
Board members and administrators credited multiple district offices and community partners for the center's early operation, singling out the district office teams, Keystone Health Clinic and local partners who helped stand up registration and navigator services.
The board did not take any formal vote related to the CEC at the Jan. 28 meeting; the center update was presented as part of the superintendent's report and information items.
