Education category, Page 84
Budget hearing for Pittsburgh schools addresses mental health programs, state oversightVideo
Many residents who came to a public hearing Monday on the 2020 Pittsburgh Public Schools budget didn’t focus on the spending plan that includes a 2.3% rise in property taxes collected by the district, the first tax increase in five years. Instead, the bigger concern was the district’s spending on...
Student in custody after shooting at Milwaukee-area school
MILWAUKEE — A student is in custody after exchanging gunfire with a school resource officer Monday morning at a suburban Milwaukee high school, the school district said. Police in Waukesha tweeted about 11 a.m. that officers were responding to a “critical incident” at Waukesha South High School. Terry Schuster, the...
Dictionary.com chooses ‘existential’ as word of the year
NEW YORK — Climate change, gun violence, the very nature of democracy and an angsty little movie star called Forky helped propel “existential” to Dictionary.com’s word of the year. The choice reflects months of high-stakes threats and crises, real and pondered, across the news, the world and throughout 2019. “In...
Franklin Regional, Butler, Mt. Lebanon receive grants to help needy families
Three school districts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including Franklin Regional in Westmoreland County, each will receive $2,500 to help local families with needs like clothing, medical and dental care, eyeglasses and prescriptions along with food, shelter and related supplies. The American Association of School Administrators, or AASA, announced the Murrysville school...
Colleges struggle with soaring student demand for counseling
More college students are turning to their schools for help with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, and many must wait weeks for treatment or find help elsewhere as campus clinics struggle to meet demand, an Associated Press review of more than three dozen public universities found. On some...
Westmoreland ‘Science Scholars’ will compete for $12,000 in Pitt-Greensburg scholarships
Students from five Westmoreland County schools will compete Monday for $12,000 in scholarship money to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg at the college’s Science Scholar Showdown. The four-member teams will put their scientific knowledge and teamwork to the test as they participate in three rounds of competition. Students...
Penn-Trafford tops in Westmoreland County on state assessment tests
Penn-Trafford was ranked in the top 2% of the state’s 605 schools districts, based on the results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and the Keystone Exams, the school district said. The Westmoreland County school district ranked 11th out of 605 statewide, according to scores released in October and...
Auditor general accuses Pittsburgh schools of ‘runaway travel costs’ amid budget woes, proposed tax hike
Superintendent Anthony Hamlet and other top Pittsburgh Public Schools administrators have spent more than $450,000 this year on trips to Las Vegas, Nashville and Los Angeles and other travel-related expenses “without clearly demonstrating any benefit for students,” the state’s top fiscal watchdog said Wednesday. In a scathing report, Pennsylvania Auditor...
Riverview students awarded during Model UN event at Princeton
Four members of Riverview Senior High School’s United Nations team received awards for performances during a recent conference at Princeton University. Lauren Hornsby, Francesca Lio, Jack Harden and Julia Ciorra all played roles as delegates from U.N. committees during the conference, held Nov. 14-17. Hornsby, a junior, finished in second...
Penn State ranks close to worst in affordability for low-income students
Penn State ranks close to worst in affordability for low-income students among top public universities, according to a new report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Flagship universities like Penn State’s University Park campus are known around the country for having large research budgets and many resources for both...
American Legion oratorical, essay contests open to high school students
Westmoreland County high school students looking for college scholarships might want to sharpen their public speaking and essay skills for the 2020 Pennsylvania American Legion oratorical and essay contests. The contests are open to all county students in grades 9-12, including home school and charter and private school pupils. Applications...
U.S. draws fewer new foreign students for 3rd straight year
The number of foreign students coming to U.S. colleges and universities continued to fall last year, according to a new report, but the Trump administration says the drop should be blamed on high tuition costs and not students’ concerns over the nation’s political atmosphere. An annual report from the Institute...
Alabama parents, students outraged after student uncovers racist chat group among teachers
Students and parents in a small Alabama town want several teachers to be held accountable after a student at their school leaked a “racist” chat group that targeted children with racial slurs, demeaning jokes and implications that students are dumb. The group chat, named “Bad A B’s,” started at a...
Penn State soon to unveil national report on Greek life; 55 colleges included
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Pennsylvania State University said it will soon release the first national score card on fraternities and sororities, highlighting the good, such as public service hours and the bad, such as hazing and sexual misconduct violations. But many schools will be absent from the list. The university...
Plum School District officials dedicate new high school vestibule, show other security upgradesVideo
Plum School District officials believe their new security vestibule will become the safety standard at other schools. “Sometimes they say the leading edge is the bleeding edge, but not in this case,” Superintendent Brendan Hyland said. “We’re leading, and I think you’re going to be very proud of the amount...
Mayor Peduto calls for state oversight of Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday called for state takeover of Pittsburgh Public School District finances, saying the district should be able to balance its annual budget within current revenue levels. The mayor was responding to a question about the district’s proposed 2.3% tax increase that Superintendent Anthony Hamlet has...
Jefferson Hills Intermediate students launch 3D store
Sarah Greenblatt is designing a snowman ornament that she thinks all cold weather fans will love. Ava Sorley’s ornament will showcase Pittsburgh sports, because she loves cheering on the black and gold on the field and in the rink. Sage Mares has opted to create a Valentine’s Day ornament with...
Poll: Many say high school diploma enough to succeed
Although most young Americans believe in the value of higher education, many still consider a high school diploma alone to be enough for success, according to a survey of teens and young adults by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The findings alarm some experts who say young...
New school start time recommended at Hampton
Hampton high school students may be getting some extra sleep next school year if a recent recommendation from the School Start Time Committee is approved, per a presentation at the Hampton Township School District school board meeting on Nov. 4. Dr. Michael Loughead, superintendent for Hampton, along with other School...
Riverview School District’s PR consultant resigns
Oakmont Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso has resigned as Riverview School District’s public relations consultant. She submitted her letter of resignation earlier this month. School board members may vote to accept it Nov. 11 . DelRosso was hired by the district in 2016. Her last official day is Dec. 31. She’s offered...
ROTC cadet from Mt. Pleasant surprised with Saint Vincent scholarship at Steelers gameVideo
Mt. Pleasant Area graduate Noah Lynch was honored to escort his ROTC commander at Saint Vincent College onto Heinz Field for a special presentation during Sunday’s game between the Steelers and the visiting Colts. He was stunned to realize the third-quarter presentation before more than 62,000 football fans included full...
State gives North Hills the nod for kids to work at home during snow days
Students in the North Hills School District will no longer get a day off when it’s too snowy to make it to school. The state Department of Education has approved a request by the district to replace snow days with so-called Flexible Instruction Days that allow students to work at...
Penn Hills School Board selects $100M bond refinancing optionVideo
Penn Hills School District officials decided long-term savings was better than upfront cash when it comes to refinancing about $100 million in bonds for their high school and elementary school. Board members voted 7-1 Oct. 30 to authorize bond counsel to pursue a restructuring option that could save about $10 million...
Chicago teachers OK tentative agreement but strike goes on
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago’s teachers union voted to approve a tentative contract agreement with city officials Wednesday but refused to end a strike that has canceled two weeks of classes unless the city’s mayor adds school days to cover that lost time. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday night that she...
Former Hempfield student sues teacher over battery, emotional distress
Parents of a former Hempfield Area High School student filed a lawsuit this week, claiming their son was assaulted, intimidated and harassed by a teacher and, ultimately, forced to move to another school. According to the Westmoreland County court filing, the family contends John Testa Jr., a technology education teacher,...
