Sep 21, 2016 By Cara Host 3 min read

Bethel Park School District hopes to collaborate more with members of the community under an updated comprehensive plan that administrators unveiled at the school board committee meeting Tuesday.

The state requires school districts to update their comprehensive plans every three years. For several months, teachers, administrators and community members have been working on the update, which will cover July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2020.

Janet O’Rourke, the district’s director of secondary education, said the group initially met and started “brainstorming successes and ways we could improve the district.” From there, the group identified five goals.

The plan calls using common assessments within grades and subjects, and implementing the use of STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics – principles in the classroom.

The district also plans to increase interaction with the community by bringing senior citizens into the schools, and exploring opportunities for internships and other collaborations with businesses and community organizations.

School officials hope to address barriers to learning by providing targeted assistance to students, offering school-based mental health services and implementing a digital literacy curriculum.

Another goal involves finding ways to teach learners at every level, particularly gifted children, by using a Universal Design for Learning approach.

Finally, the plan calls for using intervention and instructional practices across all classrooms in the district through professional development and improved communication.

Starting Sept. 28, the full plan will be available on the district’s website, www.bpsd.org, and at Bethel Park Public Library and the district’s administration building.

Stephanie Sillman, a parent who served on the comprehensive plan committee, thanked the administrators and teachers for “an open and honest process.”

In another matter discussed Tuesday, the board will consider hiring a construction manager to oversee the repairs to a hillside at the high school campus. Last month, the board hired R&B Construction to repair the slip, which is located behind the softball field. At its regular meeting Sept. 27, the board will consider hiring Marvin Boward Beitko Engineering to oversee the work

The board also heard from two parents with concerns about a policy revision that would limit parents’ ability to record meetings associated with their children’s individual educational plans.

“How does their recording of meetings prevent your staff from doing their job?” asked Sharon Janosik.

School officials said the revised policy is meant to prevent parents from secretly taping the meetings. Parents still have the right to record the meetings if they give advance notice. However, the language in Policy 113 would be reviewed to ensure that intent is clear, school officials said.

The board will finalize that policy along with several others at the Sept. 27 meeting