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The Dallas Post
Pat 2 prem
Dallas, PA Wednesday, February 19, 1997. 8,"
Schools
(continued from page 1)
, The unotticial poll results pub-
lished in the Feb. 5 issue of The
Dallas Post showed “site D” as the
second favorite choice for the new
school. The first choice was to
leave the school where it is in
Trucksville.
' At school board meetings, many
parents have voiced concerns
about potential traffic disasters
on the main campus, an over-
whelming environment for young
children, long bus rides, the loss
of an intimate relationship be-
tween the students and teachers
and potential drops in test scores.
A recent study performed by
the University of South Carolina's
Department of Education showed
that smaller may not necessarily
mean better. The study was based
on.the state test scores of 600
elementary schools ranging in size
from 10 to 1,425 students.
The study states that based on
its findings “the assumption that
smaller is better does not neces-
sarily hold true. In fact, elemen-
tary schools in South Carolina
that receive more recognition
based on academic performance
from the state and from profes-
siomal organizations tend to be
larger rather that smaller.” The
socioeconomic status of schools
was a factor, as the larger schools
tended to be in higher socioeco-
; nomic categories.
The study points out that al-
“It could be a very
interesting situation,
with both COOBETION
and competion,”
Paul Abrenison
Staten Leggett Associates
though “academic measures are
important, other factors such as
personal safety, social and emo-
tional development, opportunities
for participation in activities, etc.
are also legitimate measures of
school success that need to be
considered before establishing an
optimal school size.”
Paul Abremson, president of
Stanton Leggett Associates, who
served as the educational con-
sultant for Quad 3, said the ad-
joining of school is common at the
secondary level because of the
need for larger and more expen-
sive facilities. “It's not done at the
elementary level (as much) be-
cause the cost factors with spe-
cialized rooms (art, music, gym-
nasiumes) isn't so great,” explained
Abremson who recommended the
Westmoreland school be replaced.
Abremson said the choice for
this type of building remained up
to the community, but provided
the following practical questions
he thought significant to aid in
School board holds line
on tax collectors’ fees
By | KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER
Post Staff
DALLAS TWP. - The Dallas
School Board voted unanimously
at its Feb. 10 meeting to continue
paying district tax collectors at $4
per taxable property.
John Litz, finance committee
‘recommended the method of pay-
ment be sustained prior to the
~ vote. The tax collectors brought
|
¢ )
~
suit against the district in 1993
after the board voted against the
former system of payment based
on a sliding commission scale.
That case is still pending.
Quad Three, Inc., engineers for
the elementary school project, was
in search of answers at the meet-
ing. Paul Degillio and Joel Sims of
the architecture and engineering
firm have been involved in the
process for two years now, and
wanted to get clear direction on
how to proceed.
“We would like to take a couple
steps back to gain some clarity,”
Sims: told the board. Sims and
Degillio asked the board exactly
what they needed to know; if the
board wanted a separate school,
if it wanted to stick with the K-5
'strueture and whether or not it
needed a one or two story build-
ing.- Sims also told the board if it
wanted to connect buildings,
Quad Three needed to know soon.
“We can approve Plancon A (a
written justification for building
to the state) and send it off if there
is direction by the board that a
site will be determined in the near
future,” said Sims. He told the
board that the Plancon process
typically takes a year and con-
struction takes anywhere from 14-
18 months. “The earliest the build-
ing could be occupied is Sept. of
1999, but if site selection goes
beyond April we won't make that
date. The school will have to be
built later,” explained Sims.
Quad Three asked the board to
list specifics they see as impor-
tant and vital to ensure the best
facility possible. The list included
everything from durability and
aesthetics to appropriate class
size, community atmosphere and
security.
Ernest Ashbridge, board presi-
dent, thanked Quad Three for their
input leaving the impression that
the board would discuss these
issues in more depth at future
meetings.
Ben Jones, board solicitor said
the district is seeking full restitu-
tion from the students respon-
sible for the November mercury
spill, which cost the district ap-
proximately $150,000 in cleanup
and disposal fees. “I don’t think
it’s possible for the boy’s parents
to fully pay that amount back,”
said Jones. “Since it emanates
from vandalism, it's unlikely to be
covered by insurance.”
The next board meeting will be
March 10. There will not be a
work session March 3.
* Grange Bank posts hefty
gain in assets, earnings
% on W
The Grange National Bank,
Laceyville, Pennsylvania has an-
nounced its financial results for
1996.
Robert C. Wheeler, Chairman
of Grange National Banc Corp.
and Grange National Bank, has
announced that the bank achieved
an, after tax net profit of
$1,501,000 representing a 27%
gain over the previous year. The
bank also experienced strong as-
set growth with an increase of
$12,378,000 in total assets rep-
J resenting a 13.5% increase over
1995. Earnings per share of $4.23
and, return on average assets of
1.52% also set new records for the
bank.
The bank's President and CEO,
Thomas A. McCullough, attrib-
uted the bank's record earnings
to strong loan growth, a stable
interest rate environment, low
FDIC insurance premiums, and
continued improvement in the
bank’s net interest margin. Mr.
McCullough stated “We have ex-
perienced strong loan and deposit
growth primarily as a result of our
expansion into Luzerne County.
We believe that our success in
Luzerne County is proof that the
public continues to prefer the type
of personal service that only a
community bank can provide.
