Check out this site! Allows you to search on every teacher in the state!

http://php.app.com/PAteachers0607/search.php

The SRASD has very little web presence and what little they have is hard to find. 

Many people are coming to this site to find out what day school starts.

The start of school in the SRASD is Wed. Aug. 29, 2007

 

Once again, the SRASD has no presence on the web. Apparently Edline is their only site. And the search spiders can't find it on Edline.

My site comes up first when searching Goggle for Slippery Rock Area School District.

That's OK. My site, www.slipperyrockonline.com, will continue to serve as the premier site for district information as it has since 1998.

www.slipperyrockonline.com has received triple the visitors since the district took down their website.

According to last Sundays Vindicator, Kathy Nogay has been hired as SRASD's new superintendent at a salary of $106,000 a yr. for 3yrs.

Our Bill Adams, William E. Adams Sr., isn't running for the Seneca Valley School Board, his son, Bill Adams Jr. is.

Bill Adams Jr. is not cross-filed and is being challenged by one other candidate, Sally Hanley.

See: http://www.grassrootspa.com/blog/archives/13779 post #5

Check out these sites to see what "our" Bill Adams has been up to since he left the school board.

http://catholicfundamentalism.com/

Gosh. I sure do like that new rosary.

http://www.grassrootspa.com

Scroll toward the middle of the page, on the right, there is a box that states:

Top Commentators

billadams(1374)

Busy boy, new rosary, new books, new site, and 1374 posts to grassrootspa!

 

BREAKING NEWS!

I just heard that there is a candidate in the Seneca Valley school board election named Bill Adams. Hmmmm.

I sure hope for their sake that he isn't our "Bill Adams" and that he isn't running unopposed if  it is our Bill!  With all the new school construction planned down there his presence will cause a mess!

Seneca Valley voters should just say NO to Bill Adams!

Yikes!

Great rumor....

(DO) I believe my background as a licensed professional engineer would be an asset when it comes to helping define the more complex math and science courses, reviewing text books, CAD programs, laboratory equipment etc.

(MM) That is real nice, but board members don’t pick textbooks, lab equipment, or write a course of study, teachers do. Board members approve or disapprove. This could create a union issue)

(DO) I have more than 30 years of experience in drafting, design, and engineering. As a practicing engineer I work closely with people at meetings to solve problems, reach common goals, balance budgets, review documents and procure equipment.

(MM) I have 35 year of experience in education and as a teacher, nothing an engineer would do is remotely connected to the process of schooling.

(DO) My number one goal is to provide a high quality education for all students.

(MM) I believe that is everyone’s goal, I agree.

(DO) personally believe that the school board should maintain the traditional summer vacation. No modified calendar, the school board can explore something else. It costs a lot to run an air conditioning system during the summer, also children need a bit of freedom during the summertime. During the summer break contractors are brought in to make repairs to the infrastructure at a lower rate.

(MM) I believe that school should start after Labor Day and end 180 days later with traditional breaks and summers. I believe contractors charge more for work in the summer not less because that is their busy season. It costs to have buildings idle too. Summer school should be for those students who need extra help.

(DO) Numerous articles have been made that about the physics of branching neurons in the brain. To have a robust memory impervious to minor environmental anomalies (or future stroke) it is necessary to renewal the mind from time to time. One of the best ways to do this is to reinforce the memory by a concentrated review at the end of each summer break. The student is usually taught by a new instructor in a slightly different way so the original memory circuits are reinvigorated and entirely new pathways are created, this is what gives the student mental robustness.

(MM) This is interesting. Please cite the articles and researchers

(DO) In our culture it is actually advantageous to take the summer off, work on the farm, do summer jobs, go scouting, enjoy a family camping trip etc. Do not experiment with our children.

(MM) I agree don’t experiment with the children

(DO) Keep school taxes low avoid increases in the millage rate

(MM) I agree, but sound monetary and fiscal policy are both necessary in this area

(DO) provide a high quality education effectively within budget by careful planning and obtaining grant monies when available.

(MM) We must all stick to a budget. I hate to burst your bubble, but where do grant monies come from FEDERAL AND STATE TAXES. A grant brings the money back to the community but it is not free.

(DO) Start after Labor Day, allow the family to have its last outing together. What is the hurry to rush back during the hottest part of the year?

(MM) I agree start I believe that school should start after Labor Day and end 180 days later with traditional breaks and summers

(DO) Improve SAT scores, our district average is 1487 this needs to be raised at least 200 points to help the students obtain scholarships and be admitted to many universities.

(MM) Great Idea, how are you going to do this, It would require a curricular change and be very expensive

(DO) Concentrate on Math, Science, History, and English and tech Ed courses

(MM) Schools have curriculum guides I believe those state that this is being done.

(DO) to improve the necessary marketable skills that business are looking for

(MM) We are trying to create good moral citizens, not robot like workers. Business models do not work in schools, why should they, our businesses fail to compete on global markets because of this mentality

(DO) in addition this will help raise average scores on the SAT

(MM) There is no empirical evidence to suggest this will occur

(DO) Special needs students at both ends should not be forgotten; sometimes the gifted children are ignored because their grades are above average so people believe they don't require attention. Better management of this area can help to prevent boredom by having worthwhile projects available that would enhance student's skills.

