Raising the bar on expectations for students was once again on the agenda for the Bear Creek Community Charter board of trustees.
School administrators began stricter enforcement of school rules and policies a few months ago and continue to refine the policies to improve the educational experience at the school.
Increased communication and intervention on truancy and lateness is already bringing results, the board was told, as has involving parents and holding students more accountable for their behavior.
Some parents have been disenchanted with the increased accountability, administrators said, but overall the response has been positive.
In keeping with this new emphasis on raising the bar, the board discussed what to do in situations where a student enrolls for the charter school but does not show up for the first few days of class.
The charter school generally starts the year earlier than other local districts and some parents seem “not to get the message,” the board noted. It decided that beginning next year, the school will reach out to the family of a student who doesn’t show up for the first day of school and if the student is not present or the family does not contact the school by the second day, they will be disenrolled and their spot given to someone on the school’s waiting list.
In other business, the board was updated on the progress of the new school, which remains on schedule to open in January after the winter holiday break.
Aqua PA is still working on getting water service to the school, the board was told, and other final details are underway, including the design for a large mural in the common area of the school and new signs for within the school, direction signs on the grounds and a sign at the entrance on Route 115.
The board also noted that early in the new school year participation in the breakfast program is up 30 percent and participation has also increased in student lunches.
Staff members are also choosing the school cafeteria for lunch more often and have already nearly matched the adult lunch purchases for all of last year. The school hired a professional chef to run the food service program in anticipation of the new kitchen facilities at the soon-to-be completed school.
By Janine Ungvarsky
For Times Leader
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