AJ School News

October 28, 2009

Bower asks board to donate rifle team equipment

By Don McGlynn dmcglynn@theabingtonjournal.com
Reporter / Photographer

CLARKS SUMMIT - Former Abington Heights High School rifle team head coach Dane Bower addressed the school board at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to request the board donate the rifle team equipment to the Factoryville Sportsman Club.

The board voted to eliminate the rifle team during its September meeting by a vote of 4-3. Bower, who said he was not notified that vote was taking place last month, expressed his feelings about the way the team was eliminated.

“I think it’s a shame they were cut the way they were cut,” said Bower.

“I feel it’s not right the way it was done; the kids should have been given a chance to come and have their say.”

Bower, who coached the rifle team for close to 40 years, went on to say that even though the school board was no longer interested in hosting the team, he would still like to see students from the school have a chance to participate.

He is currently working on starting youth rifle program with the Factoryville Sportsman Club, on Lake Winola Rd. in Factoryville.

“I spent a lot of time trying to keep the team alive, I’d like to keep the sport alive for these kids,” said Bower.

Bower went on to say that some of the equipment was originally donated by the Sportsman Club over the years and the board would merely be giving it back.

The board said they will discuss the matter, and try to have an answer for Bower as early as next month.

For more information on the club, contact the Factoryville Sportsman Club 570.378.2593.

In other business, Dr. Thomas Quinn briefed the board on the status of the district’s Advanced Placement (A.P.) programs.

Presenting to the board what he referred to as a snapshot of the progress of the A.P. program, Dr. Quinn announced that there has been an increase of 123 percent in A.P. enrollment in the district over the last four years.

Quinn explained part of the reason for the increase is due to steps the district has taken to make A.P. classes more accessible to the students

These steps included increasing the number of A.P. classes offered from five to 14 over the course of the last six years. The district has also made adjustments to students’ schedules to create more flexibility for A.P. enrollment.

Even with this progress, Quinn said the process for improvement is still continuing.

The board will meet again on Wednesday, Nov. 4, for its monthly work session.

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