Lakeland School District, Pennsylvania
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The Lakeland School District is a school district in northern Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It comprises the boroughs of Jermyn and Mayfield and the townships of Carbondale (to be distinguished from the city of Carbondale which it partially surrounds), Greenfield, and Scott. It was organized June 30, 1968 as a jointure among the three districts previously serving the five municipalities. It is governed by an elected, nine-member Board of Education who recognizes the Superintendent of Schools as the district's administrative head. Margaret Billings-Jones, Ed.D., is the current superintendent.
The name "Lakeland" refers simply to the multitude of lakes found within the district's limits. The colors are red, white, and blue, taken from the original themes of the Mayfield-Carbondale Twp., Jermyn, and Scott (including Greenfield) schools, respectively. The mascot is the Chief, which was chosen in 1969 to represent courage, compelling personality, and leadership. Lakeland's various academics, arts, and athletics groups are most commonly represented by either an abstracted or stylized profile of a tribal chief's head and war bonnet or an interlocked "LC" inside a plain arrowhead outline (similar to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs' "KC" logo).
The Lakeland Chiefs achieve perennial success predominantly through their football, track and field, softball, mock trial, and FCCLA programs.[citation needed] Most recently, the softball team gained statewide recognition as the runner-up in the 2006 PIAA championship.[citation needed]
The Lakeland School District 8th grade placed fifth out of the entire state of Pennsylvania in the writing section of the PSSAs.[citation needed]
The Lakeland area has become bound by the school as a community. As such, it is largely characterized (almost uniquely so within the county) by the dualism between the "country" and the "valley". Rural Greenfield and Scott townships belong to the former and consist of hilly farmland and woods. Jermyn, Mayfield, and most of Carbondale Township are a residential and commercial gridwork of denser population centered on the Lackawanna River. The Lakeland area is considered part of suburban Scranton, Pennsylvania's sixth largest city.
Lakeland's geographic position with respect to the other districts of Lackawanna County is illustrated at right. However, no roads provide direct links to Mid-Valley or North Pocono. Also, not shown are neighboring districts Mountain View (Susquehanna County) to the north and Western Wayne (Wayne County) to the east. Long Carbondale and Valley View borders indicate Lakeland's particularly strong relationships with each. They are two of the Chiefs' most competitive athletic rivals. Many Lakeland families have close relatives in, or descend from natives of, both areas. Finally, most of Lakeland's country residents travel to the city of Carbondale or the towns of Valley View regularly for work, shopping, and recreation.
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[edit] Lakeland Jr./Sr. High School
At 1593 Lakeland Drive, Jermyn, PA 18433-3140, it is the district headquarters and houses the district's grade levels 7-12. It is located on Pennsylvania Route 247 in the "Chapman river" -->
[edit] Lakeland Elementary School
Part of the high school campus, this building houses grade levels K-6 for residents of Scott and Greenfield townships.
[edit] Mayfield Elementary School
At 501 Linden Street, Mayfield, PA 18433-1953, it houses grade levels K-6 for Carbondale Twp., Jermyn, and Mayfield residents.
[edit] Notable Alumni
Jerry Boyarsky - Former University of Pittsburgh standout and NFL Defensive Tackle.
