Norwin hires school social worker for elementary schools
A licensed school social worker will be assigned to work with students in the Norwin School District’s four elementary schools.
Johanna Belako was hired by the school board Monday to serve in the school demonstrating the greatest area of need. A $200,000 School Safety Grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime Delinquency will cover a two-year period. Belako will be paid $56,200 for the upcoming school year.
With the hiring of Belako, Superintendent Natalie McCracken said Norwin will have a social worker for the elementary schools, for grades 5 to 8 and one for the senior high school. Hiring a social worker for the elementary will allow the student services staff to focus on other needs within the district and will provide intervention, particularly in the area of absenteeism, Heather Newell, director of elementary education and curriculum, explained in an outline of the job.
While the school social worker position is funded by a grant for two years, McCracken said the district will seek money from additional funding sources to maintain the grant-funded position. Based on student needs and Norwin’s budget at that time, there could be a decision to incorporate the position into the budget or eliminate it, McCracken said.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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