LIBERTY BOROUGH, Pa. — In the South Allegheny School District, community outreach plays a big role.
Students won't be back in the classroom for another week. And although the campuses look pretty quiet, a lot is happening and it started months ago.
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While some kids were going to water parks this summer, Channel 11 found out South Allegheny football players, coaches, teachers and staff were going into flood-damaged homes, helping their community clean up.
In an area of Allegheny County where an average family of four lives on just over $30,000 a year, educating children can be a challenge. So South Allegheny starts early.
Curriculum director Alisa King told Channel 11 a program called Kindergarten Kickstart -- which gives children their first look at learning before the official start of school -- isn't new, but South Allegheny’s program is.
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“We hosted the community different days inside of our borough buildings, so it made it easier for our families to get their children to the sessions,” King said. “It was a huge success.”
Community outreach didn't stop there. Because the district, which educates children from Liberty, Lincoln, Port Vie and Glassport, has no library, the district launched a book drive.
“Predominantly children’s books, but it could be all the way up to middle school age in particular,” King said.
Channel 11 found out one of the biggest changes this year is in the school cafeteria: free breakfast and lunch for students, kindergarten through 12th grade.
“We know what our families are up against,” King said. “They are working hard to provide for their families, but it's a challenge.”
South Allegheny students head back to class on Aug. 22.