2020-21 General Fund Budget

The Oswayo Valley School District in Shinglehouse, PA hereby gives notice that, according to the Act 1 timeline, the Oswayo Valley School Board of Directors has a scheduled board meeting on Monday, June 15, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. to adopt the 2020-2021 General Fund Budget along with other action items.  The meeting will be held in the Oswayo Valley Elementary School Board Room (146) located at 277 S. Oswayo St., Shinglehouse, PA 16748 and virtually at https://www.oswayovalley.com.  Anyone wanting to offer online public comments on agenda items, must email comments to publiccomment@oswayo.com by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2020.

Yearbook Update

The Middle/High School yearbooks are scheduled to be delivered to Oswayo Valley during the last week of June.  Once we receive the yearbooks, we will contact those individuals who purchased one and make arrangements for them to be picked up.  If you ordered a yearbook and currently owe a balance, you should receive a letter within the next week regarding your balance.  Payment can be made in the office on the day of pick up.  Please note, the balance must be paid before the yearbook will be released.

Report Cards

Final report cards will be released in the MMS portal on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.  Those families who need a physical copy, please contact the building office and one will be provided.
Due to the Covid – 19 pandemic and mandated school closures, pass/fail grades were issued during the fourth quarter.  Final grades/ averages were calculated using only the first three marking periods.
Have a safe and fun summer, OV!

Return of District Materials

The Oswayo Valley School District will be collecting Chromebooks as well as any other loaned educational materials Tuesday, June 2, 2020 and Friday, June 5, 2020.  Computers and materials can be dropped off in the lobby at each respective building or during lunch pick up on both days.  All charging cords must be returned with each Chromebook as well.  Materials should be placed in a bag that is clearly labeled with each student’s name.  If you have any questions, please contact the building office.

Middle/High School 814-260-1701   Elementary School 814-260-1702

Internet and Broadband Survey

The Oswayo Valley School District has partnered with Potter County Planning Commission, Appalachian Regional Commission, and multiple local companies to implement an infrastructure improvement project. The main goal of this project is to provide high speed internet connectivity to the entire Oswayo Valley School District and we are in need of your help.  Please fill out the 5 minute survey form so we can use it to pursue funding and show a substantial demand for internet access. 

 Survey Link

Summer Feeding Program

We are pleased to announce that the District will continue offering free breakfast and lunch pickups throughout the summer.  Effective the week of May 25, 2020 and continuing throughout the summer, meals can be picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Middle/High School Cafeteria loop.  The free meal program is open to all children ages 0-18.

Employment Opportunities

The Oswayo Valley School District Cafeteria is searching for 4 responsible, reliable people who are capable of performing a variety of tasks some including manual labor. Must be able to physically lift 50 pounds, bend, stoop, and reach. These positions are a vital part of the School Summer Feeding Program. We currently prepare and distribute approximately 290 meals to students from eighteen years and under. The meals are free and a huge blessing to our local community. This opportunity would be offered for up to 4 hours a day at $10.00 per hour for the months of June, July, and part of August and includes up to four days a week. You would need to be able to work without supervision, follow safe food handling practices, and do record keeping. Internal applicants should submit a letter of interest to Mrs. Christi Stedman at christi@oswayo.com.  External candidates should complete an online application which is available on our website at www.oswayovalley.com.

2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget

At their May 11, 2020 board meeting, the Oswayo Valley School Board of Directors approved the 2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget.  To view the approved preliminary proposed budget, please click on the link below.  A printed copy is on display and may be viewed at the Oswayo Valley Elementary School foyer located at 277 S. Oswayo St., Shinglehouse, PA  during business hours of Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget

What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Video Contest Statewide

Congratulations to Mrs. Kathy Cook and Oswayo Valley’s What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Video Contest Team!

OV’s video featuring Napoleon Engineering Services is one of two videos from the North Central PA 4th Annual What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Video Contest that will advance to compete against teams from 13 PA regional programs.  To view the other nominees, please visit https://www.whatssocool.org/contests/best-of-pa-contest/.

