Second in a series
MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Area School District will experience changes in administration, budget cuts totaling $1.3 million and the implementation of a new global studies course as the new school year begins in one week.
Also of note is the ongoing extensive renovation project at the high school stadium and the establishment of a districtwide positive behavior initiative to create consistency among staff, students and school buildings.
The first day of school for students is Monday, Aug. 29. The projected student enrollment in the district is 1,560.
"We're very excited to begin a new year and welcome all our students back," said Bernie Stellar Jr., administrator-in-charge/high school principal. "We are thrilled that we made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) two years in a row in all areas, which is directly attributed to the hard work of our staff and students. We have a great staff and kids here at MCA."
Administration shakeup
Former middle school principal Donna Veach was hired earlier this month by Mount Carmel Area School Board as the new elementary school principal for the district.
Veach will replace Angela Farronato, who was hired last month as the new middle school principal at Southern Columbia Area School District.
Stellar was named administrator-in-charge/high school principal on an interim basis and curriculum coordinator Lisa Varano was appointed interim middle school principal/curriculum coordinator.
With Veach's hiring, the school board is still seeking replacements for Superintendent Cheryl Latorre and business administrator Janis Venna, who were hired for the same positions at Danville Area School District.
Stellar, who has served as high school principal since 2007 and previously was a teacher in the district for many years, and Shamokin Area High School Principal Chris Venna, son of Janis Venna, are the finalists for the superintendent post.
One new teacher
Christopher Cunningham, who was hired to teach Latin, is the only new teacher in the district this year. Stellar said Cunningham previously taught Latin in the district. He will replace French/Latin teacher Lauren Murphy, who resigned.
Stellar said the district lost three high school teachers, one elementary school instructor and two custodians through attrition. He said each of the personnel retired.
The administrator pointed out that no academic programs were cut as a result of a significant reduction in state funding.
Budget cuts for the 2011-12 school year totaled $1,381,476. They include the elimination of 10 aides, which saved $270,268, and the assistant athletic director's position, which saved $2,100.
Stellar said a driver's education course will still be provided through the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, but parents of enrolled students will be responsible for paying for the program instead of the district, a move that will save another $30,000.
Stellar said stipends paid to activity advisers and athletic coaches have been cut in half.
In addition to the decrease in state funding, the employer retirement contribution increased by approximately $225,000, and health care increased by $525,000 for the district for 2011-12.
Global studies
Stellar said an elective course known as 21st century global studies will be available this year. The class will be taught by high school social studies teacher Sue Nestico, who is involved in global learning and "flat" classrooms.
He said the class will involve students using the Internet to collaborate with other students throughout the world. "Students will be using laptops to work on projects together," Stellar said.
The administrator, who noted the dress code for students in the district will remain the same, said two new districtwide initiatives dealing with behavior will be implemented.
He said a positive behavior initiative will be implemented over a three-year period to establish consistency among staff, students and school buildings on behavior expectations. Training for the program will be provided by the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit.
Stellar said a behavioral health team that proved very successful at the elementary level last school year will also will be utilized at the high school this year to help students who struggle with different types of behavior for various reasons.
He said a private firm will be hired to assist administrators, the school social worker, school psychologists and guidance counselors with the behavioral program. Stellar said employees from the Northumberland County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Department also will assist with the program.
"We want students in the program to know they have a safe haven here at Mount Carmel Area," Stellar said. "The behavioral team will work with students' families to help them cope with behavioral issues. And the nice thing about the program is it won't cost the district any money."
Athletic changes
In May, the district agreed to allow students at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School to play football and baseball for Mount Carmel Area through a cooperative agreement. That move didn't meet much opposition because of the low enrollment at Lourdes that has made it difficult to field athletic teams.
But a month later, the school board received a lot of criticism from parents when they opted to have the girls volleyball and softball teams enter into a cooperative agreement to play those respective sports at Lourdes. Parents and coaches complained to the school board that there were enough girls signed up to play those sports at Mount Carmel Area and that administrators failed to inform them of the cooperative agreement before it was too late.
Fieldhouse to be ready
Stellar said the usual renovations, including painting, landscaping and grass cutting, were made during the summer at the district buildings. "The buildings look great," he said. "Our maintenance staff did a fantastic job."
He said the extensive renovations to the high school stadium are continuing. The work includes the construction of a new fieldhouse, which is scheduled to be ready for the opening of the football season. The fieldhouse will contain dressing room areas for the home and visiting teams, bathrooms, showers, a trainer's room, coaches' room, officials' room and storage areas.
New macadam has been installed throughout the stadium and new rest rooms and ticket booths have been erected.