Sto-Rox School Board during the December 5 meeting.
The Sto-Rox School Board of Directors met for the final time in 2024 and reorganized itself for the year ahead, committing to stability in the district’s established leadership. Read on for details on the meetings that took place in November and December.
December 5th Reorganization and Combined Agenda Review and Legislative Voting Meeting
Board leadership remained the same following nominations and voting for the Sto-Rox School District Board of Directors.
DOWNLOAD: Complete Agenda for 12/5/24
Reorganization Meeting
Cameron Culliver was voted President and Parkway West CTC Alternate Liaison, Adrienne Roberts was voted Vice-President, and DaLisha Hozsowski was voted Treasurer. Kim Spriggs was voted as PSBA Liaison, and newest board member Angel Myers was voted Parkway West CTC Liaison and PSBA’s Alternate Liaison. The board also retained the services of Weiss Burkardt Kramer, LLC as the district’s solicitor and delinquent tax collector.
New Hires
Several new hires introduced themselves to the district on Thursday night, including:
Zach Simpson.
• Zach Simpson, Director of Facilities and Grounds. Most recently of Fort Cherry School District, this married father of three said he was looking to be a positive influence and asset to the district. “I want to be a valued part of this community,” he said. “I know buildings and grounds is not always directly interacting with kids, but it’s my job - hopefully, if you approve me - is to give kids a safe and healthy environment to come and learn.” Simpson also has coaching experience, spending three years as a track and field coach in Monessen along with stints in Belle Vernon, Chartiers Valley, and South Fayette.
• Tanisha Hudson, Building Substitute for Upper Elementary. A mother of four with a degree in psychology. “I’m really excited, I’m ready for a big girl job,” she said. “I’ve been in the classroom for a few days, I love it, the kids are adapting to me.”
Mike McCarthy.
• Mike McCarthy, Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Coach. “(There’s) no other place I would rather coach than Sto-Rox,” he said. “I love the kids, I’ve connected to them, I’ve known a lot of them since I was young.” McCarthy was also coached by Head Coach Ryan Hughes when he was younger, and works with CURE Violence in the community.
Jamal Williams.
• Jamal Williams, Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach. “It’s a no-brainer, I’ve been here all of my life,” said Williams, a 2020 graduate of Sto-Rox. “I really love the kids…I remember being a freshman and a sophomore and really wishing someone like me (now), that played and knew some things, to come and help. I’m here to show them that there’s a big picture to it.”
Leadership Updates
The district reclassified Dr. Ron Sofo to Acting Superintendent from Substitute Superintendent through December 30, 2025. “I’m excited about the potential here. We’ve got great people,” he said. “You’ve got a great leadership team here at the building level, most every faculty member I’ve met - I have met a bunch of them - and the support staff? You’ve got good folks. You’re ripe for the culture to change in the right direction.”
The district also changed the title of Michael Hauser from Director of Operations to Special Assistant to the Superintendent effective January 1, 2025. “This is a real honor to work in partnership with Dr. Sofo, to continue to work with the great administrators of this school district, the professional staff and support staff, the parents, and to work with these very special students,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to make Sto-Rox what we know that it can be and together we are stronger.”
Changing The School Code
Board President Culliver held a short presentation on the potential to amend the Pennsylvania School Code, specifically Section 111. Currently, the law permanently bars anyone convicted of more than 20 serious offenses from working in schools. Any felonies or misdemeanors not listed are subject to bans of up to ten years. Culliver is pushing for leniency in regards to older, non-violent offenses that are not related to children.
“How can we say (to kids) it’s OK to make a mistake, and bounce back, and grow, and yet we’re not allowing (other) folks to grow,” he said. “I’m pushing for a change, and I hope the board will agree with that, and understand my passion and where I’m coming from.”
Acting Superintendent Ron Sofo echoed Culliver’s comments, especially in terms of staffing.
“I think there’s merit to both the idea and life experience that none of us are perfect, we make mistakes,” he said. “I believe the ideas in Mr. Culliver’s resolution…need to be looked at by our solicitor to see if we can reduce it to a resolution that can get the attention of the state. Wisdom, experience, and connection with youth and fellow adults doesn’t come in one size and one shape.”
Donors Choose Projects
The district accepted the following projects:
Pamela Mihalov, “Classroom Essentials!”