 

The “Live” Awards Event will be held on June 9, 2020 from 12:30-1:00 P.M. at

https://www.whatssocool.org/

Way to go, OV!  Congratulations again on a job well done!  Best of luck at the state contest!

 

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer for Free and Reduced Eligible Students

Oswayo Valley Parents,

It was just released today that you, as a family, will be receiving subsidy in the near future if your child qualifies for free or reduced lunches in schools.  This application window is still open so if you would like to qualify for the subsidy, please contact Mrs. Sharron Gustin, Food Service Director, at 814-260-1701 or by email at sgustin@oswayo.com to receive the needed paperwork for you to qualify.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer for Free and Reduced Eligible Students

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration

The Oswayo Valley School District will be moving forward with Pre-K and Kindergarten registration for the 2020-2021 school year.  To be considered eligible for the Pre-K Counts program, students must turn four years old before September 1, 2020.  Eligible Kindergarten students must turn five years old before September 1, 2020.  Please contact the Elementary Office at 814-260-1702 to obtain more information about the registration process.  The following documents must be submitted to fully register your child for the Pre-K Counts program, as well as to enroll your child in Kindergarten.

  • Valid Birth Certificate
  • Immunization Record
  • Verification of residence
  • Verification of income

 

A message from the Superintendent

Hello OV Parents, Students, Community Members, and Board Members,

Today we have officially received notification that we will be closing schools for the remainder of the 19-20 school year. At this point we are still waiting on guidance for many questions that we all still have as community members and as employees of the Oswayo Valley School District. With that being said, in an effort to provide you with the most up-to-date guidance, PDE has added an updated FAQ at the following link our COVID-19 website.

 

Today’s update is focused mainly on student enrollment and attendance during the COVID-19 school closure. Oswayo Valley will not be counting attendance beyond the date of closure which completes our 3rd 9 weeks due to our enrichment and review program being optional for students, The Oswayo Valley School District has made this decision based on our lack of equal opportunity of connectivity throughout the school district.

Thank you to all the parents who have responded to the OneCall surveys that were sent out previously for us to have the information needed to make logical decisions in our continuation of education planning process.

Although school is closed for the remainder of the year, we will still continue to serve meals as we have since the closure began. This will continue to be available for all children ages 0-18 throughout the remainder of the 19-20  school year. If there is an extension of this throughout the summer we will be sure to notify the public as soon as we are able to.

In our efforts to keep the community informed throughout this entire process we have been as transparent as possible with the information we have received. The Oswayo Valley School Board’s support of our efforts has provided our staff members the opportunity to continue to connect with our students and families throughout these unprecedented times in education.

Support and Referral Helpline

The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced the launch of a statewide Support & Referral Helpline staffed by skilled and compassionate staff who will be available 24/7 to assist Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety and other challenging emotions due to the COVID-19 emergency and refer them to community-based resources that can further help to meet individual needs.

The toll-free, round-the-clock support line is officially operational. The number to call is 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600.

To create and staff the support line, DHS has partnered with the Center for Community Resources (CCR), an experienced regional crisis and call center provider based in Butler County and licensed to provide crisis services.

CCR staff are trained to be accessible, culturally competent, and skilled at assisting individuals with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, co-occurring disorders and other special needs. Staff use the principles of trauma-informed care to listen, assess needs, triage calls, and provide appropriate referral to community resources to children, teens, adults and special populations.

CCR will collaborate with individuals, families, police, emergency medical teams, hospitals, schools, and human service providers on the local level to provide quality care to their community members.

Many other resources also remain available to Pennsylvanians in need of support, including:

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 1-888-628-9454
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “PA” to 741-741
  • Veteran Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
  • Get Help Now Hotline (for substance use disorders): 1-800-662-4357
  • Pennsylvania Sexual Assault Helpline – 1-888-772-7227
  • National Domestic Violence Helpline – 1-800-799-7233

Visit the PA Department of Health’s dedicated Coronavirus webpage for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

Additional resources for citizens and DHS providers related to COVID-19 is available here.

