Ridley schools gets $5G grant for ‘master educators’

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP >> The Ridley School District received a grant of $5,000 from The Community Foundation for a special program available to educators through the Franklin Institute.

Dana Pinketti, director of staff and program development for the district, reported on the program at the school board’s recent meeting. She explained the grant will allow three teachers to become “Master Educators” through the Franklin Institute. The program develops skilled teachers through in-depth professional development about the science of learning. Participants work collaboratively to implement researchbased practices that maximize students’ learning.

The school district’s participation also will allow about 105 students to be able to have access to the institute’s resources through planned trips.

Pinketti also reported on a program sponsored by Books A Million book store where the school district will be the recipient of books from its summer book drive. The books collected by customers will be donated to the district for use in elementary and middle school classroom libraries.

The school board also approved a request for Dr. Terry Rowlyk, Ridley Middle School band director, to apply to Musicopia for band instruments for use by students in need. Musicopia is an organization that repurposes used and donated musical instruments to schools and students who have borrowed school instruments and are required to return them to their respective schools when they are ready to move on from elementary school. The Musicopia program allows these willing band students to continue in the band at the next school level.

In another matter, school board President Michael Capozzoli announced that the board will not meet the first Monday in August, which would be the regular monthly meeting night, but will meet on Aug. 26. There will be no meeting in September, with the next regular meeting scheduled for Oct. 7.