Miss-Delectable
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Deaf School Opens Under New Management - WNEP
It was the first day of class at a school in Scranton under new management. A private company now runs the old Scranton State School for the Deaf. The school is now run by the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, a private school in Pittsburgh.
Students and teachers were especially glad to see the first day of school, after a scare last year. With a new year comes a new name for their school: the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.
The students are just glad their school is still here, after the state stopped funding northeastern Pennsylvania's only school for the deaf.
Kai Miller, a sixth grader from Hazleton said, "Yeah I was worried. I was worried I wouldn't be able to see my friends."
Part of the battle was an education in itself, since some students took trips to the capitol.
Eighth grader Kelsey Reppert said, "Sometimes we go to Harrisburg to know what's going on."
While the transition from public to private was a controversial one, the superintendent said his focus is on the future of the school.
"We're here to stay," Superintendent Don Rhoten said. "We're not a fly-by-night organization. We're committed to the community. We love Scranton and the people we've met here so we plan on staying a long time."
The school's new library will be organized over the next few weeks. The school hasn't had a library for the past couple of years, so the students had to walk down the street to the Green Ridge Library. The school's new librarian not only has to organize the library. She also has to learn sign language.
"It's difficult, but it's good to be around signing and I'm picking up signs as I watch people," said librarian Eileen Cosgrove.
In addition to a library, the area where the playground was will be turned into an interactive learning neighborhood, with mini houses so younger students can learn and play.
The superintendent said he will spend half of his time in Pittsburgh and half of his time in Scranton. He added the school is still kindergarden through 12th grade and while the school's logo has changed, the school's mascot is still the bears.
It was the first day of class at a school in Scranton under new management. A private company now runs the old Scranton State School for the Deaf. The school is now run by the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, a private school in Pittsburgh.
Students and teachers were especially glad to see the first day of school, after a scare last year. With a new year comes a new name for their school: the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.
The students are just glad their school is still here, after the state stopped funding northeastern Pennsylvania's only school for the deaf.
Kai Miller, a sixth grader from Hazleton said, "Yeah I was worried. I was worried I wouldn't be able to see my friends."
Part of the battle was an education in itself, since some students took trips to the capitol.
Eighth grader Kelsey Reppert said, "Sometimes we go to Harrisburg to know what's going on."
While the transition from public to private was a controversial one, the superintendent said his focus is on the future of the school.
"We're here to stay," Superintendent Don Rhoten said. "We're not a fly-by-night organization. We're committed to the community. We love Scranton and the people we've met here so we plan on staying a long time."
The school's new library will be organized over the next few weeks. The school hasn't had a library for the past couple of years, so the students had to walk down the street to the Green Ridge Library. The school's new librarian not only has to organize the library. She also has to learn sign language.
"It's difficult, but it's good to be around signing and I'm picking up signs as I watch people," said librarian Eileen Cosgrove.
In addition to a library, the area where the playground was will be turned into an interactive learning neighborhood, with mini houses so younger students can learn and play.
The superintendent said he will spend half of his time in Pittsburgh and half of his time in Scranton. He added the school is still kindergarden through 12th grade and while the school's logo has changed, the school's mascot is still the bears.