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Northern Tioga School District to enter into new programs
By David Pope
The Northern Tioga school board has agreed to the district's proposal of participating in two programs meant to improve academic success: the Tioga County Technical Education Center (TTEC) offered through the Tioga County Development Corporation, and the Student Transitional and Recovery Program (STAR) offered through Tioga County Department of Human Services.
At the board's Aug. 11 meeting, members heard from Robert Blair, CEO of the Tioga County Development Corporation, who reported on plans for TTEC.
The program hopes to benefit schools and dislocated workers and by assisting youths and adults interested in receiving vocational training.
"There's still a lot of work ahead of us," before the program is ready, said Blair. Among the concerns to be addressed is a feasibility study, which Blair hopes all three districts participate in.
Blair also wants the corporation to meet with students and develop core programs. He said the corporation recently received federal grant money, with which they want to hire a program director to meet with schools and identify their needs.
"We also want to hire a training coordinator and to set up physical locations," stated Blair. "We want to have this program set up all over the county.
Blair also requested that two of Northern Tioga's board members serve on TTEC's advisory board, which usually meets the last Wednesday of the month.
Also addressing the board were Sam Greene, CEO of Tioga County Human Services, and staff members of the STAR program, geared toward helping reduce problematic behavior in some students.
Accompanying Greene were Capt. Simon Morgan, coordinator of the program; 1st Sgt. Bernie Johnson, an instructor with the program; and Eric Smith, director of Community Services for Human Services.
While the program includes a military approach to discipline, Greene stressed that it is not a "boot camp."
"Children who enter the STAR program don't leave the county," explained Greene. "There is also strong academic training and professional counseling involved with our program."
Funded entirely by the Department of Public Welfare this year, STAR implements one-day, 30-day and six-month sessions, currently at the Tokishi building in Wellsboro, to rehabilitate students referred by the school district.
Students in the program arrive at the site at 5:15 a.m. and begin physical fitness training about one half-hour later. At 7 a.m., they prepare to board a bus that takes them to their regular school for the day, after which they return to the program site to do their homework.
A student in the program must have his or her homework completed before going home for the evening.
Capt. Morgan said the main focus of the program is to put the child back into the community and, most important, back into his or her family.
"The program isn't for every child," stated Morgan, indicating that every student who is referred to the program undergoes a strict screening process. Morgan also pointed out that some students might not comply with the program's requirements.
Greene, Morgan and Johnson stressed several times that the program works extensively with parents to help them maintain improved behavior and study habits.
Johnson said that the program does not work miracles, "but we can improve a kid's GPA" (grade-point average).
Other actions the board approved Aug. 11 included the following:
n Raising the minimum passing grade for elementary students from 65 percent to 70 percent, beginning with the 2004-05 school year.
n Quotes from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association for the district's insurance policies: General liability and umbrella coverage, $79,138; errors and omissions, $11,440; and workers compensation, $96,063 (estimated).
n The creation of a pilot program at Clark Wood Elementary School that will allow a teaching position to be shared by two people for the 2004-05 school year at no additional cost to the district. The program will be evaluated by the board during the course of the year.
At the board's Aug. 11 meeting, members heard from Robert Blair, CEO of the Tioga County Development Corporation, who reported on plans for TTEC.
The program hopes to benefit schools and dislocated workers and by assisting youths and adults interested in receiving vocational training.
"There's still a lot of work ahead of us," before the program is ready, said Blair. Among the concerns to be addressed is a feasibility study, which Blair hopes all three districts participate in.
Blair also wants the corporation to meet with students and develop core programs. He said the corporation recently received federal grant money, with which they want to hire a program director to meet with schools and identify their needs.
"We also want to hire a training coordinator and to set up physical locations," stated Blair. "We want to have this program set up all over the county.
Blair also requested that two of Northern Tioga's board members serve on TTEC's advisory board, which usually meets the last Wednesday of the month.
Also addressing the board were Sam Greene, CEO of Tioga County Human Services, and staff members of the STAR program, geared toward helping reduce problematic behavior in some students.
Accompanying Greene were Capt. Simon Morgan, coordinator of the program; 1st Sgt. Bernie Johnson, an instructor with the program; and Eric Smith, director of Community Services for Human Services.
While the program includes a military approach to discipline, Greene stressed that it is not a "boot camp."
"Children who enter the STAR program don't leave the county," explained Greene. "There is also strong academic training and professional counseling involved with our program."
Funded entirely by the Department of Public Welfare this year, STAR implements one-day, 30-day and six-month sessions, currently at the Tokishi building in Wellsboro, to rehabilitate students referred by the school district.
Students in the program arrive at the site at 5:15 a.m. and begin physical fitness training about one half-hour later. At 7 a.m., they prepare to board a bus that takes them to their regular school for the day, after which they return to the program site to do their homework.
A student in the program must have his or her homework completed before going home for the evening.
Capt. Morgan said the main focus of the program is to put the child back into the community and, most important, back into his or her family.
"The program isn't for every child," stated Morgan, indicating that every student who is referred to the program undergoes a strict screening process. Morgan also pointed out that some students might not comply with the program's requirements.
Greene, Morgan and Johnson stressed several times that the program works extensively with parents to help them maintain improved behavior and study habits.
Johnson said that the program does not work miracles, "but we can improve a kid's GPA" (grade-point average).
Other actions the board approved Aug. 11 included the following:
n Raising the minimum passing grade for elementary students from 65 percent to 70 percent, beginning with the 2004-05 school year.
n Quotes from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association for the district's insurance policies: General liability and umbrella coverage, $79,138; errors and omissions, $11,440; and workers compensation, $96,063 (estimated).
n The creation of a pilot program at Clark Wood Elementary School that will allow a teaching position to be shared by two people for the 2004-05 school year at no additional cost to the district. The program will be evaluated by the board during the course of the year.
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