Monessen School District to focus on reading skills
MONESSEN – Monessen School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a three-year comprehensive plan that will go into effect July 1.
Leanne Spazak, acting superintendent, said this plan is required by the state, and maps out goals and accomplishments for the district. Spazak said the plan can be viewed on the district’s website.
“The main plan is to improve,” Spazak said. District officials plan to focus on reading skills, especially at the elementary level.
She said district officials have been working on reading skills and brought all of their reading specialists to Monessen Elementary Center last year.
“I think if you improve reading, everything else begins to improve,” Spazak said. The district also plans to bring the Response To Intervention program to the elementary school. “It individualizes every child’s education to see where they stand,” Spazak said.
The district has used this intervention in the past, so the teachers are already experienced in implementing it. Spazak said she hopes to have it fully in use next year.
Eric Manko, high school/middle school principal, said the comprehensive plan also involves items like teacher training and evaluating how the community is involved with the district. Manko said the largest goal is student improvement across the board. “We think we’ve made past gains in course offerings,” Manko said.
The board also approved student activities, including student participation in the Night of the Stars Performance at the Palace Theater in Greensburg, May 4.
Manko said the performance is hosted by the Westmoreland Cultural Trust. The event showcases excerpts from high school musicals within Westmoreland County.
He said the high school musical this year, “The Addams Family,” received great compliments, which led to the district being invited to perform at the event.
Manko said it is great to be chosen to perform for this event. “We do have a lot of talent when it comes to performing arts and music,” he said.
Roberta Bergstedt, board vice president, said three students who performed last year received scholarships. Manko said the scholarships were for a summer performing arts program.