The Panther Valley School District is thankful for much as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

The small, rural district is set to receive nearly $2 million in state funds, $1 million in philanthropy from a local business, food donations that helped feed more than 200 area families and more.

Funds

Superintendent Dave McAndrew told school directors Wednesday night that the district received nearly $2 million in a Ready to Learn grant, which is money earmarked from the fair funding lawsuit.

“They came up with a number, about $18 million that was owed to us,” he said. “This is the second installment. We received the first last year,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll receive this for up to nine years for the full $18 million.”

McAndrew thanked state Rep. Doyle Heffley and Sen. Dave Argall, who voted for the funding, and all their work on getting a state budget passed after a monthslong impasse.

He also lauded cyber school reform that may bring additional funds back to the district, which paid out $4.7 million to cyber schools last year alone.

Cyber schools must now verify residency, which will ensure that the district only pays for students who live within its boundaries, McAndrew said.

Previously, a student could move out of the boundaries without notifying anyone, and the district would continue to pay for that student’s cyberschool enrollment.

Panther Valley had to invest in programming to verify residency to shift the financial responsibility to the proper school district and keep funding going to only its students.

Other reforms prevent habitually truant students in public schools from transferring to cyber schools, McAndrew said, explaining students would switch before court dates.

Cyber schools also must see a student once a week on screen to ensure that they’re not just logging in, he said.

Philanthropy

The district is also thankful for a donation pledged from Bitfarms Ltd., which owns the Panther Creek Power Plant in Nesquehoning, McAndrew said.

The company pledged $1 million to the district over three years in five areas, including one capital project a year, he said.

One of the first projects will be expanding the playground times three at the elementary school, McAndrew said.

The company will also support the district’s afterschool activities, transportation home from the afterschool activities, general school supplies and the district’s food pantry.

These are things that not everyone sees the value in providing districts, McAndrew said.

“We know there’s a value in this for our kids,” he said.

Food pantry

McAndrew also wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the Panther Valley Community Food Pantry at the elementary school, which served 203 households and 798 individuals on Wednesday night.

Of those households, 91 were new, Dr. Paula Jones, principal at the elementary where the pantry is located, said.

McAndrew thanked Second Harvest Food Bank, Sen. Argall’s office, the Panther Valley Blueprint Community, the Summit Hill American Legion and the Carbon County Foundation for their support of the pantry.

He also thanked the board, administration and school community for coming together to support the pantry and ensure that families in need in the community have food on their holiday tables.

“We had a huge line today,” he said. “They did a great job getting that ready and helping all of our community there.”

Patricia Ebbert, junior/senior high principal, thanked students and staff members who brought in nonperishable food items to support the pantry ahead of the holiday giveaway.

The food drive had a goal of 762 food items and collected 1,667 items to support families in the district. Students also bagged the collected food and hand out the “mystery bags,” which were a big hit at the pantry, Ebbert said.

Another collection for the Christmas holiday is planned for Meet the Panthers Night on Monday, when those bringing in food items will get a PV Grit key chain, she said.

“We have a lot of days off in between the holidays, and we got to feed our kiddos,” Ebbert said.

Board President Daniel Matika thanked fellow board member Michael Alabovitz for the donation of 20 turkeys as well.

Other thanks

Ebbert also thanked Coal Miners Bar and Grill in Lansford for sponsoring an Acer Chromebook giveaway for students in the junior/senior high school. This is the second year the business is giving two computers per grade level for winning essays on why they deserve one, she said.

McAndrew also thanked outgoing board members, Renee DeMelfi and Keith Krapf, for their support of the district’s students, administration and staff over the years.