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The school board has voted to hire a new transportation manager, Richard A. Blaker, for $60,000, effective Nov. 29.
The position opened when Jim Kester resigned in September to accept a similar job in the Ringgold School District.
Also, Kenneth Pokorny was hired, effective today, as assistant manager for safety coordination and customer service, a new position for the bus garage. The salary is $50,000.
Superintendent Lawrence Korchnak said during last week's meeting that an expansion of duties necessitated the two management positions.
According to a revised 2010-11 school calendar approved by the board, no school will be held on May 17, the day of the primary election, because four of the district's schools serve as polling sites. The off-day takes the place of a scheduled fifth snow day.
By year's end, the board is expected to adopt a revised policy that includes no school on election days.
The district will celebrate the opening of the newly renovated high school auditorium from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in the auditorium. At 7:30 p.m., the board will hold its monthly agenda meeting in the large group instruction room.
Lawrence Korchnak will host a "coffee and talk" from 7 to 9 tonight in the administration's board room, 4900 Curry Road, Whitehall. During the open forum, residents are invited to share concerns, make suggestions and ask questions of the superintendent. He will share information on what's new for students.
Womansplace will be filming two public service announcements at South Allegheny High School starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. The video PSAs will focus on teen dating violence and texting as well as violence in the workplace. The project is made possible by funding from Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless.
The video will be used in the classroom as a learning tool as well as spread across all media formats including TV, Youtube and Facebook.
The mission of Womansplace is to end domestic violence and change social norms through education and systems advocacy.
Details: www.womansplace.org.
Because research has shown a link between physical activity and classroom achievement, South Allegheny Elementary School has implemented a before school Physical Education program called "Healthy Start."
The program will take place before school begins on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 7:45 to 8:30 for students in grades 2-6. The class size is limited to 25 students per day; 2nd and 3rd graders meet on Tuesdays, 4th and 5th graders meet on Wednesdays, and 5th and 6th graders meet on Thursdays.
The program runs through the end of the school year and is run by Glenn Mannion, elementary physical education teacher.
St. Clair Hospital Auxiliary invites local residents to honor loved ones this holiday season with a light on the auxiliary's Commemorative Tree.
A lighting ceremony to recognize the honorees will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the hospital. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by The Flute Academy.
Each light costs $3. Requests are due Nov. 29. Details: 412-563-2863.
Peters Township middle and high school students should begin seeing curriculum changes in their math classes at the beginning of the next school year.
School board members Monday approved two course changes, eliminating Integrated I Essentials and Integrated I Academic, and replacing them with Algebra I Foundations and Algebra I Academic, respectively.
The move, which won't take effect until the 2011-2012 school year, comes after months of discussion by the school board's education committee, which recommended the courses be changed to a more traditional math format.
The same committee, headed by school Director Lynn Erenberg, will soon be considering similar changes to Geometry and Algebra II classes.
On Monday, Peters school board members:
• Recognized 11 members of the high school boy's golf team, which won this year's WPIAL championships, with certificates of excellence.
• Named Scott Bebout as head coach for the ninth-grade wrestling team.
• Approved Ken Smith as the middle school wrestling head coach.
• Awarded a contract for $6,406 to Steel Valley Roofing and Sheet Metal for gutter replacements at McMurray Elementary School.
The Academy for Adolescent Health Inc. and Real Talk Performers will present "Diary of a Teen Label," an educational drama that explores stereotypes and bullying in today's adolescent culture, at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday in Rossin campus center ballroom at Washington and Jefferson College.
Details: Amy Podgurski Gough, 724-222-2311 or agough@healthyteens.com.
Visitors to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Chartiers this season can ride the trolley with Santa from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 26-28, Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 11-12. A toy train layout and holiday crafts also are at the museum.
Through Dec. 12, those who bring an unwrapped toy with a minimum value of $10 for the "Toys for Tots" campaign receive a free admission.
Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for age 62 and older and $6 for ages 3 through 15. Admission for age 2 and younger is free. Details: 724-228-9256.
Due to a weekend fire at the George Washington Hotel, state Rep. Tim Solobay said his Washington constituent office is closed temporarily.
While the fire did not damage Mr. Solobay's office suite, it did knock out phone and Internet service.
Constituents who need assistance are asked to call Mr. Solobay's Canonsburg office at 724-746-3762 until further notice.
First Published November 18, 2010 12:00 am
