The Sto-Rox School Board held two school board meetings in March, including one at Parkway West Career and Technology Center, where dozens of Sto-Rox students receive hands on education, instruction, and training. Read on for more information on the issues discussed during our March school board meetings.
Thursday, March 27 Meeting
Video Link
Two of our students of the month for the Jr./Sr. High School!
Students of the Month
The Jr./Sr. High School saluted its students of the month during Thursday night’s meeting. Each month, building leadership seeks nominations for exceptional students from each grade and then selects deserving recipients. This month’s winners are:
7th Grade, Peyton McBride
8th Grade, Miracle Elerby
9th Grade, Alicia Barnett
10th Grade, Karma Boxley
11th Grade, Aaron McGuire
12th Grade, Madison Schmidt
Interim Superintendent
Dr. Erwin Weischedel hasn’t taught in Sto-Rox, but the new interim superintendent does have several connections to the district. Dr. Weischedel, speaking virtually, spoke about joining the district following the departure of Dr. Ron Sofo. Dr. Weischedel played a role in adding turf to the athletic field at the Jr./Sr. High School, and has aunts, uncles, and in-laws who have ties to “The Rocks” and the district. The Gibsonia native has a wide range of experiences in education, including stints as an assistant principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent (North Allegheny SD) and superintendent (Ambridge SD).
New Hires
The district also welcomed Chris Showe (General Cafeteria Upper Elementary) and Matt Davis (Assistant Baseball Coach) to the Sto-Rox family.
Elerby addresses the board.
Student Board Representative
Incoming student board representative Jaya Elerby presented her report to the board, which included information on a “sweet” attendance incentive. Students will receive a sweet treat if they’re present in homeroom. There was also an entire “Pi number” performance in honor of “Pi Day (March 14, where the number Pi - 3.14 is celebrated). Elerby also highlighted the upcoming induction ceremony for National Honor Society in Sto-Rox. As last year’s induction ceremony showed, NHS is a program that is becoming more important for Jr./Sr. High Schoolers.
RELATED: 2024 Sto-Rox NHS Induction
Finally, Elebry put the spotlight on the spring sports getting underway. She gave a shout out to the new middle school track team, which has benefited from high interest and the work being done by coach Nate Brown. She said the 7th and 8th graders are loving it!
Thursday, March 20 Meeting
Parkway West CTC Tour
Sto-Rox School District Board Members and administrators engaged in a tour of Parkway West Career & Technology Center in North Fayette Township before the board held its Agenda Review meeting for March. More than 70 Sto-Rox students attend Parkway, and district officials were treated to a room-by-room tour of the facility, with stops in each of Parkway’s subject areas. Among the highlights:
Health Care - Students recently viewed an open heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital. Assistant Principal Michael Leddy remarked that many of the instructors they bring into the health care department (among others) have years of experience in the field.
Cosmetology - It is one of the most popular programs for Sto-Rox students, according to Parkway administrators. The Cosmetology program is one of a few programs that essentially operates a storefront out of Parkway. The money raised through haircuts and styling pay for students’ certifications.
Automotive Technology - Another example of hands on work - both in subject matter and in business - is the section of Parkway that works with cars. Students not only perform auto body work, but they also do state inspections and emissions testing.
Chill Project - An initiative through the school’s counseling programming, it has seen an uptick in use by Sto-Rox students. The Chill Project is a space inside Parkway that allows students to decompress and explore their feelings, at their pace.
Construction (Carpentry, Electrical Systems , HVAC/R Welding/Fabrication) - Sto-Rox leaders were treated to a tour of the impressive construction wing of Parkway, where students are learning in-demand trades. Students literally build, wire, and ventilate homes and perform other projects in there. The welding unit is an example of how space is at a premium. “I’ve figured out how to get three kids in a welding booth,” said Executive Director Darby Copeland, “but I can’t figure how to get four in there.”
Culinary Arts - Following their tour, Sto-Rox leaders were treated to dinner prepared by cooks-in-training from three schools, including Sto-Rox junior Alira Hickman. It didn’t take long for the students - or the dishes - to make an impression. “This food is the bomb!” exclaimed Board President Cameron Culliver. “I’m really blown away by what you kids are doing here.”
Overall, space is currently the biggest challenge for Parkway. “We really are at max capacity,” said Dr. Copeland. With more than 1,400 students attending Parkway - and 146% growth over the last 10 years - administrators are looking for ways to expand. Dr. Copeland also commended Sto-Rox students for their success, noting that 100% of them passed the NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) exam last school year, the only school out of 12 attending Parkway to achieve that rate. “Our programs are booming,” said Principal Brock Snedeker. “What’s giving our kids an edge is those certifications.”
Audit Report and Preliminary Budget Report
CPA Mark Turnley returned to Sto-Rox to provide an audit report for the district once Thursday’s board meeting got underway. “It’s a good picture when you look at it on paper,” said Turnley about the district’s $12 million fund balance. “But in the future there will be funding issues facing the district that may negatively affect this number.” Turnley said it will be important to pay attention to changes in revenue, whether through taxes, subsidies, or grants. Similarly, Chad Agnew of JMA provided a preliminary budget report, highlighting an expected increase in state funds ($1.6 million in Ready to Learn grants) and continued monitoring of federal impacts. The district is anticipating a tax increase to keep pace with expected expenditures as it navigates its five-year recovery plan.
PenSPRA Award Wins
Sto-Rox School District was represented among the winners of the 2024 PenSPRA Excellence in Education Communications Contest. PenSPRA, the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association, is an organization of school public relations professionals who work to improve communication in education and support student achievement.
Sto-Rox Communications Specialist and Allegheny Intermediate Unit Supervisor of External Accounts Dan Rinkus created the ‘Sto-Rox Kindergartener’ video in April of 2024 with an assist from AIU Multimedia Specialist Matt Brosey, while AIU Communications Specialist Melissa Meyers was responsible for producing the ‘Pie in the Face’ photo of Primary Center Assistant Principal Tim Liparulo during a PBIS event at the Primary Center in November of 2024. Each entry won an Award of Merit from PenSPRA.
LINK: What is it Like to be a Sto-Rox Kindergartener?
LINK: PBIS Pies in the Face
“We couldn’t have done this without all of you,” said Rinkus while announcing the awards at Thursday’s school board meeting. “Your support of the AIU’s communication efforts in Sto-Rox have been critical to our department’s growth, helping us attract top talent. That will continue to make communications here in Sto-Rox and our other partner districts better.”
Overall, the AIU’s Marketing & Strategic Communication Department won 18 awards in the 2024 PenSPRA Excellence in Education Communications Contest.
Looking Ahead
The school board will once again hit the road in April, holding its Agenda Review Meeting at Focus on Renewal’s Father Ryan Arts Center & Sto-Rox Library in McKees Rocks. That meeting will take place on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. The next week, a Legislative Voting meeting will be held at the Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria, also at 7 p.m.