The merry, merry month of May….

The merry, merry month of May….

To quote Jonathan Lockwood Huie, we should “celebrate endings-- for they precede new beginnings.” At Central Cambria, May has been a rather tumultuous month and a new beginning might be just what we need. At the same time I am reminded by my wife, a “mountain girl” in her childhood, that people in this area are justifiably proud of their ability to stand strong against more than capricious weather conditions. I am grateful for the show of support extended to teachers and administrators as they responded to a rash of unusual and potentially dangerous events. In life we come to expect that both good and bad things come in waves; since the month of May has been something of a tsunami, I hope earnestly that the tide is now turning and that we will be able to focus on the excitement of graduation.

Speaking of graduation, here’s a hint about the theme of my message this year:

Many years ago I often sat and listened to my parents, grandparents, and great aunts and uncles talk about their youth and the good times they had:  stories of how much coal was needed for the winter, or who would shovel it into the coal bin. I heard how they gathered around the family radio to listen to “The Shadow.” They called these the "Good Old Days," sometimes with an almost reverent tone in their voices. Interspersed in these conversations I heard weird phrases that sounded absurd to me as a child. As it turns out, I can recall quite a few that are perfect for an occasion as important as high school graduation. I’m excited to share my stories with you when we gather – my captive audience, ha ha! – at St. Francis.

Congratulations to all graduates this year, and to their parents, relatives, friends, and anyone else who has offered encouragement, patience and a listening ear.  As you leave our district, remember the strength of your family and your “mountain” upbringing as you represent CCSD and your heritage in a positive light.

Good luck, seniors!

As we approach the summer break, I encourage all students to make smart choices in the friends they hang out with, the events they attend, and even the ways in which they network on the Internet and social media sites. Please have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer. 

Please allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to all students, staff, parents and Board members for making this an excellent school year for Central Cambria!  I am humbled by the caliber of people with whom I interact every day.

Now, I’ve held off for as long as I could but it’s time for some sports talk. Let’s hope that Pens fans can root for their team through the championship round.  And of course, with the completion of the NFL draft, we can only hope that Steelers management have drafted well.  To give us hope, history shows some truly great picks: Ben Roethlisberger, Casey Hampton, Heath Miller, Lynn Swann. At the same time, though, there have been some lesser picks (I’m thinking of four in particular but, “if I can’t say anything nice….”).  Since actual on-field performance several months from now (120 days, 7 hours and 23 minutes until the first game, if anyone is counting) will show who was a good pick and who was not, my dad, my uncle and I are having a great time speculating over coffee every Sunday.  I can’t wait.…

Enjoy your summer!  Dr. D.

An interesting time of year....

An interesting time of year....

Somehow, regardless of the month, weather is always a worthy topic of discussion in our area. This year, I see an unfortunate similarity between the unsettled nature of our weather conditions in April and the uncertainty associated with the tasks of organizing and proposing next year’s budget; the state’s negative stance on funding for public education has ensured that this is so.  Sadly, mid-April has also been a time of tragedy:

·      April 17, 1961 – failed Bay of Pigs invasion – how many of you remember that? (You don’t have to answer.)

·      April 19, 1993 – Branch Davidian compound standoff ending in tragedy

·      April 18, 1995 – Oklahoma City bombing of a federal building

·      April 20, 1999 – Columbine HS massacre

·      April 16, 2007 – Virginia Tech gunman rampage

·      April 15, 2013 – Boston Marathon bombing

Described by experts on terrorism as a “soft target,” the Boston Marathon was an event at which no one would anticipate violence of this nature.  Fortunately, the medical personnel, on hand to assess or treat runners as they completed the marathon, are credited with saving many lives with their quick triage response.  We at Central Cambria join the rest of the country in thought and prayers for those whose lives were taken, injured or forever changed by this tragedy. 

My wife had qualified for and run the Boston Marathon many years ago.  She remembers the celebratory atmosphere as families celebrated Patriots Day (an official holiday in Boston) with barbecues and picnics along the route.  I think it is safe to say that the Boston Marathon will be forever changed; how sad.  As an aside, our daughter Morgan was in Boston last week to present at a medical conference and stayed at a hotel one block from the bombings.  Fortunately, she flew home the Saturday before the race. This vignette serves to remind us just how suddenly our lives can be disastrously affected by the unanticipated actions of others.

On the subject of security, reflective of its commitment to the safety of our students and staff, our Board approved several security enhancements at all buildings. Installment will take place during the summer. The questions any superintendent has to consider when it comes to safety are “How much is too much?” and “How much is not enough?”  While it is true that one cannot put a price tag on safety, we must consider a two-pronged reality: first, we must live within our budget to remain fiscally sound, and; second, we must reluctantly acknowledge that the adage, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” applies to those who wish us harm. It is my hope that the federal government will provide some money for districts to continue their efforts toward a safe environment for students, our most precious possessions.

Mrs. Kaschalk, our business manager, will present the district’s user-friendly budget outline for the public on April 18.  Her presentation will show that almost 70% of our district’s budget is a fixed cost with zero “wiggle room.”  Each line item was scrutinized to see if a reduction or elimination was warranted.  For one thing, we have determined that hiring fewer teachers than the number of teachers retiring will lead to a very small small increase in class size. I do sincerely apologize to our teaching staff for the need to do this but, fortunately or not, enrollment is dropping across grade levels so this is a viable way to save money. We have also renegotiated our out-sourced services contracts in order to get better rates. Finally, we have implemented many of our own special education programs and services, which is far more cost-effective than contracting such services through the intermediate unit.

