Jersey Shore board reviews Pre-K program

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JERSEY SHORE - As the district prepares for Pre-K Counts classes to begin Oct. 1, the Jersey Shore Area School Board further discussed the grant-funded program at Monday night's regular meeting.

"The district would actually own all the equipment and would own the curriculum," Assistant Superintendent Robert Conroy, said. The provider agencies, All Things Bright and Beautiful of Avis and Mom's Inc. of McElhattan, will be responsible for paying a teacher and an aide.

Providers will have to complete a grant for food to be provided, said Laura Milarch, Avis and Nippenose elementary principal.

Transportation will be provided for all students, as many as 20, in the program.

"This has to be totally free to the students," Conroy said, adding that the providers are "comfortable" with that. "It's all a go," he said.

The district has yet to formalize a letter of agreement with both providers to finalize whether they, or the district, are responsible for each cost.

Pre-K Counts grant money will cover 5 1/2 hours of instruction per day, and if the family needs their child to stay at the provider agency longer, the parent or guardian will have to pay for that care, according to Conroy.

The grant is to serve "at risk children" including economically or culturally disadvantaged or those with a language delay. "We proposed this for our most at-risk communities," which are the borough and Avis, Conroy said.

In other business, the board read and approved on first reading the first 15 of the district's newly revised policies. The goal, board president Craig Allen said is "absolute perfect policy."

Superintendent Richard J. Emery said the policies were revised to closer meet federal guidelines. Movie guidelines and religious student exceptions were among the topics discussed at length.

Movie guidelines dictate that elementary students can view "G" movies while secondary students can see portions of movies rated PG and PG-13. Faculty must review the film to ensure "no excessive inappropriate language and that any sexual content is not of an offensive nature." Board member Christopher Fravel said that violence should be included on the list of banned topics, especially with the "number of weapon violations" the district has seen.

Emery said teachers will use more streaming video clips to teach and controversial topics will be more easily avoided.

Another policy on resource materials included, "Wherever possible, materials shall be selected to provide opposing views on controversial issues so that students may develop critical reading and thinking skills."

Fravel asked for the sentence to be clarified and added that he would not want his children to necessarily learn all opposing view points on certain topics.

With the board's approval, Conroy suggested that wording like "when appropriate" be added to the policy to clarify opposing information only be presented to certain grade levels in certain subject ares.

Another policy on exemption from instruction said students must present a parent or guardian request to the district for the student to be exempt from subjects contrary to religious belief.

For all students under 18, the policy means that children cannot just leave a class. "The child does not have that right," Emery said.

Solicitor Sarah Steinbacher said the policy "is a documentation issue that benefits the school district."

The board accepted the resignations of Dan Lazorka as middle and high school girls softball coach and of Angela Knecht as high school band director. Christopher Lahr will fill Knecht's position with a prorated stipend of $4,135.

The next meeting is schedule for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Administration Building at 175 A&P Drive.