Superintendent outlines state-level education changes, safety rules and local grant
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Kepler told the board about pending and newly enacted state education measures including a proposed cell-phone ban (Senate Bill 1014), omnibus school code literacy requirements, changes to cyber-charter enrollment for habitually truant students, a new weapon-notification duty, and a Dixon Foundation grant of $8,150 to expand district student clothing/hygiene support.
Superintendent Dr. Kepler briefed the Palmyra Area School District board on state-level education developments, district testing schedules and a local grant at the Dec. 18 meeting.
On state legislation, Dr. Kepler described a bill under consideration in Harrisburg that would prohibit student cell-phone use from bell to bell, identified in the meeting as Senate Bill 1014, and said, “So we'll see if that comes out of Harrisburg.” He also summarized provisions from the omnibus school code bill included in the Commonwealth budget that affect literacy instruction and require districts to select from state-approved programs for kindergarten through third-grade reading by 2027.
Dr. Kepler said the omnibus bill also includes a change to compulsory attendance rules: students identified as habitually truant (the superintendent cited six unexcused absences as the threshold) may no longer enroll midyear in cyber charter schools without a judge’s order. “We will be providing some communications to families and updating our general communications,” he said, noting the district is preparing plans and family notifications to comply.
On safety, Dr. Kepler highlighted a new legal requirement that schools must “disposition” life-safety tips within 48 hours and non–life-safety tips within 30 days, and that when an individual possesses a weapon on school property the school now must notify parents, students and staff in that building or campus. “This now requires it in law,” he said, adding the district will maintain student privacy while providing enough information to avoid panic.
Dr. Kepler also announced the Dixon Foundation awarded an $8,150 grant to expand the district’s “cougar closet” — a program providing hygiene items and clothing — from primarily a high school effort to serve students kindergarten through 12th grade. “We will use it wisely,” he said.
He closed with routine updates on Keystone testing: literature Keystone testing is complete, algebra testing was delayed and pushed to Dec. 16, and biology keystones are scheduled after the new year.