Five seniors honored for achieving 1,200+ on SAT/ACT
With the Bellwood-Antis School District already approving to enter a joint waiver with Tyrone for PIAA swimming, soccer and tennis co-op programs, Tyrone school board members returned the favor by also approving the joint waiver unanimously.
The next step in making the co-op a reality involves both school district superintendents getting together to write an agreement and present it in front of the District Six Committee. If approved, the District Six Committee will go to the PIAA Board of Directors to get final approval.
“Brian Toth (B-A Superintendent) and I will write a joint letter to the PIAA for District Six, stating that we are requesting this co-op for next year for a waiver,” said Tyrone Superintendent Dr. William Miller. “We’ll be doing that shortly.”
If all approved, the three sport co-op with Bellwood-Antis would be able to participate together in the 2008-09 school year, with one exception.
The girls soccer program at Tyrone would move from AA classification to AAA, due to the added enrollment figures of ninth through eleventh grade girls at Bellwood-Antis. All of the other sports in the co-op will not change classification.
“Girls soccer would be able to compete as a co-op in the next classification cycle in 2010,” said Tyrone Athletic Director Tom Coleman.
The school board also approved the election of Christopher Elder of Tyrone as head boys varsity soccer coach for the 2008-09 school year.
In other business, the school board approved by a six to two vote, with board member Norman Huff absent, to abolish the position of assistant superintendent and create a position of director of curriculum and instruction.
Board members Peter Dutrow and Ray Detwiler voted against abolishing the position.
The board also approved by a seven to one vote, Detwiler opposed, to abolish the position of middle/high school supervisor of special education, and create a position of director of special education for kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Miller said by abolishing the assistant superintendent job, which would of paid next year an estimated $95,000, will save needed money that will be re-allocated in the school district to create PSSA K-12 math coordinators, a reading and writing coordinator, gifted coordinator, and chairpersons in special education.
The new position of director of curriculum and instruction is advertised to pay between $70-75,000.
“We’ve taken that money and re-allocated it in blocks of $5,000, $5,000, and $2,000 to teachers who will take a leadership role in those areas,” stated Miller. “What they’ll do is give up some of their prep time to direct, so we’re reinvesting that money through the teachers who accept that responsibility.”
The director of curriculum instruction position is a change from the responsibilities the assistant superintendent job had. That person will be involved specifically in curriculum instructional areas, so the staff members who reported to the previous assistant superintendent will not report directly to the superintendent.
As for the reason to establish a director of special education for grades K-12, Miller said that the assistant superintendent position handled special education at the elementary level, and the previous special education supervisor was at the middle and high school.
The former special education supervisor is now the director at all grade levels, and reports directly to the superintendent.
“So now, principals and others who instructionally reported, will now report to the superintendent,” added Miller. “But the director of curriculum instruction will work cooperatively with everybody.”
On a lighter note, TAHS Principal Tom Yoder presented keychains to five seniors in recognition of their achievement for obtaining 1,200 or above on the SAT/ACT. Those students included: Tyler Ayres, son of Stephanie Ayers, Joshua Bradley, son of David and Pamela Bradley; Amanda Grassmyer, daughter of Paul and Lori Grassmyer; Michael Moore, son of Fredrick and Diane Moore; and Alexis Murray, daughter of Marvin and Dee Dee Murray.
Grassmyer was also recognized for being named a Mercy Presidential Scholar at Mount Aloysius College. She will receive a $40,000 scholarship over a four-year period.
