rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — Canton Area School District board members discussed changing a policy concerning admission of students at their meeting on Thursday, June 10.
Board members were approached by a school district parent who asked the board to consider changing this policy concerning the section on admission for kindergarten and the age cutoff date, which is Sept. 1. She asked that the cutoff date be considered at Sept. 30 for gifted students who pass an evaluation administered by the school to show that the student is ready for that level of courses.
After the discussion, board members voted in favor, with a 6-3 vote. This means that students who pass an evaluation to show that their student is prepared to either begin kindergarten early or skip a grade are eligible to do so.
Parents of these students must submit a written request for a gifted evaluation for early admission no later than the end of April on any given school year. This year, however, since that deadline is passed, the date cutoff was June 15. All but one board member was in favor of this policy exception.
Other news
Board members approved a budget for the 2021-2022 school year with no set tax increase.
The board will receive $2.5 million in ESSR funding. According to PA’s Department of Education, Pennsylvania has received $523.8 million in emergency, one-time ESSER funds. Of this amount, $471.4 million will be directly allocated to school districts and charter schools based on the same formula used for Title I-A allocations in 2019.
The board welcomed Arica Jennings onto the board to replace Krista Jennings. She was publicly interviewed at a special meeting before the official meeting on June 10.
Board members voted and approved the hiring of Shaina Slocum as a special education teacher, effective Aug. 23. They also approved the hire of Cindy Black for special education/gifted teacher beginning the same date. Rebecca Roof, Ronald Kirby and Tracy Hojnowski were all approved for the substitute list, pending completed paperwork.
The Director of Special Education, Mr. Dan Coran, announced his resignation at the board meeting. The board thanked him for his years of service to Canton Area School District.
The health and safety plan for the new school year is reported to be approved by July 30. The board will likely hold a special meeting to approve this plan.
The next Canton Area School District board of education meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12, at 5 p.m. in the Canton High School cafeteria. For more information, go to www.canton.k12.pa.us.