Page 4 - finalannualreportprinter81616

DISTRICT
INITIATIVES

2015-2016 Marks Year of Transformation for PR Technology

Stay informed by The 2015-2016 school year marked a year of change Additionally, a substantial number of infrastructure
signing up for the for technology at Pine-Richland School District. The projects have been completed, including new cabling
Pine-Richland School technology department has been focused on transi- at three primary schools and new WiFi at all four
District E-Newsletter. tioning from an outsourced structure to a new hybrid elementary schools. The technology department has
Visit www.pinerich- staffing model, which includes a combination of also implemented a districtwide Voice Over Internet
land.org/email to in-house personnel and outsourcing to build a reliable Protocol (VoIP) telephone system and greatly increased
register for informa- and secure infrastructure, under the direction of Pine- the amount of internet bandwidth to all of the schools,
tion you want to Richland’s Director of Technology Shawn Stoebener. especially to the high and middle schools.
receive about the
Pine-Richland School The district welcomed Help Desk Manager Stephen The district also extended the use of Google app
District. Dugan, Network Administrator Michael Pohl, Sys- accounts to high school students and will activate
tems Engineer Jared Simon and technicians Patrick middle school student accounts early next year. As the
Conlon, Amanda Friday, Kimberly Patterson and final phases of several large infrastructure updates are
Vincent Summers. made, the district will look at increasing the number of
student devices available to students, with an emphasis
“Making sure we have the right people with a skill set at the elementary buildings.
that best aligns with the district’s growing technology
needs has been a major focus,” said Mr. Stoebener.

PR EARNS STATE Bus Provider Prepares for 2016-2017
& NATIONAL
COMMUNICATION Pine-Richland School District welcomed a new transportation service provider at
AWARDS the start of the school year. Student Transportation of America, which will provide
six more years of service, operates with school bus constructed vehicles regardless
Pine-Richland School of the size of the vehicle or number of students transported. The buses operate
District earned an on propane rather than diesel fuel. Propane is a green, non-toxic, lead-free and
award of excellence in cleaner-burning fuel with lower levels of sulphur resulting in reduced emissions
the 2015-2016 Penn- and offers quick start-up in cold weather.
sylvania School Public
Relations Education In addition, school bus drivers receive ongoing training in safety, security and
Communication medical procedures. The company provides an extensive drug and alcohol testing
Contest. The district program that exceeds federal requirements.
was one of only five
in the state to earn an STA staff members are regularly trained to manage the latest technology in the
award of excellence industry, which include Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking, two-way radios
in the annual report and digital camera surveillance systems.
category for its Focused on Learning publication.
The main areas of focus for 2016-2017 include improving bus efficiencies especially
Judges gave the publication high marks for writing, in relation to ride time and routes, realigning and updating routes through the use
design and professionalism and for creating inter- of onboard technology tools, improved bus routing software and developing a
est and providing substantive information about the working relationship with the private and parochial schools for families who live in
district and student achievements. the Pine-Richland School District community.

The district also earned an honorable mention for its TO INCREASE SAFETY, THE DISTRICT’S
e-newsletter and merit awards for the 2015 annual TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER IMPLEMENTED
report and “Focused on Learning” video from the A TAG SYSTEM TO SERVE AS A REMINDER
National School Public Relations Association. TO BUS DRIVERS WHICH STUDENTS ARE
KINDERGARTNERS AND MUST HAVE A
4 FOCUSED ON LEARNING PARENT OR GUARDIAN GREET THEM
AT THE BUS STOP IN THE AFTERNOON.
MRS. JENNIFER KINROSS, HANCE
ELEMENTARY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER,
IS SHOWN HERE ATTACHING A TAG TO A
KINDERGARTENER’S BACKPACK.