First Posted: 4/11/2012

CLARKS SUMMIT- Abington Heights Superintendent Dr. Michael Mahon opened the April 4 school board work session by announcing that Abington Heights Middle School has been re-designated as a “School to Watch.”

“It’s a very, very positive thing,” he said.

Clarks Summit Elementary and Waverly Elementary Schools will receive grants from the United States Tennis Association to help coordinate their junior tennis programs.

Mahon also announced that all four Abington Heights Odyssey of the Mind teams have advanced to states out of 112 teams in the competition.

“Abington Heights really distinguished itself at the competition,” he said.

The Robotics team advanced to the quarterfinal round of a recent district event. The Forensic team qualified 10 students for the state competition.

Eight high school students exhibited artwork in Scranton following their participation in the “Artist of the Month” regional competition

On April 13, fourth grade girl scouts from South Abington and Newton Ransom Elementary will take part in a “Uniquely Me” girl scouts self-esteem program that was created in 2002 to address a critical nationwide problem of low self esteem among adolescent and pre-adolescent girls.

High School English Teacher Marilyn Pryle will speak at the International Reading Association 2012 Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The convention is from April 29-May 2. Pryle will speak May 2. Her topic is based on ideas from her book Easy and Effective Writing Lessons for English Language Learners

Twenty-one members of the 2011 football team were recently named to the Pennsylvania Football News All-Academic team.

The board discussed the availability of athletic trainers

Board member Jeanne Cadman thought it was troublesome that trainers may not be readily available if needed in the upcoming months.

“It’s concerning to me that we’ve just begun the spring sports and the 900 hours are almost gone.”

According to Mahon, the school decided on 900 hours a few years ago because the usage of trainers was “out of control.”

“That is the absolute lowest limit any school would consider,” Mahon said. “I feel that I have the authority to extend beyond 900 hours because I characterize our athletic programs as ‘catastrophically successful.’ They are always in the playoffs and playing more games. That puts a strain on the budget and trainers. We’ve worked hard to keep it at 900 hours and we’re happy we are where we are.

“We’re as efficient as we’ve ever been, but we have to keep watching it.”

The Abington Heights School Board will next meet April 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building, Grove Street.