When volleyball participation decreased at the middle schools about five years ago, officials decided to combine students from Orefield and Springhouse middle schools into one girls team and one boys team.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman recently reported the trend has reversed with 66 girls and 32 boys on the middle school joint team for this past school term.

He noted if large numbers are on a team, playing opportunities are reduced for those involved in the sport.

Troutman said with current participation rates high, the district will once again allow each middle school to have its own girls and boys volleyball team.

The stipend for each team coaching staff will be $2,973 plus benefits.

In another matter, Troutman said six new clubs have fulfilled two years of probationary operation with enough students to advance to approval for a Parkland Education Association contracted advisor.

Because some clubs last only a year and have limited participation, the district developed the probationary period before official budgetary approval as a recognized activity.

The stipend for each club advisor is $944 plus benefits.

Clubs receiving approval are Amnesty International, Child Development, Coding, Love and Care, Makers, and Girls Who Code.

Each club is at the two middle schools.

As he reviewed other needs for the 2020-21 term, Troutman suggested an additional health room aide should be included in the staff at a salary of $24,352 plus benefits.

The aide is a licensed RN or LPN who provides support to the certified school nurse in each building.

The individual’s role includes medication administration, emergency responses, interaction with students, and clerical support.

Troutman noted the health room aide positions have been difficult to fill, and high quality staff are hard to retain.

For the present school term, one vacancy remains unfilled.

“With increasing enrollment and the addition of Veterans Memorial Elementary School, along with the recent coronavirus pandemic, the addition of another HRA will support certified school nurses across the district,” Troutman said.

These positions are included in the 2020-21 budget package.