Sto-Rox School District continues to make excellent progress in year two of its five-year, state recovery plan. The district entered into the plan in April of 2022. Shortly after that, Megan Van Fossan became superintendent of the district and began to assemble the current administrative team. In the 18 months since, the district has completed 63% of the action items on the recovery plan have been completed. That is a huge increase; at the 12-month mark, 30% of the Action Items were completed. Additionally, 16% of the district’s action items are ongoing, the district is asking the Pennsylvania Department of Education to remove 12%, and 6% cannot be completed without additional funding from the state.
Statistics aside, the district is finding success through parent engagement, student behavior and student services. At all grade levels, the district started the year with open houses featuring community partners and then held Title I (Federal Program) engagement events each month. Whether it’s inviting families in to celebrate ‘Spooky Season’ with the “Monster Math” at the Upper Elementary in October, or the “Special Person Breakfasts” at the Primary Center in December, the district continues to mix education, community and fun.
The district’s PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) programming also continues to impress. The Upper Elementary has been recognized statewide for achieving and mantaining fidelity in the top tier of PBIS supports, while the Primary Center is working its way toward Tier 1 fidelty. At its core, PBIS programming recognizes and rewards positive behavior both inside and outisde the classroom. For instance, this takes the form of “Viking Bucks” at lower grade levels and “RAISE” tickets at the Jr./Sr. High School. This currency allows students to participate in rewarding activities - based on their behavior - that they otherwise would not be allowed into.
The district has also engaged community partners for in-school services and after school/extracurricular activities. Programming such as Steel City Impact, Just Discipline Project, Becoming A Man (BAM) and Communities in Schools allow the district to provide and care for students even after the final bell rings. These efforts, combined with detailed research and implementation at the administrative and teaching levels, show the district is truly on the road to recovery.
These points and more were covered December 11, 2023 at a town hall meeting hosted by Focus on Renewal at Father Ryan Arts Center/Sto-Rox Library. You can download a powerpoint presentation from that meeting by clicking here. That meeting was the first in a series of town hall meetings that will continue into 2024. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High School. The topic will be Pathways to Graduation. We encourage every district family to come to these meetings and other district events as we continue the recovery process.
DOWNLOAD: 12-11-23 Town Hall Meeting Presentation (PDF)
LINK: Town Hall Meeting Series Scheduled