School Board Discusses 2018-19 School Year Calendar

The school year calendar for State College Area School District in 2018-19 likely will see a return, in some respects, to previous templates after special adjustments were made for the current year.

The School Board of Directors reviewed the proposed calendar at its meeting on Monday, where members also heard updates on the State High and Memorial Field projects and approved new secondary course proposals and a new five-year Educational Strategic Plan.

For 2018-19, the proposed calendar includes a few differences from the current year. While a two-week winter break is in place this year to prepare for students to transition into the new State College Area High School building in January, that will no longer be needed in 2018-19 and the calendar will return to the traditional one-week break.

Because the extended break will not be included, three snow day make-up dates will be built back into the calendar — Dec. 21, 2018, Feb. 18, 2019 and May 24, 2019.

The first day of school for 2018-19 in the proposed calendar would be Aug. 28 and the last day would be June 11. Any snow days not made up on the built-in days would be made up after June 11. Commencement for the 2018-19 year would take place on June 8, 2019.

The final difference in the proposed calendar is that an Act 80 day on March 29, 2019 would serve as Records Day for both elementary and secondary staff. The secondary Records Day was previously held during an Act 80 day in April.

A vote on the proposed calendar is expected in January.

State High Project on Schedule for Student Move-In

Preparations for students to move into the new State High building in January are ‘coming down to the wire,’ but are on schedule, project manager Tim Jones of Massaro Construction Management said.

Students will move in on Jan. 8 when they return from winter break.

One piece that is behind schedule is renovations to an area of the existing South Building for the future school kitchen and cafeteria. That work is about 30 days behind schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of January. In the interim, lunch will continue to be served in the North Building cafeteria and the South Building upper cafeteria space will be used to serve modified lunches.

Renovations to the existing Career and Technical Center in the North Building to provide temporary space for the fitness center and music program will take place from Dec. 22 to Jan. 12.

Other work inside and outside the new building continues on pace.

Memorial Field Renovations

Board members received an update on the latest plans for the second and final phase of Memorial Field renovations, which will include new locker rooms, restrooms, pedestrian plazas, east-side seating and concessions, among the major elements.

Included in the updates provided by district Director of Physical Plant Ed Poprik and the Weber Murphy Fox architectural design team, current plans show four corner ticket booths — one on Nittany Avenue, two on Fraser Street, and one at Sidney Friedman Park on the home bleacher side.

Fans will exit through eight gates — five on the home side, including under the bleachers, and three on the west, visitors’ side.

The Nittany Avenue spectator plaza design has been modified to address concerns about congestion. Fans will be able to turn right toward the plaza or left to a walkway above the end zone when entering.

Four designated locker rooms for homes and visiting teams are planned under the home bleachers and spectator plaza, which will give flexibility for multiple practices or games in a single day. The final locker room configuration includes additional showers at a cost of $60,000. 

The total estimated project cost is about $9 million. The current schedule calls for the project to be bid in April 2018 with bids awarded in May. Construction would begin in December 2018 with interior work done during the 2019 football season and completion by January 2020.

New Course Approvals

The board approved several new secondary course proposals for the 2018-19 school year. The proposals were previously presented at the Nov. 13 meeting.

The new courses include: Advanced World Religions, Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture, Animation, Intro to Studio Art, Intro to Art History, Advanced Coding and Game Development, Advanced Technology Research and Design, Chemistry Matter, Physics: Sights, Sounds and Circuits, Advanced Topics in Physics, and SQL.

The courses range from .25 to 1.0 credits and preparation and materials will be funded through the existing curriculum budget.

Educational Strategic Plan

The district is required to submit a 2018-2023 Educational Strategic Plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. On Monday, the board approved the plan, which was developed with the help of a 72-person committee that met over the course of 2016-17 and this fall to decide on goals, benchmarks and strategies to guide the district over the coming years.

The plan has five goals with corresponding benchmarks and measures for student success. The goals include, as described in the plan:

– Engagement and support for the whole student: ‘Every student will have opportunities and advocates in a nurturing environment to develop self-awareness and healthy habits in order to be committed learners and respectful participants in his or her communities.’

– Continuous growth for every student: ‘Every student will realize at least one year’s growth in mathematics and literacy by the end of each school year.’

–  Critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving: ‘Every student will engage in learning that includes inquiry, reflection, innovation, and collaboration during individual and collaborative experiences.’

– Eliminate individual achievement and opportunity gaps: ‘Every student performing below grade level will progress at a pace that closes the learning and achievement gaps at an accelerated rate, and will participate in co-curricular or extracurricular activities.’

– Successful transitions and readiness for a purposeful life: ‘Every student will effectively navigate the critical transitions in his or her schooling, and will graduate ready for success and personal fulfillment at the next level as an engaged community member.’

Superintendent Bob O’Donnell said he foresees periodic progress reports to teachers and regular reports to the board. 

Assistant Superintendent Vernon Bock said administrators have already begun the process of working with principals to follow strategies for meeting the goals.

Final Meeting for Fishbaine

Monday’s meeting marked the last for board member Penni Fishbaine, who has served for eight years, including time as board president.

Current board President Amber Concepcion, Vice President Jim Leous and O’Donnell each thanked Fishbaine for her service.

“It actually has been a great honor to serve the district and the community,” Fishbaine said.

Fishbaine was not on the ballot for re-election this year. Newcomer Lori Bedell will join the board after winning election with incumbents Leous, Scott Fozard and David Hutchinson.