Sto-Rox School Board considered and approved several measures during a combined Agenda Review and Legislative Voting meeting on Thursday night. The complete meeting recap can be found here. Among the highlights:
Arrivals and Departures
Approved the hiring Colleen Frankel as Assistant Principal for grades K-6. Frankel has 22 years in the education field. She went to Penn State for her undergraduate degree in elementary education, obtained her reading specialist certificate at the University of Pittsburgh and her principal certification from Duquesne University. She’s currently working toward her educational doctorate in leadership and administration from Point Park University. “I like the initiateves here, and how you’re thinking outside the box,” she told board members. “That’s how it started, and it’s how I want to end my career. I wanted to go back to my roots.”
Frankel’s arrival is due to the departure of Chris Captline, current Assistant Principal for Grades K-6. Captline will retire December 9th after 23 years of service. Teacher Lisa Hortert will also retire, after 17 years of service. Her final day is November 4th. We wish them both well!
School Bus Safety
Board members approved an agreement with BusPatrol to enforce Pennsylvania’s Stop Arm Law. The law allows school districts to make agreements with companies that provide cameras for the “stop arms” on school buses. Those cameras will catch drivers who go around school buses that have their stop arms extended. Drivers face fines of $250 with money split among the district, Bus Patrol, and the municipality where the violation took place. The approval comes as National School Bus Safety Week comes to a close.
Working Together
The board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (MOU - Memorandum of Understanding) between the District and the Police Departments of Stowe Township, Kennedy Township, and McKees Rocks Borough. Board President Cameron Cullivan said the parties involved met before the school board meeting. He said, “we all want to make sure we’re working together…for the betterment of the district.” The agreement will focus on community, security, and district infrastructure issues moving forward.
Improving Lives
Alexandria Gariepy of MHY Services spoke about the work she’s doing in the district. Gariepy is deeply experienced in working with children in areas including child abuse, legal advocacy, and other social work. Gariepy is planning several initiatives, including a “Queen Bees” group for junior high school students, and the “Vikings Den” that would be a resource center in each school with clothes and other items for students in need. Another program known as CALL - Coaching Athletes to be Lifelong Learners - would benefit student-athletes.