Latest news with #ScrantonSchoolDistrict
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
School in Scranton celebrates new playground designed with pupils' input
SCRANTON — Pupils at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in South Side who helped design the transformation of a parking lot there into a vibrant schoolyard with a modern playground also helped cut the ribbon Friday during a grand opening. In the works for the past three years, a former asphalt lot at the rear of the school now has become an oasis for play, as well as a community park space for the 2,500 residents who live within a 10-minute walk of the school fronting on Prospect Avenue. A collaboration of the Scranton School District, the city of Scranton, the local nonprofit Valley in Motion and the nationwide Trust for Public Land, the project two years ago called upon third-graders to give input on what they would like to see in a playground replacing the parking lot along Winfield Avenue. 'This is even better than I pictured. You guys did such an incredible job,' Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti said to pupils who helped design the new schoolyard and attended the grand opening Friday. Tess Lewis, 11, a fifth grader at the South Scranton Intermediate School, was one of the pupils of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton who as a third-grader helped design the new schoolyard at the JFK school and attended the ribbon cutting with classmates. She said she is very happy with the transformation of the space. 'We wanted all the playground parts to be on softer ground,' because the surface previously was all paved. The $775,000 cost of the JFK Elementary School project is funded with $500,000 from the city, from its federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Moses Taylor Foundation, Scranton Area Community Foundation, The Robert H. Spitz Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation also contributed. Commenting on the numerous entities and sponsors involved, Cognetti said, 'Everybody put the team together, to put the puzzle pieces in there to make this happen. The most important thing was that you guys got to be involved and we're so proud of the work that you did.' School officials spoke of playtime as a key component of education. 'These are the kinds of things that make coming to school more enjoyable and have that small fraction of the day where you step away from traditional learning to be able to learn in a whole new environment,' Scranton School District Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D. said. The poured-in place rubbery surface will need a few days to cure before children can use the playground. 'Play is really the work of childhood,' JFK school Principal Nora Phillips said. 'Our children at JFK are now able to get to work' at play in the revamped schoolyard. Gus Fahey of Valley in Motion noted how the schoolyard is no longer an old-school kind of space. 'We were used to just sort of flat, asphalt playgrounds. Now we're not going to accept that anymore. This is the new standard that we are going to give to the children of the next generation,' Fahey said. Owen Franklin of The Trust for Public Land described the schoolyard as an asset for community development and strengthening connections. 'This is a model for partnership and impact,' Franklin said. Fahey also referenced two similar schoolyard playground transformations ahead, at the Whitter and Willard schools. The city has federal American Rescue Plan Act money earmarked for the Whittier project, he said. A $350,000 federal Environmental Protection Agency grant for the Willard school project was awarded via a nationwide competition, but that funding recently was eliminated, Fahey said, noting he was announcing that loss. 'That money that we won was taken away from us on a national level,' Fahey told the crowd. 'So what are we going to do? Are we not going to build the next playground?' Several people in the crowd responded 'No,' meaning that project will get done somehow. 'We're going to figure it out,' Cognetti replied. * Gus Fahey, president of Valley in Motion, makes remarks at the opening of a new community schoolyard June 6, 2025, at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in South Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * John F. Kennedy Elementary School students listen to speakers talk about a newly build playground at the school. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Children who two years ago while in third grade helped design a new community schoolyard playground at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton participated in a ribbon-cutting during a grand-opening celebration of the schoolyard on Friday, June 6, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * The new community schoolyard playground at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton during a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration on Friday, June 6, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti listens to remarks at the opening of a new community schoolyard June 6, 2025, at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in South Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Owen Franklin of Trust for Public Land discusses the dedication of a new playground at at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in South Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Gus Fahey, president of Valley in Motion, makes remarks as Trust for Public Land, Scranton School District and Mayor Paige Cognetti open a new community schoolyard June 6, 2025, at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in South Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, at podium, introduces and shakes hands with Gus Fahey of Valley in Motion during a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration of the new community schoolyard playground, in background, at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton on Friday, June 6, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * The new community schoolyard playground at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton during a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration on Friday, June 6, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * The new community schoolyard playground at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton during a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration on Friday, June 6, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Tess Lewis, 11, a fifth grader at the South Scranton Intermediate School, was one of the pupils of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Scranton two years ago while in third grade there helped design a new community schoolyard playground at the Kennedy school. Tess and former Kennedy school classmates participated Friday, June 6, 2025 in a ribbon-cutting during a grand-opening celebration of the new schoolyard. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 11 Gus Fahey, president of Valley in Motion, makes remarks at the opening of a new community schoolyard June 6, 2025, at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in South Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Expand
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Judge dismisses some counts in suit alleging abuse by SSD teacher, allows others
