By Rachel Weaver

Like the sense of freedom that comes with the final bell on the last day of school and the feeling of freedom about to be lost when the end of summer comes near, some things never change.

But other things, such as social studies lesson plans and what constitutes an acceptable school lunch, do.

When students and teachers of the Peters Township School District return to classes Aug. 31, they will start their school year with revamped curriculum, new computer systems and upgraded nutrition standards.

“This is my busiest time,” says Dr. Mary Anne Battaglia, director of curriculum.

In an office resembling the site of a paper avalanche, she is spending her summer months preparing for the completely redesigned K-12 social studies unit, including changes to history, geography, economics, civics, political science and psychology classes. All this change is nothing new for the 39-year veteran — every academic program is on a six-year review cycle.

“We are blessed to be able to upgrade like this,” says Battaglia. “Every year, something is in review. Curriculum is the greatest thing. I get to facilitate teacher planning and instruction and then see it being implemented. I get to see kids learning.”

For the 2005-06 school year, curriculum received $523,000 of the district’s $40 million budget, which left enough funds to also revise K-12 health, K-8 physical education, accounting, statistics, seventh and eighth grade reading and Spanish 3.

Julie Swiatek, curriculum department secretary, processes all the rewritten curriculum for each course after teachers read new textbooks and outline key words and tasks they want the kids to learn and do. The new lesson plan for first grade health alone is about one-quarter inch thick.

All those changes mean new teaching materials, study materials and textbooks. The hallways of the department are lined with small mountains of them.

To keep up with changing subject material, students will have a few new tools at their disposal. The Peters technology department is making learning easier than ever before by combining curriculum, software and hardware.

“We are making a lot of changes,” says Toni Sulkowski, director of educational and informational technology. “We’re consolidating things and using technology in ways that have never been done before.”

The technology department received $650,000 of the district’s budget for the new school year. Jim Beeghley, director of technology hardware and network, says the figure is normal, though it is up $100,000 from last year when his team installed a new network.

Included in the cost are several new systems, including United Stream, which allows teachers to use Power Point videos with lessons, and Go-grolier.com, a research tool for students in grades 4-12. The school will use Inspiration/ Kidspiration, which serves as a graphic organizer.

“We like for technology to be a tool students can use,” says Battaglia. “Kids have to learn so much information. This offers a way for them to maintain it so they retain it longer.”

In two high school computer labs, Macs will be replaced with personal computers. The high school media department will move from film photography to digital photography.

EdLine, the online grades access system launched at the high school last year, will be expanded to the middle school. The program eliminates the need for progress reports, as parents can check their children’s grades weekly on-line.

Also designed with parents in mind is the district’s revamped Web page that premiered June 1. The Web site, www.ptsd.k12.pa.us, has new short cut buttons, links to frequently-used pages and news from the school board (see story).

As Battaglia says, the proof the new technology’s effectiveness is “in the pudding.” For the 2004-05 school year, Standard and Poors rated the district No. 2 in the state for exceptional academic achievement.

“Our ultimate goal is to raise the achievement of the kids,” she says.

Becky Rush-Phillips, PTSD food service director, has a goal of her own: to help students and staff stay healthy. Fulfilling her mission meant changing a few things in the food department this year. During the 2005-06 school year, Rush-Phillips will create a new food policy through the FDA’s Wellness Program to promote healthy eating and control child obesity.

Most a la carte items have been eliminated from school lunch menus, including ice cream, potato chips, candy and drinks. Over the course of the year, Rush-Phillips will wean the students off the more fattening treats and introduce healthier options, like baked chips, fruit and low-fat popcorn.

So everyone doesn’t suffer snack withdraw, the food department will still offer some regular chips, cookies and pretzel rods. Candy bars will be available at the secondary schools.

Water, juice and fruit-flavored beverages will replace some — not all — of the carbonated beverages. But most Peters students won’t miss the sugary options.

“For kids at Peters Township, the big thing to buy is water, which is great because it’s better for them,” says Rush-Phillips.

Rush-Phillips will spend the year attending different food shows and picking new items for the school lunches, which cost $1.60 at the elementary level and $1.75 at the middle and high schools, all the while making sure each meal meets recommended standards.

“It will be challenging at times, I’m sure, but I’m looking forward to it,” she says.