25-03-2025
Richland School Board approves athletic agreement, tentative comprehensive plan
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Richland School District board unanimously approved the district's tentative comprehensive plan at Monday's meeting, as well as an in-kind athletic agreement with Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
The new plan, which is now pending a 28-day public review period, will be in place until 2028 once finalized.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, these guiding documents must be submitted every three years to the state secretary of education for approval.
'A lot of it is data-driven,' Richland Director of Educational Services Brandon Bailey said. He led the development of the framework along with a team made up of administrators, teachers, community members and parents.
Bailey said that more than 20 people contributed to the plan and that creating the document was done throughout several months.
A draft version of Richland's plan attached to Monday's agenda noted the district's strengths, such as meeting specific Future Ready PA Index goals; challenges, including the need to improve assessment scores in areas such as seventh- through 12th-grade science and biology; and career readiness plans. The document also details equity considerations, goals and more frameworks for the district.
Bailey told the board that 'a lot went into' the plan and said the implementation of new state science, technology and engineering, environmental literacy and sustainability standards will be a focus of the next three years.
The group also accepted an in-kind agreement with Penn Highlands for use of athletic facilities.
Richland Athletic Director Tim Ripple said a similar partnership was in place with East Hills Recreation when it was located at the community college and is beneficial to the district. He said junior high wrestlers and junior high track team members go to Penn Highlands to make use of the gymnasiums there, and Penn Highlands often uses Richland's softball complex.
'(They've) been great to work with,' Ripple said.
He added that everyone is in need of extra facilities sometimes.
