With the start of the 2015-16 term, 9,200 students are enrolled in Parkland schools.

The district theme for the year is “Arts, Academics, Athletics: Educating the Whole Child.”

Director of Human Resources Pamela Kelly reported to the board at its meeting 44 new professional staff were selected after administrators conducted 400 interviews of applicants from March to September.

The new hires represent 20 different colleges and 14 different subject areas.

Fifty percent of them already have Master’s degrees.

At a recent meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman addressed district goals for 2015-16.

Troutman said many are ongoing from year to year, while others represent new initiatives.

He added the goals are integrated with Parkland’s strategic plan.

“All of us working in the same direction is what makes Parkland successful,” Troutman said. “Integration, cooperation, teamwork. We’re only as good as each other.”

He explained the administration is assisting all schools with the instructional and curriculum changes necessary for the transition from state standards to Pennsylvania Core Standards.

“This is the first year in the new testing. This is the baseline,” Troutman said. “The Pennsylvania Core Standards have a much deeper content.”

Data from assessments will be used to identify under performing groups and to provide full opportunities and support to enable students to reach excellent levels in academic outcomes, he added.

New goals under student services include development of a positive behavior program at the middle schools, refreshing the anti-bullying campaign at the elementary level, and training staff and students on suicide prevention as directed by a state mandate.

An ongoing goal for the human resources department involves compliance with changing Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations regarding employment history, along with monitoring criminal justice information related to educators.

Human resources will continue to review the process for clearances and state and federal background checks for volunteers and staff who have direct contact with children.

Under the topic of safety, the district is refining its parent reunification procedure.

Director of School Services David Keppel explained this is a district plan for parents to pick up their children in case of an emergency.

“We want to connect the right student with the right parent,” Keppel said. “We need to have control over release of the student.

“Parents must show identification, then school staff will bring the student to the parent.

“We have a basic plan. We’re working to make it better.”