Ashley Dickinson, “Holiday Board Games: Promoting Family Bonding, Learning and Social Skills”
Ashley Dickinson, “Rewarding Students for Positive Behavior.”
Paula Dugan, “How Much Do We Waste?”
Samantha Harrison, “Build My Sensory Room.”
Jenay Speer, “Keep US Healthy with Clean Air.”
Chasing Millions for Christmas
Board members approved the use of the Jr./Sr. High School Gym on Tuesday, December 17 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the Damar Hamlin Chasing Millions Foundation annual Christmas Toy Drive. Last year’s edition of the event was a wild success, and organizers are hoping for a repeat.
November 21st Combined Agenda Review and Legislative Voting Meeting
The school board held its regularly-scheduled meeting for November the week before Thanksgiving, discussing and voting a series of issues affecting the district’s operations.
DOWNLOAD: Complete Agenda for 11/21/24
Board member Alice Cooper.
School Board Award
Alice Cooper was presented a 5-Year School Board service award by Board President Culliver. “I think we’re headed in the right direction and I’m really proud of our work,” she said.
New Hires
Kenshayla Butler, Building Paraprofessional, Upper Elementary
Khalil Turner, Building Paraprofessional, Upper Elementary
Dionne Wood, Cafeteria Head Cook, Jr./Sr. High School. A former Sto-Rox middle school student, she had previously worked with students involved in Steel City Impact, and was excited to have an opportunity to work with young people once again.
Recommendations for Grant Money
Joe Parris of TEN (The Efficiency Network) and Chris Celmer of Devopar presented information about how to use a $1.75 Million grant awarded to the district by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“What we’re recommending is getting the HVAC work done at the Upper Elementary school,” said Parris. With the Primary Center work done and Upper Elementary exterior upgrades complete, contractors would focus on upgrading internal Upper Elementary HVAC systems. “We feel like it makes a lot of sense to finish that work. It’s going to bring that system to life.” Upgrades that were later approved by the board include direct digital controls to maximize savings from the building’s new boilers, new ventilators, and related equipment.
Dr. Nancy Raible.
New Chief Recovery Officer
The district welcomed Dr. Nancy Raible as its new chief recovery officer. Working her way up from being a paraprofessional at Parkway West CTC, Dr. Raible taught at A.W. Beattie Career Center before moving to Penn Hills School District. After getting her administrative certification, she became a high school principal at Steel Valley, but eventually returned to Penn Hills for the long-term, becoming superintendent.
“I went through exactly what you’re going through here,” she said, referencing Penn Hills’ experience with state financial recovery, which it left behind earlier this year, shortly after she retired. “The most valuable piece of experience and information is that I know what it feels like.”
While Dr. Raible retired, she was soon called back to Northgate to substitute for their superintendent during an education sabbatical. In coming to Sto-Rox, she still has a hunger to solve problems and elevate education.
“I hope to continue to learn every day. I hope we can work together with the entire community, and engage in some creative problem solving. I appreciate the opportunity.”
Club Wrestling Team
The board approved a new club wrestling team for the Jr./Sr. High School. According to Athletic Director Shomari Phelps, there has been interest in wrestling from a handful of students. While the wrestling season has already gotten underway and it is too late to put an official team together, Phelps wants to get them familiar with the sport during this season. “I definitely want to introduce wrestling to those guys, and eventually become a WPIAL-sanctioned (team),” he said. “We have a brand new mat at the Upper school, so once we get a coach, we can get those kids practicing.” Hopefully, said Phelps, students could compete in a tournament by the end of the season.
Odds and Ends
The district approved the purchase of 25 Motorola Walkies to replace broken ones and add additional devices for security purposes.
The district contracted Service Master to disinfect the Weight Room as part of a project to give students new weight and exercise equipment, thanks in large part to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The district allowed Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to use the Upper Elementary gym several times in November due to gym issues at their school.
The SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) group will hold a community movie screening, discussion, and dinner on December 11. SADD will sponsor, with a grant from Eradicate Hate, a screening of "Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life," a documentary about the 2018 killings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Sqiurrel Hill, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. This follows a Sto-Rox group’s visit to the Eradicate Hate Student Summit in October.
Looking Ahead
Board members will reconvene next month, with two meetings in January. An Agenda Review meeting is set for Thursday, January 16, while the Legislative Voting meeting is set for Thursday, January 23. Both meetings will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria.