ARMAGH--Top elementary students from rural Pennsylvania will get R.E.A.L. at United High School this summer.
United School Board Tuesday agreed to host the week-long R.E.A.L. (Rural Education for Accelerated Learners) Masters summer academy, which is intended to challenge gifted students in grades 2-6 with hands-on projects in math, science and computer science.
Reem Barclay, United's gifted support coordinator, will administer the academy from June 20 to 24. She noted the state Department of Education has approved $6,000 in seed money for the program and also will fund needed supplies. Four instructors and two lab assistants will operate the program.
The district will provide use of four classrooms, including a computer lab, and a lunch area, as well as such in-kind services as photocopying.
Barclay indicated she received permission to host a R.E.A.L. program at United after participating in a successful academy at one of seven other sites last year.
She explained R.E.A.L., now in its third year in Pennsylvania, is intended to provide stimulating activities to gifted young students in rural areas, who lack access to the greater resources readily available to their counterparts in urban settings.
R.E.A.L. "gives them something they can sink their teeth into," she said, noting the precocious pupils will be exposed to both high school and college-level instruction.
Activities at past academies have included applying the principles of physics to the kitchen, she said.
Up to 60 rural students can apply for the academy at United. Barclay suggested the district's own elementary population includes "a number of good candidates" for the program.
"This is the first big gifted incentive we've had in the state since 1974," she said. "I'm excited to be in on the ground floor and be able to bring this to United."
In other academic matters, the board approved a number of course changes and additions at the high school for the 2005-06 calendar year. Chemistry will be added as the school's seventh advanced placement (AP) course.
Students who successfully complete the more challenging AP courses may take a test for college credit.
In the agricultural science department, the board deleted the "Vo Ag II" class and added several specialized courses in agriculture construction and mechanics, landscaping design and large animal science.
A new offering in technology education will focus on computer-aided design and manufacturing. "We're moving to a robotic industrialized model," noted Rick Huffman, district superintendent.
New art department courses include arts and crafts and artistic production.
The school board regretfully approved the resignation of Elementary Principal Rosanna Duda, who is leaving to accept a similar position helming East Hempfield Elementary School, one of seven elementary buildings in the Hempfield Area School District.
Duda, who is in her third year at United, indicated travel time to work was a major factor in her decision to switch school systems.
She noted the East Hempfield school is only five miles from her Greensburg area home. The drive to United is 48 miles one way.
Duda described the pending move as "exciting, but bittersweet," noting she'll miss the staff and students at United.
That sentiment is mutual, several board members indicated.
"You've been a wonderful asset to our school district," said Jeff Hedges, vice president of the board. "We appreciate the late nights and long driving."
Huffman said the district is still negotiating with Hempfield Area concerning Duda's departure date.
Until a new principal is hired, he said oversight at the elementary school likely will be shared among the district's existing administrative staff. The position of assistant elementary principal, which Duda previously held, was phased out when she was promoted to principal in October 2003.
In other personnel matters Tuesday, United hired Lori Cramer-Nagle for the new position of administration assistant in the district office, at a prorated salary of $25,000.
She formerly worked as a payroll clerk for the district.
Duties of the new job will include human relations, community relations and management of the district's transportation program. The latter task had been handled by the district's elementary administration.
Huffman said Cramer-Nagle will be asked to "evaluate our entire transportation system and look for ways to make it more effective."
He said she will look at ridership levels and will review the district's transportation policies.
Heather McCully resigned as an aide at the elementary school and was placed on the district substitute list.
Darlene Sexton was granted a maternity leave of absence as head cheerleading advisor, but received approval to continue working with the program as a volunteer.
Judy Shomo was hired as the assistant junior high volleyball coach, at a salary of $1,200, while Kerry Stewart volunteered to serve as the softball statistician.
United approved a rate of $28 per hour, retroactive to the 2004-05 school year, for instructors who provide alternative education, as needed.
The after-school program is for students who are unable to attend during the day due to disciplinary or other reasons.
The United board approved the ARIN Intermediate Unit operating budget of $538,889 for the 2005-06 year. The district's share of ARIN expenses for the coming year was set at $26,064, representing an increase of 3.5 percent from the current year.
A high bid of $30,500 was approved from Gaston Lumber Co. for 50,000 board feet of timber it will harvest through select cutting in three wooded sections of school property.
That exceeds the timber's appraised value of $28,900, noted district consultant Quinton Powell of Appalachian Forest Consultants of Stoystown.
United exonerated East Wheatfield Township's local tax collector for $3,608.67 in remaining delinquent accounts from the 2004-05 year.
The accounts will be turned over to Berkheimer Associates for collection.
Cleaning up an item remaining from last summer's high school improvement project, the board approved a $3,000 credit from contractor J.C. Orr & Son. Huffman noted the change order stemmed from acceptance of a large display case fabricated by Polyvision of Dixonville.
United accepted donation of $250 worth of steel plate and $150 in services from a local metal fabricator, Norman Napotnik.
Huffman explained Napotnik, working from a design prepared by the school's shop students, has agreed to craft a metal piece needed to complete the head of a decorative lion statue at the high school.
United agreed to continue participating in ARIN's coordinated cooperative purchasing program. Also, it will continue to make use of the intermediate unit's Pregnant and Parenting Teens program, at a cost of $900.
School Director Robert Dill reported the PPT program has provided support to 1,700 teen mothers and fathers, with 90 percent of participants going on to successfully earn a high school diploma or GED.
Huffman reported only one problem surfaced in a state audit of district operations in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 school years.
Incorrect information concerning a foster family resulted in United submitting to the state a child accounting claim that was lower than it should have been.
Huffman said the district has agreed to adjust its procedures to avoid a similar mistake in the future.
United received plaudits from state educational officials for meeting annual yearly progress goals for student assessment testing results at both its high school and elementary buildings.
That progress was achieved during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 school years. Keystone-shaped plaques were received for display at both schools.
Chris Vogel received permission to use the high school cafeteria April 3 at 3 p.m. for the United wrestling banquet.
To make up for recent snow days, parents were reminded students now will be reporting for classes on April 11, 12 and 18 and on May 6, 18 and 27.
Several field trips were approved.
Instructor Acey Gongaware will accompany two students to a Regional Chorus event Wednesday through March 19 at Clarion-Limestone High School.
Robert Penrose will take students Amanda Gill, Rachel Hagenbuch and Nichole Yeager to the state Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition May 15-17 at Penn State.
Earning board commendations were:
Four other wrestlers were recognized for placing at Tyrone: Sean Domer, sixth place; Jon Wagoner and Kyle Cravener, fifth; Ty Boyer, third.
The public is invited to the United High School auditorium April 11 for a presentation on the state's Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Act 72 and how it may impact the local school district.
District consultant Public Financial Management will lead the 6:30 p.m. discussion.
United, like other districts, has until May 30 to decide if it will take advantage of Act 72's provisions.
Under the law, the district may claim a share of proceeds from the state's newly approved slot-machine parlors.
In return, participating districts would provide real estate tax relief to eligible resident property owners who have signed up for the program while also agreeing to changes in future school budgeting procedures and taxing controls.
As of March 1, United Superintendent Rick Huffman reported about 45 percent of eligible district property owners had applied for the potential Act 72 tax relief.
