TOWER CITY - A parent of a Williams Valley eighth-grader questioned the school board on why her stepdaughter had no algebra textbook.
Christina O'Hara, Williamstown, brought her concerns to the Williams Valley school board meeting Feb. 14.
"I wasn't satisfied with how it's been handled thus far," said O'Hara, who noted she had already contacted the math teacher and Chris Cooper, junior high principal.
"What about the other parents? I'm disturbed. ... It's halfway through the school year. I want an explanation for why there are not enough reference books for all classes," she said.
O'Hara, a former licensed teacher from the state of New Jersey, said her straight-A student was having problems with algebra and she wanted to have a textbook to assist her at home. Not all families own a home computer or live in an area close to a community library to access a computer, she said.
O'Hara said her daughter, as well as other eighth-graders, had photocopied sections from the textbook given to them, but no book. O'Hara said she received a used textbook upon asking Cooper, who did not attend the meeting.
Superintendent Donald Burkhardt welcomed parents to contact him directly.
"I'm just hearing this tonight. I will look into it," he said of O'Hara's inquiry.
Burkhardt said the ninth-grade students got the algebra book this year, and the eighth-graders received photocopied sections of the book at a time. The situation only occurred this year.
Burkhardt said the district did not want to purchase additional textbooks because it will be moving to a curriculum based on the "Common Core," and the district is currently using the "PA Standards."
Burkhardt also said that the district uses Study Island, an online supplemental program that is used to help improve skills. He said the district offers a 40-minute activity period at the end of the school day, along with an activity bus to transport students home, if students want to use district computers for extra help.
The superintendent invited O'Hara to schedule an appointment to speak with him.
"I appreciate your assistance on this. I would like to look into this further," said O'Hara.
The board also addressed other curriculum matters.
Parents should soon receive letters in the mail from Burkhardt explaining why mid-term grades will not be counted this school year.
Director Angela Miller had questions about the 2013-14 Junior-Senior High School Program of Studies, mid-term exam procedures being followed and course credit involving the marching band students. Miller said often times, a mid-term exam or final exam was not listed on the course syllabus that the students were given.
Director Tedd Johns also said some teachers didn't know they would be giving mid-terms or finals this year, and some students got rid of their notes from the first quarter. Burkhardt reported that department chairs were notified about the testing at the beginning of the school year.
As the board approved the 2013-14 Program of Studies, it was noted that marching band will not receive any academic credit beginning in the upcoming school year. It will be an extracurricular activity.
Concert band will receive 0.4 credits for twice a week and 0.6 credits for three times a week attendance. The 2013-14 individual course syllabus will define the course requirements and will list the mid-terms and final exams. The course syllabus will be given to the students on the first day of class.
In other matters, the board:
- Heard from softball booster representative Kevin Davis on the possibility of making changes to the outfield fencing at the softball field. The board granted approval to the boosters to relocate the outfield fence and install a (blue) safety barrier on top of the fence at no cost to the district.
- Approved the following coaches for 2012-13: Ryan Underkoffler, Williamstown, softball assistant coach; Chelsea Artz, Tower City, head coach, junior high; Tim Herb, Tower City, and Ashley Frontino, Whitehall, volunteer assistant coaches; Kristen Palmerio, Tower City, assistant coach, junior high; Brian Unger, Tower City, archery volunteer coach.
- Approved the following coaches for the 2013-14 season: Donna Williard, Williamstown, golf head coach; Karestin Davis, Tower City, football cheerleading head coach; Ashley Null, Millersburg, assistant coach; Timothy Savage, Lykens, football head coach.
- Heard from Gary Fetterhoff, girls soccer coach, on the status of his rehiring.
- Entered into an executive session to discuss personnel and student matters.