The Sto-Rox School Board of Directors in February held their regular meetings to discuss issues facing the district and its schools. What follows is a brief recap of the meetings on Thursday, February 13 and Thursday, February 20, both held at the Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria.
Thursday, February 20 Meeting
Upper Elementary
The second and final school board meeting of February started with a focus on Sto-Rox Upper Elementary (SRUE). A presentation was led by Principal Heather Johnston laid out several engaging programs and initiatives at SRUE and how they developed over the first semester, including:
Kindness Club, led by Kayla Niba, School-Based Therapist
Students spoke about the Kindness Club and its focus on spreading kindness throughout the school, improving friendships, and its members being role models for other SRUE students. “We can show other kids that if we can be nice, so can they,” said one of the student presenters. “And we come up with way more fun activities than the adults,” which elicited some laughter from the room.
LIT Leaders (Leaders in Training), led by Jennie Smith of Just Discipline Project
Members of LIT take a leadership role in being champions of restorative practices, said Smith. Their work helps improve fellow students’ behavior and relationships. The students go through a screening process at the start of the year and then meet regularly with Smith to address student needs. For instance, when data showed there was an increase in behavioral issues on Thursdays, LIT Leaders helped foster discussion that helped reduce those issues.
Attendance.
School Counselor Richard Baur walked board members through SRUE’s attendance goal of 90%. SRUE is doing themed incentives - such as pumpkin-painting in October - to help students get excited about attending school. Right now, school attendance is 88.5%, which puts SRUE in a much improved position compared to this time last year.
The presentation also covered a decrease in behavioral issues and the positive work being done by the school’s PBIS team. PBIS, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, helps students by incentivizing them to learn ways to be positive both inside and outside the classroom. Johnston credited the dress code and cellphone rules with helping to reduce behavioral issues. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments were also discussed. SRUE students have made great strides in math and reading, according to Johnston. “We still have a lot of growth to make,” she said,” but we’re on our way.”
Primary Center (SRPC)
Principal Lisa Mumau, Assistant Principal Tim Liparulo and Dr. Holly Pope of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit delivered a presentation to board members about Sto-Rox Primary Center’s CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) designation, which started in 2018. SRPC was able to exit the 2018 CSI designation after showing growth in PSSA testing (Grade 3) and attendance.
RELATED: Math Expert Brings Her Skills to Sto-Rox
Pope and school leaders walked board members through the data on how the school has improved, especially in PSSA scores for 3rd grade. However, attendance still must be improved, as SRPC still has a CSI designation from 2022. Pope - who is the school improvement facilitator along with being a math coach - is gearing next school year’s school improvement plan toward strategies to boost attendance.
LINK: School Improvement and Accountability (PA Dept. of Education)
Complemented by the vision of Dr. Mumau and Mr. Liparulo, the Primary Center team are working on adjusting the current school plan and building on the improvements made this year. The school’s MAP assessment results were also discussed, with Liparulo citing “excellent growth,” a theme running throughout Sto-Rox schools during this year’s MAP work. He credited teachers - 100% of them - for using universal design strategies while working with their students, in the second year of its implementation.
SRPC leaders also discussed the school’s path to the future, with teacher and leadership coaching and an emphasis on the school’s PBIS efforts.
Events
A Farmers Market provided by Highmark Wholecare will be held Friday, May 2 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High School.
The Pittsburgh Passion will hold a Girls Flag Football Clinic at the Jr./Sr. High School on Saturday, April 19.
Donors Choose
The district accepted the following DonorsChoose projects:
Elena Hall- Classroom Project : “Full Stomachs Fulfill Potential”
Elena Hall- Classroom Project: “Classroom Essentials”
Alexis Zonghetti- Classroom Project: “Headphones, Please!”
Calendar
The board also approved the 2025-26 Sto-Rox School District calendar, which you can find here.
Thursday, February 13 Meeting
The first meeting of the month, an agenda review session, focused on several issues that made their way into the February 20 meeting including:
An early look at the district’s budget situation by Chad Agnew of JMA.
A discussion of setting instructional hours at 180 days vs. completion of school hours at the elementary and high school levels.
A discussion on adjusting start times for the schools, especially the high school grade levels. Acting Superintendent Dr. Ron Sofo cited repeated students that point to better performance for students who start school later in the day. While it is early in the process, school may start closer to 8 a.m. in Sto-Rox in the future.
Looping
Dr. Sofo also discussed a strategy known as “looping.” This would allow students to stay with teachers from Kindergarten to 1st grade, and from 2nd to 3rd grade, with similar applications from 4th-6th grade. “Relationships matter,” said Dr. Sofo. “We teach people more than subjects,” he said, pointing to personal development over the course of several years. He believes focusing on those relationships could improve outcomes for students.
Looking Ahead
The district will hold two of its next three meetings on the road:
Thursday, March 20, 2025 - Agenda Review Meeting. Location: Parkway West Career & Tech Center: 7101 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale, PA 15071
Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Regular Legislative Voting Meeting. Location: Jr./Sr. High School Cafeteria
Thursday, April 17, 2025 - Agenda Review Meeting. Location: Focus on Renewal Center 500 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Please consider attending and engaging with the school board and district staff. We encourage all of Sto-Rox to get involved in what’s happening in their schools!