DeCosmo seeks extra reading, math teachers for Hazleton Area schools
May 11—When Hazleton Area schools start afresh in September, Linda DeCosmo wants extra reading and math teachers on hand to help students who fell behind during the pandemic.
DeCosmo based her idea for an intervention program on services that the schools offered previously.
"That helps. We had that years ago. It was a federal program," said DeCosmo, the school board president who seeks a second term. "Once the federal funds were gone, we saw scores drop."
This year, Hazleton Area again has federal funds: About $55 million has been promised to the district in pandemic relief.
Administrators still are learning how they can and cannot spend the funds.
In general, DeCosmo said anything that helps students to learn qualifies. In addition to the intervention program, the Kids Academy where students receive help with homework, tutoring, counseling and English as a second language before or after school has been free this spring.
Possibly, the district could continue waiving the fee in September, DeCosmo said.
She also would like to spend federal money to train students for more professions at Hazleton Area Career Center, to rebuild Vital House where students learn life skills and to restore an alternative to expulsion for students with disciplinary violations.
DeCosmo favors adding counselors, enhancing mental health services and special education programs.
She isn't sure if summer school would be popular.
"A lot of kids leave for the summer," she said.
DeCosmo doesn't think, however, that Hazleton Area can spend federal funds on salaries or buildings.
Hazleton Area will, however, have to replace teachers and administrators who took incentives to retire this year.
DeCosmo prefers vice principals, who can fill in for principals, to deans that the board hired at some schools to enforce discipline.
She complemented Curriculum Director Patrick Patte for trying to recruit high school science teachers, who will be the hardest to replace, and forging ties with student teachers.
A retired teacher herself, DeCosmo said the number of college students studying to become teachers is dropping.
"Down the line, we're going to have a problem," filling teaching jobs, she said.
Contact the writer: kjackson@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3587