Our district continues to do wonderful things for our students, even with less money.  This is a source of satisfaction for me, board members and taxpayers but no district can function indefinitely with a monetary deficit; it is inevitable that, unless circumstances change, districts will be forced to sink into deficit spending. The governor’s proposed budget includes a minimal increase for our district – but this amount does almost nothing to offset the costs we incur to pay for unfunded or underfunded mandates.  For this reason, I must report that the cuts in place for the current school year will continue next year as well. 

The Board and I are determined to maintain programs and services that benefit our students even as we work to balance the budget.  As always, I urge you to contact the governor and/or your local legislators. Make your voice heard! Let officials know that public education is a critical investment in our children.  As costs continue to go up, and districts look to make ends meet, inadequate funding will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the youth of our society, and on our own well-being and safety. Consider this telling fact: Pennsylvania spends more money on its prisons than on its schools.

On a lighter note, I recall that last year at this time I wrote in my blog, “The Pens are pretty much history this year, and rightfully so.”  This year they are making history with the number of wins and shutouts (what a difference a year can make).  But how far into the playoffs will they go without their leading scorer, Sidney Crosby? Let’s hope that newcomers to the team can offset the loss of this star player. And it gives me great joy to note that the NFL schedules have been released, the draft begins April 25, the Blue and White game is this weekend, and voluntary NFL workouts have begun.  Is it possible? Does anyone else smell football in the air?

Dr. D.

March roller coaster

Riding on the March roller coaster….

People have different opinions about the month of March.  As the transition point from winter to spring, some view it as the beginning of spring while others still hope for weather-related delays or cancellations (mostly students). Having had to recommend 3 cancellations and 11 delays/early dismissals, I join parents in hoping that we’ve seen the last of the game-changing snows for this year—yet I remember vividly the surprise storm that hit our area on April 23 last year.

From an educational standpoint, March is the month in which preparation for the PSSA begins in earnest.  While some may feel that these tests are neither appropriate nor a valid means of judging student success, they remain a mandate that directly impacts our viability as a public school district. For this reason, teachers and students redouble their efforts at this time of year.

As always, I am impressed by the tenacity of students and staff in this regard. Somehow, even as students prepare for the spring sports, they maintain their focus on academics. Just as coaches train their athletes in ways that allow them to peak at just the right time for competition, teachers do an excellent job of test preparation throughout the school year: in addition to teaching critical concepts, they skillfully pace instruction to reduce test anxiety and burn out. Teachers strive to ensure that students are peaking for maximum performance just as the state tests begin. 

March is also the time of year for the state-required severe weather drill to take place in all school districts.  We did this March 5^th in each of our buildings.  All staff members have emergency manuals that detail many possible scenarios and ways to react based on location within the building.  We are also required to conduct bus evacuation and fire drills before the end of March.  Unfortunately, we have to now be prepared and practice for another type of drill: active shooter lockdown drill. 

Since the Sandy Hook incident, many districts have revisited and enhanced their security procedures.  Some of these processes are minor in cost (such as requiring all personnel to wear ID badges, assigning parking spaces, etc.) and other measures can be very pricey (School Resource Officer).  Regardless of the cost or involvement, everyone needs to be prepared and not behave as if it can’t happen in their district. 

Central Cambria has taken a proactive lead by coordinating an Active Shooter Drill in our HS/MS complex on March 8.  This exercise was the first in the area to involve all staff and about 80 student volunteers.  Ten local agencies participated in the drill, and surrounding schools were invited to observe.  Below is the scenario in which the drill was conducted: 

Prior to the drill, each student had been assigned to be in specific rooms with a staff member(s). Each had been given a role-play card (such as needing to go to the bathroom or wanting to climb out a window during the lockdown, etc.).

At the start of the drill, two suspicious men are seen in front of the high school.  Mrs. McDermott, HS Principal and the maintenance supervisor go outside to confront them; both are shot.  The two shooters shoot the glass at the main entrance and enter the building.  The school secretary informs Mr. Klezek, the assistant high school principal, and they rush into a secure room.  From there he does a school-wide call for a building lockdown. 

As the 911 center spreads the word, Cambria Township police are the first to arrive on the scene looking for the shooters.  As more police arrive, one shooter is fatally shot while the other is in custody. The SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) personnel then proceed to clear the building room by room.  The entire drill to take out the shooters lasted only ten minutes but seemed like hours as the smell of gunpowder and the blaring fire alarm made the entire drill seem all to real. 

The knowledge and experience gained by this drill were invaluable. Guidance counselors were available to students with any concerns or issues related to the drill.  Kudos to our staff, Administration, the Emergency Services Department of Cambria County and the law enforcement agencies that contributed to the success of this drill. 

On a much lighter note, congratulations and thanks to the school volunteers and parents who helped make this year’s Supper for Science another huge success.  Teachers, Board members and administrators all helped in various capacities among the region’s local businesses.  This has become a wonderful community event!

And finally, what would my blog be without some mention of sports.  The Pens are on a five game winning streak with Crosby being the NHL point leader.  They are first in their division.  And for football fans, there are only 31 days until the NFL draft and 188 days until the first college game, not that I am counting.  On a sad note (although my son and son-in-law would disagree), James Harrison, OLB, was released by the Steelers (heavy sigh).  My wife had to remind me to remove the black armband before I came to work today.

Enjoy Spring!

Dr. D.