Huntingdon School Board Raises Food Service Sub Pay, Adds Educational Assistant Position

HUNTINGDON (August 21) - The Huntingdon Special School District Board of Education met Wednesday, the first meeting since the beginning of the school year. Members approved a bump in pay for food service substitutes as well an additional educational assistant position. The board also heard from high school Principal Porsche McClerking about an exciting new initiative at the school.

Director of Schools Dr. Jonathan Kee requested an additional Educational Assistant position, citing the Special Ed staff's need for more support in conducting, reviewing and updating individualized education programs (IEPs). The board approved the addition unanimously.

Dr. Kee commended the board's previous approval of a raise for substitute teachers and requested a similar increase for food service substitutes, suggesting a jump from $10 to $12 per hour. The board approved the motion unanimously.

Also approved was a date for the 2025 graduation. Commencement is Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. at Paul Ward Stadium with a backup date the following day.

Principal McClerking and Assistant Principal Shanna Boyd spoke to the board about a new program being implemented at the high school, CLASS, or Creating Leaders and Successful Students.

The program offers activities, achievements and events throughout each semester through which students can earn points for their class. Examples are wearing class colors on appointed days, Honor Roll, perfect attendance, attendance at an athletic event, tutoring attendance, assessment scores, canned food drives, fewest discipline referrals by month, and presentations to the school board.

Near the end of each semester is a Class Clash featuring dozens of activities, both academic and not, for classes to rack up more points for their final tally. McClerking said, "There's something literally for everybody."

After the Clash, the class with the most points accrued over the semester wins, and each student in that class, granted they participated in a Clash activity, will get the reward, which McClerking presented for board approval.

He proposed that the winning class be given two days off (for example, the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving in the fall semester). He opined that "pizza parties don't work in high school" and that time was what would motivate older kids to get involved, participate and be enriched by these activities.

The school would encourage and help facilitate students using the days off for "extended learning" activities such as job shadowing, work-based learning, post-secondary visits or volunteer hours, but it wouldn't be a requirement.

Board members approved the principal's request unanimously.

Dr. Kee reported enrollment at the onset of the year was 1,284, with 406 in K-3, 469 in middle and 409 in high school.

The meeting adjourned after 45 minutes.