CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — The Chambersburg school board met this week to share reminders, discuss upcoming changes and challenges, and recognize staff ahead of the start of the school year on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Students were reminded of the bell-to-bell cell phone policy, which middle and high school teachers have been preparing to fully implement this year. Phones must remain in lockers from the first bell to the last bell of the school day.
One challenge has come from Stopfinder, the new transportation app that displays students’ bus routes, where approximately 700 students remain unassigned to a bus. About 570 of those unassigned students are due to changes made after the beginning of August or new enrollments.
The transportation department is currently prioritizing special education and elementary students and will work to get most students assigned by the end of the week. Daily updates will be provided to those unassigned students.
The “Schools of Distinction by 2030” initiative will be a prominent focus of the school year as the district continues to plan upcoming grade reconfiguration and redistricting efforts. The construction of the new school buildings will be going out to bid later this year.
To achieve “Schools of Distinction” status by 2030, each school will carry out an individualized action plan led by a leadership team under the principal’s direction. Each school is responsible for shaping its own approach to meeting the districtwide goals of the initiative.
All plans must set a 10% improvement target for benchmark achievement scores as one measure of performance. Chambersburg Area Senior High School will also undergo the state accreditation process to ensure it meets academic goals and institutional standards.
The elementary and middle schools are pursuing U.S. News & World Report Best Schools recognition, with two elementary schools seeking National Gold Star School status.
Staff recognition
Superintendent Christopher Bigger recognized Scott Schoenberger for his support at last year’s staff kickoff event. On behalf of the district, Bigger also honored Donald “Donny” Kimple for 45 years of service, beginning in 1980 and continuing today at the Career Magnet School.
Human Resources Director Tina Clever thanked her entire department for their dedication and hard work, including managing extensive paperwork and onboarding 65 new district team members for the upcoming school year.
Chief Financial and Operations Officer and Board Secretary Tammy Stouffer thanked Craig Kirkpatrick and staff for helping launch Stopfinder districtwide and for handling transition challenges, while also thanking the community for its patience.
Partner Appreciation Day
Dr. Michael Colli, chief medical officer of Keystone Health, presented the school board with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of Partner Appreciation Day and the lasting partnership between Keystone Health and the school district.
In 2016, Keystone Health opened a school-based health center at the high school, providing district students with convenient access to care with no out-of-pocket costs for families.
Each school day, from 8 a.m. to noon, students can see a healthcare provider for services such as illness identification and immunizations, helping reduce interruptions to school and learning.
Dr. Colli thanked the district for its support of the partnership and acknowledged the superintendents he has worked with over the years, including Mr. Bigger. He also recognized head nurse Jennifer Helsel for her commitment and dedication.
