Seneca Valley

JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley school board discussed at a meeting Monday several grants requested by teachers that could enhance student learning.

Among the grants discussed was a five-year disbursement of $510,705 that would “be used to provide academic, artistic and cultural enhancement activities to students and their families when school is not in session,” according to the district.

The Century Community Learning Center grant, which amounts to about $100,000 a year, would be used for an after school and summer program at Ryan Gloyer Middle School. The after-school program was implemented last school year, according to the board.

At present, the after-school program serves 50 students a night two nights a week during the winter and three to four nights a week during the fall and spring, according to assistant superintendent Matthew McKinley.

Funding would be used for homework help, tutoring, physical education activities, family engagement opportunities, mentoring, remedial education, literacy education, English language learner activities and STEAM initiatives.

The board also discussed a $28,180 grant to provide programming for English language learners from Ukraine, as well as a $1,000 grant to purchase books about the Holocaust, genocide studies and human rights violations for the high school English department.

Michele Russo, the English teacher who requested the grant, was recently recognized by the Shine a Light organization for her efforts to combat antisemitism in the classroom along with six other educators.

The board will vote on the grant applications at the next meeting on Jan. 22.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale also announced the permanent appointment of Tina Wentz to principal at Rowan Elementary School. Wentz will be appointed Tuesday morning as a result of retirement, Vitale said. Previously, Wentz was assistant principal at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School.