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Dear Shamokin Area School District Families:
Once again, in an abundance of caution, we will proactively be switching to a virtual learning day on Monday for students in Grades 7-12 only. Department of Health guidelines require us to close a building when we reach 6-10 positive cases in a rolling 14-day period. At this time, we are at 4 positive cases in our Middle/High School. With that being said, our Middle/High School will be deep cleaned this evening and closed throughout the weekend. On Monday, all faculty and staff will report to school as normal. However, students in Grades 7-12 will be virtual on Monday.
We know the current circumstances are challenging for our students and families. They are very challenging circumstances for our teachers and staff as well. Please know that the District will continue to make decisions in the best interest of our students and families. Also, please understand that due to the ever-changing nature of the pandemic, we may need to revise our plan for our instructional model as new information becomes available from confirmed cases, PDE, DOH and/or the Governor’s Office and we will be sure to inform you of any necessary changes as soon as possible.
Thank you again for your patience, cooperation, and trust. Please continue to be diligent about abiding by recommended safety practices. We need our entire community to wear masks, adhere to social distancing, exercise frequent hand washing and avoid gatherings.
Remember, we are in this together and we appreciate your support of our Shamokin Area Schools!
Sincerely,
Chris J. Venna
Superintendent
With the addition of 7 more students opting to enroll with "outside" cyber schools as of October 9, it will cost an additional projected amount of $104,944.78 to the Taxpayers. This brings our Total Projected "Outside" Cyber School costs to $2,009,276.92. Reach out to your local legislators to let them know it's time for cyber-charter funding reform. These growing costs will force us to continue to raise taxes and cut programs and services for our own students in order to pay millions of dollars to cyber-charter schools.
While it is true that the families of children who attend cyber-charter schools do not pay any tuition directly to the cyber-charter school, students attend cyber-charter schools at public expense. School districts are required by law to make a tuition payment to a cyber-charter school for every student residing in the school district who enrolls in the cyber-charter school.
This includes students who enroll in a cyber-charter school and were previously home-schooled or attended a nonpublic school, even if the students were never enrolled in the school district.
(Source:www.pacharterchange.org)
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Reach out to your local legislators to let them know it’s time for cyber-charter funding reform. We simply cannot keep up with these growing costs and be forced to raise taxes and cut programs and services for our own students in order to pay millions of dollars to cyber-charter schools.
The Shamokin Area School District is offering Virtual/Online Pathways for its students who are seeking virtual learning options. Our pathways provide flexibility to our students and families at a much lower cost.
Tier I Virtual Pathway is the live Google Classroom pathway where students have access to live instruction from Shamokin Area teachers. Instruction can be viewed synchronously (live) or asynchronously (on your own time).
Tier II Virtual Pathway is the Odysseyware/Edgenuity Courseware pathway where students can engage in self-paced lessons and assessments from licensed online instructors. For more information, click the links below:
https://sites.google.com/indians.k12.pa.us/shamokin-area-elementary-virtu/home
https://sites.google.com/indians.k12.pa.us/shamokin-area-middle-schoolhig/
Our District currently spends more than two-million dollars (YES $2,000,000+) of taxpayer monies per year for “outside” cyber charter school tuitions in our budget. Over the past ten years, the District has spent nearly twelve-million dollars (YES $12,000,000) in “outside” cyber charter tuitions. By signing up for one of the above options, you will not only be receiving high quality virtual instruction, but also will be helping to provide a significant savings for the Shamokin Area School District taxpayers during these difficult economic times.
Important information about the Shamokin Area Virtual/Online Pathways include:
Shamokin Area Cyber Charter Costs Presentation
Financial Incentive for Returning Cyber School Students
The Shamokin Area School District will follow the Department of Education’s Recommendations for Pre-K to 12 Schools Following an Identification of a Case(s) of COVID-19. Currently, the recommendations provided in the link below complement the recommendations from DOH and PDE. Currently, Northumberland County is in the Moderate category for level of transmission. Please find the recommendations by clicking here: Recommendations
Students in grades K-6th will have access to a device at school and will only need to fill out the Chromebook Loan Form if they do not have access to a device at home. In case of a sudden school closer, students who have filled out the Chromebook Loan Form will be permitted to take their device home.
Students in grades 7th-12th will need a charged laptop, tablet, or Chromebook for class daily. If your student does not have access to an appropriate device, please fill out the Chromebook Loan Form and sign the Chromebook Loan Agreement in order to reserve a device.
Shamokin Area School District is offering no-cost breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in the District in Grades K4 -12 attending our virtual programs. Grab -n-Go Meals will start Monday, August 24th. Pickup days are Monday and Wednesday weekly. Meals will be picked up Monday for Monday and Tuesday & Pick up Wednesday for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Pick up time will be 1pm to 1:30pm at the MS/HS side entrance to the weightroom, across from student parking lot
Student name and ID number will be required for pick up. Daily meals will include a Breakfast and Lunch option. Breakfast- Whole Grain Breakfast item, Juice and Milk of your choice. Lunch- Entree, Fruit, Vegetable and Milk of your choice.
Virtual Breakfast/Lunch Count must be placed by Friday, 1pm for the following week pick up.
Here is the link to place your Breakfast/lunch count: Lunch Form
Please complete 1 form for each student and submit each time. For example, if you have 3 students, please complete the form 3 times and submit after each one.
No congregating at the location is permitted. Please maintain 6ft Social Distancing while waiting in line. Mask must be worn.
Directions and service code.
*This is NOT for employees. Please follow the Employment Opportunities link under Site Shortcuts on the homepage to find the service code specific to employees.
Shamokin Area School District Comprehension Plan revised 8/15/17
Click here if you are in need of internet access at home to complete virtual learning.
We are now registering students for the 2020-2021 school year.
