ED079814.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 079 814 EA 005 137 TITLE A Long-Range Development Program. INSTITUTION McKeesport Area School District, Pa.; Pittsburgh Univ., Pa. Office of Research and Field Services. PUB DATE 13 Dec 71 NOTE 374p. EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$13.16 DESCRIPTORS Demography; Economic Factors; *Educational Development; Educational Facilities; * Educational Finance; Educational Innovation; Educational Objectives; *Educational Planning; Educational Policy; *Educational Programs; *Facility Requirements; Population Trends; Program Descriptions; School Support; Social Factors; Student Transportation IDENTIFIERS McKeesport; *McKeesport Area School District; Pennsylvania ABSTRACT The described plan projects future demographic changes in the school district community; and examines tje kinds of educational programs, school facilities, and financing that will be required. Following an introduction and a summary of the major recommendations, four chapters, each developed by a professional educational specialist in close cooperation with McKeesport schoql district personnel, provide information concerning the community and demography of McKeesport, its educational program and school plant facilities, and the current and projected financial picture. The chapter on the community covers the geography and histpxy of the area, recreational opportunities, socioeconomic characteristics, public facilities and services, commerce, and pppulation. Facets of the educational program considered are those of the philospphy of education, administrative organization, school and class size, educational objectives, the program of studies, and the district transportation policy...A detailed description of existing buildings in the district and an outline of a prpjected building program comprise the chapter on facilities..The presentation cpncludes with a consideration of tax trends, expenditure patterns, indpbtedpess, and expenditures and revenues. Numerous maps and tables are included. (Pictures may reproduce poorly.) (Author/DN) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY U S OE ARTNIENT OF HEALTH. EOUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO OUCEO EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN ATING IT POINTS OF VIE., OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF A EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENTAL PLAN P, 0 f? 4T- McKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Administrative Offices Shaw Avenue and Locust Street McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15132 I A LONG-RANGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM McKeesport Area School District McKeesport, Pennsylvania December 13, 1971 A, a- OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS 1971-1972 PRESIDENT Peter H. Kemp VICE-PRESIDENT Ronald G. Sneddon MEMBERS Albert G. Basista William H. Bechtol Herbert G. Breitinger Edward C. Check Richard Martino Eugene T. O'Neil Duane R. Prosser SECRETARY AND BUSINESS MANAGER William D. Parsons TREASURER Harvey A. Chamberlain SOLICITOR Lewis J. Nescott, Esq. ADMINISTRATIVE S1AFF Harry R. Faulk - Superintendent of Schools Ronald R. Becket - Assistant to the Superintendent in Charge of Elementary Education D. Frederick Cullen-Assistant to the Superintendent in Charge of. Administrative Affairs Benjamin B. Disegi - Assistant to the Superintendent in Charge of Secondary Education James C. Steel - Coordinator of Federal Funds FOREWORD The method used in preparing this Long RangeDevelopmental Plan should be of interest to any person who has morethan a casual interest in the document. The number of personsinvolved and the degree of involve- ment should give the reader someidea of the nature of the commitment of local school personnel in the development of thePlan. Dr. James Mauch, Director of Research andField Services of the University of Pittsburgh, directed the entireproject.Each chapter was developed by a specialist working directly under Dr.Mauch and in close cooperation with personnel from the McKeesport AreaSchool District. This assured the school district havinginput into all facets of the plan. The chapter on school finance was prepared by apracticing school administrator who is very competent in school finance.In preparing this chapter, he worked very closely with the business managerand superin- tendent of the McKeesport Area School District. A school superintendent, who is an acknowledge expertin school faci- lities, wrote the chapter on school plant.Prior to beginning his study, dur- ing his study, and before the finished draft was prepared,the author met with the entire central administrative staff.In addition, while the study was underway the author metwith individual members of central administra- tion. As a result, the recommendations in thischapter have the unanimous support of the entire central administrative staff. The chapter on the community was done by theSouthwestern Pennsy- lvania Regional Planning Commission, a group that has moreinformation on the community than any other organization.As a result, its predictions, made by authorities in community and regionalplanning, are based upon sound information. Dr. Horton Southworth, chairman of thedepartment of education of the University of Pittsburgh, and his staff preparedthe chapter on the educa- tional program. This chapter was prepared in a mannerthat enabled the entire professional staff to participate in its development.The entire year of in-service activities in the 1968-69 school yearcentered on the educational phase of the long range plan. A school system wide committee was created to planall of the in-service activities for the year. They in turn formed committeesfor every subject area in the secondary schools and for everysubject area in the elementary schools. The vertical organization was K-3,4-6, and 7-12.This made three divisions for each subject area. The first in-service day provided for twosessions with a different speaker for each session.The speakers were chosen by the teachersinvol- ved in each meeting. After speaking,the speakers served as consultants for the remainder of the session. The objectives for the first in-service da/ were: 1. To acquaint members of the staff with the best current practice and trends in their area of interest (level or subject) with emphasis on purposes, organization of the program or discipline, schedule of instruction, staff utilization and materials of instruction. 2. To provide an opportunity for staff members to discuss the above listed topics (objective 1) with their colleagues and with a recognized authority in order to determine the future direction of their facet of the total school curriculum. 3. To establish a committee structure with a working relationship that can func- tion to prepare in written form a projected plan for their area of the curriculum. 4. To begin to develop an overall curriculum blueprint that will give direction to all curriculum work over the next five to ten years. The speakers who were invited to participate were asked to cover the following points: 1. What are the most commonly accepted objectives of the subject? What are the best current practices in the subject? 2.. Organization of the program (content and method by grade level) 3. Staff utilization 4. What materials are being used? 5. What trends are emerging in each of the above? Chairmen and recorders were selected for each section and these persons were asked to attend a briefing session on their responsibilities. The second in-service day the staff spent discussing their subject area using the following outline: Present Program Proposed Program 1. Objectives Each sectional meeting developed 2. Content and Major Emphasis a proposed program for grade levels 3. Activities and subject area it represented. 4. Strengths 5. Weaknesses 6. Materials Out of this in-service day, the material was developed that was used by task forces to develop the various sections of the educational plan.In addition to the development of the chapter for the long range plan, a 78 page document on Strengths, Weaknesses, and Proposed Programs for the school district was developed. As a result of the procedures that were used to develop the long range plan, we have a document that represents the thinking of the professionals'_aff of the school district tempered by dialogue with consultantswho were a ble to relate to the staff.Because they were involved and their thinking found its way into the plan, the staff iscommitted to implementing the suggestions out- lined in the plan. In summary, the long range developmental plan is theproduct of the professional staff of the McKeesport Area School District in collaboration with a complement of expert consultants under the direction of Dr.James Mauch.In this respect, it represents a cooperative activity betweenpublic schools and university that serves the best interest of both institutions. Harry R. Faulk Superintendent 1m, RESOLUTION The Board of School Directors of the McKeesport Area School District on December 13, 1971, approved the Long-Range Development Plan and authorized its officers to submit ten (10) copies of the plan to the Secretary of the Department of Education, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for review and acceptance. Secretary of the Board of School Directors STUDY STAFF The Long-Range Development Plan presented in this volume was prepared under the guidance of the Office of Research and Field Services, Department of Education, University of Pittsburgh. Director Dr. James E. Mauch - Director of the Office of Research and Field Services, University of Pittsburgh Consultant Staff Dr. George