Vol. 115 No. 12 — @ Queensme run in to title game Page 7 The Back Mountain's Newspaper Since 1889 March 21 to March 28, 2004 SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN — Go directly to jail. Those could be the words two parents hear ~ as a result of their children’s continued absence ‘from school. But they are the exception, as lo- cal school districts work to improve student at- tendance rates. School officials say a five-day jail term for parents is a last resort, but despite fttempts to work with families, it is sometimes eal possibility. Administrators in the Dallas School District are stepping up efforts to reduce missed school days in part by looking more closely for pat- terns of attendance — or lack of it — in both individual records and the school calendar as a whole. The Lake-Lehman district instituted an atten- dance policy in the late 1980s that is still in use, and can result in a student being withdrawn from a class if too many days are missed. Today, the policy is being enforced with new vigor, and parents are receiving forceful reminders by mail 8 Schools fight absences with velvet glove when their children have been absent without notification. The emphasis on attendance is driven in part by requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind act. Beyond test scores and graduation rates, the federal government requires states to select another indicator of academic perform- ance. Pennsylvania chose attendance. The act requires an attendance rate of at least 95 percent, or year-over-year improvement in the rate if it falls below that. See ABSENCES, pg 3 Fines, even jail, are last stop for parents of truants Under state guidelines, every student is entitled to three unexcused absences a year. After that, dis- tricts handle matters in different ways. Dallas School District employs a Home and School Visitor, and among his duties is dealing with students showing chronic absenteeism. Norm Swithers has held the post for six years. Even though legal action is an option, he sees it as a last resort. “If I have to go to the magistrate, I think I've See FINES, pg 3 oung man has igh hopes for a olitical future i Nick Kon, Jordan Mullen and Josh Perella compared and showed off their cars at a recent Cub Scout Pinewood Derby held by Gate of Heaven Troop 232. More photos on page 3. Po FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK irt road will be paved, but not right away By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — Helena Kuczura has been waiting 22 years for the road that runs by her secluded home to be paved. Her family built the first house in the upscale Glen- dalough neighborhood off Up- per Demunds Road, a develop- ment that can be glimpsed through the trees only when “ there are no leaves. Restaurant to reopen By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff TRUCKSVILLE — The ilding at 111 South Main Wireet that used to house Yes- terday’s restaurant could soon see new life. A notice of application posted in the former restau- rant’s window states the com- pany M & M Restaurants, LLC., has applied for a trans- fer of liquor license for the property. Kingston Township Zoning Officer Bill Eck said he has been told the building’s cur- rent owner, Paul Klug, will retain ownership of the prop- erty and lease it to M & M Restaurants. “It’s going to be a family style restaurant — basically See YESTERDAY'S, pg 2 “This road is a mess,” espe- cially now, she said earlier this month. , Actually, about half of the road is paved, but not the por- tion that runs by seven homes including Kuczura’s. : Kuczura says she has im- plored the township to im- prove the road, but her pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Township Secretary Leonard Kozick said Glendalough was developed with private roads, and property deeds stated as much. But after residents com- plained, the township agreed to take over the roads in the mid-1990s, once they were brought up to required specifi- cations for width and drainage. More than half has been paved since then. The rest will have to wait until the township has enough extra money to fin- ish the job, said Frank Wagner, vice chairman of the supervi- sors. “We will do it gradually,” he said, “but we're not going to go into debt for it.” That has been the pattern so far. Wagner said the township first paved the portion of Glen- dalough Road that runs across an earthen dam. “We couldn’t hold the road,” when it was gravel, he said. Next, asphalt was laid down on a portion of Glendalough Road that runs to Raintree Road, past six homes. Then See DIRT ROAD, pg 3 By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff DALLAS TWP. - Todd Buckley may be a “regular” col- lege student, but this 19-year- old Dallas graduate aspires to a position few of his peers relate to. On two Monday evenings a month, as many fellow King’s College students retreat to the comfort of their dorm rooms, Buckley climbs into his car and heads to the Dallas School Dis- trict Administration Building. Last November, after losing a bid to replace resigned board member, Anthony Barbose, the ambitious business administra- tion major resolved to attend as many school board meetings as possible. “From that time on, I felt that if I wanted to be on the board, I should be informed about what’s going on.” He has been attending ever since, and — at times — actively partici- pating in the process. He re- cently spoke up about an over- crowding situation at a district open swim. “lI am really just like every other college student,” he said during an interview at his par- ents’ home last week. “I do hang out with my friends and everything, but I do make it a point to go to the board meet- ings.” It's possible the aspiring board member is the youngest ever to seek such a position in the Dallas School District, or in the state. He plans to throw his hat in the ring a year from this May, when several seats will be up for grabs. He acknowledged last year’s competition was stiff. He was up against 30-year board veter- an Ernest Ashbridge, outgoing board member John Litz and voter favorite Dennis Gochoel. Gochoel ultimately ended up securing the position. + Nonetheless, he hasn’t been deterred and the loss, or what he calls the “learning opportu- nity,” has only strengthened his resolve. He believes himself to be a strong candidate that would bring unique experience and insight. After all, he pointed See FUTURE, pg 3 POST PHOTO! Ean TOUGH Todd Buckley, 19, is plan- ning to run for the Dallas School Board. After that, who knows? Dallas grows a big crop of Student Achievers future tycoons By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — Members of the Fu- ture Business Leaders of America Club at Dallas High School have made it past re- gionals and on to the state competition for years. This is the first year, though, that 15 club members have won the right to ad- varnce. “This is the largest region in Pennsylva- nia, that’s why it’s so great that we have so many going,” said the club’s advisor, Linda Shrader. The group had to compete against 12 other schools to earn spots at the compe- tition. month. Fifteen members of Dallas High School’s Future Business Leaders of Amer- . ica Club have won the right to compete at the state competition later in the Shrader, who has been advisor to the club for six years, takes no credit for the success — “I just think they are very bright people See TYCOONS, pg 2 Pictured from left, first row: Shannon Kotch, Gillian Libenson, Sam O’Brien, Nikki Pisacano. Second row: Jon Baker, Michael Kowalski, Jon Stevens, Adam Snider, Ryan McHale, Kevin Roman, Linda Shrader, advisor. POST PHOTO/ERIN YOUNGMAN Standouts in science win state berths By M.B. GILLIGAN Post Correspondent LEHMAN TWP. teams qualified to attend the state level of the Science Olympiad after compet- ing in the Northeast Regional event, which took place at Penn State Wilkes- Barre campus on March 10. “It was a lot of fun,” said Jean Lipski, who along with Sandy Boyle, coaches the Lake-Lehman High School team. “The kids are really excited. It is the first time that our two teams will be go- ing to states at the same time.” Both Lake-Lehman Junior High, with — Several area a sixth place finish, out of 28 teams, and Lake-Lehman Senior High, which placed seventh out of 36 teams, earned See SCIENCE, pg 2 INSIDE THE PosT 12 Pages, 1 Section Calendar. Legion Auxiliary plans salute to Iraq soldiers Back Mountain honor students at Bishop O’Reilly Page 10 Join the auction committee Page 6 ¥ How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 Advertising: 970-7102 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000 A/ a A a SR RL SR SRR a nt th —
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