Gettysburg Area School District staff presented a detailed and comprehensive look at the district’s 2021-22 budget on Monday evening, while proposing a modest 1.2 percent tax increase to reduce the possibility of severe funding difficulties in the future. District Business Manager Belinda Wallen said the parts of the budget the district was able to control
During the Conewago Valley school board’s meeting on Monday evening, the board received a handful of requests asking the district to delay graduation. The board opted to continue with the schedule as planned. Superintendent Christopher Rudisill read three public comments on graduation asking for the ceremony to be delayed so that restrictions would be lifted
The Adams County Industrial Development Authority (ACIDA) is partnering with the Bermudian Springs School District (BSSD) on a community and economic development project—being called the Northern Adams Childcare and Community Health Project—that aims to repurpose the district’s former middle school. The project was sparked by Dr. Shane Hotchkiss, BSSD Superintendent, who engaged the Adams Economic
The Bermudian Springs school board approved its tentative 2021-22 budget during its meeting on Tuesday evening. The approved budget included $33,177,119 in expenses and $31,241,993 in revenue. A tentative real estate tax rate of 4.1 percent or 12.9766 mills was included. The tax rates approved Monday cannot go up from the approved amount but could
Upper Adams School District (UASD) board heard preliminary budget revisions and encouraged community feedback Tuesday. The public will soon learn the results of an independent investigation following racial accusations on UASD campus, according to school board President Tom Wilson. An executive summary report is planned for release May 18, according to Superintendent Dr. Wesley
Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) board members expressed concern Monday evening about the 1.2 percent tax increase Superintendent Jason Perrin said was needed to keep the district in the black. Perrin said his team had reduced still another $1.2 million in spending while not affecting student learning and that the proposed 2021-2022 budget was only
In time for Teacher Appreciation Week beginning Monday, May 3, WITF, in partnership with Rotary District 7390, announced the seven winners of the 2021 Teacher Impact Awards. The awards honor teachers for their exemplary dedication to their students and community. Rotary District 7390 established the “Teacher Impact Awards” in 2005, with the idea to promote
The Littlestown Area School District Board has approved repairs and upgrades to be made at the Alloway Creek Elementary School (ACES) and the Littlestown High School (LHS) during the 2021-2022 school year. ACES will get needed cosmetic repairs including regrading and reseeding of the grass areas between the playground and the school building. The existing
Gettysburg Area School District Superintendent Jason Perrin said the district has found a way to reduce another $1.2 million in spending for the 2021-22 school year over the past two weeks. He said the cuts were difficult to find but had been accomplished without impacting student programming. The proposed budget will keep the minimum unassigned
The Gettysburg Borough Council has chosen the first members of its new Human Relations Committee, which is charged with mediating any complaints that might arise under its new human rights ordinance designed to protect LGBT residents. Although the standard term is five years, each member was elected to a different length term so the board
In a 7-1 vote, the Fairfield Area School District (FASD) board voted for Travis Jones to replace departing member Rhonda Myers. The other candidate for the position, Candace Ferguson Miller, said she has filed paperwork to run for a position on the board later this year. “The reason I wanted to join the board would
Business Manager Justin Peart presented potential tax increase scenarios for the 2021-22 budget to the Bermudian School District Board of Directors. While Peart said he was able to come up with $150,243 in savings since the last meeting– primarily thanks to bringing down health care premiums– the preliminary budget still shows a deficit. Peart presented
The Conewago Valley school board discussed possible tax increases for the 2021-22 budget during its regular board meeting on Monday evening. The board also reviewed challenges and successes as it wraps up the current school year and prepares for a new one. Six new teaching jobs were included in the 2021-22 budget, which has yet
Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) superintendent Jason Perrin said the district would likely be forced to raise taxes this year to avoid depleting the fund balance beyond required limits. Perrin said the fund balance was required to be between 6 and 8 percent of the total budget and that the district would likely be at
The English Department’s Melissa Forbes has become the new director of the Gettysburg College Writing Center. The center matches students from all disciplines with a team of 10 student tutors who help students discuss and clarify their ideas, plan next steps, and implement effective writing strategies. At the same time the tutors gain professional development
Gettysburg College’s 4000 square foot community garden, the Painted Turtle Farm, is located northwest of campus near the observatory. The garden has plots for 16 families to cultivate their own food and serves as a campus-community hub for food justice. The farm has applied for a grant to expand fruit production and enhance children’s education
The Fairview Area School District board decided in a narrow 5-4 vote during its Monday meeting to have all grades return to school in-person and full-time beginning April 12. Treasurer Rhonda Myers, Secretary Lauren K. Clark, and board members Lashay Kalathas, Jack Liller and David Millstein voted for reopening the schools full-time while Board President
A preliminary feasibility study conducted by the Littlestown Area School District (LASD) has identified substantial problems with its buildings and infrastructure. The study, conducted by RLPS Architects and presented to the school board by Chris Linky and Andy Blaydon, provided 1 to 5 ratings of each of the three evaluated school buildings in the district.
