Exeter Township School District

Exeter Township School District (ETSD) is a public school district in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with administrative offices at 200 Elm Street, Reading, PA 19606. The district serves the residents of Exeter Township and St. Lawrence Borough, educating approximately 3,900 students across six schools and a district-operated cyber academy. The main phone number is (610) 779-0700, and district information is published online at exetersd.org.

The district's mission is to empower every student to become a lifelong learner who is a responsible, productive and engaged citizen within the global community. That mission is paired with a vision statement focused on inspiring and preparing today's learners for tomorrow's opportunities. In practice, this translates into a grade configuration designed around developmental stages, a reported 97% graduation rate, and roughly 70% of graduates continuing on to colleges, universities and trade schools.

Schools and Grade Structure

ETSD organizes its student population across four building levels rather than the more common two or three, which allows programming to be tailored closely to each age group.

• Elementary Education (Grades K-4): Students attend one of three neighborhood elementary centers. Owatin Creek Elementary can be reached at 610-898-0910, Lorane Elementary at 610-582-8608, and Jacksonwald Elementary at 610-779-8844.
• Intermediate Education (Grades 5-6): All district fifth and sixth graders attend Reiffton School at 4355 Dunham Drive, reachable at 610-779-6995. Consolidating these two grades into a single building gives students a shared transition point between elementary and junior high.
• Junior High Education (Grades 7-8): Exeter Township Junior High serves seventh and eighth grade students and can be reached at 610-779-3320.
• Senior High Education (Grades 9-12): Exeter Township Senior High prepares students for citizenship, careers and postsecondary study. Students have earned recognition through the National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Exeter Cyber Academy: A district-run online learning option for families seeking a virtual program while remaining connected to the district. The district also uses Flexible Instructional Days (FID) for virtual learning when schools cannot physically open.

Enrollment and Student Services

Kindergarten registration is conducted annually through an online process for incoming families. Enrollment questions, registration support and student records requests are handled by the district's Student Services office.

Student Services, led by Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Mrs. Dawn Harris, oversees special education programming, gifted education under the district's 2024-27 Gifted Education Plan, school health services and school counseling. Families with questions about evaluations, individualized programming or support services typically begin with this office.

Leadership and Governance

The district is led by Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller, working alongside Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Mrs. Dawn Harris. Governance rests with a nine-member elected Board of School Directors, each serving a four-year term.

The board follows a predictable public meeting schedule. Committee of the Whole meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6 PM (with the exception of July), and voting meetings take place on the third Tuesday at 7 PM. Both are held at the Lausch Administration Building. Agendas and supporting documents are posted through BoardDocs, and meetings are streamed on YouTube so residents who cannot attend in person can still follow board business.

Administrative functions are divided among departments covering Business, Communications, Food Services, Human Resources, Operations/Facilities and Maintenance, Student Services, Teaching and Learning, Technology, and Transportation.

Athletics, Activities and School Traditions

The district fields interscholastic athletic teams under the Eagles banner, with a dedicated athletics website for schedules, rosters and announcements. Beyond sports, the student experience includes long-standing traditions such as Homecoming Week spirit events, a community parade and bonfire, and school musicals and plays, with performance tickets available for purchase online.

Food Services and the Community Hub

School nutrition is managed by the district's Food Services department, with menus published online through School Nutrition and Fitness and meal account payments accepted electronically. The administration building functions as more than an office complex: it also houses a community food and clothing bank and an athletic center, giving the facility a dual role as a service point for area families.

Transportation

Student busing is operated under the district's Business Office, which also oversees Facilities and Food Services. Routing, stop assignments and bus-related questions are directed through this office.

Employment and Human Resources

Job applications are submitted through Applitrack. All candidates who receive an offer must complete Act 34 criminal history, Act 151 child abuse and Act 114 FBI fingerprint clearances (the IdentoGO service code is 1KG6XN). The district advertises competitive salary and benefits and participates in the Berks IU Guest Teacher Program, which provides a pathway for substitute teaching across Berks County districts.

Title IX and non-discrimination compliance is coordinated by Diane Scornavacchi, Director of Human Resources, who can be reached at 610-779-0700. That office addresses concerns involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence and related misconduct under Title VI, Title IX and Section 504.

Communication Platforms and Public Access

Families stay connected through ParentSquare and StudentSquare for school and district messaging, Skyward for student information and grades, and Schoology as the learning management platform. Centralizing communication through these tools reduces the number of separate systems parents need to monitor.

The Communications office also publishes bi-weekly courtesy posts on behalf of non-profit community organizations whose membership includes at least 75% Exeter students. Submissions are due two weeks in advance and can be arranged by calling 610-779-0700, extension 1029.

Public records requests are accepted under Act 3 of 2008 (the Right-to-Know Law) and district Policy #801. Requests may be emailed to RightToKnow@exetersd.org or mailed to 200 Elm Street, Reading, PA 19606. The district's Open Records Officer is Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller.

Community Programming

ETSD partners with the Exeter Community Education Foundation (ECEF) and the Berks County Intermediate Unit to offer county-wide parent education events. Past programming has included an internet safety presentation delivered by national expert Katie Greer, reflecting the district's interest in extending education beyond the classroom to the families who support students at home.