Start of school year comes with new offerings from districts across the Alle-Kiski Valley

As students begin the 2022-23 school year, the Tribune-Review takes a look at what’s new or different at each school district within the A-K Valley:

Allegheny Valley School District

The district is offering several new programs this school year, which started Aug. 22.

A Technology Explorations course aims to assist students with technology and integrating concepts into the classrooms. Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School added an Advanced Placement environmental science class.

The special education program now has co-teaching scheduled in all grade levels. Four special education teachers will work collaboratively with general education teachers in English, language arts and math to provide instruction and support.

Collaboration and training with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit started in May and will continue throughout the school year to provide consistent and research-based practices for all students.

Viewboards will be installed in all of the lower elementary classrooms. The project will be completed in three phases, replacing all projector setups in the individual rooms throughout the district.

The high school computer lab was upgraded, and Chromebook use was expanded down to the second grade. A new help desk/ticketing system will be implemented to streamline technology support throughout the district.

The district will have a new website with a separate website for athletics. Dynamo gear will be available for purchase online for the community at the start of the school year.

Burrell School District

The district is placing student behavioral specialists in all four of its schools. The specialists will be the primary contacts when students exhibit behaviors that prevent them or others from learning, said Greg Egnor, director of student services.

“They are trained to de-escalate a situation and to have the students reflect on their behavior, all to improve behavior so kids can remain in class and learn,” he said. In addition, the behavioral specialists will work on a team with school teachers, administrators, students and parents to continually review the process to help improve student behavior, Egnor said.

For the first day of school Thursday, Sept. 1, students will see an updated home economics room. The district installed new, modern cabinets and added a fifth kitchenette that is wheelchair-accessible, Egnor said. All of the renovation work was done in-house, he added.

Deer Lakes School District

The district is offering two new classes for the 2022-23 school year, which started Aug. 24. The district split its pre-calculus class into two curricula to offer pre-calculus and calculus.

New security measures were addedto continue improving safety.

A safety device, Nightlock Lockdown 2, has been added to classroom doors. It acts as a barricade in emergency situations. The device was added in collaboration with the West Deer Police Department.

Another safety measure added was BusPatrol, a stop-arm camera for school buses. The device aims to discourage motorists from running the red lights when a bus is making a stop.

Police will issue tickets to violators captured on camera.

Freeport Area School District

The district added more safety features in addition to school police officers present in each district building, Superintendent Ian Magness said.

“In addition to their school guidance counselors, students will also have access to a licensed professional counselor in each of our four buildings,” he said.

For the first day of school Aug. 25, students were greeted by a new principal at Buffalo Elementary, Mike Kleckner; a new head principal at the middle school and high school, Tim Walters; and Assistant Principal Charles Shipman at the middle school.

Highlands School District

Students headed back to class Wednesdaywith a few new guidelines for families.

Hats and head coverings, excluding those for religious reasons, are no longer permitted in the high school. They must be removed when students enter the building.

New this year, all high school students must enter the building each morning through the arcade. Doors open at 7:10 a.m.

Walkers and students driven to school by their parents will enter through the courtyard, and student drivers and those riding buses will enter the arcade by the baseball field.

At district events held at Golden Rams Stadium, gyms and auditoriums, there will be no re-entry to activities, including those that feature food trucks.

Kiski Area School District

New this school year, which started Aug. 25, will be a student-run credit union called Kiski Area Cash Stash. It is scheduled to open this fall in the high school foyer, and training is underway for student employees.

Kiski Area High School and Pheple Federal Credit Union have partnered to offer the real-life working experience . The program, led by high school Principal Chad Roland, aims to increase financial literacy.

Students will be able to apply for paid teller positions at the student branch.

Greensburg-based Pheple FCU has two other student branches in Pittsburgh-area high schools and one at Westmoreland County Community College.

Roland said the credit union is scheduled for a soft opening in October and expects to be fully operational by November.

The district also added two new administrative jobs.

Emily Mather is the new director of curriculum and instruction and the director of federal programs. Mather began the new role in July.

Darren Kennedy started his new job as director of Student Support Services in July. Kennedy’s duties will focus on collaborating with district staff and families to develop plans offering educational support and services.

Leechburg Area School District

The district is offering new courses and programs, including a new math and social emotional learning curriculum, upon students’ return Aug. 25.

There is a new mental health and academic support program, and a new social worker has been added.

In a fall newsletter, the district announced new safety measures . There will be a building safety assessment. The local police departments will begin running a program in schools to offer increased awareness and support with topics such as safety and drug prevention.

The district’s Emegency Operations Plan can be viewed on its website.

New Kensington-Arnold School District

The district hired a number of new teachers and support staff in time for its first day of school Monday, Aug. 29, Assistant Superintendent Jon Banko said.

“All four schools have teachers that are new to the district, and a number of teachers have transitioned to new positions in different schools,” he said.

Two new administrators, Athletic Director Kim Johnson and buildings and grounds Director Zach Heidenreich, “have jumped in and are already making significant improvements,” Banko said.

Building updates are ongoing, with a number of classrooms getting new flooring and the districtwide energy savings project beginning with construction projects at Roy A. Hunt Elementary.

Superintendent Chris Sefcheck is leading a curriculum update as the district looks to improve instruction and assessment to increase student achievement, Banko said.

Banko said the district is continuing to make adjustments to its safety protocols, with updates to student handbooks and the safety equipment used at all schools.

The main entrance bridge at Valley Junior-Senior High School is open after repairs and refurbishment, while some minor decorative and finishing work still is being done, Banko said.