A federal judge allowed a lawsuit alleging abuse of a disabled student by a Scranton School District special education teacher to proceed on some counts, but dismissed others. U.S. District Judge Karoline Mehalchick did not rule on the credibility of the suit's allegations concerning teacher Erica Stolan or others named in the civil complaint attorneys Joseph Grady and Todd O'Malley filed in U.S. District Court in February 2024 on behalf of the student and his parents. In addition to Stolan, it named the school district, South Scranton Intermediate School Principal Joseph Lalli, former Principal Daniel Gilroy and district Director of Special Education Ann Genett as defendants. Among other claims, the plaintiffs allege that the student with multiple disabilities, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, was assaulted by Stolan in her classroom at South Scranton Intermediate School. The complaint specifically alleges that Stolan sprayed liquid in the child's face on Jan. 2, 2023, then, a day later, shoved him out of his chair and directed and encouraged other special education students to forcibly remove him from the classroom. A behavior support professional witnessed the alleged conduct and reported it to Gilroy in writing, according to the complaint, which notes a ChildLine report originated from the district and district officials removed Stolan from the school on Jan. 4, 2023. But Stolan, now a special education teacher at Charles Sumner Elementary School, was allowed to return to the intermediate school in the spring of 2023, according to the complaint. The plaintiffs contend Stolan's conduct was 'open, widespread and known' by district staff and administrators and that the district, its officers and employees allowed her abusive behavior to continue 'unabated and unsupervised.' Attorneys representing the district and other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in April 2024, arguing the 13 separate counts in the plaintiffs' complaint should be dismissed for a variety of reasons. Among other arguments, they contended that Stolan and the other defendants are immune from liability, the court lacks jurisdiction in the case and the plaintiffs aren't entitled to punitive damages. In their motion, attorneys John Freund, the district's solicitor, and Alyssa Hicks argued the court lacks jurisdiction because the plaintiffs failed to exhaust 'administrative remedies' available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They also argued the plaintiffs didn't specify how the actions of the individual defendants 'demonstrate that they knew their actions violated (the student's) rights' and failed to establish that the student's disability 'was the cause of the denial of benefits.' In an order late last month, Mehalchick dismissed several of the complaint's 13 counts, some with prejudice and some without, but allowed others to proceed. For example, the judge denied the defendants' motion to dismiss certain federal claims alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, allowing those counts to continue. She also denied a motion to dismiss a separate count alleging violations of rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, allowing that claim to proceed while declining during the pleading stage of the civil action to address the defendants' claims of qualified immunity. It is 'premature' at this point to determine whether Stolan and the other defendants are entitled to qualified immunity, the judge's order notes. But Mehalchick did dismiss a pair of counts against individual defendants other than Stolan, noting in her order that the plaintiffs failed to allege in the relevant counts 'willful misconduct' by those individuals 'beyond mere deliberate indifference.' She also dismissed the same counts against the school district, finding that the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, which shields government agencies from liability for actions committed by their employees under certain circumstances, bars those counts. The judge denied a motion to dismiss several counts against Stolan, including counts alleging assault and battery and the intentional infliction of emotional distress. 'Please understand that the judge did not find anyone liable,' Freund said in a recent statement to the newspaper. 'The decision merely means that the plaintiff's complaint stated sufficient allegations for the case to move forward.' Robert Moran, an attorney for the plaintiffs, also issued a statement addressing the judge's order. 'We are pleased with Judge Mehalchick's thorough and well-reasoned opinion,' he said. 'The facts underlying the allegations should shock every parent, particularly those with children suffering a disability. We look forward to this case proceeding.' Mehalchick also did not dismiss the plaintiffs' claim for punitive damages in the case, noting such a dismissal would not be appropriate 'at this preliminary stage of litigation.' She also granted the plaintiffs an opportunity to file an amended complaint to potentially cure deficiencies related to claims dismissed without prejudice. The plaintiffs are still evaluating whether to file an amended complaint, Moran said.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scranton superintendent outlines steps taken by district in response to new immigration laws
SCRANTON — Scranton School District administrators are developing plans if federal immigration officials visit district schools and want to keep the community informed of the changes in the law. Administrators met last week to discuss protocols the district has put in place if a federal agency or entity were to visit a school, Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D. said at Monday's vendor relations committee meeting, and how the situation would be handled. They also discussed the changes in the law around immigration with guidance counselors, social workers and English as a second language teachers. 'We will continue to hold such meetings to update people on a regular basis,' she said. The changes are in response to actions taken by President Donald Trump in his first week in office to crack down on illegal immigration, which include fast-tracking deportations, suspending the refugee program and lifting rules restricting immigration enforcement at or near schools and churches. School districts across Northeastern Pennsylvania are working on similar protocols if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were to visit. Keating pointed to the pop-up note on the district's website directing the public to contact Assistant Superintendent of Community Relations and Student/Staff Support Al O'Donnell regarding the changes in the law. She said officials are ensuring students are receiving support services and are setting up a page with information on immigration on the district's website. 'We have always had a really strong social and emotional learning program,' she said, adding she's asked staff and administrators to keep Character Strong, a program for students to develop social and emotional skills, running. Keating said the district is being open and transparent with information and are ensuring resources are available. Administrators talk regularly with law enforcement and city officials, and the district's legal team vets any action taken and are part of the conversation in dealing with the changes, she said. Keating planned to bring up the topic of immigration with Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti this week. However, Keating said administrators and the board are still figuring out the new laws but emphasized it is the district's priority to ensure the health, safety and welfare of students. 'This is always our top priority,' she said. O'Donnell emphasized officials are around to help and support families and encouraged them to reach out to him. 'We are in unchartered waters so there will be changes along the way but always remember … we are here to protect the health and safety of children of the Scranton School District,' he said. In other news, Keating said administrators met earlier this month with representatives from Rohrer, Thomas Built Buses and Pete's Garage, the district's bus provider, to discuss why some of the district's electric buses aren't running. Officials unveiled the district's first environmentally friendly buses in the fall. Rohrer purchased the buses for Dunmore-based Pete's Garage, the district's bus provider. The Duncanon-based company bought the buses, which cost $375,000 each, with a $9.87 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Program. There are 25 electric buses in the district, of which 20 are on the road, officials said. Keating said there are issues with the chargers and the buses being able to hold a charge, with Thomas Built representatives stating the problem is with the 12 volt batteries. She said Rohrer representatives will be on site beginning early next month and would see the buses are working. 'I understand getting these buses is extremely important,' she said, emphasizing officials want to get the buses on the road.
