SUNBURY—Student safety and discipline have been at the top of the Shikellamy School Board agenda for months. On Thursday, Superintendent Pat Kelley asked the board to reinstate in-school suspension as a disciplinary option at the middle and high schools.
Currently, Shikellamy does not utilize in-school suspension as there is no one to staff the room. That will change by the end of January. The board gave Kelley the go-ahead to hire an aide to monitor in-school suspension for the remainder of the school year.
Kelley believes this will provide consistency in the educational experience. “If a student is suspended and out of school they miss three days of education. In-school suspension would provide those three days of just not being in the regular education setting.”
The cost for the new position is $19,000. The board will consider a more permanent staffing solution as they prepare next year’s budget. (Jennifer Wakeman)