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Parent urges change to kindergarten dismissal at Heights Terrace after children exposed to weather
Summary
A Hastings resident asked the board to revert to prior dismissal procedures at Heights Terrace Elementary Middle School, saying current practice requires kindergarteners to wait outside in inclement weather before pickup.
Edward Medina, a Hastings resident and parent, told the Hazleton Area School District board he has requested changes to a kindergarten dismissal process at Heights Terrace Elementary Middle School that he said leaves children exposed to inclement weather.
"My concern today is based on the Heights Terrace Elementary Middle School... the kids has to go outside before every other student... they are actually exposed outside on the school with not a roof or anything to the inclement weather... My daughter... is constantly getting runny nose, coughing," Medina said, urging the district to return to prior dismissal guidelines that kept children inside and used a classroom window/private door for pick‑up.
Medina said he had emailed a district administrator and received a reply that the matter was reviewed, but he said the dismissal process has not changed since the start of the school year.
A district official responded that referrals and certain student-support matters are handled off‑site and that detailed personnel and operational decisions are being worked through. When asked about a separate para‑professional proposal earlier submitted, meeting staff said it remained a personnel and union matter under discussion and offered no additional specifics.
What’s next: Medina asked the district to find a better solution to limit weather exposure during kindergarten dismissal; the district indicated the issue had been reviewed but no procedural change was announced at the meeting.