Thank You for All Your Work to Keep Our Services Accessible,

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)

CTC Statement from Director Jim Youngs

We received the following information from Mr. Jim Young, Director of Seneca Highlands CTC regarding CTC students and the current school closure.

Seneca Highlands CTC students will be offered planned instruction and enrichment activities aligned with their Program of Study. Your teacher will communicate with you through your CTC Gmail account. Your primary contact will be your teacher. I will be your contact for technical issues. If you cannot respond to your teachers’ email please contact me one of the following ways.

jyoung@IU9ctc.org

School phone message: 814-642-2573 ext. 2, leave message

Mr. Young

Employment Opportunities

The Oswayo Valley School District has the following employment opportunities available.  For more information and to complete an online application, please visit the “Employment” tab on our website.

Secretary 

Substitute Employees for the 2020-21 school year in the following areas:

Cafeteria, Custodian, Instructional Aide, Nurse Assistant, Secretary, and Teacher

If you have any questions regarding these positions or need assistance with the online application process, please contact Mrs. Christi Stedman in the District Office at 814-260-1700.

 

Superintendent Update

The Department of Education (PDE) announced today all schools in the Commonwealth will remain closed through at least April 6, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 response efforts. The closure order could be extended beyond April 6 if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19.

Under the new timeline, school buildings would reopen on April 7, 2020 for two days to allow school administrators, teachers, and other staff time to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule transportation, and arrange other business operations. Students would return to school on April 9, 2020, unless extending the closure is needed in response to the situation with the virus at that time.

To assist schools during the extended closure, the state’s 29 intermediate units are ready to provide technical assistance to help develop continuity of education plans for all students beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

Additionally, we are cancelling standardized testing for students in career and technical education (CTE) programs for the 2019-20 school year. These include exams from the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) and National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we navigate this unprecedented time together and thank you for your dedication to serving and supporting your school communities.

Jed Hamberger, Superintendent

Superintendent’s Update

Governor Wolf’s order calling on all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m., March 19, does not prohibit school districts from continuing to offer food services to children during the statewide school closure. It does require schools to not let administration or staff work in the buildings. Administration will continue to work from home and be present during the lunch time between 11:30-12:30 LEAs may continue to bring in essential employees involved in the preparation and distribution of meals for children.

2019-20 Statewide Assessments

Dear Oswayo Valley Parents and Community Members,

Later today, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will be announcing a cancellation of statewide assessments for the 2019-2020 school year. This cancellation includes the PSSA, PASA, and Keystone Exams.

We understand that during these unprecedented circumstances, school communities across the state are managing more pressing issues on the education landscape, like providing access to food and nutrition, and putting appropriate systems in place to continue student learning.  Assessments should not be the focus of school leaders right now.

The Department is monitoring emerging federal guidance, working with other states to advocate for flexibility, and will pursue appropriate waivers to the fullest extent allowable as soon as the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) guidance is clarified.

Please continue to monitor your email and PDE’s website for ongoing updates and guidance as it becomes available.

Pedro A. Rivera II | Secretary of Education

OV Wins Outstanding Creativity Award

We are pleased to announce that Oswayo Valley received the Outstanding Creativity Award as part of the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Video Contest!  We would like to thank Napoleon Engineering Company in Olean, New York for partnering with Oswayo Valley and being featured in this year’s video.  This event would not be possible without the support from Evelyn Sabina, Western NY Coordinator of Dream It Do It.  We would also like to thank the OV community for their votes and continued support of our students and programs.  Congratulations on your outstanding video and well-deserved award, OV!

Governor Wolf Announces Closure of Pennsylvania Schools

Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days including all before and after school activities, effective Monday, March 16.  All District activities are canceled effective immediately and will continue through the ordered period.  The Wolf Administration will continue to monitor Covid-19 in the Commonwealth, and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed. More information will be coming soon on lunch options for the Oswayo Valley School District. For more information from Governor Wolf, please see the link below.

