Blue Ridge adopts policies for graduation, academic standards

BY STACI WILSON

The Blue Ridge School Board approved three board policies with School Director Shane Rumage offering the only dissenting vote.

Policies approved included comprehensive planning; academic standards; and graduation requirements.
Content areas in the academic standards policy have been revised to change “reading, writing, speaking and listening” to “English Language Arts.”

Science and technology standards now include reading and writing in science and technology.
And Social Studies standards have been revised to include reading and writing for history and social studies.

According to the policy, the term “academic standards” encompasses Pennsylvania Core Standards, as well as state and local academic standards.

A change was also made by the board to the graduation requirements from the policy proposed in the 30-day review.

The policy up for review included students complete 20 hours of community service during their four years of high school.

Before adopting, the board struck out the provision.

Graduation requirements through 2015-16 entail students must demonstrate proficiency on state of local assessments administered in grades 8-12.

Beginning in 2016-17, students must be proficient on the Algebra, English Language Arts and Biology Keystone exams, Advance Placement exam, or International Baccalaureate exam, or a superintendent approved project-based assessment.

The board approved three transportation contracts for the school year. The contracts are with parents with children on certain bus routes. The district offered the option on some of the routes to alleviate crowding on the buses.

Brian Lewis and Melody Pauly were approved as teacher mentors for Michael Courtright and Sarah Yeust, respectively.

Tim Esposito was named the wresting assistant and junior high head coach for the 2014-15 season at a salary of $1,650.

The board also approved the hiring of three students as custodial substitutes for the school year, pending paperwork.

The high school music department’s request for a performance trip in April 2015 to Orlando, Fla., was approved by the board.

Members of the girls’ volleyball team were recognized by the board for their accomplishments this season.
The Lady Raiders won the league championship title.

Principal Matthew Nebzydoski congratulated the cast and crew of the middle school musical, “The Little Mermaid, Jr.”

He noted an opportunity to rent out the costumes, designed by Jennifer Parsons, to other schools as a way to bring funds into the theater program.

The school board will hold its reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., in the Blue Ridge Elementary School cafeteria.