Latest news with #SCASD
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters: Learn about candidates before the primary; Volunteers are the cornerstone of the Red Cross
Editor's note: The Centre Daily Times welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the May 20 primary election and will accept letters that are received by May 6. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates. Do you know your candidates? The May 20 municipal primary will feature candidates for school board, supervisors and council, mayor, district attorney, district judge and jury commissioner. The League of Women Voters of Centre County is hosting a non-partisan Candidates' Night April 29 at the State College Municipal Building at 7 p.m. The moderated format includes six questions from constituent concerns, each candidate rotating responding first, then each candidate's closing statement. The forum is livestreamed and archived by C-NET. Local elections have low turnout and can be won by a few votes, so every voter counts! Candidates' Night is an opportunity to meet candidates. Candidates in contested races for SCASD school board, BASD school board, Benner and Spring Township supervisors were invited. School boards build hire teachers, build schools and set districts' school taxes. Supervisors manage trash pickup, roads and zoning. Get to know the officials in charge of your life at Candidates' Night! LWVCC is a nonpartisan organization; we invite all candidates in contested races. SCASD school board candidates Deborah Anderson, Jesse Barlow, Jennifer Black, Rebecca Arnold Desmarais and Jackie Huff accepted; Kristen McTernan and Mihaly Sogor declined. For BASD, Nate Campbell, Jon Guizar and Joe Yech accepted; Kristin Lyons declined. Benner Township supervisors did not reply. For Spring Township, Frank Royer accepted. But Korena Defurio did not reply, so LWVCC cannot hold that race. You may email your questions to lwvcentrecounty@ or submit questions at the event. We look forward to seeing you April 29! Bonnie Goble, Boalsburg. The author is a member of the League of Women Voters of Centre County. During National Volunteer Week, the American Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania celebrates the selfless volunteers whose unwavering support make it possible for us to assist people in need every day. Volunteers are the cornerstone of the Red Cross, representing more than 90% of our national workforce and their compassion helps to ensure that people are not alone during the most challenging times of their lives. Here in central PA, more than 700 Red Cross volunteers supported blood drives, assisted veterans and military families and provided food and shelter after disasters of all sizes. Today, volunteers are more critical than ever as the Red Cross responds to a new major disaster about every two weeks. These massive events, like storms and wildfires, are on top of the home fires which occur multiple times every day across the country. During Volunteer Week, join us in thanking all those who volunteer across our community, and consider putting on a red vest and joining our team. Visit to get started today. Free online training will be provided. Laura Burke, Harrisburg. The author is the executive director of the American Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Chapter. Donald Trump promised Americans a booming economy: '…the best jobs, the biggest paychecks, the brightest economic future the world has ever seen.' As egg prices reached a new high (just in time for Easter), he braced Americans for economic turmoil. His chaotic and destabilizing trade war will dramatically increase costs on a broad swath of products, including toys, clothes and electronics. Trump's overhaul of the federal workforce has targeted scientific research and international aid. Cuts also hit central Pennsylvanians — farmers who supply food banks, and programs treating veterans with PTSD. Some cuts are purely petty. Eliminating National History Day, a nationwide competition that engages more than a half-million students annually and prepares students for success and civic engagement — something that benefits us all. As Americans struggle with increased prices and reduced services, Trump frivolously spends $3.4 million for each golf excursion. Trump vindictively targets law firms and universities whose policies or employees he doesn't like. And he aggressively targets individuals who challenge his false claims. He issued a brazenly vengeful executive order to investigate Christopher Krebs, former head of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security, for refuting claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Alarm bells should sound when the president exacts retribution against people who dare to tell the truth that the 2020 election was not stolen. He's testing American democracy. Trump isn't using his office to improve Americans' lives. He's wielding his power like a Mafia mob-boss and Republicans in Congress are helping him do it! Margie Swoboda, Julian. The author is the chair of the Centre County Democratic Committee.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SCASD moves one step closer to approving 2025-26 budget, includes tax increase
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) – State College Area School District (SCASD) is seeking a 4% tax increase, citing inflation and other costs as the reason. The district's board voted to approve the 2025-26 Proposed Final Budget, which includes a tax increase. This would make the real estate tax rate 52.9597 mills according to a press release sent out by the district. The 4% increase is equal to the district's Act 1 Index, meaning it is the maximum rate it could raise taxes by this year. Ferguson Township to host Arbor Day celebration According to Randy Brown, the finance and operations officer for SCASD, the rise in cost for personnel contracts, utility bills and security services are all contributors to the suggestion of a tax increase. This comes after the district already raised taxes last year, a move which he says did not do enough to offset the growing costs, due to 'the inflationary pressures, as well as lack of increase in real estate revenue.' The board also discussed the uncertainty of the national economy and how that would impact the budget. 'We have increased some budget areas to, hopefully, offset some increased expenses from the uncertainty in the markets,' Brown said. 