AMITY >> Students, parents and staff of the Amity and Daniel Boone school community rallied together last month to raise money for an improved nature center and trail at Amity Elementary Center.
The money was raised through the school’s first Boosterthon Fun Run, conducted by Boosterthon, an Atlanta, Ga., company that specializes in fundraising events.
Amity Elementary Center Principal Dane Miller told the Daniel Boone Area School Board Monday night the school’s “take” is $17,226.01, after paying Boosterthon $15,000.
“Our expected goal was $15,000, but we raised $32,226.01,” said Miller, agreeing with board member Connor Kurtz that the week-long event was “fun on steroids.”
He credited Amity Elementary Center Guidance Counselor Celine Crouse with coordinating the eight days of fundraising events, which ended on a Friday with the Fun Run.
“We now need to plan the nature center, including meeting with Amity Township officials,” said Miller.
The project will include building an outdoor classroom, an extended school garden, adding railings to the existing wooden bridge, and creating a trail system.
Total project cost of the nature center and trail is approximately $45,000, but individuals, community groups, and local businesses have already signed up to sponsor items and help in various capacities.
Boy Scout Troop 597 of Amityville will do the physical labor; local Girl Scouts will build benches for the trail, and six local companies have pledged to sponsor items for the trail. A Saturday Spring Workshop Day is being scheduled.
A parent advisory committee is also leading the project.
The school district has just begun promoting its first Blazer Summer Program with a variety of summer enrichment activities for students in all grades.
Academic offerings offer “transitional support in various subject areas,” as well as AP (advanced placement) class collaboration.
Activity programs range from “athletics to fine arts, to cooking and engineering.”
Registration ends on June 11.The board approved with a 6-2 vote, the agreement with PeopleAdmin Inc., Austin, Texas, to provide automated human resource system modules at a cost of $11,233.35, plus a $1,475 setup fee, for a period of five years.
Board members David Rathgeb and Jeff Scott opposed the motion.
Member Richard Martino was absent from the meeting.
Lori Hoag of Douglassville voiced concern about the lack of substitute teachers at the high school.
“We do review when teachers are out,” said Superintendent James Harris, adding, “They can take sick days.”
“Recently 17 teachers were out. We cannot staff 17 positions. We can’t staff more than four or five. The district is looking at contracting with a substitute service, and teachers subbing for others.
“But, school cleanliness, sufficient textbooks, morale, and feeling valued also play a role. In the facilities, I am looking at these issues on a daily basis,” said Harris, adding that the high school building will be clean within one week.