The Grange National Bank cur-
rently operates eight full service
banking offices in Luzerne, Wyo-
ming, Susquehanna and Bradford
Counties. Their ninth office, lo-
cated in Trucksville, opened Feb.
18.
Civil War group to meet February 19
Wyoming Valley Civil War Round table will hold its monthly meeting
ed., Feb. 19 in the library of the Dallas High School in Dallas. An
unysual aspect of this meeting will be the display of many tables of Civil
war artifacts and documents brought by the speaker, Joe Long,
curator of the GAR Museum of Scranton.
Additional information on the Civil War Round Table or about the
coming meeting may be obtained by calling Reese E. Pelton at 675-
5790. Persons of all ages with specific or general interest in this
defining event of American history are invited to be present.
Seeking stuffed animals for bingo
@ The Activities Department at the Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas,
has need for stuffed animals in “new” condidtion to be used as bingo
prizes for residents. To make a donation, call 675-8600, Ext. 139.
E55 SS
the decision-making process: Will
there be sufficient space for park-
ing, will there be enough outdoor
space to accommodate each
school, and will there be suffi-
cient space for two sets of buses
without interfering with parents
and teachers in their cars?
“It could be a very interesting
situation, with both cooperation
and competition,” said Abremson.
The “school within a school” idea,
in which large schools are broken
up, has been in practice since the
early 1960's, he said. In these
situations, usually each section
has its own administration.
The size and arrangement of
the administration also has been
a concern of many in the commu-
nity. Some parents fear there will
only be one principal for 1,200
students if “site D” is chosen.
Abremson suggested two possible
ways the district could handle the
situation. “One way to do it would
be to have a single principal and
two or three assistant principals
or a principal and two assistants
in each building,” he said, point-
ing out that it is up the existing
administration to select the struc-
ture.
The one point that everyone
seems able to agree on is that it is
up to the community to decide
what is the best option for the
children.
Westawski makes
dean's list
Robert Westawski of Dallas
majoring in occupational therapy
has been named to the D’Youville
College Dean's List for the Fall
1996 semester.
CONTINUING
EDUCATION
non-credit
course
offerings
(WV) [e187:Ne] 35
Beginning Italian
Intermediate Italian
Polish for Communication |
Polish for Communication I
Russian Communication |
Russian Communication Il
Beginning Sign Language |
Beginning Sign Language Il
CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
The Appeal of Sherlock Holmes
Journal Writing
The Poetry of Robert Frost
Garden Design
The Art of Birding
Walden at Ratchford Pond
GRADUATE SCHOOL EXAM
REVIEW COURSE
LSAT Prep Course
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ballroom Dancing
Hatha Yoga
Sculpture
Pottery for Beginners
“Marketing Through
Public Speaking”
“Professional Business Writing
and Correspondence Seminar’
Successful Money Management
The Art of Video
COMPUTER WORKSHOPS
Microsoft Office for Windows:
Excel 5
Word 6
Access 2.0
Powerpoint
Claris HomePage Internet
Publishing Software
Clarisworks: Spreadsheets and
Graphics (Mac)
For more information, or to
sign up for courses, call
831-4462 or
1-800-WILKES-U,
ext. 4462,
or visit our web site:
http://www.wilkes.edu/Wilkes
Docs/UnivRel/cont-ed.html
A
WILKES
UNIVERSITY
Supervisors cite men who saved family:
By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER
Post staff
KINGSTON TWP. - At the board
of supervisors meeting on Feb.
12, Kingston Township Officer
James Ibbotson and Edward Hol-
land, Jr. were presented Letters of
Commendation for their part in
saving the Miller family from an
arson fire in the early hours on
Feb. 8. Holland alerted police
after he noticed a small fire on the
porch of the Miller's home, lo-
cated at 221 S. Memorial High-
way in Trucksville. Ibbotson is
credited with waking and evacu-
ating the five family members and
a family friend who were asleep in
the house. Both recipients at-
tended with their proud families.
The board voted unanimously
on the Planning Commission's
recommendation to approve the
new township municipal
building's final development plan.
The plan confirms the site and
layout of the new building, which
will built on Center St.
A vote on the Salvaterra Major
Subdivision Preliminary Plan was
tabled because a zoning variance
isrequired for the width of the two
lots facing Harris Hill Rd. in Mid-
way Manor. The minimum width
of each lot must be 400 ft., cur-
rently they are approximately 300
ft. according to Ben Gorey, zoning
officer. Also, the board is waiting
to hear if the National Utilities
water company will service the
lots. If not, they most likely will
grant permission for the drilling
of wells said Gorey.
The supervisors denied Robert
Steiner's request to turn 23 acres
on Mount Olivet Road from an
agriculture zone to a residential
zone. If zoned as residential the
minimum lot size must be one
acre, if kept as agriculture it must
‘have a minimum of two and a half
acre sized lots.
Back Mountain Baseball, Inc.
was approved to use the Center
Street Park Field for evening prac-
tices from March 15 through Aug.
15.
»
Ri
by
Rhy
@
fy
POST PHOTO/KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER 2
Kingston Twp. police officer.
James Ibbotson holds the
award he was given by the
township supervisors to :
commend his action that saved
a family from fire Feb. 8. 4
If you missed The Post - you missed the news!
ERNIESS
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Route 309, Dallas
(nextto Treatlce Cream)
674-2420
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