WILLYARD: DENIED!

The main topic at the ASD School Board’s open caucus meeting this week was the numerous transfer requests that were submitted by parents.

There were 28 transfer requests that were denied because of the following question asked of the parent signing the form:

“Does your child play any sport/s in grades 9-12 for his/her school? If yes, please be specific and list.”

The board did not care if a parent wanted educational continuity, if a parent had babysitting arrangements elsewhere, or if a family lived only 1/8 of a mile from an attendance border……if somebody had written Football, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Wrestling or any other sport, even without checking the box for sports as a reason for requesting the transfer, they were automatically denied.  Did the board even look at anything beyond that word “sports”?  Did they look to see if a student did flourish when transferred to new surroundings?

For the students that did have their transfer requests approved the board, according to Mr. Marklinski’s telephone interview in the Kittanning Paper, will force them to sit out of sports for 1 year.  Suddenly ASD Policy 252, Guideline #6 is being enforced in the district?  Why?  PIAA doesn’t care…..are they viewing it that the students were already at the schools in question for 1 year and are simply asking to stay where they are…….is this even LEGALLY a transfer??

Why is this board punishing parents and students who do not want to return to Elderton?   The school is reopening, being majorly renovated and staffed for the students who want to be there. The fact that there are some students who do not wish to return is not going adversely affect the students that will attend EHS.  The small number of students, with or without the transfers, will not change the class offerings at EHS, regardless they are already at the minimum for offering classes and losing a few more students will not make a difference in that regard.

We have already heard of one family that had requested that their two children be transferred.  One was approved and the other denied!  Why? You guessed….the one child plays a sport.

Before the meeting, we had heard of a young man who previously did not like school and his grades were barely passing.  With the closing of Elderton High School, he was transferred to a new school where he enjoyed the camaraderie, his grades improved and so did his spirit.  Thus, his family put in a transfer request to keep him in these surroundings that nurtured him.  Wouldn’t you do the same if it were your child?  Sure you would!  Any of us would.  But guess what?  He plays a sport.  We are going to take a guess that his family did put on the form that he plays because they seem to be honest people, so I am wondering if his request was indeed denied as well.

What do you do if you are a parent in any of these situations?  You start fighting.  It is YOUR child’s well being, it is YOUR child’s education and it is YOUR child that suddenly turned himself/herself around all because of a change of school.

If we were that parent, we would be filling out new request forms and attaching copies of previous report cards, letters from teachers and anything else relevant and then resubmitting it and making sure you got onto the agenda to speak to the board.

Were you denied your transfer request?  Let us hear about it.  Contact us by email at info@asd-news.com or by mail at

PO Box 424

Ford City, PA 16226

There was another little issue brought up at the meeting, but because it was at the end when most people had left, there has not been a lot of discussion about it…..the estimate from the architects for renovations of Elderton High School.

$18,000,000.00  That’s right,  Eighteen million dollars.

For a comparison of what this new study could possibly be, go to the ASD website and look at the 4-10-07 Hayes Large Facilities Master Plan.  In their study, what they deemed as a Level Two renovation had a cost of $15,212,200 with only approximately $4 million in reimbursement from the state.  Keep in mind, that figure did NOT include asbestos abatement which is VERY costly and must be done.

In closing this editorial, we would like to thank Dr. William Kerr for his years of service to our district.  There are many people here who have admired the dedication that you have shown to the students and families of ASD and appreciate the dignity and class you have shown in the face of adversity throughout the years.  We wish you the absolute best in your new position as Superintendent of Norwin School District.  Our loss is their gain.

OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND REFLECT PAID SPONSORSHIP.

The History of Newspapers in Kittanning

by David Croyle

Rummaging through the Library of Congress files, I came across some interesting tidbits of information.

The first weekly newspaper in Kittanning was called the Armstrong Democrat. According to the May 15, 1863 edition on file in Washington, DC, the newspaper began approximately April 24, 1835. It was published every Friday. The publisher is listed as William M’Williams and the Editor in 1863 was listed as John K. Calhoun. It is listed as a farmer’s and mechanic’s advertiser.

According to the description, there was another sister publication called the Allegheny Valley Intelligencer.

In 1865, the records show that the publisher changed to the Associaton of the Unconditional National Union Party. The name also changed to the Armstrong Republican.

A few years later, on May 6, 1868, John T. Simpson began weekly publication of The Valley Times. He later changed the name of the paper to The Kittanning Times. On January 10, 1898, The Daily Times began publication.

In 1902, the Armstrong Republican ceased publication. There was no reason given in the records.

On May 1, 1909, Simpson’s Daily Leader emerged . In May 1921, John Simpson and his son Roland acquired The Times and the paper was merged and called Simpsons’ Daily Leader-Times.

I cannot find any records of another newspaper being published until May 22, 1976, when George Greenbaum began The Allegheny Review. The first five issues were published on Saturdays. However, on June 23, 1976, the publication date was moved to Wednesdays. It was published from offices located at 138 North Water Street. The June 23, 1976 edition consisted of 20 pages and included advertising for the “All new crispy picnickin’ chicken” at Winkys. Greenbaum blasted the Mid-County Transit Authority in his weekly front page editorial entitled “Once Over Lightly.”

November 3, 2008 became the next red-letter day in local newspapers. The Kittanning Paper was born as the next generation in local daily news. Not limited to only print, the paper is available weekdays in businesses all over Kittanning and Ford City and online where thousands more receive the news each weekday in a down-home style. Our independence assures readers of clear thought rather than journalistic spin by corporate influence. We are committed to fostering the public discourse essential to democracy; maintain the highest standards of quality; be a service to our communities; and preserve our rural and cultural heritage while embracing and exploring change. Thank you to all of our readers who are participating in this exciting milestone of local newspaper journalism!

I have tried to be as accurate as possible with this information; however, I invite any corrections you feel are necessary. I welcome your response as well as old copies of any of the newspapers now out of print. Feel free to visit our office at 114 South Jefferson Street in downtown Kittanning or register here on our website to leave a comment below.