(MM) Not better management just less of it, schools are top heavy in administration micro-management is not the answer. Let the teachers enrich the students they are the professionals. More management is not needed)

(DO) Maintain our athletic programs, the students need the exercise, and group sports are very desirable for improving teamwork, student health, and competitive abilities.

(MM) I agree sports and extra-curricular activities such as band, clubs and field trips are important to all students and should be maintained.

(DO) Consider what other states do to save transportation and heating fuel costs. Other states have a 170-day school year; they stay slightly longer each day so it is equivalent to our system of 181 days. If fuel prices keep going up drastically this should be considered as a viable alternative to raising tax rates. Note this may require a change in state law.

(MM) Being an engineer, like Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover, you would not understand that the school age child’s attention span after long hours at school are significantly lost. A longer school day would cause major classroom management problems. 7 and ½ hours is long enough for them. After all you should not experiment with the children)

(DO) I believe that the school board needs to properly address the residents concerns and do this in a friendly and responsive manner.

(MM) I agree, electoral responsibility important)

 

Candidate Platform Statements- Region 3

Slippery Rock Borough, West Liberty, Worth Township, Brady Township

Platform of Mark Mraz Candidate for School Director in Region 3

Slippery Area School District- 2007

I believe that participatory democracy is the foundation of the Republic. Therefore, as a school director I have a responsibility the citizens who voted for me. Having been a teacher for 29 years in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania, I know where the waste is in the schools and there is plenty of it. I will work to keep taxes stable by eliminating waste and needless expenditures.

Specific Planks in Platform

1) Before I make a decision I will consider my electoral responsibility to the public.

2) Promote from within, if possible, schools train administrators, coaches, etc at district expense and then hire outside the district. This is a waste of money training people who will never be considered for the position. Within reason, let the people already trained, be the heads of sports teams, departments and schools.

3) Make administrators and teachers accountable for the schools by developing some type of site-based management for day-to-day operations of the buildings. 4) Develop an open door policy so that the people can discuss their needs with the school directors without administrative filter.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Platform of Daniel Opalewski Candidate for School Director in Region 3

Slippery Area School District- 2007

I believe my background as a licensed professional engineer would be an asset when it comes to helping define the more complex math and science courses, reviewing text books, CAD programs, laboratory equipment etc. I have more than 30 years of experience in drafting, design, and engineering. As a practicing engineer I work closely with people at meetings to solve problems, reach common goals, balance budgets, review documents and procure equipment.

My number one goal is to provide a high quality education for all students. I personally believe that the school board should maintain the traditional summer vacation. No modified calendar, the school board can explore something else. It costs a lot to run an air conditioning system during the summer, also children need a bit of freedom during the summertime. During the summer break contractors are brought in to make repairs to the infrastructure at a lower rate. Numerous articles have been made that about the physics of branching neurons in the brain. To have a robust memory impervious to minor environmental anomalies (or future stroke) it is necessary to renewal the mind from time to time. One of the best ways to do this is to reinforce the memory by a concentrated review at the end of each summer break. The student is usually taught by a new instructor in a slightly different way so the original memory circuits are reinvigorated and entirely new pathways are created, this is what gives the student mental robustness. In our culture it is actually advantageous to take the summer off, work on the farm, do summer jobs, go scouting, enjoy a family camping trip etc. Do not experiment with our children.

Keep school taxes low avoid increases in the millage rate; provide a high quality education effectively within budget by careful planning and obtaining grant monies when available.

Start after Labor Day, allow the family to have its last outing together. What is the hurry to rush back during the hottest part of the year?

Improve SAT scores, our district average is 1487 this needs to be raised at least 200 points to help the students obtain scholarships and be admitted to many universities.

Concentrate on Math, Science, History, and English and tech Ed courses to improve the necessary marketable skills that business are looking for, in addition this will help raise average scores on the SAT.

Special needs students at both ends should not be forgotten; sometimes the gifted children are ignored because their grades are above average so people believe they don't require attention. Better management of this area can help to prevent boredom by having worthwhile projects available that would enhance student's skills.

Maintain our athletic programs, the students need the exercise, and group sports are very desirable for improving teamwork, student health, and competitive abilities.

Consider what other states do to save transportation and heating fuel costs. Other states have a 170-day school year; they stay slightly longer each day so it is equivalent to our system of 181 days. If fuel prices keep going up drastically this should be considered as a viable alternative to raising tax rates. Note this may require a change in state law.

I believe that the school board needs to properly address the residents concerns and do this in a friendly and responsive manner.

 

 

A sitting SRASD school board member, Michael Scheer-representing Slippery Rock Borough and a Lutheran Minister, publicly responded (using their REAL name (and title!)) to one of my blog entries concerning school uniforms! Oh. My. And he gave me a good dressing down (dressing down-get it?) in the process!