The Littlestown Areas School Board voted unanimously this week to fund $40,000 for a free Pre-K pilot program to be offered this summer. Alloway Creek Elementary School principal Dr. Chip Fissel said the pilot program would help his team gather information about how the program might work in the future, and what benefits there would
Gettysburg High School Principal Jeremy Lusk explained to the Gettysburg Area School District board directors on Monday how the high school staff was focusing on students to help assure they were all able to graduate on time despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic. Lusk said the school was recommending all hybrid students return to
On Saturday at about 2:45 p.m., event security in fluorescent vests assisted attendees as they crossed Main Street in Biglerville to the grassy field of the high school. A calm crowd of local residents were gathering waiting for the start of the Community Gathering for Healing and Accountability Event organized by the Racism at BHS
Students and parents of Bermudian Springs School District addressed the school board on Tuesday evening, with some speaking for and others against restoring the five-day school schedule. No board action was taken related to the issue. Several people mentioned a survey recently completed by many of the students and teachers in which a majority said
During its Tuesday evening meeting, the Conewago Valley School District (CVSD) unanimously voted to bring the 4th through 6th grades back to the intermediate school full-time next week. Of the 900 families surveyed last week, 723 completed it, with 94.4 percent (707 families) indicating they wanted their students to return to school full-time. According to
As the orchestral prelude ended and the lights came down, members of the stage crew showed up onstage at Gettysburg Area High School’s 2021 musical performance, “Everything Is,” ready to set up their sets. As they looked around at each other and the audience, a bit puzzled, a voice from afar gently reminded them their
The Littlestown Area School District Board members gave a reluctant and nearly unanimous aye vote to accept the resignation of the district’s Business Manager, Michael Statler on Monday evening, February 22, 2021. The dissenting votes were cast to express sorrow at Statler’s departure. Statler was hired to his position with the school district six and
By Christen Smith (the Center Square) (The Center Square) – Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives pressed the Department of Education on Monday over the governor’s proposed cuts to charter school funding, even as the public districts meant to benefit sit on millions in reserves and federal disaster aid, they said. The questions came
After hearing concerns about COVID cases and costs of hiring needed staff members, Fairfield Area School District board members voted twice against reopening the elementary school for five-day per week instruction. The school is currently operating on a hybrid A/B schedule in which children only come to school two days per week. “I think what
Speaking at an online meeting of the @Home in Adams County Initiative yesterday, Center for Rural Pennsylvania Director Kyle Kopko said Adams County has only about 197 people per square mile, and that like other rural counties, it ranks below the state average for internet download speeds. Kopko said households without adequate broadband are poorer
In his legislative report to the Upper Adams School District board on Monday, board member Christopher Fee noted the many burdens charter schools place on school district finances. Fee said 350 school districts across the commonwealth are “calling for charter school reform. There are good charter schools, there are less good charter schools, but the
The Upper Adams School District (UASD) School Board said it was united in its condemnation of any discrimination and racism in the district and committed to ensuring alleged issues recently brought up on social media platforms are addressed going forward. “We must all do our part to eradicate racism, inclusive of all forms of discrimination,”
The Upper Adams School District today announced the appointment of Fox Rothschild Attorneys at Law of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the third-party investigator to conduct an independent, unbiased assessment of the District’s policies, procedures and response to alleged acts of racism and/or ethnic discrimination recently shared by students and alumni of Biglerville High School on social
Following a report by Superintendent Christopher Rudisill saying supposedly “free” charter and cyber schools cost the district $4.2 million, Conewago Valley School District (CVSD) approved a resolution calling for changes to charter school funding. “While you may hear that these schools claim they are free; they really are not free at all,” said Rudisill. Rudisill
Bermudian Springs Superintendent Shane Hotchkiss expressed frustration with state pandemic-related regulations and guidance for schools during the school board’s meeting on Monday evening. “Two weeks ago– so there’s an anonymous line that somebody can call and complain about any school district not meeting and following the attestation,” Hotchkiss said. “I received a complaint. I got
In a letter to the school board, Upper Adams School District (UASD) Superintendent Wesley Doll summarized actions the district is taking in response to incidents of alleged racism at Biglerville High School. The alleged incidents have been made public on a Facebook page. The following is the complete text of Doll’s statement: “I know that
Responding to social media posts alleging racism and an online petition signed by over 2,200 people accusing Biglerville High School of being “complicit in the abuse and harassment of students of color,” PA state officials and the Upper Adams School District (UASD) administration said today they were taking allegations of racism and sexism raised on
During its meeting Monday evening, the Fairfield Area School District discussed early preparations for returning kids to school on a more normal schedule, but cautioned that it may be awhile before that’s possible. Superintendent Michael Adamek said that he hopes cases of COVID-19 decline to the point that schools can fully reopen. “I think at
Upper Adams School District (UASD) Business Administrator Shelley Hobbs began the school board’s discussion on the 2021-22 budget by focusing on its salary and benefits aspects, saying “these are the parts of the budget we can control.” Hobbs noted benefits paid to employees through the Pennsylvania Public Schools Employee Retirement System (PSERS) system had increased
Upper Adams School District (UASD) is dealing this week with controversy surrounding a Facebook page alleging a history of incidents of racism at Biglerville High School. District Superintendent Wesley Doll said in a letter posted to the district’s website on Sunday that high school principal Beth Graham and assistant principal Nathan Becker would be available
Noting that January is School Director Recognition Month, Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) Superintendent Jason Perrin recognized board members for their service. “This is a time for us to celebrate and recognize the challenging and vital work boards do on behalf of our students, schools, and families,” said Perrin. Perrin said the impact of the
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After hearing District Nurse Kristi Ebaugh report that the district had sent home 69 students with “symptoms mimicking COVID” since the start of school, the Fairfield Area School District (FASD) Board of Directors voted to maintain for this semester the current A/B hybrid model in which children at all grade levels come to school only
Superintendent Jason Perrin announced on Monday that students at the three elementary schools in the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) will be moving from their current four day per week schedule to five days per week as of November 9. Perrin said the hybrid model was initially put in place in part to help the
Conewago Valley School District (CVSD) reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 at Conewago Township Elementary on Friday. This brings the total number of cases at CVSD to six including one at the high school, three at New Oxford Middle School, one at Conewago Valley Intermediate School and one at New Oxford High School. CAVSD announced
Acknowledging the decision to send students in its sophomore, junior, and senior classes home had “created unwelcome tension on campus, among students, and with the college as a whole,” college president Bob Iuliano announced today that students who were not remaining on campus would receive a ten percent reduction in their tuition and that 80
Gettysburg College today gave up its hope of providing a residential learning experience for all of its students, announcing that only first-year students, transfer students, international students, and select other students who are unable to return home due to personal or academic reasons will be allowed to stay in on campus. This will be a
More COVID-19 Cases on Gettysburg College Campus Create Complete Lockdown After finding 33 cases on campus in the first two weeks of classes, the college reported in an email to the campus community that it has already found 25 more after testing only 348 students in the past two days. Officials said the majority of
Campus life, which was already out of the ordinary, changed even more this weekend at Gettysburg College as the number of positive COVID-19 cases jumped in the second round of testing since the arrival of about 2,500 students in August. Although only five students out of the entire student body were designated as “true positive”
[An update to this story is available here] Gettysburg College has reported on its website that at 33 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified among students as a result of the second round of testing completed Monday through Wednesday last week. Associate Director of Communications Mike Baker confirmed that some students who have tested
As the school buses begin to roll again at the Littlestown Area School District (LASD) this week, other students across the county will have to wait to discover what the fall semester has in store for them. All six county school districts as well as the VIDA Charter School are set to reopen with at
Gettysburg College has extensively detailed its comprehensive plans for reopening in a series of town hall meetings that are recorded on the college website. Julie Ramsey, Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students, said the campus had “tried to reimagine almost everything that goes on at Gettysburg College” to prepare for the pandemic.
As fall approaches, universities throughout the United States have been forced to decide whether or not to reopen during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Despite concerns about possible surges in cases, lack of access to testing, and the risk of exposure to the virus, many colleges have decided to push forward with a reopening plan. In
Despite concerns expressed by its health and safety experts, the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) Board of Directors voted Wednesday night to open its three elementary schools under a plan in which the students will be in class four days per week sitting as close as three feet from each other and wearing face masks.
Alloway Creek Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Justine Garman has won the 2020 Teacher Impact Award presented by Rotary District 7390 and WITF. The award was for Garman’s “dedication to her students and her community.” Garman was the Adams County winner, selected out of almost 250 nominations and joining teachers from six other Pennsylvania counties. “I
Hundreds of teachers and administrators in the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) are working together to tweak the ongoing remote learning technology, curriculum, and grading systems, while collaborating on plans for the fall semester. Speaking about the unexpected move to virtual learning that started over one weekend in March, GASD Instructional Technology Director Ann Baum
As the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) students finish their school year using online learning, parents are playing an oversized role in the process. I talked with three parents over the past weeks to learn about their approaches, concerns, and successes with the home-based curriculum. All three parents praised GASD, saying it was doing the
The workday for Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) teachers and families has changed dramatically as the district has moved to online learning for the remainder of the school year. In this article I talk with Scott Jones, a GASD Middle School Science Teacher, about his experiences. This article is the first in a series of