No paper note? Electronic excuses coming to Allegheny Valley School District

No paper note for a student’s absence will be no problem this year in the Allegheny Valley School District.

One of the additions in the Springdale-area district will be an electronic excuse form for parents and families to document student absences.

“It’s an electronic form that parents can use to complete documentation for absences from school,” said district spokeswoman Jan Zastawniak. “Parents have access to it from a parent dashboard, then the excuse goes to the respective buildings.”

Electronic excuses for parents aren’t uncommon. Parents in the Apollo-Ridge School District can submit an online absence excuse form that includes information on the student, the reason for the absence and an electronic signature. North Allegheny School District parents submit excuses using an online portal.

Allegheny Valley students start classes Aug. 19.

New this school year

At Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School, juniors now will have the option to visit a four-year college, community college or trade schools, Zastawniak said.

Seventh and eighth grade students will continue a program to help with their transition from Acmetonia Primary School to the high school. Those events will consist of breakfasts with faculty and administration, career speakers, dances and other junior high-only events.

The high school also will offer additional classes in the family consumer sciences and technology departments.

Teachers at Acmetonia will continue its math intervention pilot program, Spring Math.

“The program assesses classes on a weekly basis and determines any additional support that may be needed,” Zastawniak said. “These supports can then be added to class sessions to help individual students.”

The technology department has completed purchasing viewboards for all district classrooms, Zastawniak said. The project replaced all of the projector setups in classrooms.

Officials also plan a new public address system at the high school and new building access technology throughout the district.

The district will welcome three new teachers this year: Angela Huff was hired as a special education teacher at the high school; Zachary George was hired as an elementary music teacher; and Stacey Burns will teach fourth grade. Huff will be paid $61,086, George will make $45,186 and Burns will receive $45,786.

“They will join with the rest of the staff to continue to provide a first-rate educational program in the district,” Zastawniak said.