Elk Lake honored by U.S. News

PHOTO/C.J. MARSHALL
Principal Brian Mallery holds up a plaque present by U.S. News and World Reports, recognizing Elk Lake High School as one of ‘America’s Best High Schools for 2017.’

The Elk Lake School Board learned last Wednesday the district’s high school is the recipient of ‘America’s Best High School’s for 2017’ award from U.S. News and World Report.
High School Principal Brian Mallery reported Elk Lake had placed in the top 16.8 percent of the 28,400 high schools across the nation surveyed by the magazine. The Elk Lake school received a bronze classification, as well as a plaque.
Among the criteria, Mallery said, included student grade point averages meeting a bench mark that were better than state averages; students with disabilities grade point averages meeting a bench mark that were better than state averages; student test scores; and programs to help students prepare for college.
During the meeting, the board voted to reinstate to full-time status Employee No. 243. The employee was unnamed, but it was reported during the meeting it was a teaching position that the board had voted during a previous meeting to reduce to part-time status.
Before the vote was taken, board member Arden Tewksbury said that a number of people in the audience attending the previous meeting had made some disparaging remarks concerning the administration and how money is being spent in the district.
He also said many unkind comments about the situation have been showing up social media.
As an example, Tewksbury said that some even have made the outlandish implication that former district superintendent William Bush retired a very wealthy man because of a severance package.
“It bothers me every time I see something like this,” Tewksbury explained.
He said he wanted to mention the situation earlier, but felt it best to remain silent until after the district’s budget was approved last month.
Tewksbury said that the people who have been make those disparaging statements should apologize for their actions.
In other business, the board:
*Voted to accept Jason Casselbury as coach for the seventh grade boys basketball team at a stipend of $1,644 per year; and as assistant coach for the boys junior high soccer team, also at a stipend of $1,644 per year.
*Voted to approve a lifeguard list for 2017.
*Voted to approve a list of activity position assignments for the year.
*Voted to grant permission to apply for an Atlantic Sunrise grant from Williams.
*Voted to accept a bid from W.B. Mason to supply paper to the district at a cost of $20.21 per case.
*Entered into an agreement with the Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley Inc. to participate in the center’s Partial Hospital Program – at a cost of $125 per day – and the Therapeutic Educational Program – at a cost of $165 per day. The program provides school districts with at risk students an alternative to local programs, some of which do not include a therapeutic component.
Following adjournment, members reconvened as the board for Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center.
SCCTC director Alice Davis reported about a Health Care Career Camp in its third of four days; and presented a list of services with charges by the Cosmetology Student Clinic with hours during the school year (Tuesdays, 9:3011:30 a.m.; Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and 3:30-6:30 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon). It was noted that appointments were needed and could be made by calling 570-278-6784.
The Elk Lake and SCCTC boards’ next scheduled meetings are set for Aug. 2.