Blackhawk School Board Meeting Revolved Around Restorative Practices, Paraprofessional Issues

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

The Blackhawk High School Campus was a busy place on the night of November 10. Outside there was a “Powderpuff” football game raising scholarship funds happening at Blackhawk Stadium. In the auditorium, choral students from across the county gathered for a spirited performance. And in the school library, the Blackhawk School Board met for their regular meeting.

The meeting started on a positive note, as a trio of students were recognized as Students of The Month. Aidan Thellman was recognized by the Rotary Club, Olivia McClymonds was honored by the Chippewa Lions, and Chase Alexander was chosen by the Little Beaver Lions Club.

Following those recognitions was a presentation on “Restorative Practices” by Highlands Middle School teachers Drew Bosco and Sydney Migliore. The concept of restorative practices is designed to help students that commit non-violent offenses to be disciplined in a manner that teaches them the error of their ways and allows them to remain in the educational loop–as opposed to a traditional detention or suspension that merely serves as time spent before returning to classes.

“The great thing about this is [that] the students are creating their own timeline for a consequence,” Migliore said. “A lot of times, when you have the repeat offenders, they’re doing the same behavior, or they’re doing something even worse.” Migliore and Bosco said that one of the main forms of discipline will be an “accountability project”, where the students will learn about the real-life consequences of their wrongful actions, and present their findings in a presentation to be given to staff, parents, or whomever is deemed fit for full comprehension.

Dealing with real-life consequences was also on the plate for the Blackhawk School Board by meeting’s end, as they were met with a stern complaint from South Beaver Township resident Curtis Lloyd, who has two children in the school district; one of whom is a special needs student. Lloyd felt that the lack of a push to hire additional paraprofessionals is putting the educational staff in dire straits and improperly supporting the students.

“To me, as the father of a special needs student, it’s pretty much akin to opening up the school without a ramp or an elevator,” Lloyd said. “You are making education inaccessible, and it’s a choice. So what I’m asking is, what is this school board going to do to change that choice; to hire these paraprofessionals?”

The school board stated that the union wages were voted on last year by the board, and that current wages were being negotiated; negotiations were in progress per Chairperson Roberta Mansell. Lloyd accused the board of being in violation of the law because of funding received by the state; Superintendent Dr. Robert Postupac declined to answer any legal questions on private matters in a public forum.

The next Blackhawk School Board meeting is scheduled for November 17 at 7:30 PM in the Library.

Candidates Who Backed Overturning Trump Loss are Rebuffed

FILE – Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano speaks to supporters during an election night campaign event at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Pa., Nov. 8, 2022. Election deniers who backed Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election failed in some of their highest-profile races. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
Election deniers who backed Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election failed in some of their highest-profile races. Conspiracy theorists were crushed in Michigan and Pennsylvania, and Trump’s handpicked candidate for Wisconsin governor lost, meaning the GOP won’t be able to change the way elections are administered in that pivotal swing state. There are two key states where the races for top posts are too close to call — Arizona and Nevada. But democracy advocates were cheered at the initial round of major losses. Says one GOP pollster: “Trying to overturn an election is not wildly popular with the American people.”

Post-Election Misinformation Targets Arizona, Pennsylvania

Adjudicators observe as ballots are tabulated inside the Maricopa County Recorders Office, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press
A day after the midterm elections, misinformation about the results is zeroing in on the states of Arizona and Pennsylvania. In Arizona, most of the misleading claims now circulating online began after problems emerged Tuesday with voter tabulation machines in Maricopa County. In Pennsylvania, baseless allegations are spreading about delays in vote counting. Misinformation experts say it’s not unusual for voting irregularities or delays to be spun into rumors. Overall, however, few problems were reported Tuesday and threats of political violence did not materialize.

US Consumer Inflation Eased to 7.7% Over Past 12 Months

FILE – A salesman talks with customers at an Acura dealer in Wexford, Pa., on Sept. 29, 2022. The Federal Reserve may reach a turning point this week as it announces what’s expected to be another substantial three-quarter-point hike in its key interest rate. The Fed’s hikes have already led to much costlier borrowing rates, ranging from mortgages to auto and business loans. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Price increases moderated in the United States last month in the latest sign that the inflation pressures that have gripped the nation might be easing as the economy slows and consumers grow more cautious. Consumer inflation reached 7.7% in October from a year earlier and 0.4% from September. The year-over-year increase, a slowdown from 8.2% in September, was the smallest rise since January. A measure called core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy, rose 6.3% in the past 12 months and 0.3% from September. The numbers were all lower than economists had expected, and they raised the possibility that the Federal Reserve could decide to slow its interest rate hikes.

Democrats Buoyed by Election Returns in Pennsylvania House

FILE – Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf delivers his budget address for the 2022-23 fiscal year to a joint session of the Pennsylvania House and Senate in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. More than one-quarter of state lawmakers whose seats are up for election across the U.S. are guaranteed to be gone from office next year — a statistic almost certain to grow when the votes are counted from the November general election. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania House Democrats are likely to make significant gains in the chamber. Some even see hope they could retake the majority once smoke clears from the election that began with their party 23 seats behind the Republican majority. After Tuesday’s election, Democrats are facing a couple of potential losses in western Pennsylvania and one in Wilkes-Barre. Republicans are trailing in key races outside Philadelphia and others near Harrisburg, the Poconos and the Pittsburgh area. Republicans hold the chamber 113 to 90. That means Democrats would need a net pickup of 12 to retake the majority for the first time in 12 years.

