Graduation Project Revisions OK'd for Tennent

The Centennial School Board recently approved graduation project changes beginning with the William Tennent High School class of 2014.

In order to graduate from William Tennent High School, students will need to complete college preparatory tasks throughout their high school career under graduation project revisions approved recently. The Centennial School Board adopted the changes, which are applicable beginning with the class of 2014, at its meeting last week.  Assistant Superintendent Joyce Mundy said that in the past, the graduation project was "largely completed during a required class." "We are moving this from the class to an independent process for students that is supported by our faculty and administration," Mundy said. "The plan allows our process to be scaffolded over the four years with the development of core artifacts for career and college readiness." …

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Stackpole Elementary Demolition Underway

Centennial School District closed the school in 2012 as part of a plan to reduce the number of elementary schools within the district. Students in this region now attend Davis Elementary School.

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Centennial Reimbursed for McDonald Mishaps

Centennial School District will receive more than $20,000 in payment and credit for errors made in the McDonald Elementary School construction.

The contractors in charge of building Centennial School District's new Region 2 Elementary School will cover the costs of heat pump damage and construction debris runoff, an official told Patch. Quakertown-based contractor Penn Builders Inc. has agreed to cover a total of $20,130 in costs stemming from errors made with the projected $28.7 million construction at McDonald Elementary School. The school board, at its recent meeting, approved a credit adjustment of $10,000 for the deductible Centennial paid for heat pump damages. "A welder was doing some work either on the roof or just below the roof and did not take preactuions and set on fire several units," school board member Kati Driban told Patch. "They accepted full responsibility." …

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New Principal Hired for Klinger Middle School

The Centennial School Board approved the hiring of Michael Johnson as principal of Klinger Middle School.

The search is over. After spending six months and evaluating two panels of candidates, the Centennial School Board Tuesday night voted unanimously to hire Michael Johnson as Klinger Middle School's principal.  Johnson, who currently works as an elementary curriculum specialist for Abington School District, will assume the role effective July 1. He will earn a $123,000 annual salary, according to Christopher Berdnik, the district's business manager.  He will replace current Klinger Principal Dennis Best, whom the school board approved as principal of William Tennent High School in January.  School board member Mark Miller, who led the principal search committee, said it was the "whole package" that made Johnson stand out as the best person …

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William Tennent Not Among Top US High Schools, Newsweek Says

Do you think WTHS is a top school?

Newsweek recently ranked the top 2000 high schools in the United States; William Tennent High School did not make the list.  For its rankings, Newsweek sent out a survey to more than 5,000 high schools in the U.S., with about 2,500 schools responding. You can see the details about the schools in our area that made the cut by clicking on the markers in the interactive map above. The survey scores were then weighted and calculated using several criteria, including on-time graduation and college acceptance rates. In addition, instead of averaging the number of courses offered, this year Newsweek considered the percentage of students enrolled in AP, IB or Advance International Certificate courses. The scores were tabulated to then determine …

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Centennial Superintendent Takes Leave of Absence

Centennial's Assistant Superintendent of Education Joyce Mundy will fill in for Jennifer Cressman while she is on leave from the district, officials say.

Assistant Superintendent of Education Joyce Mundy joined members of the Centennial School Board of Directors at the table Tuesday. Mundy assumed the seat normally occupied by Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Cressman. Rumors have been swirling around the district regarding the possibility of the board wanting to terminate Cressman’s contract.  School Board President Andrew Pollock said Mundy will be filling in for Cressman while she is on leave from the district. Pollock said Cressman took leave approximately one week ago to tend to a personal matter. He would not comment on when of if she would return. “That’s a personnel matter,” he said. “We are not at liberty to discuss personnel matters.”

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Is Centennial Getting a New Superintendent of Schools?

Rumors have been swirling that the district plans to terminate Dr. Jennifer Cressman's contract.

There have been whispers around the halls of Centennial’s schools that Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Cressman’s tenure with the district could soon be coming to an end. Centennial School Board Director Mark Miller said he would “neither confirm nor deny” the rumors regarding the termination of Cressman’s contract with the district. Cressman has served as Centennial’s Superintendent since February 2011. Her current contract is set to expire June 30, 2014. She was appointed acting superintendent in December 2010, after the abrupt resignation of Thomas Turnbaugh, who had accepted the position only a year prior.  The district has faced multiple controversies under Cressman’s watch, including problems with ongoing construction projects, multiple …

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Middle School Roof Repairs to Cost Centennial $1.5M

Repairs will take place over the summer and should be completed by the start of the 2013-14 academic year, according to school board members.

The Centennial School Board recently approved a bid to replace the roof at Log College Middle School and to patch the roof at Klinger Middle School. The bid was awarded to Jottan, Inc. of Florence, N.J. at a cost of $1,472,523 for Log College and $54,800 for Klinger.  The roof at Log College Middle School will receive a complete replacement, while the roof at Klinger Middle School will by patched, with total replacement to take place at a later date.   “We are leaning toward [the year of] 14-15 for the replacing the roof at Klinger,” said Board Member Michael Hartline.  Board Member Jane Schrader Lynch questioned the sum total of the roof repairs, noting that the total cost incurred would not be covered by the money obtained from last year…

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James Boyle

11:07 am on Monday, April 22, 2013

Legal notices are posted by the school district at the link. Scroll down for the roof bid documentation. http://www.centennialsd.org/Page/5844   more ›