The Sto-Rox School Board on Thursday evening held its first meeting of the 2024-2025 fiscal year and accepted a number of donations while hiring a new security company to support the district. Click here to look at the complete meeting agenda, and read on for more details on the meeting.
Roger D. Rees of Am-Gard Security.
Security Company Hired
The board approved the hiring of Am-Gard Security to provide security services for the district for the 2024-2025 school year, pending solicitor approval. Am-Gard works with a wide variety of clients, including school districts such as Pine-Richland and Franklin Regional. The agency also works with government agencies, companies, and hospitals in Western Pennsylvania and across the country.
“We’re happy to be given the opportunity to provide a safe and secure environment for the students, the faculty, and the other associates who work in the Sto-Rox School District,” said Roger D. Rees, Director of Business and Administrative Operations for Am-Gard. Rees will have overall oversight and responsibility for delivering security services to the district.
Rees is no stranger to Sto-Rox; the longtime Stowe Township resident graduated from the district in 1984 and worked here as a student teacher after graduating from Slippery Rock University in 1988. In addition to his Am-Gard duties, Rees remains involved in local scholastic activities, coaching Cross Country and Track & Field at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. He also is President of the Pittsburgh Harlequins RFA, a non-profit organization that helps youth succeed through the sport of rugby. In fact, Rees was the first head coach of high school rugby in the Pittsburgh area - leading a team from Sto-Rox to championship success.
William Sewell of Am-Gard Security.
Rees has spent more than 30 years in security management. He is a member of several professional organizations including ASIS International, BOMA, SHRM, and IAHSS; he has also served on the Advisory Board for the Pennsylvania Alliance for Security and Preparedness, a Department of Labor initiative aimed at professionalizing the security industry through advanced training. Rees will work with Operations Manager William Sewell, himself a 2014 Sto-Rox graduate who has worked for Am-Gard for six years, working his way up from security guard to the supervisory level.
Accepting Donations
The board also accepted several donations and grants, including:
$22,000 from Dick’s Sporting Goods to support upgrades to the district weight room at the Jr./Sr. High School. Superintendent Megan Van Fossan praised Athletic Director Ron Butschle and everyone involved in securing the funds for this project. “One of Ron’s goals since he came here was to spruce up that weight room,” she said. “The last time it was done was when we was a football coach (back in the 2000’s).” The district still has to secure more funds to move the project forward with other equipment, cleaning, and painting, but we’re excited to improve the space where Sto-Rox athletes train with weights and through other methods.
Three DonorsChoose projects for teachers Pam Mihalov, Kristy Shuhilo, and Chelsey Krull. Check out DonorsChoose for even more Sto-Rox projects!
$20,000 from Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) for Developing Future Special Educator for the 2024-2026 school year.
$7,400 grant from Highmark Foundation School Grants Program to Elena Mott. The grant will support her Family & Consumer Science and Math Curriculum with food supplies and equipment.
$5,751.91 from Ella Lange to honor her cousin Kevin Sheehan for the 4th - 6th grade basketball program.
$500 Costco Cash Card from the Robinson Costco to buy school supplies for the Primary Center.
$500 mini grant from Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) to Suellen Engelhard to buy percussion music and equipment.
School supplies from Tiffany Mack for the Upper Elementary in memory of late SRUE Teacher Terry Spencer.
The district also approved several operations items, including:
FieldTurf’s five-year pricing proposal (2024-2028) for maintaining the Jr./Sr. High School football field. The maintenance, Superintendent Van Fossan pointed out, is funded by proceeds from the annual Rich Cercone Memorial Golf Outing. The district appreciates the organizers’ continuing generosity! This year’s outing is Saturday, August 10 at Fox Run Golf Course. Registration is due by July 28, so if you’re interested, register now.
A change order for work being done by The Efficiency Network (TEN). The district is replacing a water heater at the Upper Elementary. While it will add to the district’s total spend on the summer infrastructure projects, it was deemed necessary as part of the overall upgrades.
Carly Wise speaks to the school board.
Arrivals and Departures
The district officially welcomed Carly Wise as the new Director of Student Services. “I just want to say thank you for this incredible opportunity to be part of this community and this school district,” she said. “I am really looking forward to helping close part of the achievement gap and to ensure children have equitable resources.” She added that she is excited to work with Sto-Rox educators, some of whom she has already met, and is moved by the enthusiasm of the staff. “Ensuring students succeed is just a great comfort to me.”
The board also hired a slew of new teachers and staff following the district’s annual job fair, including Mary Jane Chludzinski, who will teach math at the Jr./Sr. High School. “I’m excited to come onto the Sto-Rox team,” said Chludzinski, who comes to the district after a stint at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Community School West in McKees Rocks.
The district also said farewell this week to Dwight Hines, the Head Coach of the Sto-Rox Boys Basketball Team. “He’s certainly going to be missed on our team,” said Superintendent Van Fossan, who explained that change in Hines’ professional life forced him to step down. However, Hines is offering to help with the transition to a new coach. The district wishes Hines - who reached the 100-win mark last season, the best of luck in his future endeavors.
Community Interactions
Steel City Impact Executive Director Tyra Grant gave board members an update on her programming. More than 60 kids have taken part in Steel City Impact this summer, lauding Focus on Renewal for their cooperation as this programming heads into the last year of its grant. Grant recapped the last year of successes and opportunities, including trips to Washington, D.C. and Kalahari Waterpark for students made the honor roll throughout the school year. The program has continued its work, recently teaching cursive to students and working on a mural in one of the Jr./Sr. High School classrooms. The future is bright for the program; Grant hopes to add around 20 more students to her programming, with additional expansion on the table.
The board also heard from Heather Wasler, a community member who organized The Viking Village Facebook page as a clearinghouse for events taking place in the community. She spoke in relation to the district’s new dress code, and proposed her assistance in providing clothing resources, including working with the McKees Rocks Rotary Club to secure grant money.
DOWNLOAD: Agenda for Combined Agenda Review/Legislative Voting Meeting, 7-25-24 (PDF)
Looking Ahead
The school board will return to a two-meetings-per-month schedule starting in August. An Agenda Review meeting will take place on Thursday, August 22, while a Legislative Voting meeting will take place on Thursday, August 29. Both meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. in the Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria, unless otherwise noted.