IN Greensburg Salem Winter 2016 | Page 40

GRE E N SBU RG SA LE M SC H OO L DI ST RIC T NE WS reensburg Salem Greensburg Salem Discusses Aging Facilities In the spring of 2015, the Greensburg Salem Board of Directors created a district Facilities Advisory Committee comprised of community members, board members and staff who live in the district. The committee began meeting soon after to begin discussing our aging facilities. The committee set out to create short-term and longterm district facility goals to help envision the future of Greensburg Salem. Subsequent meetings spawned ideas for considering multiple methods to achieve goals. While final recommendations have not yet been determined, the committee recommended to the Board of Directors to consider seizing immediate opportunities for energy savings funding under PA Act 39. Greensburg Salem Board of Directors voted to enter into an agreement with Schneider Electric at the October, 2016 board meeting. In accordance with the energy savings act, Schneider Electric will serve as the Energy Savings Company (ESCO) to perform a district-wide energy savings audit at no cost. The final audit report information will allow the committee, board and administration to discuss and evaluate how facility energy savings initiatives may permit the upgrade of some building systems by leveraging energy savings and applying those savings to much needed building system upgrades. The audit and report are expected to take between two and three months to complete. Greensburg Salem does not expect that energy savings initiatives will support the upgrade of all that needs addressed, but instead see this as an opportunity to begin moving in the right direction as we continue to develop a vision for Greensburg Salem’s future. Principal Tina Federico and Guidance Counselor Jessica Pritts introduce program to bus drivers Gary Overdorff, Brandi Duncan, Ray Bair, Pete Longdon, and Frank Gore. Peaceful School Bus Program Kicks Off at Metzgar Elementary Metzgar Elementary recently instituted The Peaceful School Bus Program, a whole-school program designed to decrease inappropriate behavior on buses while creating a climate of respect and cooperation. The main goal of the Peaceful School Bus Program is to develop a positive and safe environment on the school bus for all students. In an effort to decrease bus behavior referrals, Principal Tina Federico and Guidance Counselor Jessica Pritts decided to put the Peaceful School Bus Program into action. The program builds upon and expands the existing School Wide Positive Behavior Support Program and helps to create and develop positive relationships and pro-social behavior skills in a way that is fun and rewarding to the students. Mrs. Pritts met with classes to “kick-off” the new program and remind and emphasize the desired behavioral outcomes for bus behavior. First Student school bus drivers were also invited to a special breakfast where they learned about their role in the implementation of the Peaceful School Bus Program. With the help of students, drivers, and faculty working together to reinforce kind, respectful, ap propriate behavior both on and off the bus, Metzgar students are on their way to a safer, more peaceful bus ride. Metzgar Receives Stipend for Project Expansion This building chiller system was manufactured in 1967. Still in operation today, it has considerably exceeded its typical life expectancy of 20 to 25 years. 38 | Greensburg-Salem Greensburg Salem’s Coordinator of Student Services Todd McMillen recently announced the award of a $10,000.00 stipend that will cover the cost of training related expenses and expansion of Multi-Tiered System of Supports/Response to Intervention and Instruction (MTSS/RTII), a program that focuses on students who are performing significantly below average. Metzgar Principal Tina Federico applied for the MTSS Tier-3 Problem-Solving initiative in the spring of 2016, and her team was chosen by the state to participate and receive on-site technical assistance focusing on instruction, intervention, and data analysis. According to Mrs. Federico, “MTSS/RTII is really a system of finding and supporting those students who are struggling in the curriculum. It includes reading and math but we have focused our efforts on the reading/language arts area for now.” She felt that the additional training and support would help to meet the needs of students in the school through the implementation of the year-long program.