Irwin
EDUCATION
McKeesport Area High School to implement policy to restrict cell phone usage in schools
MCKEESPORT (KDKA) - The new principal at McKeesport Area High School is making changes when it comes to the school's policy and cell phones. Principal Eric Harper is telling parents and guardians that students will no longer be allowed to use their phones in school. The school will give the students a pouch to keep their phones in during the school day. In a letter to families, they announced the policy saying it would be through a program called Yondr. That program has been implemented in more than 2,000 districts and it provides each student with a secure pouch that will stay closed during school and open at the end of the day. Students are responsible for the pouch at all times. This comes just a couple of months after Pennsylvania state lawmakers introduced a bill that would restrict the use of cell phones in school. State Senator Ryan Aument is drafting the bill. It seeks to create a grant program for phone lockers or pouches.Schools would be able to sign up if they decide to go cell phone-free during school hours."Should they enact these policies, I believe we will see an improvement in student academic performance, physical health, and mental health," Aument said.
Democratic candidates criticize school choice amid budget stalemate
(The Center Square) — To fix education funding, Democrats want to see the state government take on a bigger proportion of school funding. “The state budget is now almost a week late. We expect some critical decisions will be made over this weekend that we hope complete the budget,” said Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, during an online press conference with two Democratic state senate candidates. “The most critical decision will be about how we fund our schools.” ...
New Kensington-Arnold School Board discusses approaching Burrell about merging
Jul. 4—Current challenges faced by the Burrell School District have New Kensington-Arnold's school directors wondering if the right time has come for the neighboring districts to again consider merging. New Kensington-Arnold School Board member Bob Pallone raised the subject of approaching Burrell officials with the proposal at his board's meeting Tuesday night. He cited that Burrell now has ...
Penn-Trafford baseball receives Shining stars recognition
While the Penn-Trafford baseball team has been a strong program for more than a decade, the Warriors could never get over the hump in the WPIAL playoffs. That changed this spring, however, as PT captured gold for the first time in program history. The Warriors opened the season in March...
Greensburg native, IUP alum helps establish scholarship for STEM students
A Greensburg native and graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania has helped establish a scholarship at her alma mater to assist military veterans working towards a degree in a STEM field. University officials said retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral C.J. Jaynes made a donation that allowed the Indiana County school...
Admission Director Q&A: J.R. McGrath of Carnegie Mellon Tepper
For this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back J.R. McGrath, Executive Director of Masters Admissions at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business. J.R. has been at Tepper for the past 3.5 years and accepted the role of Executive Director in October 2022. He has previously...
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