Interscholastic Events Canceled/Postponed

Oswayo Valley School District in cooperation with all area school districts has decided to cancel/postpone all planned interscholastic events through the end of March.  Spring sports practices/rehearsals will continue based on specific guidance from administration.  Additionally, any large-scale events (of over 250 persons) will be evaluated carefully.  Our focus is minimizing any unknown exposure to the COVID-19 virus through reduction of nonessential events.

Administrative Message

Dear Oswayo Valley Community,

The Oswayo Valley School District Administrative Team have been in constant contact with each other as well as other state agencies to determine a best course of action to proceed to ensure the safety of our students and our communities during this pandemic. The health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. With the recent actions taken regionally and nationwide regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we want to be sure our public is aware of the planning considerations underway in our public schools.

As a school district, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the days and weeks progress, we will keep the community informed of any potential changes to our calendar, our processes, and our educational programming. The impact of any school cancellation must be considered carefully. The safety of students and staff at home, as well as at school, are our priority. The feasibility of online learning options across our region is limited due to the lack of adequate broadband access. We want to stress that any changes for any district will be shared via webpages, social media sites, and mass notification systems in place.

As we prepare for a multitude of possibilities, we are asking for parents’ cooperation with the following:

As information related to COVID-19 continues to be released, please be sure to act with only factual information. The unintended consequences of rumors or false claims on social media can severely impact our ability to appropriately respond.

If children are feeling sick, please keep them home from school. Allow them some time to feel better so that they do not risk infecting others. If a fever is present, students should stay home from school. Please contact your primary care physician to receive appropriate guidance to return to school.

Reinforce the need for good hygiene habits at home. Everyone at home should wash their hands regularly and cover mouths when coughing or sneezing.

Families that have traveled outside of our immediate area are asked to notify school officials. School nurse offices can monitor those students for any symptoms that require additional precaution.

School events that require student travel outside the immediate area will be considered carefully by each school district. Notice by each school district will be provided in the event of any change.

Each school is aware of our “high risk” populations as it relates to their risk of any illness. Schools will be in contact with parents as needed to assess needs for those individuals.

Schools may potentially need to close for an undetermined length of time. Please start making plans now for childcare in the event this should occur.

School meal programs can continue during any school cancellation. Information would be provided through your specific district.

School districts will provide an appropriate level of flexibility, to be determined at the local level, as it relates to student absences. (Primary focus should be on health, not perfect attendance awards.)

If you have any questions, please contact your local school district or building office.

Sincerely,

Oswayo Valley Administrative Team

Additional resources:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html>

COVID-19 and Children:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html

Avoid the Spread of Germs

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/stop-the-spread-of-germs.pdf

Employment Opportunities

The Oswayo Valley School District has the following employment opportunities available.  For more information and to complete an online application, please visit the “Employment” tab on our website.

Secretary 

Substitute Employees for the 2019-20 school year in the following areas:

Cafeteria, Custodian, Instructional Aide, Nurse Assistant, Secretary, and Teacher

If you have any questions regarding these positions or need assistance with the online application process, please contact Mrs. Christi Stedman in the District Office at 814-260-1700.

 

PASA Testing

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires Pennsylvania to ensure that the total number of students assessed in each subject using the PASA does not exceed one percent of the total number of all students in the state assessed on the statewide assessments.  Each local educational agency (LEA) must complete and submit the PASA 1.0 Percent Participation Threshold Justification to BSE if it anticipates that more than 1.0% of its students enrolled in grades 3-8 and 11 will be assessed using the PASA.  A list of LEAs who anticipate exceeding the threshold will be made publicly available on the PDE website, in accordance with 34 CFR 200.6(c)(3) regulations.  LEAs must also make the document publicly available upon request, removing any personally identifiable information.  The Oswayo Valley School District anticipates exceeding the 1.0 percent threshold for PASA participation for the 2019-20 testing cycle.  The necessary justification information has been submitted to the Bureau of Special Education.  Questions on the Oswayo Valley School District’s participation rates should be directed to Mr. Jed Hamberger, Superintendent.

Oswayo Valley School District (c) 2019