A light agenda was on tap for the South Williamsport Area School district at its recent monthly meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Eric Briggs highlighted the district’s Ready, Set, School program, which seeks to help specific K-5 students make an easy transition back into the routine prior to the start of the school year.

“We recognize that some students have some concerns or needs that could potentially cause increased anxiety without a little warm up before the big first day,” Briggs said.

The program is designed to get students into the habit of behavioral expectations with a team of adults familiar to them, he explained of the program developed by K-12 Itinerant Emotional Support Teacher Tracy Wright and Central Elementary School Counselor Johanna Harper.

The students were picked by the school van each day in order to practice bus safety on the way to and from school.

“In the program, they focused each day on South expectations, staying safe, obeying rules and using kindness, taking responsibility and having respect in all areas of the building, including the gym, playground, hallways and classroom,” Briggs added.

“They were fortunate enough to host a therapy dog on the first day, and the students loved meeting Digger. The school police officer visited the students and assured them that he was going to be in their building this year to keep them safe. They had lunch each day and then went home between 11 and 11:30 a.m.,” Briggs said.

“All of the students seemed to enjoy the program, and we believe that our students, in the first week of school, have made a successful transition back to the school,” the superintendent said.

“I think this was an amazing program,” said Jeff Sees, whose daughter attended the program.

“I saw amazing progress in how it prepared her to come to school, and it’s actually been the best start of a school year ever. I believe it is because of the program getting her used to the teachers and preparing her for the first day,” the father said.

Kali Farnsworth echoed that sentiment about her son’s involvement with the program.

“He got the chance to see the school without them being overwhelmed, meet his support team, his teachers, those that he’s really going to interact with a lot in his safe space with safe people,” she said.

“He, for the first time ever, packed his school bag with all of his supplies. He wrote out his name on a little piece of sticker paper and put it on all of his supplies and had it packed a whole week before school started,” she said.

“Any other year, it was pulling teeth; just talking about school, and it was a meltdown. This has been an amazing transition for him, having the opportunity to come in while everything is at a slower pace and it’s not as loud and so overwhelming,” Farnsworth continued.

“I can’t speak enough wonderful phrases about this program and what it was done for my child. I hope that it continues for others,” she said.

In staffing matters, the board approved the transfer of Charles Davis from custodial to maintenance, effective Sept. 2, 2025;Dennis Lowell as second shift lead, effective Sept. 2; Kathleen Flerlage, Yvonne Lentz and Matthew Masters as certified substitutes; Kristie Harris, Jessica Smith and Natalya Steppe as guest teachers; Agnes Coder and Alyson Reed as guest teachers; and a number of musical, athletic and transportation personnel with varying stipends and payrates.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6.