State High Vision UPDATE

[State High Vision]

State High Vision UPDATE

January 11, 2008

 

Happy New Year!  We start 2008 with eyes to the future and positive changes in our community.   New and improved ways of conducting business in the SCASD are ALREADY in place with the addition of 5 new school board members.  Visitors to the SCASD website (www.scasd.org) can now access the documents that will be reviewed at the upcoming meeting!   Our community appreciates the board’s willingness to engage the public.

 

Meetings  – The next meeting of the SCASD board is Monday, January 14 at 7:30 in the Board Room at 131 W. Nittany Ave.  It continues to be important that we as parents, taxpayers and members of this community participate in our local government.  Please support the district and the board by attending meetings.  There are important issues on the horizon and our feedback and perspective is needed.  Board meetings are also telecast live on COMCAST channel 98.

 

District Wide Master Plan – On the agenda for Monday night’s meeting is the District Wide Master Plan (DWMP).  Recent history will show us that this document is EXTREMELY important in the future decisions of the district.  Our last DWMP was completed in 2001.  It was this document, revisions made to this document, interpretation of requirements for this document and the public’s inclusion in the DWMP that served as the apex of the conflict of the past 2 years.  The DWMP is essentially a review/analysis of all district facilities and evaluation of the conditions of each building and facility.  It also provides the road map for the future.  What are the priorities?  Where do funds and focus need to go first?  What are the agreed decision making criteria and planning processes?  How do demographics play into the district facility decisions?  Elementary schools or high school first?  How will we meet the future needs of the district?   Does the School District have the technical and managerial resources in place to successfully execute the plan? 

 

It is essential that the public participate in this process and offer information, expertise and opinion.  By combining the time, talent and treasure of our community, we can work together to prepare our district for the future!!!

 

Upcoming Future Agenda Items  -  Watch for important topics in upcoming meetings.  These include the Memorial Field Update, the school year calendar, CAC meeting procedures, shared access with Centre Region Parks and Recreation , and the Small School's Initiative.

 

Sad News  -  Our community was saddened by the recent passing of our dear friend Bonna Elfant who lost her courageous battle with cancer on January 3.  Bonna was an active participant in State High Vision and worked tirelessly to ask the SCASD board to stop and re-evaluate the decision on the high school and to let the community back in on the decision.  We extend our sympathies to the Elfant family.  A memorial service will be held for Bonna on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Pasquerilla center at PSU.  Please RSVP to Arian Elfant if you plan to attend at arian...@mac.com