Latest news with #Arcurio
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania kindergartener shares Jell-O shots with classmates, school says
A Pennsylvania kindergartener shared alcoholic Jell-O shots with at least three other students at school Wednesday, the Greater Johnstown School District said in a statement posted to social media. It is unclear how much alcohol the students ingested and whether the child knowingly brought alcoholic drinks to school. Staff at Johnstown Elementary School — about 70 miles east of Pittsburgh — immediately took action once it was aware of the situation, the district said. Students were evaluated by the nurse and taken to a local hospital "out of an abundance of caution," superintendent Amy Arcurio said. The incident is under investigation. "We are cooperating fully with local authorities to determine how the student came into possession of these items and to ensure the continued safety of our students and staff," Arcurio said. School officials said they could only provide limited details because of privacy laws but will provide updates when possible. No charges have been filed as of Friday, and the district has not released information about the student's family or any disciplinary action, NBC Philadelphia reported. The incident comes after a Texas mother was arrested in April after allegedly bringing Jell-O shots to her child's elementary school's Christmas party. Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, told a Tyler Independent School District police officer she was unaware the shots contained alcohol, but admitted they tasted "different," the affidavit stated. Fifteen students consumed the shots and almost all reported "stomach aches and headaches,' according to the affidavit. One said after he consumed six Jell-O shots, he "got dizzy and fell and felt like he could not get back on his feet," the file said. The Jell-O shots were allegedly purchased from a sweets business on Facebook, which made a clear disclaimer on its website that the shots contained Smirnoff vodka, according to the affidavit. Bernal was booked into the Smith County Jail on April 21 and posted $75,000 bond the same day. This article was originally published on
NBC News
16-05-2025
- NBC News
Pennsylvania kindergartener shares Jell-O shots with classmates, school says
A Pennsylvania kindergartener shared alcoholic Jell-O shots with at least three other students at school Wednesday, the Greater Johnstown School District said in a statement posted to social media. It is unclear how much alcohol the students ingested and whether the child knowingly brought alcoholic drinks to school. Staff at Johnstown Elementary School — about 70 miles east of Pittsburgh — immediately took action once it was aware of the situation, the district said. Students were evaluated by the nurse and taken to a local hospital "out of an abundance of caution," superintendent Amy Arcurio said. The incident is under investigation. "We are cooperating fully with local authorities to determine how the student came into possession of these items and to ensure the continued safety of our students and staff," Arcurio said. School officials said they could only provide limited details because of privacy laws but will provide updates when possible. No charges have been filed as of Friday, and the district has not released information about the student's family or any disciplinary action, NBC Philadelphia reported. The incident comes after a Texas mother was arrested in April after allegedly bringing Jell-O shots to her child's elementary school's Christmas party. Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, told a Tyler Independent School District police officer she was unaware the shots contained alcohol, but admitted they tasted "different," the affidavit stated. Fifteen students consumed the shots and almost all reported "stomach aches and headaches,' according to the affidavit. One said after he consumed six Jell-O shots, he "got dizzy and fell and felt like he could not get back on his feet," the file said. The Jell-O shots were allegedly purchased from a sweets business on Facebook, which made a clear disclaimer on its website that the shots contained Smirnoff vodka, according to the affidavit. Bernal was booked into the Smith County Jail on April 21 and posted $75,000 bond the same day.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Investigation launched after Greater Johnstown kindergarten pupil brings 'Jell-O shots' to school; 3 children treated for alcohol consumption, officials say
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Three Greater Johnstown Elementary School students are recovering after being hospitalized Wednesday due to consuming gelatin cups containing alcohol, school officials said. District Superintendent Amy Arcurio said at least two of the students had been treated and released by the afternoon, and each of the students was doing well. The hospitalizations reportedly stemmed from a kindergarten student bringing alcohol-infused gelatin – commonly known as "Jell-O shots" – to school and giving them to three others. 'As soon as school staff were made aware of the situation, immediate action was taken,' Arcurio said in a statement. 'The affected students were quickly taken to the nurse's office for evaluation.' Out of an abundance of caution, school staffers said they contacted emergency medical services, and the students were transported to a local hospital for medical care. Parents were notified and met EMS at the medical center, Arcurio said. An investigation has been launched, and Greater Johnstown is cooperating with local authorities to determine how the student came to possess the alcohol, Arcurio said. 'We want to assure our families that the health and well-being of our students is our top priority,' Arcurio said. 'Counselors and support staff will be available for any students who may need assistance processing today's events.' She said that additional details cannot be shared due to privacy laws, but praised the 'swift response' of staff, administrators, school nurses and school police during the incident.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greater Johnstown School Board approves new teacher positions, talks comprehensive plan
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Several new teacher positions as well as support professional and secretary roles were created at the Greater Johnstown School Board meeting Tuesday. Superintendent Amy Arcurio said the jobs were approved both out of need and because additional state funding allowed it. 'We were able to use adequacy dollars to fill positions that we had not had for years,' she said. Greater Johnstown got $2.9 million in adequacy funding for the 2024-25 school year with a total of more than $26 million to be received in the next seven years as a result of the historic Fair Funding Lawsuit, which the district was one of the original petitioners. The board approved the positions for a fourth-grade teacher, two special education support teachers, a gifted support teacher and a behavioral intervention specialist at the elementary school; a sixth-grader teacher at the middle school; and a mathematics teacher and a business, computer information technology teacher at the high school. Arcurio said the elementary gifted support teacher is an example of a long-vacant position. Until Tuesday, it been an additional responsibility of a teacher, and before that, a standalone role 12 years ago. These jobs will be advertised and filled for the 2025-26 school year. For the same period, the group created five paraprofessionals and a 10-month secretary at the elementary school; a 10-month secretary at the middle school; two paraprofessionals at the high school; and one paraprofessional at the Park Avenue School. Additionally, the school directors eliminated two vocational paraprofessionals at the high school, as well as a third-grade teacher at the elementary school and a biology teacher at the high school. Arcurio noted that no teachers are being furloughed, but responsibilities have been adjusted due to these changes. Board member Anthony Belskey commended the additional positions and efforts to bolster staff at the schools as 'well-needed.' 'We have great teachers in there already,' he said. 'We just need to fill some more positions.' Belskey said the district's goal has always been providing students a great education, and it's important to build up the staff to achieve that objective. Arcurio also addressed the board about the comprehensive plan that they passed Tuesday. The superintendent said a group of administrators, board members, residents and staff cultivated the plan, which will guide Greater Johnstown through 2028. Top priorities moving forward are attendance, academics, and recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers. 'You can see some overlap of our three priority goals,' Arcurio said. 'But the community members – the stakeholders at those meetings felt that those three goals were the best representation of the vision and the mission of the school district moving forward over the next three years.' In a related matter, the group hired Jen King as the new attendance officer and reengagement specialist, who will be tasked with addressing attendance matters.