'The other thing that we will do is we will try to anticipate areas where goods are going to have faster increases in costs. And so we will buy ahead as much as we can.' According to the press release, the proposed final budget includes $207,523,588 in revenue – 79% of which will come from property taxes. Before anything is set in stone, there may be additional items presented to the board that could help the district bring the increase down. 'There still could be some impacts that, some items that are impacted that the final budget proposal – it may not be the exact document that they see on June 2 that they were presented with last night,' Brown said. However, the possibility of a decrease happening for this budget is unlikely. 'This year, because of the economic uncertainty, because of the $20 million building project that we have at Mount Nittany Elementary School going on right now, and the upcoming Park Forest Middle School project, as well as the district-wide facility master plan planning that we are working on, I would not expect that tax rate to decrease too much,' Brown said. Now that the district's board has approved the proposed final budget, they are required to give the community at least a 15-day notice that the final budget will be approved on June 2. Between now and then, the board will host a public hearing for people to come and learn more about the budget and weigh in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Facing outcry, State College district walks back changes to preferred name use in schools
Just one week after sharing initial plans that drew outcry, the State College Area School District is walking back parts of its push to require the use of students' legal names in some software programs and district applications. In an email sent to student families on Feb. 25, SCASD director of technology Justin Hetrick said the district was moving forward with plans to begin using students' legal names over preferred names in some applications, including the PowerSchool student information system. A subsequent email from Superintendent Curtis Johnson three days later said the district would, in response to community feedback, accommodate preferred names 'wherever possible' before changes are implemented over spring break, which begins March 10. 'Even though we have to use legal names in some cases, we understand the importance of recognizing and respecting preferred names,' Johnson wrote in his Feb. 28 message to district families. As things stand, students can display and use their preferred name in classrooms with faculty and staff, on their diplomas and through district-approved applications, including their email addresses, Google Classroom and the PowerSchool platform. At the district school board's March 3 meeting, Johnson said preferred names and pronouns will remain available for student IDs, too. Changes to the use of students' legal names over preferred names were first proposed to help the district 'ensure accuracy and compliance with various requirements,' Hetrick wrote to families. The modifications were described not as an adjustment to specific school policy, but as procedural changes that would help State College officials comply with legal standards. The district did not indicate in its communications that the change is related to President Donald Trump's order to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at schools. Legal documents, applications and some standardized tests — including transcripts, SAT exams and college applications — often require the use of a student's legal name. Messages from the district said legal name use would help implement special education plans and allow school nurses to accurately administer care and medication. A bulleted list shared in the Feb. 28 message from Johnson said the use of legal names is required on official transcripts, working papers, 504 plans and individualized educational programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities and state testing and state reporting requirements in Pennsylvania. Student IDs were also listed among this group, but they have since been adapted to continue allowing preferred names, the superintendent said at March 3's board meeting. At the board meeting, Johnson said students who use a preferred name over their legal name can still obtain a student ID featuring their legal name by contacting the district's computer services team. Preferred names will remain the default option, though legal names are used for students who have not entered a preferred name into district systems. The board meeting featured lengthy periods of public comment in which six students and community members spoke against district efforts to prioritize legal names over preferred names. Many who spoke viewed the walked-back pivot to legal names as a step that would alienate or discriminate against transgender, non-binary and other gender-diverse students who may identify outside of their legal names and pronouns. Cat Cook, a district parent and the executive director of the Centre LGBT+ nonprofit, said recognizing preferred names and pronouns significantly improves inclusiveness in schools and communities. 'When students are called by their chosen name, they feel recognized, affirmed and empowered, and when their name appears on their ID — something they carry with them daily — it is a visible acknowledgment of their humanity and dignity,' Cook told the board. 'However, for students whose chosen names are not recognized, the impact can be profound,' she continued. 'It sends a message, albeit unintentionally, that who they are is not worthy of validation or respect. It can cause feelings of alienation, stress and insecurity — emotions that no student should have to bear in an environment that is supposed to support their growth.' Elana Szczesny, a licensed psychologist and parent of two students, said State College officials failed to adequately share policy details and updates on its implementation with students and families. The short-notice change caught community shareholders off-guard, she said. 'Some students had to hear that news, fear for their privacy and potential safety in school, and then be expected to go about the rest of their day,' Szczesny said. 'I know families whose children felt scared to go to school on Friday morning, unsure if they would be greeted with a deadname when they opened up their computers and be outed to their classmates... Communication regarding this initial policy and ongoing attempts to adapt it were insufficient and untimely, leading to more worry.' Johnson said the district will share additional updates with district families through another communication before changes enter effect over spring break. As of March 6, district officials have not yet shared further information regarding the procedural changes.
