New Kensington-Arnold School District officials said Wednesday they are discussing the level of importance to place on projects the state mandates high school seniors complete. District officials said it remains to be seen whether the projects will be directly linked to graduation. According to a new state law district officials refer to as Chapter Four, district students now in eighth grade are required to complete a career-related project by the time they graduate. They will be introduced to the project when they are in 10th grade. School board member Jack Delk said the the projects will be vocation-focused and might resemble a research-paper format. Officials said each child will investigate a career and present his findings in a public forum, albeit in a classroom setting. Valley High School Principal Ned Hageal said district officials have not designed a format for the projects although it is certain students will start the projects in their junior year and complete them the second half of their senior year. In other business: Recognized three finalists in line for an award from the Teacher’s Excellence Foundation, a regional award. The finalists are Eileen Matyas, a teacher at Valley High School; Jay Moser, a teacher at H.D. Berkey Elementary School; and Rosemary Musolino, a teacher at Fort Crawford Elementary School. Heard concerns from resident Grace Girardi that the district isn’t properly spending the money it budgeted for new books at Valley Middle School. Announced that more than 3,000 tickets were sold for last weekend’s high school musical ‘Wizard of Oz.’ Tickets were $6, $5 for students. Money raised will benefit next year’s production. Set 7 p.m. May 9 for a special meeting to discuss the 2001-2002 budget. Approved Beth Paletta as district solicitor at an annual retainer of $2,200 and an hourly rate of $75.

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