CLARKS SUMMIT — Abington Heights Superintendent of Schools Michael Mahon shared information regarding a project the district is pursuing regarding the potential of awarding college credits at the high school during a school board meeting April 19.
“The board has encouraged us to have dual enrollment with colleges in the past,” he said. “Our thought is wouldn’t it be neat if Abington Heights could actually award college credits and a student, if they went through the proper course of study, would be able to have an associate degree when they left the district in addition to a high school diploma?
“It’s a novel idea and we’re teaming up with Central Bucks School District, the third largest district in the state. We’ve been in contact with officials at the Pennsylvania Department of Education and local lawmakers about the prospect of having Abington Heights awarded the opportunity to grant credit. If we get that, we have a keen interest in striking up a conversation with the state system of higher education.”
Board secretary Michele Tierney announced the Abington Heights Educational Improvement Organization (AEIO) will fund trips for the high school Olympiad team to compete at the state level at Juniata College and for two of the district’s Odyssey of the Mind teams to compete in worlds at Michigan State University.
According to Tierney, who serves on the AEIO board, the organization also plans to purchase additional instruments for the Newton Ransom and South Abington Elementary Schools.
“It’s been a good year,” Tierney said. “I think the AEIO has really helped a lot of programs make it to their next level. We’re still working hard to raise funds for our extracurriculars, but we’re getting less and less (money) from the state and our programs are not getting approved like they were.”
Mahon mentioned the district is exploring the possibility of adding a girls golf team, but added there are several obstacles.
“We found that our current agreement with Glen Oak Country Club strictly allows for only 12 players,” Mahon said.
According to Mahon, there are six scoring players, per team, in each match and the girls would need at least four golfers to field a team.
“It’s conceivable that our current location could be convinced to allow for 16 team members,” Mahon said. “There may be additional costs and we may be prompted to look to other places for golf, but those are things that would have to be under discussion. It’s almost certain we’d need another coach because the boys and girls matches are not always run simultaneously.”
A group of Abington Heights teachers and administrators plans to visit Wayne Highlands School District to learn about Fundations, a phonics program.
“We’re always looking to see what we can do better,” Mahon said. “We’re exploring the prospect of introducing specific phonics lessons in kindergarten and first grade, for a half hour next year, because we think it might meet a need.”
Following the meeting, Mahon provided an update on the ongoing pool renovations.
“We have (the work) down to a final punch list,” he said. “We’re very happy with the water quality and airflow, but there are a few smaller, but persistent, issues with respect to cleanup and making sure everything is repaired. We’re hopeful, before long, we’ll be able to say this place is open again.”.In other business…
• Members of the board approved the resignations of middle school music teacher Denise Searfoss and social worker Bruce Amendolaro, both effective after the last day of the 2016-17 school year.
• Members of the board also approved the resignation of personal care aide Sarah Russoniello, effective May 5, and custodian James Saxe, effective May 8.
