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American Legion donates 10 Life‑Vac devices; Pennock Elementary outlines family engagement and K–2 push‑in model
Summary
American Legion volunteers told the Merrimack Valley School Board they will donate 10 Life‑Vac choking devices to school buses and offer training. School leaders also presented family-engagement events and a push‑in reading intervention model funded with Title I to support K–2 learners.
Members of the American Legion told the Merrimack Valley School Board on May 5 that they are donating 10 Life‑Vac choking recovery devices for use on school buses and offered training to staff.
Amanda Keratlasky, who identified herself as a children and youth officer with the American Legion, said the donation followed "a choking incident on a bus in Manchester not long ago" and described how the Life‑Vac operates. "We're donating 10 of them," she said, adding that when a kit is used the district completes paperwork and receives a free replacement kit for life.
The board then heard a school presentation. Jennifer Moore introduced herself as "the principal of Pennock Elementary School" and was joined by assistant principal Zach Stevenson and other staff to describe efforts to bring families into school. Stevenson highlighted several events: a STEAM night that drew 249 participants, an escape-game family night with about 202 participants, and a paint night with 55 participants. He also described a new community mural and a circulating set of 10 backpacks with games and activities families can check out from the library.
Stevenson described a shift in reading intervention from a pull‑out model to a push‑in model for grades K–2, made possible by Title I funds that allowed the school to add interventionists. "We were able to leverage title 1 funds to get another interventionist," he said, and the school now places interventionists inside classrooms during RTI time so students receive support without stigma. Board members asked whether interventionists are certified; presenters said one interventionist is a reading specialist and that interventionists and classroom teachers coordinate closely about student needs.
The donation and school presentation were listed under new business and "good news" in the board packet. Board members thanked the American Legion for the donation and praised the family engagement activities as examples of strong community–school connections.
