~~ Vol. 110 No. 10 Supervisors grumble about group home By JESSICA APPOLO Post Staff JACKSON TWP. - Jackson Township is host to a new group home for mentally disabled persons. At the March 1 meeting of the supervisors, zoning officer John Krupa said, “Federal requirements were met, but they never made application with township's zoning hearing board. They just bypassed the application pro- cess.” Township officials said they were not sure when the group home would be open. But Linda Leighton, chief operat- ing officer for Human Services Consult- ants, said the home has been in use for a couple of months. Human Service Con- sultants, a non-profit agency that pro- vides residential programs for children and adults with developmental disabili- ties, purchased the home on Smith Pond Rd. last year. Leighton said one person lives there now, under constant supervision. Resi- dents go to workshop programs or other activities during the day, and live in the group home at night, with a counselor. There will “probably be three at the very most,” she said. Solicitor Blythe Evans questioned how the federal government could approve such a project when the local application for permission to operate the program was never made with Jackson Township. But he also pointed out that other com- munities that have challenged group homes have lost in court after paying out thousands of dollars ‘in legal fees and fines. Leighton said the agency had not ap- proached the township because no zon- ing changes were necessary. Since the home has received federal approval, the supervisors decided not to challenge it. Jackson Township supervisors are taking into consideration a proposal to combine the many zip codes in the town- ship into a single zip code. Supervisors are researching the appropriate chan- nels to submit the proposal. Police Chief Jones has requested a new addition to the department. One of the police cars has turned over 120,000 plus miles and ChiefJones has requested a four- wheel drive replacement. Supervi- sors must review current contracts and authorized dealers to the police depart- ment before making a decision. 50 Cents March 10 thru March 16, 1999 On recess plan, no break from controversy By PETER GAGLIARDI Post Staff DALLAS - A packed room of more than 50 people waited over an hour for the Dallas School Board to convene their meeting on Monday night. Most were there to question a planned reduction in elementary school recess time. The issue was clouded by confusion about the present recess periods. Re- sponding to concerns from parents that too much time was spent in recess, Dr. Gil Griffiths, Superintendent of Schools, had been told that students in grades 1- 5 were taking two 30-minute recess peri- ods each day, “which meant we were losing 60 hours of instructional time.” That turned out to be incorrect, how- ever. Students in grades 1-3 have one 30- minute recess and one 15-minute recess. Students in grades 4 and 5 have just one 30-minute recess. Griffiths said “mis- communications between the teachers, staff, and the administration” caused the problem. Griffiths said Tuesday he originally planned to change to a single 15-minute recess, but the school board suggested two 15-minute periods. Teachers prefer a 30-minute recess, because it provides more time to prepare for classes. Susan Butcher, an elementary school teacher, said the plan did not make sense since the schools are already limited to 30 minutes a day. ; Mary Ann Yurko, another elementary education teacher, said that 15 minute recesses are too short. She said “In win- ter by the time they get their coats on and off and go outside eight minutes are already gone.” Now, Griffiths will review each teacher's schedule, and try to come up with a reasonable plan. “We are going to re- evaluate the time and see if we can get more instructional time out of it,” he said. A reduction of 15 minutes in grades 1-3 will provide the equivalent of six addi- tional days instruction each school year, he said. See RECESS, pg 8 Fond memories as Westmoreland School approaches end of its usefulness By MEIRA ZUCKER Post Correspondent TRUCKSVILLE - “If these walls could talk.” So comments a long-time teacher at Westmoreland El- ementary School. The build- ing, first occupied in 1932, has " been the home for thousands of students, teachers, and em- ployees since, and has created a lasting impact on residents of the Back Mountain. Through the eyes of its alumni - both teachers and students - the distinctiveness of this build- ing is revealed. But does a building create the educational atmosphere, or do the inhabitants? “It’s kind of a hard thing to put your finger on,” says Ann Tripp; when trying to describe the differences between By PETER GAGLIARDI Post Staff DALLAS - The building that is now Westmoreland Elemen- tary School was originally the Kingston Township High School. The drive to build the school began in August, 1931, when J. Earl Newhart ran suc- cessfully for school director of Westmoreland and other schools. “Iliked the oldness; the charm. I felt more comfortable there.” Tripp began teaching fifth grade in 1973, and joined the Westmoreland faculty in 1986. She found the students at Westmoreland always willing to help faculty and fellow students. “The people cared a lot about the kids,” she says, “and I liked the range of children.” “I will remember the kids,” Kingston Township. Newhart argued that the future of the township was at stake, and that taxes would rise dramatically if a new school was not built. He said many people would move back to Wilkes-Barre if the over- crowding in the schools was not solved. Earlier in 1931, the state De- partment of Education warned says Tripp, who retired in 1997. Ruth Tetschner served as prin- cipal at Westmoreland for one year before her retirement, and noticed the special environment of the school. “Teachers were very wrapped up in the children,” notes Tetschner, as she recol- lects the “caring, family feeling” there. “It was easier to learn the names of the students,” she adds, because of the small size. The intimate atmosphere of Westmoreland contributed to many activities. The school orga- nized an ecology walk from Cen- ter Street.to the school, and planted trees and flowers on nearby land. “Every school ad- justs to its physical situation,” says Tetschner. Walter Prokopchak has seen the school from both sides. In See MEMORIES, pg 8 Kingston Township about the problem. The department said if plans for a new school were not immediately drawn up, Kingston Township would be reduced to a two year school and would be required to send its high school students to a differ- ent school district. In an article in the August 21, 1931 issue of The Dallas Post, 14 Pages, 2 Sections Bob Anderson, left, and Loren Dymond reminisced about the old days when the Class of 1936 gathered at the school in 1996. State threat to send students out of town led to school Newhart is reported to have said, . scores of person have told him they would move back to Wilkes-Barre next year if some- thing is not done immediately by the school board.” Newhart was elected to the school board in that November's election. See BUILDING, pg 8 J Community invited _ to Carnival A Winter Carnival will commemorate the closing of the Westmoreland School. There will be games for all ages, a raffle of prizes donated by local businesses, food and much more. The carnival will be held Saturday, March 13, from noon io 6 p.m. in the school gymnasium. 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