Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southern Columbia students showcase financial‑literacy wins, FFA convention and seek approval for senior trip to Boston
Summary
Board heard a presentation on a donated financial‑literacy program (Writer Financial Futures/Stocktrack), student FFA convention reports, and a senior class request to approve a Boston trip with conduct rules and fundraising covering lodging and transport.
At its January meeting, the Southern Columbia Area School District board heard three student‑focused items: a financial‑literacy program presentation, an FFA convention report, and a senior class trip request.
Chris Borlette, president of the Columbia Montour Chamber, described Writer Financial Futures, a local nonprofit program partnered with Stocktrack that offers budgeting and investing games and lesson plans aligned to state financial literacy standards. Borlette said the foundation and donors are covering software, curriculum and teacher support so the district receives the program at no additional cost. "We're actually able to put boots on the ground to support your teachers," Borlette said, noting local donors and an education improvement tax credit donor are funding the rollout. The presentation named three Southern Columbia students who placed in the program’s first game, with Nolan Wittig winning first place.
Student leaders then asked the board to approve a senior trip to Boston. Senior class officers (Liana Murphy and classmates) outlined a three‑day, two‑night itinerary focused on educational sites (Freedom Trail, the Holocaust Memorial, Museum of Science) and additional activities (Fenway Park tour, Duck Tours). The students said hotel and transportation costs would be covered by fundraising; students would be expected to pay roughly $100–$150 for activities beyond fundraising. The student officers presented a code of conduct: students must be in good academic standing, have no suspensions from the date of deposit forward, submit signed parent permission, accept assigned chaperones and comply with security checks and nightly curfews.
Board members asked logistical questions about chaperone ratios, date selection (the students said they were targeting an April weekend that coincides with Boston Marathon weekend) and how the district will monitor safety. The chair cautioned that marathon weekend brings large law enforcement presence and recommended students avoid risky behavior.
Separately, FFA officers reported on a multi‑day trip to Indianapolis including career exploration and campus visits; students thanked the board for continuing program support.
Next steps: The board indicated general support and asked staff to finalize dates and logistics if the trip is approved; no definitive vote authorizing payments or deposits appears in the transcript.
