UPDATE, 7/19/24: This article has been updated to reflect a change made by administration on Friday, July 19. Crewneck sweatshirts are not required to have a Sto-Rox logo, or any logo.
ORIGINAL POST, 6/28/24: The Sto-Rox School Board on Thursday approved several key agenda items to close out the 2023-2024 school year, including a budget for the 2024-2025 school year, a new school dress code, new security cameras, and several new hires. Click here for a copy of the agenda.
Balanced Budget
Board members approved a balanced budget for the 2024-2025 school year. The district plans to spend $36,081,555 and bring in $36,081,555, with a millage rate of 29.900 mills.
Security Cameras
The district will contract with Communications Consulting Incorporated (CCI), pending solicitor approval, for up to 254 Illustra cameras capped at $328,667.28 and up to 254 memory cards, 3 viewing stations and installation costs capped at 27,765.04.
According to Superintendent Megan Van Fossan, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will help with more than $240,000 in funding, and the district will cover approximately $100,000. She praised CCI for being “very responsive” and working with the district throughout the request for proposal (RFP) process.
Dress Code
The district is adopting a dress code for all students as part of the 2024-2025 Student Handbook. You can also download a document outlining the policy by clicking on the graphic at right. The dress code section of the student handbook reads as follows:
“In an effort to keep the focus on learning and not on dress, the following guidelines are in place, following SRSD Board Policy 221: Dress and Grooming.
Our uniform dress code policy aims to provide an environment where the focus is on learning, and the distractions of dress are kept to a minimum. All students are expected to be appropriately dressed daily. All parents and guardians are expected to support their children by ensuring that students are properly dressed when they leave for school each morning. Daily checks will be conducted upon entry to the school building.
Exceptions
Sto-Rox School District T-shirts may only be worn for special events or at the administration's discretion.
Restrictions
Headwear: No hats, bandanas, durags, bonnets, or any item the school administration deems to impede instruction.
Shoes: No flip-flops, split-toe sandals, slippers, slides, or open-heel/toe footwear.
Pants must be worn at the waist.
There are no bottoms that expose underwear, undergarments, or midriff (the front of the body between the chest and the waist).
There are no ripped garments with exposed skin.
No tops expose the midriff (the front of the body between the chest and the waist), upper chest, or shoulders.
No clothing or jewelry that features illegal paraphernalia, weapons, profanity, or remarks that are obscene and offensive or imply unsafe behavior.
Assistance
Students who do not have access to the resources to comply with the school’s dress code should discuss their extenuating circumstances with their school counselor.
The final decisions about appropriateness of dress will be made by the building principal. If students are not wearing proper clothing, they will have the opportunity to call home and request a change of clothes. If a parent/guardian is not able to provide a change in attire, students may be provided donated clothing to borrow for the day and return to class. Every effort will be made to keep our students in class, but clothing must not distract from the learning environment.”
Student ID Cards
The board also approved a quote for a student ID system at the Jr./Sr. High School for the 2024-2025 school year. According to Superintendent Van Fossan, students will not have to wear the IDs, but they will have to swipe them when they come into the building and leave the building during the day.
“That way, we know when (students) leave to go to Parkway West CTC, or to a work experience or a doctor’s appointment,” said Van Fossan.
Photos taken during the last school year will be used for the IDs; distribution details will come at a later date. Unlike the dress code, IDs will not apply to students in grades K-6.
“We will get all the bugs out of the system before we get to K-6 children having IDs,” said Van Fossan.
Board members did not approve a motion to hire Am-Gard as the district’s security company. The district will issue a new Request For Proposal (RFP).
Dr. Mumau speaks to the board.
New Hires
The district made several key hires on Thursday, including a new Assistant Principal for Sto-Rox Primary Center.
Dr. Lisa Mumau, Assistant Principal of Ringgold Elementary School South, in the Ringgold School District, will come on board for the 2024-2025 school year. When asked why she chose Sto-Rox, she explained that she was familiar with the district from her tenure in a previous position.
“Beyond your leadership and beyond your propensity to really provide equitable programs and systems for students - I was director of Special Ed and Pupil Services in the Steel Valley School District - we shared a lot of students,” said Mumau. “I transferred students over to your Director (of Student Services) and our school. Whether it was your (Special Education) Director, or one of the principals, or one of the teachers, there was a profound sense of school and community and within that compassion to provide success for students.”
Dr. Mumau brings a wealth of experience and expertise, with degrees in psychology, counselor education, administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership. She continues to learn, most recently completing a program on trauma-informed care and de-escalation.
“It doesn’t matter who we are, where we live, what we’ve gone through - we need to assume that trauma has been a part of all of our lives,” said Dr. Mumau. “When we’re able to look through that lens, we’re able to adjust our discourse, our language with kids, and our actions because we want to get away from physical restraints and exclusion. There are so many things we can do prior to that.”
Dr. Mumau led school improvement efforts at Ringgold, including restorative practice training, student discipline, and attendance. She said she’s excited to work with Sto-Rox’s youngest learners.
“I look at this as an opportunity to continue the good work that you’re doing through the superintendent, the board, the administrative leaders, our teachers, our students and our community, to continue those equitable systems,” she said.
Dr. Mumau also teaches post-secondary learners; she is an adjunct professor at Point Park University and Westmoreland County Community College, teaching in nursing, social justice, criminology programs. A native of Greensburg, Dr. Mumau lives in Jeanette and has a son who just graduated from high school and will attend Slippery Rock University.
Samantha Harrison will teach K-3 Life Skills at the Primary Center. She comes to Sto-Rox from Ohio, where she is an Intervention Specialist for 8th grade students. Harrison recently got her master’s degree in educational leadership from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
“I chose Sto-Rox because of the position of Life Skills really excites me. I have a passion for special education. It’s what I see myself doing for the rest of my career, and hopefully becoming a Special Ed director,” said Harrison. “I love working with students and seeing them succeed. I’m really excited for this opportunity.”
Both Lauren Ferragonio and Josh Kemp, familiar faces as coaches and teachers in the district, will become building substitutes for the 2024-2025 school year. The board also voted to advertise for a Director of Student Services position.
Sports Hires
In addition to her new teaching role, Ferragonio will be the Interim Middle School Head Football Coach and an assistant coach. Ferragonio also coaches the Girls Flag Football team for the Jr./Sr. High School and has worked as a district security guard. Brent Whiteleather will join the high school football coaching staff as an assistant while Paul Elverson will also return as an assistant.
Bopp speaks to the board.
Alec “AJ” Bopp will take over as head coach of the Sto-Rox Baseball Team. He previously served as an assistant under former head coach Brian Browning. “I think I’ve built a bond with the kids, and I’m very excited to see what the future holds for me,” he said. “We have a lot of guys that are coming from the younger age groups and will hopefully play with (the team) in high school. I’m really excited and I hope I can bring home some wins, maybe more.”
Looking Ahead
The school board will hold one meeting in July - a combined Agenda Review and Regular Legislative Voting Meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 at the Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria. In August, the board will return to a two meeting-per-month schedule, with an Agenda Review Meeting slated for Thursday, August 22 and a Regular Legislative Voting Meeting on Thursday, August 29, during the first week of school.