The Gettysburg school board unanimously approved the sale of a building lot on Hunterstown Rd. to the Adams County chapter of Habitat for Humanity at its meeting last night. The sale is at market rates and the intention is that a partnership will be developed between Adams County Technical Institute and Habitat to construct an affordable house.
Under the concept tentatively approved, Habitat would provide the design, approve and mentor the family, arrange the financing and mortgage, and service the mortgage once the house is completed. ACTI students will work on the house, gaining valuable construction experience.
Habitat and ACTI will share management of the project, with ACTI faculty supervising the student work and the Habitat partner family working on weekends. “It’s a great opportunity for us,” said Habitat’s local president, Bill Tyson. “And we’re happy to have a chance to work with ACTI.
The Board also approved the school district’s Future Ready Comprehensive Plan. This state-mandated plan was prepared by a committee of more than 25 district employees and members of the public who met over the winter and spring to review school operations and plans. Assistant Superintendent Christine Lay explained that “action plan steps are goals for next three years, specifically a data team to look at school data, be more public about student data, also dealing with the social, emotional and mental health needs of our students.”
“We also have to put up our gifted ed plan, with which not much has changed, our professional development plan, and our induction plan,” said Lay. The board approved the plan, with Ryan Morris, Jeremy Davis, and Michelle Smyers
Superintendent Jason Perrin updated on the countywide feasibility study for ACTI. The committee is “taking a look at expanding opportunities for students to be more aligned with the needs of various industries … to provide an opportunity both for kids to be made aware and get training,” he said.
Leon Reed, freelance reporter, is a former US Senate staff member, defense consultant, and history teacher. He is a 10 year resident of Gettysburg, where he writes military history and explores the park and the Adams County countryside. He is the publisher at Little Falls Books, chaired the Adams County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee and is on the board of SCCAP. He and his wife, Lois, have 3 children, 3 cats, and 5 grandchildren.