Sto-Rox School District gave an update Monday night on its progress in the first of the state recovery plan. Superintendent of Schools Megan Van Fossan and School Board President Cameron Culliver led a presentation that focused on successes and achievements both inside and outside the classroom. The town hall meeting took place at the Father Ryan Arts Center/Sto-Rox Public Library at Focus on Renewal, a district partner.
Van Fossan relayed progress the district has made on the state-mandated recovery plan for Sto-Rox. In particular, she pointed to the district’s work on the 118 action items in the plan. The district has completed 30% of the items and will working through 46% over the next four years of the five-year plan. However, some parts of the plan require more funding from the state (see graphic at right).
READ: District Town Hall Presentation (PDF)
“We are very hopeful that the (state) legislature will come up with a fair funding formula once and for all,” said Superintendent Van Fossan during her part of the presentation, “to address the funding issues that Sto-Rox and many other districts have.”
Superintendent Van Fossan and the district’s Chief Recovery Officer, Dr. Patrick O’Toole, also spoke about the district’s budget situation. The district reduced its deficit from $6 million to $2 million, with more improvement expected. When asked by audience members about the future of funding, district leaders stressed the need to have a balanced budget and assistance from the state as temporary sources of federal funding - like Covid relief - run out in 2024. Dr. O’Toole once again reiterated that Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School will not be closing, contrary to occasional community rumors. “The high school is here to stay,” said President Culliver. “We’re all going to do our part to make sure it stays that way, too.”
Hauser, left, and Day, right, at the town hall meeting.
Presentations
Other speakers included Cynthia Haines, Executive Director of Focus On Renewal, and administrators from all three Sto-Rox Schools: K-6 Principal Heather Johnston, Jr./Sr. High School Acting Principal Michael Hauser and Assistant Principal Raelyn Day. Haines spoke about several initiatives related to reducing violence in the community. Those initiatives include Cure Violence, a world-renown program, and Becoming a Man. Johnston spoke about progress made at both the Primary Center and Upper Elementary through a number of curriculum areas including PBIS - Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports - a program that champions positive behaviors and incentivizes students to become classroom leaders. She also highlighted the monthly Title I events as mandated by the district’s federal programming. Hauser and Day both spoke about the changes taking place at the Jr./Sr. High School this year, with an increase in clubs and activities like the Mural Club and the Girls Flag Football Team that debuted this Spring.
District residents take in the town hall meeting presentation.
Communication
District leaders also stressed the importance of communication, not only from the district’s presence on social media and its website, but from parents/guardians to teachers and staff.
“The best place to start every single time is with the classroom teacher that educates your child,” said Superintendent Van Fossan. “They have the information way before it gets to my level, way before it gets to the principal’s level.”
Security
Another area that was discussed was security and the new security staff provided by The Commission, LLC.
“We were very clear in our expectations of what security looked like,” said Superintendent Van Fossan. “In terms of building relationships with kids because that’s how stop violence. You can scan all the kids you want, you can put them through metal detectors, but if you don’t build relationships with kids, that’s how violence happens.”
She went on to highlight initiatives like the VIBE team, a three-person group of violence “interrupters” who work with students, staff and security to stop violence before it starts.
Culliver (right) stands and speaks while Day and Johnston look on.
Q&A
District leaders participated in a question-and-answer session after their presentation, hearing from community members about what they’re doing well and where they have room to grow. Conversations ranged from an increased presence on social media to the district’s ongoing efforts to bring Sto-Rox students back from charter schools. Parent Ambassador Darrell Jackson spoke up about his story - convincing his family to go to Sto-Rox after a poor experience at a local charter school - and how Sto-Rox has impressed him.
“My kid was at a charter school. All that fighting and whatnot, it goes on there too,” said Jackson to a charter school parent who attended the meeting. “They report everything that happens at Sto. There’s a fight or something’s going on, you know about it.”
That conversation was part of a nearly hour-long question-and-answer session where district leaders took questions from residents, parents of potential new students and even school board members. District residents are encouraged to reach out to the district for details on all of the district’s schools - including the district’s cyber school - and for in-person tours and information on what’s ahead for Sto-Rox.
RELATED: (Post-Gazette) Community Responds To Sto-Rox Recovery Plan
READ: District Town Hall Presentation (PDF)
RELATED: Sto-Rox Recovery Plan Information