During Gateway School Board’s study session March 16, members heard presentations from faculty and students.
Middle school counselors Jaynie Edwards, Betty Howard, Kathy Johnston and Rich Taylor discussed several of the programs they have implemented as well as their daily student involvement.
“What we really want to highlight quickly tonight is some of the extra things that we get to do because we have four full-time counselors and a very understanding and flexible administration that gives us the opportunity to do some of this extra stuff,” Edwards said.
The counselors regularly discuss high school preparation and career lessons with students, as well as run groups on social, organizational and coping skills. Other counseling groups may be based on students’ IEPs, 504 plans or part of the SAP program.
ROX, or Ruling Our eXperiences, involves a group of seventh grade girls and is funded by the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh. The group aims to improve self-confidence, safety and self-protection and enhance relationship skills with respect, trust, conflict management and effective communication.
The counselors also reviewed the Girls Mentoring Program, run by Howard and speech therapist Cari Kunich, and the eighth grade Boys Mentoring Program, facilitated by Johnston and Taylor.
Run by Edwards and social worker Karen Brecht, Stand Together is an awareness program designed to combat the stigma around mental health and promote awareness about mental health and substance abuse. It is a partnership with the Office of Behavioral Health, which provides funding and training for the program.
The counselors stressed the importance of mental health understanding with the middle schoolers. The Saltworks Theatre Company is gifting the sixth graders a free performance of “When Panic Attacks” on March 25.
Ongoing initiatives include the Be the Kind Kid, Jam Pack the Closet, Student Ambassador Program and therapy dog, Kyla.
“We’re always trying to focus on various ways to support all of our students,” Howard said.
Black Student Union
Black Student Union leaders — sophomore Ilbannys Ferrer, senior Kyden Hill-Lee and sophomores Julia Patterson and Olivia Patterson — addressed the board to share activities scheduled throughout the rest of the year.
BSU’s second annual student-led summit will be held March 27. During this time, students will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions where they can learn about different careers in law enforcement, mental health and athletics. The keynote speaker will be Gateway graduate and former Ohio State running back Devantae Butler.
The members strive to eradicate hate by bringing students together.
“We gave our BSU members a little challenge to do,” sophomore Julia Patterson said. “We told them to invite someone that you usually wouldn’t talk to to the summit.”
The students are advocating for spaces of belonging. They stressed the summit is for everyone and want it to be an event full of inclusion, connectedness and diversity.
“We understand that we can’t change how hateful the world is, but it’s important that we do something now,” sophomore Olivia Patterson said. “Because we understand that we are the change. Youth is the change.”
Buildings and grounds
Director Anthony Mock said the roof at Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary School is in “dire need of replacement” and needs immediate attention.
John Walsh, director of maintenance, said the roof is at least 26 years old.
“There is a lot of parts to it that are leaking now. Not leaking to the point that it’s a danger, but they are leaking into the building,” he said.
Walsh said they’ve “had roofing companies up there,” and they are deeming the roof nonrepairable because there are such large sections.
“Currently, I believe it’s $650,000 in this year’s budget,” Superintendent Guy Rossi said. “The plan was to apply for the grant, which is a competitive grant so there is no guarantee.”
Rossi noted the grant just came out in January or February, and the deadline is coming up.
“We’re probably three, four, five months from a final decision so we won’t know if we’ll get the grant or not,” he said.
Rossi, Walsh and Mock will plan to issue a letter of intent for the roofing company; it will be an action item for an upcoming school board meeting.
Businesses, sponsors sought for career fair
GMS counselors are holding a career fair for eighth graders on May 14. They are still seeking presenters and sponsors. If anyone is interested in participating in this education event, contact Kathy Johnston at kjohnston@gatewayk12.org.
The next Finance Committee meeting will be at 5 p.m. March 19 at the administration building, 9000 Gateway Campus Blvd. It is open to the public.