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Mill Creek Township SD details midyear curriculum, tech and student-services updates
Summary
Curriculum supervisors and student services staff presented midyear progress Jan. 12, 2026, highlighting expanded tech professional development, dual-enrollment arrangements with Penn State Behrend, a rise in special-education enrollment to about 1,350 students, and planned supports such as new autistic-support classrooms and a May 2026 special-education plan update.
Curriculum, student services and communications leaders for the Mill Creek Township School District briefed the board Jan. 12, 2026, on midyear accomplishments and next-semester priorities, emphasizing technology integration, structured literacy and services for students with disabilities.
Jen Dunmayer, a curriculum supervisor, told the board the district’s priorities are “communication, support, targeted professional development” and described on-site professional development, monthly collaborative meetings and embedded PD that aim to align instruction across grade levels. “We are in the buildings every day,” Dunmayer said, summarizing efforts to support teachers and instructional leadership.
Carissa, who leads the district’s technology initiatives, summarized the Year of Tech work, including well‑received in‑service events, a monthly tech newsletter, 13 Title IV‑supported tech PD sessions and teacher-led “AI classroom collaboration” meetings. “So that’s the Year of Tech in a nutshell,” she said, noting digital citizenship lessons from Common Sense Media and a Year of Tech website with resources for teachers.
The presentation outlined curriculum work across subjects. A K–8 ELA resource is in its second year with pacing “right where it should be,” and grades 3–8 have shifted to digital formative assessments that automatically provide district‑level data, a curriculum supervisor said. Math and science staff reported continued use of Envision and Glencoe materials, wider adoption of IXL for remediation and plans to transition assessments for PSSA-tested grades into digital formats.
Mary Trianna, director of student services, reported the district’s Dec. 1, 2025, special‑education child count rose by 35 students to approximately 1,350 students, about 21% of the district’s total enrollment. Trianna said the increase prompted additional supports, including new autistic‑support classrooms at Walnut Creek Middle School and Grandview Elementary. She noted Project SEARCH—MTSD’s partnership with UPMC Hammitt—has produced 65 job offers for participating students.
Trianna also reviewed health and attendance services: the district launched a summer vaccine clinic, installed 10 AEDs with MEF and LECOM support, added a nursing office at Ridgefield School, and received a Menstrual Health Hygiene Grant providing “over $10,000” to supply products at no cost to students.
The presentations closed with communications and branding updates: the communications team reported 159 media mentions (excluding sports), an ongoing website review (about 81% complete), plans for a website transition pending contract approval and expanded social‑media and alumni outreach. Officials said they are piloting weekend posts and adding more reels to Instagram and YouTube when feasible.
Board members asked clarifying questions during the session. No formal board action was taken on the presentations; several informational and action items referenced in the committee meetings were moved to the January 26 full board meeting for formal consideration.
