Jan 21, 2016 2 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an after-school tutoring program for grades 6 through 12. The program will run weekly Monday through Thursday from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. and will be held in the library.

Eric Manko, high school/middle school principal, said he plans to speak with the district’s bus company regarding transportation for the program, which will have at least two teachers and food will be provided for participating students. Manko said he plans to put out a request for teachers to see who would like to work with the program.

“I think it’s a plus to add to the district,” said Lee Johnson, school board president.

The board also voted unanimously to approve the addition of an emotional support classroom for the elementary center. Bethanne Natali, elementary center principal, said that was done in the past and officials saw a need to bring the program back. The class will be handled by a teacher in in the district and will offered only at the elementary center, unless a need is recognized at the middle school or high school.

Natali said the program will focus on the needs of students in the special education program and the classroom will give students social and emotional support. She said a counseling aspect also will be incorporated into the program.

The board also approved the request to open a learning support student activity account that will help to provide students with tools and devices that may not be covered under the district’s budget.

With Black History Month coming up in February, the board and administration members discussed activities being planned for district schools. Dr. Leanne Spazak, district superintendent, said the district is hoping to unveil the John Ford collection in honor of Black History Month. This collection of African and African-American artifacts was donated by Ford at the end of the year, with plans to display them in a case at the high school.

“We have a lot of things going on that we are excited about,” Spazak said.