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District advances scuba STEAM program, Penn tutoring partnership and other student initiatives
Summary
The board advanced a Remake Learning-funded "moonshot" scuba/STEAM program for about a dozen high-school students at no cost to the district, approved a University of Pennsylvania tutoring-certification opportunity that can earn students college credit, and approved related curriculum and funding items while tabling a Scholastic book purchase for further review.
The Punxsutawney Area School District board approved several student-focused programs and curriculum items intended to expand career pathways and academic supports.
Dr. Gaston described a Remake Learning moonshot grant awarded to a local nonprofit (transcript: Curie's Minds Dog Foundation) to provide scuba confined-water training in the district pool, open-water dives at nearby quarries, and an industry-aligned STEAM component pairing students with engineers, marine scientists and other professionals for mentoring and research. The program would serve roughly 12 high school students and includes virtual mentoring and a culminating community showcase; the district was told there is no cost to the district for the primary program. Board members discussed logistics for confined-water sessions during the swim season and open-water dives after school is out; motion to approve the program passed.
The board also heard from high school administration about a tutoring-certification program offered through the University of Pennsylvania that would allow participating students to earn four college credits and a certification to serve as peer tutors; administrators said there is no cost to students or the district for the online course. The high school requested informational approval to proceed and will report back with enrollment numbers.
Board members agreed to table a separate Scholastic book purchase request to allow additional review of the book list. Other approved items in this block included renewal of an IU 3 agreement for interpretive services and purchase orders for particular curriculum-related services (3b), which the board advanced after a motion and second.
Administrators noted possible career-pathway synergies — for example, underwater welding and first-responder training — and said information sessions for interested students and families will be scheduled in January.
