Superintendent's Message
Dear TASD Staff, Parents, and Community,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! Towanda Area School District begins the school year excited to welcome all new and returning students. Towanda Area School District is committed to ensuring that each student has an outstanding educational and social-emotional experience. We do so with the support of our families and our community. Working together allows our students and staff to flourish. These achievements are shown not only in academics, but in our students' artistic ability, musical talents, and athletic accomplishments. Our schools are incredibly fortunate to have a fantastic team of dedicated educators and support staff who bring their passion and expertise to our classrooms every single day! They are truly committed to ensuring meaningful learning experiences and creating opportunities for all students to thrive.
Please consider joining our District Facebook page to follow all news related to TASD at https://www.facebook.com/TowandaSD/ or our new Towanda Back Knight Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/black.knight.spotlight which highlights our students' athletic, artistic, and academic achievements and accomplishments.
The Towanda Area School District welcomes volunteer participation in our schools, athletic programs, and we provide a number of opportunities to actively participate in our educational programs. If you would like more information regarding the process to volunteer, please refer to our website for more information please visit https://www.tsd.k12.pa.us and click “About TASD” then “Volunteers.” The role that families play in the educational process affects the education, welfare, and values of their children. The Towanda Area School District believes that working together with families is essential for the well-being of children. To learn more about how to get involved in your child’s education contact the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
The YMCA continues to offer childcare to families before and after school. The program is located at J. Andrew Morrow and serves school-aged childcare for elementary students.
Please ensure that your student(s) attend school regularly, whether in person or through our Black Knight Online Academy, as their regular attendance is crucial for their academic success.
- Students with 3 or more UNEXCUSED absences are scheduled for an attendance meeting.
- Students with 6 or more unexcused absences are considered habitually truant.
- School Attendance Improvement Plans (S.A.I.P) are filled out at the attendance meetings and placed in student files.
- If the student gets more UNEXCUSED absences after the School Attendance Improvement Plan is held, Compulsory School Attendance charge is filed at the District Magistrate.
- Compulsory School Attendance is a SUMMARY (lowest level) offense. It carries up to a $300 dollar fine for the first offense or up to $750 dollars for subsequent offenses.
- 15 yrs and over, the student is charged. Under 15 yrs old the parent is charged.
- If a student continues to have UNEXCUSED absences after the S.A.I.P and District Magistrate hearing, it is up to CYS, if the case is sent to the courthouse for a Dependency Hearing.
- Students have 3 school days to turn in an excuse before it turns into an unexcused absence. Compulsory School Attendance only applies to UNEXCUSED absences. Excuses can be submitted by Parent Square if the Doctor’s notes are NOT required.
- After any 10 absences, a doctor’s note is REQUIRED.
For more information on attendance policies at TASD, please refer to the QR code listed below.
For those who would favor a virtual option, we are pleased to offer our Black Knight Online Academy (BKA). BKA is a fully online alternative education that offers more than most cyber charter schools, including proven academic success, additional support through face-to-face interactions, and the opportunity to participate in district events. Whether in person or online, we ask that you have your children attend their classes on a regular basis to ensure success.
PA School Code has been amended in March 2017 with changes to the school immunizations. Changes may be found at the Division of Immunizations on the PDE website. School vaccination requirements for attendance in PA schools is for ALL children. Please make sure you have checked with your healthcare provider and are prepared for the school vaccination requirements. Should you have questions or concerns regarding immunizations please contact Ms. Jacqueline Vanderpool RN (Policy 203). In compliance with School Code, the Board requires participation in health examinations and screenings (Policy 209).
Our administrative staff consists of Dr. Rebecca Stanfield, Jr/Sr High School Principal; Mr. Nate Ross, Jr/Sr High School Assistant Principal; Mrs. Laura Steele, Elementary Principal; Dr. Dawn Hart, Primary Principal; Dr. Jennifer Cronin, Director of Special Education; and Dr. Joel Spinney Principal of Academic Affairs. We are an Elementary Title I Program and you can learn more about this on our district website.
The Towanda Area School District does not support unlawful harassment and strives to provide a safe, positive learning climate for all. The Board believes in equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination for all students to achieve their maximum potential through the programs offered at the Towanda Area School District. (Policy 103). Students with disabilities are afforded equal opportunity, nondiscrimination to reach their full potential and would ask that parents who believe they have been subject to discrimination or harassment to promptly report incidents to their building principals (Policy 103.1).
The district believes that parents or guardians should have an opportunity to review instructional materials regarding curriculum, standards, instructional materials, as well as assessment techniques and strives to continue to make this a transparent process (Policy 105.1).
We can’t wait to work with the Towanda Area School District students, parents, and guardians in the 2024-2025 school year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Erick Cummings
Superintendent