Butler Middle School up for transfer in ownership
BUTLER TWP — Ownership of Butler Middle School could be transferred to Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation at the next school board meeting of the Butler Area School District.
Representatives of Pittsburgh Gateways, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, gave a presentation about potential plans to rehabilitate the middle school at 225 E. North Street. The building closed in June at the end of the school year.
District Superintendent Brian White said board members will vote on the transfer at their next meeting, so they can have time to digest the idea and the goals of the rehabilitation.
A commitment agreement between BASD and Pittsburgh Gateways said the rehabilitation will be to “repurpose the middle school to facilitate job creation, entrepreneurship, business development and economic revitalization.”
County commissioners agreed to enter into a contract with Pittsburgh Gateways in July to prepare a study on the reuse of the former middle school. The company was the only one to respond to a request for qualifications the commissioners issued.
After a lengthy discussion at last week’s meeting, the school board came to a conclusion Monday about students’ permission to bring edible treats to share with classmates on their birthdays.
“Due to severe life-threatening allergies and ensuring food sanitation, food treats/beverages are not permitted,“ the new policy says.
White said he spoke with principals and teachers over the past week to find their preferences in serving birthday treats brought in by students. The discussion on the topic initially began last week when White said some teachers were concerned about serving homemade snacks which may upset another child’s allergies.
In his talks with school staff, White found that a majority preferred to do away with students passing out snacks on their birthdays.
“Serving food in class was an obstruction to classroom time,” White said. “I had a couple of staff members share with me they liked birthday treats; those two were also both parents of children in the district, so there is different aspects.
“I don’t think there is any perfect consensus.”
White proposed three options: one to continue allowing birthday snacks, another to delete the edible option and a final one to have the district’s food provider supply food on students’ birthdays. A majority of the school board members chose the second option, encouraging parents to forego snacks on their child’s birthday.
Instead of bringing in edible treats, White and administration will encourage parents to send crafts or other souvenirs — such as pencils, “fun” erasers or stickers — to share among the class when it is their child’s birthday.
The new policy will be posted in this year’s student handbooks, which were also approved by the school board Monday.
