Shadyside schools get grant

By MICHAEL SCHULER, Times Leader Staff Writer
THE SHADYSIDE Local School District Board of Education held a split session Wednesday, conducting the bulk of its regular monthly meeting in the morning, but recessed until 6:30 p.m. to address a personnel issue.

During the earlier session, it was announced by Superintendent Terry Brinker that the district has been awarded an Early Childhood Program Grant from the Ohio Department of Education. The grant will be used beginning with the 2008-2009 school year.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Brinker said. “Between myself, the elementary school principal and the treasurer, we will have to put this program together and have contacted neighboring districts on how they run their programs. We are excited to say we have the funding, now it’s time to put the program together.”

Brinker also said the district is currently reviewing the guidelines for the pre-kindergarten program and will work with local daycare facilities.

The early development pre-school program is being designed for children ages 3 to 4.

The district is also readying for Shadyside High School’s graduation of 51 seniors tonight at 7 p.m. at Fleming Field. The ceremonies will be moved to the high school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. in the event of inclement weather.

It was also announced during the meeting that 47 sophomores passed the Ohio Graduation Test. Only 21 sophomores needed to pass one or two sections to pass, while all but four junior class members had passed the test.

In other news, Jefferson Elementary School Principal Cynthia Caldwell reported the school building will be attempting to bring back a breakfast program.

According to Caldwell, the breakfast will be a “grab and go” breakfast, which will consist of juice or milk, fruit and cereal.

The board also heard from former superintendent Jerry Narcisi who told the board the “Getting it Right for Ohio’s Future,” state constitutional amendment doesn’t appear to have enough signatures to get on the November General Election ballot.

Narcisi did report the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy did have an outline of a legislative proposal for the Ohio General Assembly to address the issue of fair and adequate funding for all of the state’s public school districts. The legislation is based on the nine basic principles for reforming school funding, including making a high quality education a fundamental right and removing the burden of funding schools from property owners and making funding a state responsibility.

The next regular Shadyside Local Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 24 at 6 p.m.

Schuler can be reached at shoe@timesleaderonline.com