Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
SCSD School Board President Brian Gahagan (right) talks with seniors Bailey Dodson (left) and Maia Jeffries (center) about budgeting for car repairs and maintenance as well as the costs associated with public transportation and/or parking for those whose careers may lead them to city life.
SCSD School Board Member and Dragon Pride Foundation Member Samantha Snowberger (left) has Morgan McNally (center) and Jada Singer (right) select cell phones and cell phone plans to include in their budget.
Financial Literacy is a crucial life skill, which Central High School has prioritized in its curricula in recent years. CHS offers a popular business and personal finance elective and continues to incorporate finance/economics into 12th-grade social studies courses as well as into other courses such as consumer math. Additionally, all seniors participate in the annual Personal Finance Festival (PFF), which was held on April 20 for the class of 2023.
The PFF is a simulation activity, which helps students learn more about entry-level salaries, personal income tax, budgeting, saving/investing, and debt management. The PFF was first implemented at CHS in the fall of 2017 after Spring Cove School District Board Director Floyd Deterline and Superintendent Betsy Baker learned about a similar event in the Norwin School District through a professional development session at the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) conference. Deterline and Baker, along with a committee of CHS faculty, then developed a similar event for CHS students, which has continued annually.
In preparation for the event, students use the PA Career Guide to determine their estimated entry-level salary for the career of their choice and then calculate expected taxes and available income per month for budgeting purposes. During the PFF, students visit stations operated by various volunteers and business leaders. The stations guide students through life decisions relative to finance, housing, food, transportation, health care, everyday expenses such as clothing and toiletries, and entertainment. Businesses and organizations who participated in this year's event included Channel Seeds, Edward Jones, Faith and Grace Learning Center, Gartland Supply & Country Store, the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center, Hometown Bank of PA, Morrisons Cove First Federal Credit Union, NPC, Pro-Care, Valley Rural Electric, Village Closet, and Webber Advisors. The Dragon Pride Foundation sponsors the event each year and provides volunteers as well. Additional volunteers include Morrisons Cove Rotarians, SCSD retirees, and members of the Spring Cove Board of Directors.
Board President Brian Gahagan has been volunteering his time to be involved with this event since its inception.
Gahagan shared, "As a charter volunteer, it has been amazing to watch the Personal Finance Festival grow. The excitement and determination of our students is extremely satisfying to watch. They take this very seriously. What a tremendous eye-opening experience for them! It is great to see the business/community leaders and current Spring Cove School Board members volunteering to help students gain insight into adulting."
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