During the committee meeting for the Clearfield Area School Board Monday night Brittany Madera introduced herself to the board as someone who is planning on running for a seat on the board in the upcoming elections.
Madera also commented on concerns about the future of the Department of Education and stated that she is concerned that the department might be in danger.
She noted that the department answers to Congress and not to the President, and that a large portion of the money is used for federal student aid, and the funds send to schools in low-income areas is a small portion of the budget, but that funding is vital to providing education to local kids.
“I am a direct result of those funds,” she said.
She said that school districts are already operating on a razors edge with funding and these monies are vital for the districts.
The next item was Superintendent Terry Struble remarking on the loss of two students in a house fire, Harley and Hunter Brink. Struble expressed the districts deep sorrow regarding the tragedy, but he also stated that he was very pleased to see the community’s response .
The board reviewed agenda items to be voted on at next weeks meeting and one of those was adjusting the 2024-2025 school calendar due to snow days.
Struble said that Feb. 17 became an Act 80 day so, despite the weather, the district has students come in, and that is also the last Act 80 day he can provide. There are two dates near Easter that can be used in the event of more snow days, and they can also extend the school year and move graduation from a Tuesday night to a Friday night.
Struble said it has been a while since the district has had to contend with so many days off due to adverse weather.
Next years calendar will also be approved next week with teachers coming in on Aug. 20 and 21 and students returning to class Aug. 25 and finishing the year June 3, 2026.
