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Students warm up to winter with new coats and smiles

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Substantial increase for Head Start in the works

<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; The Crestwood School Board approved a contract Thursday with Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Associates to perform a feasibility study of the two elementary schools at a cost of $5,000. The firm agreed to reimburse the fee if it is later hired as district architect.</p><p>Based in Mechanicsburg, Crabtree Rohrbaugh has worked in the region elsewhere, including for the Wilkes-Barre Area Career &amp; Technology Center, Hazleton Area School District and Dallas School District where the firm handled the architectural work for the district&#8217;s new high school.</p><p>After the meeting, Superintendent Robert Mehalick said the study will look at all options for what&#8217;s best for students and a district where previously shrinking enrollment is now growing, with 80 more students this year. He said options include renovating the schools, building a new one or possibly even keeping the status quo.</p><p>The board also unanimously approved a proposal to bring the Rachel&#8217;s Challenge program to the district at $11,000 for one year. Named after the first student killed in the 1999 Columbine High School Shootings, Rachel&#8217;s Challenge is a nonprofit, nonreligious organization that says it &#8220;works to reduce violence&#8221; in schools.</p><p>Mehalick said it will primarily serve grades 7-9 and 10-12, first providing training to staff, then programs for students, then involving the community.</p><p>Responding to questions from audience member Tina Humen, Mehalick conceded there were recent problems with the district&#8217;s Skylert parent notification system, part of the larger Skyward student management system. A recent alert sent multiple calls to some parents and no calls to others.</p><p>Mehalick said the problem apparently arose when the district started using a new data input system and the software did not correctly read input cards or transfer the card data to the Skyward system. He said it appeared to be an internal problem and that district technology staff felt confident it was fixed by the end of Thursday.</p><p>Board President Brian Costello also responded to a question by Humen about email problems by noting the district is making numerous changes to its software and website, and that problems with email addresses are also being resolved. He said work on the website is designed to make information more accessible and useful to staff and residents.</p><p>Asked after the meeting about developments regarding a high school teacher who had been suspended after allegations of inappropriate student contact, Mehalick confirmed a police investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, and that there would be no criminal filings.</p><p>Mehalick said that does not completely end the matter, and that district officials were reviewing it further. The teacher could still face internal discipline or other actions. He said the teacher remains on paid leave until that process is completed.</p><p>The board also approved payments totaling over $633,730 for work on the new field house: Two payments totaling $418,166 to general contractor Scandale Assoc. Builders &amp; Engineers LTD; $22,032 to Quad 3 Group Inc. in architectural fees; $20,502 to G.R. Noto Electrical Construction; four payments totaling $63,394 to Scranton Electric heating &amp; Cooling Inc. for HVAC and for plumbing work; and $109,643 to Kobalt Construction for site work.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Crestwood board OKs feasibility study on 2 schools