¢e - qN | oe The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, October 23, 1996 3 ‘School's . failings ~ obvious In tour By JENNIFER JUDGE Post Correspondent LEHMAN - Junior High Princi- ‘pal Robert Roberts was not sur- ‘prised when the Lake-Lehman school board announced that the junior high school building failed to receive accreditation from the Middle States Association of Col- leges and Schools. “The old building has served the district very well, but it's past its prime,” Roberts said last week. The existing structure was built in 1939 and has accommodated as many as 400 students. Next year's seventh grade will prove the structure's biggest test, as the school will have to serve 50 to 70 more kids than usual. But lack of space is one of the school's minor problems. Roberts reinforced the Middle States “Association's findings in other . areas during a walking tour of the ' building Oct. 11. The water sys- * tem is being filtered to remove . gasoline, but still remaining in ' the water are traces of lead and a : gasoline additive. Near every wa- + ter faucet and fountain in the . school are signs reminding stu- : dents to refrain from drinking the ' water. . The ventilation system in the : building is inadequate. The filters : the school was using did not filter : out smaller particles but they did : allow more air into the rooms. : Changing filters only changed the | problem. Now the air that enters : the classrooms is cleaner, but ; there is less of it. Middle States : reported levels of carbon dioxide ' thdt exceeded acceptable levels. Roberts explained that many : teachers were experiencing prob- i lems with allergies and as a re- i sult, the school district has pur- ! chased extra air filters for some of : the worst rooms in the building. “The science labs in the build- ; ing dare science labs merely be- » cause they have faucets. Theylack : hot water and adequate storage : areas for equipment, so expensive POST PHOTO/JENNIFER JUDGE Water is undrinkable at the Lake-Lehman Middle School, because of contamination of the groundwater from a nearby gas station. apparatus is placed on open carts within the rooms. Roberts pointed out that the problems found were with the fa- cilities, not the education the stu- dents are receiving. In 1984, Cathy Gregory's Earth and Space Sci- ence class was recognized by the National Science Teachers as an exemplary science program. The junior high's locker room facilities are also inadequate. Metal hooks line the walls in place of lockers, and there is only one ‘bathroom stall in the facility. Showers are covered with mildew that janitors have been unable to remove with chemicals. Shower knobs are missing. Outside the locker room, a bare bulb lights the passageway. Roberts ex- plained that this too is a hazard because a student could reach up and smash the bulb. The gym is in good shape, ac- cording to Roberts, but unfortu- nately, it cannot be used two pe- riods out of the day because it is used as a lunch room. The library does not contain an adequate number of books. There is little parking and no traffic control. Lanes labeled car and bus desig- nate where vehicles will travel, but children departing buses must walk in front of cars and children departing cars must walk in front of the buses. Ten-year-old school carpeting must be replaced, but is glued to tile and pulling it up could disturb - _HL Demos plan Halloween dance The Harveys Lake Democratic party will have a Halloween Dance : October 26, at the Castle Inn, Route 415, Dallas, 8 p.m. to midnight. + Music will be by Strange Brew. : Costumes are optional, but plaques will be awarded for the best » costumes. The cost will be $15 per person, which includes beverage : and buffet. Tickets are available from members of the Democratic Party or may : be purchased at the door or by calling 639-1994. Everyone is welcome. Villa Roma Pizza & Pasta House Harveys Lake 639-1818 LUETRID LEU GTTESS Fi TdT Free Pizza, Free Soda Free Candy Thursday, Oct. 31 » 5-7 p.m. 19 years experience Dan’s 1155 Main Street ® Swoyersville, PA 18704 (717) 287-2296 « (717) 342-4910 ar are enter BUMPER TO SPECIA CARS ¥34.95 TRUCKS & VANS $44.95 Specializing in Rust Protection © Undercoating Paint Protection & Fabric Protection UNDERCOATING SPECIAL BERR starting at 379-99 Winter is right around the corner. Protect your investment - CALL US FIRST! Wash & Wax, Vacuum Interior, EAN Clean Windows & Tires asbestos beneath the tile. Sub- standard play facilities include a chain link fence with exposed points at eye level. Roberts said, “We're not stand- ing on the corner beating a drum saying, ‘We want a new school, We want a new school.’ There are very serious problems with the school. The health, welfare, and education ofthesekids is at stake.” For now, the school is trying to manage the problems that exist without spending a lot of money. New filters have been placed in the ventilators. Extra air filters were purchased for certain rooms and vacuum cleaners that take smaller particles out of the rugs were also bought. Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Price said that the district will consider adding one or two more modular structures to the existing building toaccommodate population growth until some- thing more permanent can be done. The school board is in the process of hiring a firm to do a feasibility study for the entire dis- trict, which will take from nine months to a year to complete and will cost between $5,000 and $6,000. According to Ray Bowersox, school board secretary, a feasibil- ity study includes a demographic study, a study of the existing fa- cilities and curriculum, and an analysis of the district's educa- tional needs. Bowersox also pointed out that the Ross Elemen- tary School may soon have trouble accommodating its students be- cause developments in that area are creating a population growth. Part of a feasibility study includes talking to planning committees to