While grateful for grant, SV super laments need left unmet
SHENANDOAH – Earlier this week, an $800k grant was awarded to the Shenandoah Valley School District for facility upgrades. That’s $3.2 Million short of what the district, one of the state’s poorest, asked for from a program intended to help such schools.
Superintendent Brian Waite discussed the funding gap at Wednesday’s school board meeting.
He pointed out that the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program’s first criteria for evaluation is a school entity’s wealth.
Shenandoah Valley clears that mark by a wide margin whatever way you look at it, Waite contends.
Around 80% of students are economically disadvantaged, and the district ranks 19th in the state.
Based on the relative wealth of the district, Shenandoah is 6th poorest, “meaning 495 school districts in Pennsylvania are wealthier than ours.”
“Given this data, it is difficult to reconcile that we received only 18% of our requested funds through this competitive grant program,” Waite said. “Despite these challenges, we are very grateful for the $800,000 in funding and for any support to help improve our school’s facilities.”
Both the School District of Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh Area School District received the maximum grant award of $5 Million. In Philadelphia’s case, the grant award is just for projects at the Overbrook High School auditorium.
In Schuylkill County, Blue Mountain received the highest grant award of $1,075,000 to replace windows, repair the roof, and make other safety upgrades to Blue Mountain High School.
“I must be transparent with our community,” Waite said. “Without additional grant funding, tax increase, or reimbursement, we will be unable to complete the full scope of this essential facility project, making it difficult to meet the facility needs while also providing the academic resources necessary to rise above the unique challenges in the Shenandoah Valley School District.”
In other business, the district approved:
- Expelling a student for one marking period;
- Readings of PSBA developed policies;
- Dena Guenther/Schuylkill County Guest Teacher Program;
- Several conference requests;
- Tenure for Nicole Reese;
- Several agreements and resolutions;
- A mentor teacher;
- Secondary school counselor’s job description;
- The resignation of Amanda Hernandez as Class of 2026 advisor;
- Brittany Gilbert as band chaperone and Nicholas Merva as 8th grade boys basketball coach;
- Increasing rates for ticket takers, announcer, bookkeeper, and clock operator;
- Zachary Pribish as first shift custodian;
- Nancy Romanot, Margarita Zamudio, and Melanie Zamudio-Gutierrez as full-time paraprofessionals;
- The firing of an unnamed employee;
- Building usage for adult basketball;
- Cafeteria staff hourly rate/hours worked per day;
- The purchase of an X-Ray inspection system;
- Transportation wage increase for Brian Rooney, van driver.
The Shenandoah Sentinel was the ONLY local news source at this Shenandoah Valley School Board meeting. If you find value in our reporting and in knowing what YOUR local elected leaders are doing, PLEASE consider contributing to our efforts via Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee.
About Author
