Seeking info on Elk Co. (Pittsburgh, Ridgway: real estate, to rent, credit)

[sz89128]

I was recently contacted by Ridgway School District about an opening. I am currently a teacher in Pittsburgh and am seeking a new teaching position. I am not very familiar with Ridgway and Elk Co. Any residents on the forums here? I would like to learn more about the area.

[Honest Bob]

Ridgeway PA,
Very high elevation on top of the mountain, much lower elevation down in the town.
Warm summers, cold winters.
Lot's of snow!
Very friendly people, lot's of employment opportunities.
School district is probably declining due to the age of the people living there getting older by the day
Small class sizes and no gang violence.
Children are very well behaved.

If you came with your ears open and your mouth closed and gave it a fair shake - you would never go back to Pittsburgh except to go shopping or to visit relatives.

Not very many places to go shopping - unless you like to go to the Walmart.

[sirron]

Ridgway, Pa. is small, but friendly. There is a library, courthouse as it is the county seat for Elk county, jail, and hospital. The main street through town is wide and it is a clean little place. A couple of good eateries, and a Sheetz for convenience items. Not sure if the Market Basket grocery is still there; it's been a long time since I lived there. Neighbors were welcoming of us. A link for you:

Home

Edited to add that there used to be a terrific butcher somewhere around Euclid Ave., but like I said, it's been a long while ago.

[sz89128]

Any info about real estate in the area? Any places to rent?

What about family activities? Just wondering what folks there do to keep busy.

[sirron]

Rather than try to post a long list of things to do there, try a few links for info.

Google

Google

PA Wilds - Pennsylvania Wilds

If these don't work, let me know.

[Honest Bob]

One piece of advice, read the article in todays Dubois Courier Express - it states that Ridgeway school district is in the process of cutting back and letting some teachers go.
Probably the ones with the most seniority that costs them the most to employ.

I have one rule of thumb and that is - never work for someone that you know screws people.

If they do this to people who has worked for them for 30 years, what is there to stop them from doing this to you when their budget no longer supports the teachers that it employs.

[North Beach Person]

PA is a seniority state. If they are "letting senior teachers go" they're most likely being bought out for retirement credit and cash. If they would just lay off a senior teacher without abolishing the entire program the PSEA would be on that like white on rice and multi $$$$ damage payments would ensue.

Look at DC and the re-instated teachers who were fired by former Superintendant Rhee: back pay, damages, apologies. DC is not a hotbed of union sentiment.