Williams 'adopts' Austin School, provides funds, manpower for upgrades

Williams employees (from left) Ed Reddick, Joe Dynda and Glen Rees begin dismantling one of the traditional chalkboards that were replaced with dry erase boards.

The new school serving Austin welcomed first grader Clark Lerch through its doors back in 1959. Twelve years later, Clark graduated in a class of only 21 students.

Today, Clark is the Assistant District Manager of Transco's District 535 and the lead volunteer advocate between the K-12 school and Williams.

Williams has had more than four decades of working together with the Austin Area School District, the smallest state-funded school district in Pennsylvania. So small in fact, that the entire school district encompasses only one school, the Austin School. The school has 12 classrooms, one for each grade, with an average classroom size of less than 20 students.

"In spite of its size," says Clark, "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 it difficult to make ends meet and still keep local real estate taxes in check. And, like all school districts, Austin can use all the financial help it can get.

Williams understands that need and has many times stepped up to meet it.

District 535 employees have taken an active role in securing much needed funds through the Williams Foundation. As part of the Adopt-a-School partnership, this year Williams provided the school with a $19,000 grant to support various projects.

Recently, a team of five District 535 employees provided the manpower to replace the school's decades-old slate chalkboards with new dry-erase boards. The worn chalkboards had been hanging for nearly 50 years and had deteriorated to the point that few teachers even used them.

Many of the old chalkboards were glued to the walls and had to be broken off in pieces. This was no small undertaking; the removal and installation project took nearly two weeks to complete.

In addition to the dry-erase boards that Williams purchased for the Austin School, the Adopt-a-School funding also provided for a new laptop computer and projector equipment to be used for presentations and auditorium assemblies. Additional funding also went toward the installation of new building lights around the entire perimeter of the school to enhance security.

"All of us at District 535 have a vested interest in the future success of the Austin School. We all grew up in this community. We all went to school here, and several employees now have children who attend the Austin School today," said Clark, who was instrumental in obtaining the support through the Williams Foundation's Adopt-a- School program.

Williams employees have a long history of involvement in the community with participation and support in the Boy and Girl Scouts, Austin Little League,Austin Historical Museum and the Austin Memorial Dam Association.

"The best thing about getting involved is knowing that Williams takes an active interest in the communities where we live and work," Clark said.

The Adopt-a-School program has existed since 2003, but a new emphasis and structure were developed last year. The program helps foster and reinforce partnerships between Williams and local schools. Research from Williams Community Relations group and input from Williams business leaders establish which schools are selected.