School Board Receives PSBA Innovation Award

School Board Receives PSBA Innovation Award
Posted on 09/30/2018
It has been announced that the Cumberland Valley Board of School Directors is the 2018 recipient of the Pennsylvania Education Innovation Awards, Innovative School Board. The award is presented by Pennsylvania School Boards Association in partnership with CM Regent Insurance Company and Church Mutual Insurance Company Foundation (CM Cares).

The award recognizes a school board, career and technical center board, or intermediate unit board that has adopted an innovative approach to their responsibilities and has led its district to exceptional performance.

“Our School Directors understand the critical importance in connecting our educational programs and opportunities with post-secondary educational institutions and employers so that students can have a seamless transition into a career that provides family-sustaining wages and room for advancement,” said Dr. Frederick Withum III, Superintendent of Schools. “We are truly appreciative of their direction, guidance, and support, which make these opportunities possible for our students.”

Cumberland Valley’s Board of School Directors rose to the top of the nominee list as a result of efforts, in partnership with leaders from business and industry, post-secondary-education, and other governmental officials/agencies, to develop new graduation requirements, career pathways, and connect our students to meaningful careers in the local economy. 

Cumberland Valley’s new Graduation Policy, adopted by the Board of School Directors in June 2018 – and the organizational structures, procedures, practices, and partnerships to support the policy – are based on a vision that states that CV’s “educational programs will connect our students to the economy through viable pathways for life-long learning that prepare every graduate to aggressively compete in local, state, national, and/or global marketplaces as part of a highly-skilled work force of critical and creative thinkers who can utilize technology to solve problems and communicate solutions and, in doing so, earn a good living in communities that support their families.”

In pursuit of that vision, the Board has directed administration to provide academic and experiential pathways aligned and articulated to one another and to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards, needs of employers, entry requirements for post-secondary trade and technical schools and the military, prerequisites for Harrisburg Area Community College and our PASHE universities, and national standards for admittance into highly competitive colleges, universities, and military academies.

 In directing administration to undertake this effort, the Board was clear that it is not their intent to work outside of existing structures, to do away with current programs that are leading to student success, to lessen the important role that outstanding educators play in the lives of students, to fail to value the caring educational community we share, or to disregard the proud CV traditions. 

As a result, Cumberland Valley has been and is working to implement numerous workforce development and industry certification programs, including but not limited to, a Technical and Security Assistant certification program through Harrisburg University, a firefighter/EMR program in partnership with HACC and local fire departments, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Heavy Equipment Operations, and careers in the healthcare field with a local leader providing Healthcare across the region. These programs, combined many other curricular offerings at CV High School including Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School, Semester III, Dual Enrollment/College in the High School, International Baccalaureate, Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, and Agricultural and Military Sciences help to prepare students for entry into post-secondary education, the military, and/or the workforce.

The Board will be recognized on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at the PSBA Annual School Leadership Dinner and featured on their website and in their post-conference publication.  As a result of this award, the Eagle Foundation will receive a $5000.00 donation.
Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.