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Gateway board hears updates on therapy dogs, tennis-court grant and fall events
Summary
Board heard a report on an expanding therapy-dog program, a tennis-court resurfacing project that received roughly $30,000 in USTA grant reimbursements, upcoming PIMBA band competition at Gateway High, and a student football-nomination voter drive.
Board members received a series of district highlights at the meeting, including expansion of a therapy-dog program, completion of tennis-court resurfacing aided by a USTA grant, event logistics for a band competition, and an athletics recognition.
Staff described how certified therapy dogs (Kyla, Roxy, Ranger and Ben) are used in counseling and classroom supports; staff and student testimonials credited the program with calming anxious students and improving connectedness. "A prescription for pure joy," one report said of the program's effect; the board noted its earlier adoption of a therapy-dog policy.
Facilities staff reported a tennis-court resurfacing project costing about $70,000, for which the district received $8,000 per court from the United States Tennis Association—approximately $30,000 total returned to the district. The board said it will pursue additional regional grant opportunities to offset nets and windscreens.
The district also announced it will host the PIMBA band competition Oct. 11 at the high school (admission charged) and encouraged community attendance. Coach Hall noted freshman quarterback Mason Mitchell was nominated as Pennsylvania player-of-the-week after multi-touchdown performances and asked that the district post the fan-vote link on the website to support the nomination.
Board members praised staff and community volunteers for fundraising and student-support programs and encouraged attendance at upcoming community events including the homecoming carnival.
