Nov 11, 2014 3 min read

South Fayette School District has picked Avonworth as a mentee school to improve curricula and student performance in elementary reading and literacy.

“We scored (above 90 percent) on our school performance profile, and our elementary school has had consistently high PSSA reading scores, so that in part was why we selected Avonworth for reading mentorship,” Dr. Michael Loughead, assistant superintendent, told the school board at a recent meeting.

South Fayette, awarded a $25,000 grant, was one of 17 districts selected through the Governor’s Expanding Excellence initiative to allow districts to help each other model the best math and reading curricula.

“While many other schools applied for mentorship, we and Avonworth share many of the same philosophical beliefs in technology and innovation, as they are also a Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools member,” Superintendent Billie Rondinelli said.

“Part of the criteria for the grant is we have to present to other schools how this can be replicated. So this is a pay-it-forward not only for our districts, but we have to show this can be used for any district,” Loughead said.

Also at the Oct. 28 meeting, representatives from Eckles Architecture presented what they thought were good ideas to incorporate for any future renovations or building expansions.

“We toured several locations, including Upper St. Clair and Pine Richland, and we found a wraparound full-room whiteboard classroom design was very effective,” project manager Cassandra Renninger said.

“There were also multiple detachable boards for breakout work sessions and brainstorming, so students could take work back and forth to groups.”

The low-tech design emphasizes collaboration in brainstorming and working through problems, while a high-tech design was also offered for creative collaboration.

“Other features that could be integrated are collaborative tech spaces that can provide 3D printing and design,” Renninger said, “and we were also interested in a joint digital and traditional art classroom.”

“What we’re seeing in other (science and tech) programs is an emphasis on collaboration. The laptops, the whiteboards – these things are bringing the students together at the table and getting them to work together,” Loughead said.

“We’re not looking to do away with traditional classroom spaces, but with interest in the district in gaming, engineering and self-made products, we want to supplement that need,” Rondinelli said.

No cost has been presented yet, and any expansion project is still dependent on an increase on student population.

“This potential move toward expansion is dependent on growth. So, we need to talk to the township on what plans are with development,” Fornella said.