Tina Dietrich

The comprehensive plan for Woodland Hills School District focuses on cultivating a diverse and inclusive community where every learner is empowered with personalized opportunities to explore, create, and lead. Key areas of focus include reducing chronic absenteeism, implementing targeted and differentiated instruction in mathematics, and enhancing instructional leadership. The plan also emphasizes student safety, communication with families, trauma-informed instruction, and relationship-building to prepare students to thrive academically, socially, and as leaders in a diverse, ever-changing world.

The Woodland Hills School District's strategic plan addresses challenges related to academic achievement, attendance, and racial disparities. Key areas of focus include improving math proficiency, particularly among African-American students, increasing regular attendance, and reducing chronic absenteeism. The plan outlines measurable goals for these areas, including closing the achievement gap in Algebra, increasing regular attendance rates to surpass the statewide average, and reducing chronic absenteeism to less than 10%. Strategies to achieve these goals include implementing a summer program, providing culturally responsive pedagogy professional development, incorporating VEX Robotics, and conducting parent focus groups to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism. The plan also emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration among staff, parents, and the community.

The Title I Schoolwide Plan for Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy focuses on implementing data-driven instruction to improve student achievement. The plan addresses the needs of all students, particularly those performing below grade level, by using data to inform instruction, track progress, and adjust teaching strategies. Key areas of focus include improving instruction, empowering leadership, fostering a positive school climate, and meeting Pennsylvania System School of Assessment (PSSA) benchmarks. The plan outlines specific, measurable goals and action steps to achieve these objectives, including professional development for teachers on data analysis and implementation, and the use of technology to support data-driven decision-making. The overall aim is to create a personalized and targeted approach to support student learning and ensure that all students and families have the opportunity to succeed.

The meeting covered various topics including approval of September meeting minutes, election of Eastern Area Schools Joint Committee officers, approval of C.C. Mellor Memorial Library contribution, application for a Keystone Recreation grant for Carnegie Free Library improvements, approval of after-school activities at Dickson STEAM Academy, ratification of contracts with Pittsburgh-Mt. Oliver Intermediate Unit 2 and SmartMusic, approval of purchase orders for Scholastic Book Fair books, permission for staff attendance at conferences, approval of after-school tutoring programs, ratification of tuition and staffing agreements with various organizations, acceptance of an agreement with Reaching New Dreams and Recognizing Talents (RNDRT), creation and appointment to the position of Assistant to the Director of Pupil Personnel, authorization for leaves, retirements, resignations, and hires, approval of an agreement with ALC Schools, LLC, partnership with KidzRide LLC, acceptance of revised proposals from Paragon Furniture and Vendrick Construction, Inc., approval of change orders for Vendrick Construction, Inc. and GBL Construction, LLC, permission for use of school facilities, approval of a cooperation agreement with the Allegheny County Housing Authority, ratification of bill lists, acceptance of financial reports, approval of investment reports, selection of C. Harper for passenger vans, agreement with Optimal Performance by Design, approval of stipends for Dawn Golden, Stephanie Garritty, and Rebecca Ross, submission of an RCAP application for Carnegie Free Library renovations, and obtaining a new appraisal for the Carnegie Free Library building.

The 2024-2025 Title I School Plan for Wilkins El STEAM Academy focuses on improving student attendance, and decreasing the achievement gap in ELA and Math for students with disabilities. The plan includes measurable goals for increasing regular attendance to 70%, improving ELA proficiency for students with disabilities on the PSSA assessment, and increasing math proficiency for all students in grades 3-5 on the PSSA assessment. Strategies include implementing the Be There Buddy program, utilizing a MTSS service delivery model with co-teaching in 5th grade ELA, and using data from NWEA MAP assessments to inform instruction and interventions. Professional development will focus on the Be There Buddy program, co-teaching, and MTSS protocols.