Snow daze

Ephrata Area School District’s safety study scheduled for Tuesday had one problem.

That problem: Safety concerns prompted the district to cancel classes.

It was the district’s fourth lost snow day as the area was buffeted Tuesday with high winds and blanketed by a snow storm that struck just as school buses would have rolled off to pick up stops.

The district has added make-up snow days on April 16 -17, May 23, and June 9.

Superintendent Brian Troop said there are are no plans yet to alter Ephrata High School’s graduation date scheduled for June 5.

“Nothing is decided at this point,” Troop said Tuesday morning. “We will need to look at all options as we continue to experience more winter weather.”

Troop announced at the Jan. 7 school board meeting that the district had received a grant for a two-day “Walkability” safety study through PennDOT.

The district had planned to study safety issues Tuesday during arrivals and dismissals at Highland Elementary School, 99 Highland Ave.

The study will look for safety, traffic, lighting and suggest re-routes and other options to enhance safety, Troop said.

“We’re going to look at it as a learning experience so that we can then apply that to other situations,” Troop said.

•Troop reported to the school board that the district has compiled documents relating to its partnership with the War Memorial Association.

The agreement ­ that’s been amended several times since 1947 ­ gives WMA responsibility for caring for the War Memorial Field where Ephrata High School football and baseball teams play.

Troop noted that the most recent amendment in Feb. 22, 1965, provides clarity as the district is preparing to install artificial turf on the field.

That amendment was approved that established an annual payment of $3,000 from the district to the War Memorial Association.

The payment includes the district’s share of the cost of maintenance and rentals for use of the field. Troop said that costs have increased through the years, “where the district payment has incrementally increased to the annual payment of $40,000.”

•Jenna Ginder has been appointed the new assistant coordinator of student support services for Ephrata Area School District .

In her new position, Ginder will work closely with families, teachers, and administrators to develop plans and programs that are individualized to meet the unique needs of each student.

Ginder will help the district meet students’ needs while challenging them to achieve higher. She joined the district in January 2005 as a learning support teacher at Ephrata Middle School.

She most recently served in that position at Ephrata High School

Ginder is a Millersville University graduate who earned bachelors degrees in both elementary and special education.

She also earned a master degree from Millersville in educational leadership.