FARRELL Community-service option for suspended students

The program will be voluntary and involve after-school work.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- High school students facing suspension for violating school rules will soon have the option of performing community service rather than being forced to leave school.
Superintendent Dick Rubano told the school board Monday that Farrell has received a $24,600 state grant to fund the community-service program through the rest of the school year.
The district is looking for a program coordinator and an assistant, he said.
Lynn Powell, district grant writer, said it will be an after-school program and will be strictly voluntary for the students involved and their parents or guardians.
Rather than being barred from their classrooms and sent home, students facing suspension will remain in their classes but report each day after school to the 3-8 p.m. community-service program, she said.
The first hour will be a study period. From 4 to 8 p.m., students will spend time in some form of community service. Students will be provided with a meal.
The program coordinator will contact the Shenango Valley Ministerial Association and other community and government agencies to arrange projects. Service could involve doing chores for the elderly or work for the municipality, school district or some nonprofit group.
Up to 12 students could be involved in the program, Powell said.
School greeter
In other matters, the board appointed John Harris of Emerson Avenue to serve as the "greeter" at the high school.
Harris will be paid by the Pennsylvania Green Thumb program and work 20 hours a week, greeting all visitors to the building and having them sign in as guests.
Rubano said using a greeter is part of the district's plan to increase building security. That plan also includes installing security doors at the high school, central office and elementary schools, and installing a buzzer system at those locations to prevent people from just walking into the schools.