July 29, 2024

Dear Shaler Area Parents and Guardians,

We hope you are having an enjoyable summer break. As we continue our preparations for the 2024-25 school year, we felt it was important to respond to some misinformation circulating on social media about student enrollment among our primary schools.

There are no current plans to close Reserve Primary School or to influence its growth or decline. These assertions are simply not true and have never been the intent of the Administration or School Board.

School enrollment is based entirely on existing geographic boundaries, transportation patterns, and parent/guardian requests for consideration and is in no way influenced by our school administration or board.

To help further clarify, it is important to share information concerning enrollment at Reserve Primary School for the upcoming school year as confirmed by the transportation and enrollment data sets:

•  Scott Primary School hosts all students requiring English Language Learning (ELL) services for ALL Primary school students.  This allows us to allocate the necessary staff and provide the highest quality services.
• Marzolf Primary hosts (1) of our Life Skills programs for students in K-3.  The second program is at Burchfield.  Any Reserve enrollee requiring this classroom setting as part of their IEP is transferred to Marzolf for this specialized service.
• Occasionally, attendance exceptions can be granted based on parental request for reasons such as childcare. They are not administrative reassignments.

At this time, there are 10 total students from the Reserve Primary community affected by protocols including English Language Learning, Special Education, and parental/guardian requested attendance exceptions.  There are 4 students who will be welcomed into the Reserve Primary community based on attendance exceptions.

We ask that when questions or concerns arise that you please consider our school leaders and administrative officials to be a transparent and open source of information. We invite you at any time to ask questions and offer ideas and suggestions.

Together we will continue to ensure that the Titans of tomorrow have the resources they need to realize their dreams and enrich our community.

Sincerely,
Bryan E. O’Black, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
Shaler Area School District