The Sto-Rox School Board heads from April to May looking to heal in the wake of tragedy. April’s second and final school board meeting took place on Thursday, April 25 following a balloon release at the Jr./Sr. High School Stadium in honor of Ahsan “Peanut” Edwards, a 15-year-old student who was shot and killed on Saturday, April 20. Edwards was also remembered as the board meeting got underway. The entire Sto-Rox School District community continues to mourn “Peanut” and sends our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and neighbors.
A recap of the meeting held on Thursday, April 25 meeting can be downloaded here. (PDF)
April 25 Meeting Highlights
The board authorized the District’s administration office to purchase a 10-passenger (9+1) van for a purchase price not exceeding $70,000. In previous meetings, administrators discussed the need to replace the district’s aging van fleet.
The district’s use of DonorsChoose as a vehicle for teacher assistance continues. The board accepted the award for Life Skills Teacher Melanie Behr’s Classroom Project: “Essentials Refills and Organization Tools.” and Physical Education Teacher Jeffrey Huckestein’s Classroom Project: “School-Wide Fun Filled Field Day Extravaganza!”
The board also accepted an anonymous donation of $1,200 to buy a pitching machine for the Girls Softball team, which just wrapped up its first season after a several-year hiatus. Finally, the board approved a donation of $240.00 for Jr./Sr. High School Prom tickets from an anonymous donor.
LINK: Sto-Rox Softball Returns for 2024 Season
The board also accepted a $250 donation from the Coraopolis NAACP to help cover the costs of the Saving Our Selves Program (SOS). The program that has been in the works since late winter will help students make a difference in representing their fellow students, according to Administrative Advisor Mike Hauser. The program features the life lessons of a former incarcerated individual who dispenses those lessons to students like those in Sto-Rox. The idea is to give more positive influences to students so they can avoid future pitfalls. “I’m convinced this will help accelerate the good work being done,” said Hauser during a February 2024 school board meeting. “It’s worth whatever it costs.”
The board approved Queens Gambit MOU with Sto-Rox School District for chess programming during April and May. The Queens Gambit program was in action on Wednesday, April 17 during the Celebration of Learning event at Sto-Rox Primary Center.
Field trips on tap for May include a trip to Lil Bunny Indoor Play at the Mall at Robinson, the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, Fun Slides Carpet Park, and X-Cel Gymnastics.
New Head Coach Brendan Blair during a March 2024 school board meeting.
The board also approved a new Head Football Coach. Former assistant coach Brendan Blair will take the mantle. We thank Chris Taylor, who had been involved in the role, for his contributions, along with Brian Browning, who has stepped down as the Baseball Head Coach after nearly two years at the helm.
The district approved a few familiar names as summer hires for ESY (Extended School Year) teachers: Presley Carpenter, Pamela Clawson, Josh Kemp, and Lauren Ferragonio.
April 18 Meeting Highlights
The school board’s first meeting of the month, on Thursday, April 18 featured four Sto-Rox High School students from the Dale Carnegie Generation.Next course. It was offered to Sto-Rox students through a partnership with Carlow University, the Neighborhood Learning Alliance, and Partner for Work.
The Dale Carnegie course was tailed for high school students like those in Sto-Rox, as opposed to Dale Carnegie’s other offerings for adults and working professionals. Not only did the course teach students communication and leadership skills, but it also provided certifications and college credits the students can use as they continue their education.
L-R: Eric Richardson, Jaya Elerby, Kai’Merr Lovelace, and Jaliyna Kearney completed the Dale Carnegie Generation.Next course.
Jaliyna Kearney, Kai’Merr Lovelace, Eric Richardson, and Jaya Elerby all took part in the coursework. Maya Briceño of the Neighborhood Learning Alliance praised the quartet for their hard work, saying “this is a unique opportunity and it was one that a long time ago they offered at the NLA, and it was nice to have a repeat offering.”
At first I didn’t think I needed the class, but after the eight weeks, it helped me realize different ways to express myself, because I’m a shy person,” said Kearney. “Taking the class helped me learn different ways to put my voice out there when it comes to business or making a relationship in general.”
Lovelace concurred, saying the program helped him with communication and leadership skills.
“It has also helped me gain relationships and build relationships with people I knew and people I hadn’t really talked to,” he said, gesturing to his three fellow classmates. “I didn’t want to keep doing it first, but I kept going because…I was already in it and it was something I dedicated to commit to. I think it’s just a good class overall.”
Recovery Plan Update
The district’s Chief Recovery Officer, Dr. Patrick O’Toole, gave another update on the district’s finances and related issues.
Dr. O’Toole discussed the district’s financial outlook following the audit presentation by JMA, including the prospect of $15 million dollars worth of work on the Primary Center and Upper Elementary on equipment like boilers and critical areas like the roofs of both buildings.
“There is a lot of federal revenue that came in through the COVID relief money and that was very helpful,” said Dr. O’Toole. “But that’s going away. There’s $4 million of revenue in this budget that won’t be here next year.”
The district is “in the black,” but O’Toole again reiterated that the district’s new money has been dedicated to infrastructure improvements both up on the hill and down at the Jr./Sr. High School, including a wastewater project that will start after classes end in May.
However, pointed out Dr. O’Toole, the district has also won grant money from the state to do critical infrastructure work. When it comes to taxes, Dr. O’Toole suggested the district is taking a measured approach to make sure taxes are not overly burdensome, and he promised more details when the district rolls out its budget presentation in mid-May.
Looking Ahead
The school board will hold one meeting during each of the next three months. The meeting for May 2024 will be held Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria. The next meetings are scheduled for Thursday, June 20 and Thursday, July 25.