Sunday, September 23, 2012 rogram adopted By JON O'CONNELL Times Leader Correspondent School Board President Catherine Wega called it a great part of the school dis- trict’s curriculum, referring to a grade-encompassing career awareness program to begin in October, school officials say. The Dallas School Board on Sept. 17 adopted the Pennsyl- vania Department of Educa- tion’s career mentoring pro- gram as part of the district’s curriculum. Career mentor- ing is a part of the recom- mended K-12 career aware- ness from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The program is based on ar- ea business professionals vol- unteering as mentors to work with students, giving them early exposure to what they might find upon entering the work force. The program is to be imple- mented into the district’s cur- riculum in three phases, with the first two conducted in- house. Volunteers are to speak during assemblies and career fairs will allow students to ex- plore the area’s business op- portunities on their own. At voting time, board mem- gan Fred Parry asked about tground checks as the pro- gram’s phase three has stu- dents leaving the campus for job shadowing. He expressed concern and voted against the program be- cause the district does not have a current policy address- ing this career awareness pro- gram’s volunteers, nothing re- quiring them to undergo crim- inal background checks before interacting with students. He said he was most con- cerned with the job-shadow- ing element. er discussion with solic- Ben Jones, the board con- ed that adopting the new program to the curriculum is the first step. Board member Maureen Matiska said school policy and curriculum are two sepa- rate items and do not need to be considered in the same vote. a Matthew Cheskiewicz, a student at Dallas Elementary School, is served an ice cream cone by a parent PTO member. DES students all scream for ICE CREAM he Dallas Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization continued its annual tradition by hosting an ice cream party at the school during the first week of classes. Dallas Elementary School PTO members Amy Schappert, left, and Lisa Langan serve ice cream cones to students. The group annually treats the students during their first week of school. Lauren Hurst smacks her lips clean after an ice cream treat served by the Dallas Elementary School PTO. The group traditionally serves ice cream to the entire student body during the first week of classes. Board approves drivers, staffs activities By MEGAN SCHNEIDER mschneider@mydallaspost.com Lake-Lehman School Board settled into the new academic year by approving drivers and ensuring extra-curricular ac- tivities are sufficiently staffed. The board approved 38 bus and van drivers, as well as 16 substitute drivers and six van contractors for the 2012-2013 school year. Andrew Salko, board treasurer, said more van contractors should be elimi- nated for next year. It was noted that financial reports for the district are due on Oct. 31 and that a complete update will be available in the next 30 days. At this time, the district is unsure of its share of earned income taxes, one of the final statistics needed to complete the reports. The board approved Capital Reserve disbursements in the amount of $144,624.05 unani- mously. Members voted 7-2 on the appointment of Brian Gorski as head baseball coach with a stipend of $4,254.81 for the upcoming season. They also It was noted that financial reports for the district are due on Oct. 31 and that a complete update will be available in the next 30 days. At this time, the district is unsure of its share of earned income taxes, one of the final statistics needed to complete the reports. approved Nancy Edkins as head swim coach with a sti- pend of $3,620.36 and Dou- glas Piazza as assistant band director with a stipend of $2,145.15. The board authorized the human resources department to advertise for a 4.5 hour cus- todian, approved the appoint- ment of a new Junior-Senior High School food service worker and appointed Molly Company, of Shavertown, as a teacher associate to begin at Lehman-Jackson Elementary. The board also rescinded the appointment of Kimberly Ayers as a personal care assist ant for the 2012-2013 year. The following elementary department heads were ap- proved: Carrie McDonald in Language Arts, Donna Ri chards in Science, Richard Cronin in Math and Linda Van Orden in Social Studies with a stipend of $1,523.02 each. The board moved to grant tenure and issue professional employee contracts to Kim- See DRIVERS, Page 7 FEST Continued from Page 1 tured an appearance by the Penn State Nittany Lion, fire truck rides by the Dallas Fire Depart- ment, an open mic competition with local performers of all ages and a petting zoo presented by Blue Chip Farms. Children flocked to see white rabbits, ducks, chickens and Wilbur the 8month-old pot-belly pig that was available for adoption. The elected winner of the Kiss the Pig fundraiser was Dal- las Middle School Principal Dr. Tom Duffy, who puckered up to Wilbur in the afternoon. The Dallas School District was well represented as seniors Madeline Mulhern and Court- ney Sickel volunteered at a booth to gather organ and tissue donation sign-ups and the Dallas High School varsity cheerlead- ers performed on the main stage. Families gathered their chil- dren around the Whistle Pig Pumpkin Patch stand for pump- kin decorating fun. Chase Susko, of Dallas, sat with his wife and young daughter while they deco- rated a pumpkin. “It seems like there’s more people this year,” Luzerne County Judge Jennifer Rogers does the Chicken Dance on stage at the Dallas Harvest Festival. he said. With vendors on a waiting list for next year’s celebration, the committee is pleased with this year’s attendance and is already working on improving the event for next year. RIGHT PHOTO: Abby Mitchell, 6, of Noxen, left, pets an albino ny as Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge volunteer Maci Iddings, f Tunkhannock holds him. FAR RIGHT PHOTO: Two-year-old Christopher Harding, of Sha- vertown, applies a sticker to his pumpkin at the Dallas Harvest Festival. BILL TARUTIS PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Jovanni Piccolotti, 6, of Dallas, left, assists Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns Che- rie, right, and Dave with their juggling act at the Dallas Harvest Festival.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers