Paws Applause:

No need to respond, but I think it’s important to communicate employee value and accomplishments to their management.    I wanted to share my appreciation of Michele Dubbs and Stacia Zahos with you.   They both have been extremely helpful providing insight and support to xxxxxxx as he has joined your school.   He’s having a great experience, but did find some challenges with schedule.  Both ladies have been extreme professionals, yet also very caring.

 Thanks for all you do over there – Shippensburg can be proud of our public school system.

Have a great day.

 

Kudos to Mrs. Dubbs and Mrs. Zahos!

 

-submitted by Mr. Levy, Principal, SAHS

Paws Applause:

Thank you to Mrs. Asper, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. McCoy, Mrs. Addlesberger, Mrs. Boyles, and Mrs. Wetzel for organizing our PBIS kick-off assembly.  Students were to introduced/re-introduced the 3 B's of Burd to students.  Champ made a special appearance and students learned the expectations for all domains of the school environment.

-Submitted by Mr. Shapiro, JBES Principal

PBIS Kick-off at JBES 8/26/16

Paws Applause:


Mrs. McCoy transforms her 2nd grade classroom using Plickers as a quick tool to collect real-time data.  So much fun and lots of learning in one room!

-Submitted by Mr. Shapiro, Principal, JBES

Paws Applause:


Please take a look at the SASD Art Blog and bookmark it for future viewing!

http://sasdartdepartment.weebly.com/art-posts-of-the-week

Paws Applause:

I would like to recognize the James Burd Faculty and Staff for helping Mrs. Krystal Boyles transform her blank classroom into a warm and inviting learning space. This transformation took a couple of hours, and it truly was a school-wide effort… 25-30 people pitched in to ensure that classroom and Mrs. Boyles were ready for those kids!!!

--Dr. Strine

Paws Applause:

On Tuesday, 8/23/16, over 220 letters were sent to Seniors who have met their Keystone graduation requirement!

 

Our goal is to see this number get closer to 100% each year.  Plans have been developed for those seniors who still need to meet this graduation requirement.

 

Parents/Guardians of Seniors who have not received a letter (either way), should contact their child's counselor.

 

Kudos to those Seniors who have met the Keystone graduation requirement!!  With the completion of remaining course credits, the Senior Project, and other requirements outlined for graduation being worked on, graduation is in sight in May or June 2017!!!

 

From: Chester Mummau
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 4:36 PM
Subject: Incident of 8/25/16 Update

 RE:  Update on 8/25/16 Incident at SAHS

 The purpose of this email is to provide a brief update on the incident at Shippensburg Area High School which occurred on 8/25/16. 

Earlier today, a 16 year old male student was charged by the Shippensburg Police Department with arson and several related charges. 

In addition, the student has been suspended from school and the High School Administration and I will be recommending expulsion from SAHS for this student to the Shippensburg Area Schools Board of Directors.

I think it is a given that we will not tolerate arson, vandalism, destruction of school property, or other acts that would infringe on the safety of our students and staff.

 We are very appreciative of the assistance provided by the Fire Department, Rescue Squad response, and the swift manner in which the Shippensburg Police Department handled this case.

Our high school was “business as usual” today with the focus returned to student achievement. 

 Sincerely,

C. Mummau

 

Chester Mummau

Superintendent-Elect

Shippensburg Area School District

201 Eberly Drive

Shippensburg, PA 17257

(717) 530-2730

 

*It’s a great day to be a Greyhound!

From: Chester Mummau
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 3:44 PM
Subject: Incident Update 8/25/16

 

RE:  Emergency Evacuation at SAHS 

The purpose of this message is to inform you of an emergency evacuation today at approximately 2:27 PM at SAHS due to a fire in a boys restroom which is believed to have been set.  The Shippensburg Fire, Rescue, and Police responded to the scene and took appropriate actions.   No one was injured to my knowledge, however afternoon dismissal and subsequently bus departures were delayed for 25 minutes.  This in turn will delay the elementary school dismissals. 

The Shippensburg Area Police Department is investigating the incident with the assistance of the High School Administrators.

Afternoon athletics practices and club meetings scheduled for today were delayed, but are being held with a regular dismissal time. 

All SASD Schools will operate on a regular schedule on Friday, 8/26/16. 

Thank you for your understanding with this matter.  We will always err on the side of safety.

 C. Mummau

Superintendent-Elect

Shippensburg Area School District

P.S. High School Administration will be at the HS between 7:00-7:30 PM this evening to allow students in who need to get items out of their lockers such as glasses, a purse, lunchbox, homework, et al.

 

Students should come through the front doors of the building near the flag pole.

 

C

Q:  Why are we planning to not have a substitute fill-rate of 100% to provide the dollars to increase substitute pay, this doesn't sound like a solid business plan?

A:  In reviewing the data from last school year, our substitute fill rate was less than 80% in most of our schools.  This is unacceptable and impacts student achievement.  In conversation with our Substitute Provider Company, we realized that many of our surrounding districts pay substitutes more than Shippensburg does or have plans to do so.  It comes down to supply and demand and some substitutes will drive a few extra miles to receive higher wages.

In determining how we could fund the increased pay for this year, we realized that the budgeted amount for substitutes for the 2016-17 school year was at a 100% fill-rate.  While 100% is always the goal, the reality is that it will be a major improvement to get to 90%.  The extra 10% provides the funds to increase the substitute pay from $85/day to $88/day on October 1, and then to $90/day on February 1st.

Next year's budget will include the higher pay rate and we will also budget for a fill-rate higher than 90%.

Thank you for the inquiry.

Q:  School has started already, why is the vacancy list so high?

A:  Keep in mind that because we have "Openings" or "Posted Vacancies" that doesn't mean there is not a certified teacher in the position at present.

During the week before our students first day, we had three teachers resign.  They were hired by neighboring districts who either pay more or the individual wanted to return to their "home" district, etc.  With the Professional Code of Conduct for Teachers, a district can "hold" a teacher for 60 days to allow time to re-fill the position.  We did this with the three that resigned just prior to school starting, so they are still in the classroom here in Shippensburg serving students as we work diligently to find their successor.

You will note on the meeting agenda that some resignations read:  ". . . effective xxxxxxx (60 days after the resignation date) or as soon as a suitable replacement is found, whichever comes first."  We want to get the new employee in the classroom as soon as possible because the existing employee's heart may already be in the other district.

So in summary, just because we titled the attachment "Vacancies" many of the positions do have a highly qualified teacher in the position as we work on finding a replacement.  There are just a few cases where we had an employee take medical leave on short notice, etc. where we have a substitute filling in at present.

Thank you for the inquiry.

Q:  Why aren't public comments welcome after each motion and before the vote is taken as in the past?

A:  Two opportunities are provided for public comments on each meeting agenda.  One before any action items so comments may be provided before Board members vote and another at the end of the meeting for comments on non-agenda items or in response to the outcome of a certain vote.

Remember, our School Board meetings are Business meetings to conduct the business of the school district.  We welcome comments at the top of the agenda and at the end of the agenda, and Board members welcome comments at any time between meetings.

A survey was conducted of neighboring school districts (by looking at their meeting agendas) and here is what was found:

Districts that provide an opportunity for public comments twice (before and after a vote like Shippensburg is currently doing) are:

1.  Chambersburg Area School District
2.  Carlisle Area School District
3.  Waynesboro Area School District
4.  Big Spring Area School District
5.  Cumberland Valley School District
6.  East Pennsboro School District
7.  Mechanicsburg School District
8.  West Perry School District

Districts that allow public comments before action items only (at the top of the agenda) are:

1.  Gettysburg Area School District
2.  Camp Hill School District
3.  South Middleton School District
4.  Tuscarora School District
5.  Susquehanna School District
6.  Middletown School District
7.  Lower Dauphin School District
8.  Halifax School District
9.  Central Dauphin School District

*Note that no other district allows public comments after each and every action item on the agenda.

I hope this helps.  Thank you for your inquiry.

Paws Applause:

Kudos to SASD employees, Ms. Rebekkah Funk and Mr. Jason Hoover for organizing a fundraiser to support the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey and a big thank you to all employees who contributed to the cause!  Ms. Funk and Mr. Hoover are on the cover of the Summer Newsletter along with Shippensburg Middle School student Mia Estep.

Paws Applause:


Community night was a great success.  It was incredible to see Athletics and the Arts (Band) come together to celebrate the start of the 2016 Fall Athletic Season.   There are many moments throughout the year that we are all proud to be a Greyhound and this was absolutely one of those moments.  A special thanks to the Football Booster Club for organizing such an awesome event.


Submitted by Mr. Montedoro, Athletics Director

Paws Applause:

A message from a community member:

Since I was not sure to whom this should go, I decided to share it with you. Teri Mowery has been so supportive of the Blessing of the Backpacks. The district brought computers so parents could update emergency information and/or apply for free or reduced lunch. Troy Stevens set everything up and Bruce Levy also helped at the computer station. Boyo transportation sent a bus for children to board as well as 100 gift bags with some school supplies. Angie McKee coordinated the free haircuts and worked with Messiah to determine students who needed hygiene kits and school clothes. We are truly grateful for the support of the event and for the efforts to assist district families. After the event, supplies were boxed up for the schools. The district also picked them up and delivered them. THANKS for all you do!!

Paws Applause:

Kudos to Mrs. Donna Frietas, 2nd Shift Custodian at SHS for turning in a wallet found in the auditorium!!  The wallet contained over $70 and several gift cards!  The student's ID was also included which has allowed us to return the wallet.

Kudos to Mrs. Frietas!  Her Greyhound character speaks volumes!!

Paws Applause:

Chartwells and the District’s Food Service Department will be implementing a change in the elementary cafeterias for the 2016-2017 school year.  An additional choice will be added so students will be able to choose between 4 items instead of 3.  Thank you to Chartwells and the District’s Food Service Department for expanding the choices for students in our elementary schools.

Welcome SASD New Employees!!

 

 

 

TOP: Matthew Kurtz (Technology Education, High School), Norman Appleby (District Custodian), Shawn McCreary (7^th/8^th grade Intensive Learning Support, Middle School), Benjamin Shrewsberry (Classroom Assistant, James Burd), David deBruin (LTS Family & Consumer Sciences, High School), Alexandra Arnold (Wellness/Fitness, High School)

 

MIDDLE: Beth Linn(Classroom Assistant, James Burd), Susan Nealy (7^th/8^th grade Science, Middle School), Kathryn Watts 6^th/7^th/8^th grade STEAM, Middle School), Chelsea Stevens(Kindergarten, James Burd), Brianne Scutta (Emotional Support, James Burd), Lindsey Gossert (Classroom Assistant, Nancy Grayson)

 

BOTTOM: Kara Chestnut (7^th Grade Learning Support, Middle School), Jamie La Vergne (Gifted, Middle School), Leah Shaw (6^th Grade ELA/Social Studies, Middle School), Shannon Eyer (Learning Support, Intermediate School), Cindy Dodge (Substitute Classroom Assistant, Middle School.

Paws Applause:

Kudos to Mrs. Nye, Mrs. Seymore, and Mr. Montedoro for the extra-long hours they've been putting in to update bus routing information, their patience with last minute registrations or daycare changes, and unforeseen circumstances encountered as several thousand students were transported to and from school on the first day of school!!  You made a difference for many today!!!

Paws Applause:

Kudos to everyone for a relatively smooth opening day!!

A Special Thanks to Mrs. Hoffman, Ms. Kater, and Mrs. Pritchard for adjusting their work hours and location on Day 1 and Day 2 to assist the Transportation Department with the additional calls which we always anticipate the first few days of school!

Thanks to Mrs. Shuman for adjusting her work hours and location to help out at SAIS in our time of need!

A Message from our School Board President, Mark Buterbaugh:

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome back our students, staff, and teachers to the District.  The School Board is looking for another excellent year as we continue to strive to move our District toward academic excellence. 

This school year we welcome our new District Superintendent, Dr. Chester Mummau.  Dr. Mummau took over as Superintendent-Elect on July 12, 2016 and has been busy acclimating himself to the District, visiting the buildings, meeting staff and teachers, meeting with administrators, meeting with community leaders, and assisting Mrs. Mummau in unpacking their boxes in their new home in Shippensburg!

James Burd Elementary School welcomes Scott Shapiro as the new Principal.  You may have heard that name before.  Mr. Shapiro has served as the Assistant Principal at the Shippensburg Middle School.  We are excited to watch his career grow here in Shippensburg.  We also welcome new Assistant Supervisor of Special Education Bethany Bridges.  Finally, like every new school year, we welcome new teachers and new support staff to our District.

For parents, we whole heartedly encourage you to become involved in a PTO, a Booster Club, or contact our District to learn about other opportunities to volunteer your time with our schools.  Parent are an absolute vital component to successful public education. 

Despite difficult financial stress, SASD has made strong strides in academic performance.  We are absolutely committed to keeping the positive growth moving forward.  Your Board is committed to academic success and looking forward to working with new Superintendent Dr. Chester Mummau to continue growth, build community schools, and foster a great learning experience.       

Go Greyhounds!

Mark A. Buterbaugh, Esquire

School Board President

 

 

A successful New Teacher Induction Day was held on Wednesday!   Our new teachers met with the following departments: technology, business, human resources, building and grounds, and curriculum. They are able to log on, connect, and be part of the SASD system!

 

Welcome all new employees!!!

 

PAWS Applause:

The grounds crew has done an amazing job with the fields because this is the best they have looked to open the fall season in years, I'm told!  Secondly, we had a great first week of heat acclimatization for our football team and have welcomed the new trainer, Mike Marsh, from Ship PT with open arms.  Looks to be a good start to the fall season!!

Kudos to the Maintenance Department!!!

PAWS Applause:

Thanks goes out to the custodial and maintenance staff for their hard work in our buildings!  The freshly waxed floors, the new paint, repairs and assistance in moving classrooms is very much appreciated.  The custodial staff have stepped up to make sure the buildings are clean, safe, and ready for students and staff to start the year. 

 

Collectively, they have prepared over 500,000 square feet of building space in preparation for the upcoming school year. (strip, wax, shampoo carpets, wash windows, etc.)

Kudos to our custodial staff at all buildings!!!

PAWS Applause!

Shippensburg Area High School - 100% of Honors Biology students were Proficient or Advanced on Spring Keystones, with students showing much greater than a year’s worth of growth!

PAWS Applause: 

SAMS is excited to announce that the PBIS team has done a great job in preparing for the start of the school year.  We have the first three days of school planned with great activities that will promote the Greyhound Expectations  of Students (safe) R (respect) Pretty (prepared) Cool (caring). 

Q:  What are the opening/ending times for each school?

A: 

School Name	Daily School Hours	School Address	School Telephone Number
Nancy Grayson Elementary School	8:55 AM to 3:25 PM	301 Lurgan Avenue Shippensburg, PA 17257	(717) 530-2770
James Burd Elementary School	8:40 AM to 3:10 PM	600 Brad Street Shippensburg, PA 17257	(717) 530-2780
Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School	8:45 AM to 3:15 PM	1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257	(717) 477-1612
Shippensburg Area Intermediate School	8:40 AM to 3:10 PM	601 Hollar Avenue Shippensburg, PA 17257	(717) 530-3189
Shippensburg Area Middle School	7:30 AM to 2:30 PM	101 Park Place Shippensburg, PA 17257	(717) 530-2750
Shippensburg Area High School	7:25 AM to 2:30 PM	201 Eberly Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257	(717) 530-2730

Q:  Why are we losing instructional time by transporting students from GBLUES to SAIS in the afternoons?

A:  Students will ride their neighborhood bus to SAIS in the mornings and then transfer to a shuttle bus to travel to GBLUES.  In the afternoons, students will be transported directly home from GBLUES and will not be returning to SAIS.

Q:  Has a risk assessment been completed in regard to changing the school start time for Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School?

A:  No official risk study in regard to traffic safety has been conducted to my knowledge.  The decision to re-align the starting time with the other elementary schools was made to provide equal access/equity to any and all students who may wish to attend GBLUES now or in the future.  By aligning the starting times, transportation can be provided more efficiently.

Two new Administrators have joined the Greyhound team in new roles.

Mr. Scott Shapiro was appointed Principal of James Burd Elementary School effective August 9, 2016 and Mrs. Bethany Bridges was appointed Assistant Supervisor of Special Education at the August 8, 2016 School Board meeting

Congratulations and welcome to both Mr. Shapiro and Mrs. Bridges!!