Austin School gets 'blackboards'

Austin Area School received a $19,000 grant from the Williams Foundation's "Adopt-a-School" program. Williams employees replaced all of the school's traditional chalkboards, most of them 50 years old, with dry-erase boards in every classroom.

The project hit close to home for Clark Lerch, assistant district manager for Transco's District 535. He first came through the doors of the school in 1959 and received his diploma 12 years later.

Williams has had more than four decades of working with Austin Area School District, the smallest school district in Pennsylvania.

"In spite of its size," Lerch said, "there's still an immense amount of school pride that has resided here over the years."

Being the smallest district in the state also means it has the smallest tax base, which makes things hard when it's time for upgrades or improvements.

Recently, a team of five District 535 employees provided the manpower to replace the slate chalkboards. Many were glued to the walls and had to be broken off in pieces.

Williams also bought the district a laptop computer and projector equipment to be used for presentations and assemblies. Additional monies went toward the installation of new lights around the perimeter of the school to enhance security.

Williams employees have a long history of involvement in the Austin community with participation and support in the Boy and Girl Scouts, Little League baseball and historical preservation.