see what homes and developments are being planned. Ifthe feasibility study finds that a new building must be built,the district will still need to seek ap- proval from the Department of Education. Price said that state reimbursement for school build- ing projects has been decreasing over time and that the district would “have to move on this now.” The remaining cost of a new facil- ity would be made up with tax- payers’ money. “Typically, it takes five years to build a new facility,” Bowersox said. Sweet Valley Auxiliary selling flavorings The Ladies Auxiliary of the Sweet Valley Fire Company are selling flavorings for $2 a bottle. Also available for sale are slainless steel peelers and paring knives. For more informaiton, call Joy Wickard at 477-5323. Rd., Dallas, PA 675-3550 Announces new Sunday dining hours for the fall & winter season. Serving will be from 3-8 pm. Limited dates for Holiday parties are still available. We look forward to serving you soon. 3047 Lower Demunds Inn Serving Dinner Wed. /Thurs. 5-9 ¢ Fri. & Sat. 5-10 * Sun. 3-8 Closed Mon. & Tues. (HA THE PET WAREHOUSE OVER 400 TANKS OF TROPICAL & MARINE FISH Complete line of Pet & Aquarium Supplies Small Animals, Reptiles & Birds Installation & Delivery Available « Major Credit Cards Tropical Fish Special Buy Any Angel Get One FREE Offer Expires 10/30/96 HOURS: Tues.-Fri. 10to 6 - Sat. 10to 5, Sun. 12to 4 CLOSED MONDAYS 50 Dorchester Drive, Dallas (2 Blocks up behind Hess gas station) 675-3505 Book shortage a surprise, superintendent says By JENNIFER JUDGE Post Correspondent LEHMAN - Parents of sixth graders voiced concerns about the junior high, which failed. to meet Middle States Association stan- dards at the Oct. 15 meeting of the Lake-Lehman School Board. Donna Kaminski told the board that the unusually large sixth grade class has experienced text- book shortages throughout their school careers. School Superin- tendent Dr. William Price said, “This is the first we've known about it,” and assured the group that the board would look into the matter. Nancy Edkins, who has a child in the middle schooland one about to enter, commended the teach- ers for handling textbook short- ages well in the past. “lI don't think the kids miss out on any- thing,” she said. Later in the week, Edkins said, “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy extra books for this class that won't be used by future classes.” Edkins believes that once again, teachers will have to come up with creative solutions. “They've done a good job before. My expec- tation for the future is that they will continue to do a good job." During the regular meeting, Barney Dobinick, father of a sixth grader, also expressed concern about the large incoming popula- tion and the conditions of the school. Dobinick said, “As it stands now, we will not have enough books for some of the classes.” He also questioned the air quality of the school. Architect Doug Trumbower ex- plained that conditions at the school are “uncomfortable, but not hazardous.” The district has purchased additional ventilators for rooms with the highest con- centrations of carbon dioxide. Kaminski said the elementary schools will be sending about 80 students each to the school, as opposed to the usual 60. She said, “This class has been large since kindergarten. It's no surprise to them.” She also said that an infor- mal group of concerned parents will go to look at the junior high. The board voted to seek pro- posals for a facilities feasibility study. Dr. Price told parents the district willaccommodate the large incoming population of seventh graders by setting up modular units next to the existing struc- ture. Trumbower said that boiler maintenance contracts that were awarded in September have not been signed by Penn State Me- chanical because the final con- tract listed work that was sup- posed to be done in August. He also reported that replacement burners for the boilers that are needed in general maintenance were still on order. The board will offer Penn State Mechanicala new contract that will allow them to complete work that was tobe done in August "96 in August '97. Stanley Mazur, supervisor of building and grounds, informed the board that there have been problems with the middle school's boiler system since June. Mazur said, “We're still utilizing the sys- tem, but one pipe in particular needs to be repaired and possibly other things.” The work will be done by Penn State Mechanical once a contract is signed. Bids were awarded for spring sports materials and supplies at $3,300 less than what was spent last year. ~ The board voted unanimously to enter into the West Side Vo- Tech purchasing consortium. The initial cost to the district will be $2,834, but the yearly fee will decrease as more schools and municipalities enter into the con- sortium. Price told the board that districts have saved as much as $15,000 to $20,000 in the past through purchasing consortiums. A list of teacher substitutes was accepted. A certification and copyright policy was alsoapproved for the district. The board announced that the - Sept. 28 auction of used furnish- ings held at Lehman Jackson El- ementary earned the district © $1,920.50. Now that the dust has = 11 [1 I center are handled) 1 refreshments Dallas Shopping Center 675-2000 ¥ Tour the “new” office enjoy hors d'oeuvres and Geisinger Medical Group—Dallas ...the family medicine team at the Geisinger Medical ' Group—Dallas invites you to join in celebrating the expansion and renovation of their office build- ing in the Dallas Shopping Center, Route 309. ¥ board certified: family practice & geriatric medicine Mario Cornacchione, D.O. board certified: family practice & geriatric medicine Robert Yanoshak, D.O. board certified: family practice & geriatric medicine Michael Kordek, M.D. Elaine Lacey, P.A.C. & Free reflective Halloween bape filled with goodies (quantities Iie) Geisinger.
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