rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — Canton Area School District board members met via Zoom on Thursday, March 11.
Superintendent’s report
Dr. Eric Briggs reported faculty receiving their vaccines on March 15. About 40 staff members and contractors and substitutes received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are very appreciative of this opportunity that was given to educators in partnership with the governor’s office and Department Of Health, PA Department Of Education, national guard and AMI, who is the state contracting group providing this vaccination,” he said. The group went to North Penn-Mansfield to receive the vaccination.
On March 1, the governor revised some of the new orders, beginning with the maximum occupancy for events to 15% indoor and outdoor is 20% maximum occupancy regardless of venue size. Mask wearing and hand hygiene must still be enforced. Out of state travel restrictions have been lifted.
“I would like to publicly congratulate the students, the families. I know it’s March 11 today but we are one of the only school districts who have been able to maintain in person instruction almost all of the year (outside of a couple COVID cases and remote learning weeks). Other parts of our state and the country are just now getting back to five-day in person instruction,” said Dr. Briggs. “Us working together allows this to occur. I want to commend my staff, students, the community for working together. It has been as successful as it can be during this pandemic.”
Briggs announced the conclusion of winter activities. Several wrestlers moved on to district and regional competitions and the boys basketball team played post-season playoffs.
The drama club is beginning practice for their spring musical.
Class of 2021 event calendar has been released to students and parents. A lot of things need to be confirmed still, but a commencement ceremony is planned for June 4 inside the football stadium, due to current restrictions for COVID.
The health and safety plan has been updated to refelct the changes from the governor’s office.
“We added guidelines for the spring sports for the athlectic health and safety plan,” said Briggs.
Briggs also congratulated the elementary STEM team on taking first place in the competition county-wide. They advance to the state competition in May. Mrs. Castle coached four students: Kendall Petrowski, Addie Wright, Owen Moore and Ryan Innman.
Owen Moore received an honorable mention award in the fourth grade UGI poster contest.
Penn College hosted an event for special education students last week, which helped them explore their options for after high school.
Business Manager’s report
Mark Jannone started his report by saying he anticipates having the board pass the 2021-22 budget at the April board meeting. March 16 was the finance committee meeting.
“We are not proposing a tax increase for next year,” said Jannone, “Potentially for several years in a row. We’ve been notified that we’re getting a second round of ESSER funding. It’s federal aid. The first round was about $300,000.”
ESSER is the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant Program. The ESSER Grant Program, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provides funds to help LEAs respond to changes in student needs due to COVID-19 (CARES Act, Section 18003).
The second round, Jannone says, the district received about $1.1 million. That helps pay for items that are already in the budget, which will “free up the local dollars” and not cost tax payers.
“In my mind, we are intended to do one main function,which is less the burden on the tax payers if we can,” said Jannone.
Now, there’s a third round of ESSER funding. Canton will be awarded about $2.5 million.
However, $500,000 must go to “recovery of educational loss,” such as summer school and technology needed for the loss of education during the school year. Dr. Briggs, Mr. Jacopetti and Mr. Wells will determine what that money will go toward. The final details have not yet been released.
Finally, Jannone reported that the cafeteria will now be giving Sunday meals on top of the Saturday meals, due to a change in the federal funding.
“The cafeteria workers have been working so hard (everyone has everywhere),” said Jannone, “but our cafeteria staff has really been ‘stretched thin’ doing Tuesday evening meals, two days a week when we’re full-virtual.”
This program is expected to end with graduation.
Visitor’s comments
The board heard from Jordan, a student in the science club, who made a request on behalf of the club to take a trip to Six Flags either in May or June 8 after school is completed. The board said they will review her request and their health and safety plan the group came up with and bring an answer to the April 8 meeting.
The next Canton Area School District school board meeting will be Thursday, April 8, at 5 p.m.