Charges Against Beaver County Contractor Dropped In August Shooting Death

(File Photo of Beaver County Courthouse)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Beaver , Pa.) Charges have been dropped against Wesley Deadrick a Beaver County contractor who was charged in an August 20th shooting in Center Twp.
Deaderick had been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Willie Dawkins.
District Attorney David Lozier says that after investigation it was learned that the shooting was self-defense. The District Attorney’s Office made the decision after reviewing all of the evidence including security videos.
Investigators say the men got into an argument in Center Township about a home improvement project. According to the evidence Deaderick did not pull or discharge his firearm until after Dawkins, cornered him, displayed a firearm to Deaderick in a threatening manner, brandished the firearm, pointed the firearm at Deaderick, and threatened to shoot Deaderick.

Pa State Police Arrest 18-Year-Old After Pursuit in Hookstown

(Hookstown, Pa.) Pa State Police in Beaver are reporting that they have filed charges if fleeing and eluding against 18-year-old Kalen Weltner after an incident that occurred at 7:49 PM on Tuesday evening, November 8, 2022.

State Police reported that a Trooper observed a Black Ford Mustang  pass his vehicle in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed. The Trooper turned his cruiser around and upon catching up to the vehicle he observed that the license plate was illegible except for the first three letters of JMF. The Trooper activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle at Main St./ Mill St. in Hookstown Borough in Beaver County.

The Trooper reported that the Mustang attempted to flee and a pursuit ensued westbound on Little Blue Road and onto Cross Road. The Trooper then lost sight of the vehicle and cancelled his pursuit. The Trooper then canvassed the area and spotted the vehicle northbound on North Washington Street and he re-engaged the pursuit upon confirming the vehicle with the license plate. The vehicle then turned southbound onto Main St. and Eastbound onto State Route 168. The pursuit then went down Shaffer Road where the operator turned the lights off the vehicle in an attempt to avoid being captured. The vehicle then turned onto Potts Road where the pursuit ended and Weltner was taken into custody. Troopers said a known juvenile was also found to be in the front passenger seat of the vehicle.

GOP Closing In On House Win; Senate Control Up For Grabs

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., arrives to speak at an event early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By SARA BURNETT, JILL COLVIN and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans were closing in on a narrow House majority on Wednesday while control of the Senate hinges on tight Arizona, Nevada and Georgia races. The midterm election defied expectations of sweeping conservative victories driven by frustration over inflation and President Joe Biden’s leadership. Democrat John Fetterman flipped Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate seat. But Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin won reelection, raising the stakes of races that were too early to call. In the House, Democrats kept seats in districts from Virginia to Kansas to Rhode Island, while many districts in states like New York and California had not been called. Republicans, meanwhile, toppled House Democratic campaign chief Sean Patrick Maloney of New York.

Jim Marshall Wins Re-election in Pa. State House 14th District

(Jim Marshall during a recent appearance at Beaver County Radio)

 (Beaver County, Pa.) Incumbent Pa. State Representative for the 14th District Jim Marshall  has been elected to another term. The voters of Marshall’s District showed by massive amounts how much they approve of the job he is doing in Harrisburg. Jim received 68 percent of the vote compared to his opponent Bruce Carper’s 32 percent of the vote.

Rep. Marshall said via phone Wednesday afternoon that he is grateful to the voters of the 14th District. He has been in office for awhile now and feels that he does the right thing. Jim said he feels like the support from those that elected him says a lot. He’s grateful to have the opportunity and looks forward to representing the 14th District for two more years.

Tune into Beaver County Radio for “Rappin with the Reps” featuring State Representative Jim Marshall tomorrow morning at 9:10 AM on Beaver County Radio.

Shortly after noon Wednesday the Beaver County Elections Bureau published the unofficial results of the election.

Veterans Breakfast Club Gears Up For Veterans’ Day Events, Plus A Beaver County Event For December

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“The Veterans Breakfast Club is all about the stories. There’s no agenda, there’s no advocacy, really. There’s only this community that is focused on encouraging veterans to share their stories of service with others.”

The Veterans Breakfast Club will be holding two major events for Veterans’ Day 2022, showcasing the unlimited bounty of stories and experiences shared by the veterans who have served in America’s wars from World War II to as recent as Iraq and Afghanistan. VBC executive director Todd DePastino joined Matt Drzik on the November 9 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss these events.

The first of the major events for the VBC is a live breakfast to be held at Duquesne University at 8:00 AM on November 11 inside the Student Union Ballroom. Judge Mike McCarthy, a former Vietnam Veteran with the Navy SeaBees, will be the Keynote Speaker for the breakfast. DePastino himself will be the emcee, allowing for those in attendance to share their stories, which may carry a range of emotions from light-hearted to heavy and reflective.

The other major event for Veterans’ Day is the 12-hour “Vet-A-Thon”, which will feature hourly conversations in a digital/Zoom format. Unlike the live breakfast, which will feature mostly local veterans from Western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas, the Vet-A-Thon will be more wide open. “It’s going to be a worldwide connection between veterans,” DePastino said of the event. “That’s how our online program has been shaping up; we tend to focus more on our Veterans Breakfast Club members who are living in Texas, California, Wisconsin, Virginia, or anywhere.”

Beaver County will be host to an upcoming VBC event as well, when Seven Oaks Country Club hosts a Pearl Harbor recognition breakfast on December 7 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Further details about that event as well as all other events can be found by going to their website at veteransbreakfastclub.org.

To listen to the full interview with Todd DePastino, hit the play button below!