May 28, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and will be updated with new information as needed)
Guests at the 2022 launch event of United at Twin Rivers included Aimee Watters, executive director of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation; Tim Joyce, chief of staff for then-state Sen. Jim Brewster; Jackie Castma, associate executive director of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation; Brandy Daye, assistant principal, Twin Rivers; then-district superintendent Mark Holtzman Jr.; Tia Wanzo, then-assistant superintendent; then-state representative Austin Davis, now lieutenant governor; McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko; and then state representative, now state senator, Nick Pisciottano. (File photo/Tube City Almanac)
A more than three-year-long relationship between McKeesport Area School District and the charitable arm of Findlay Twp.-based Dick’s Sporting Goods has come to an acrimonious end.
District Superintendent Donald MacFann issued a statement Tuesday saying that Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation had made a “unilateral decision to end the partnership,” which has seen the philanthropy donate what it said was more than $13 million since 2021 to support educational programs at Twin Rivers Elementary School, fund professional and student development, and create a community center.
“Like many of you, the McKeesport Area School Board is deeply disappointed by this unexpected decision,” MacFann wrote.
“Over the course of this school year, MASD has worked diligently with DSGF to ensure our partnership benefited as many students as possible, with a particular focus on supporting their academic success,” MacFann wrote.
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May 27, 2025 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two school district employees have reportedly been suspended amidst an investigation into approximately $8,000 in deposits that were not properly made.
McKeesport Area School District confirmed Tuesday that an outside law firm, as well as McKeesport police and school district police, are investigating why nine deposits totalling $8,226 were not made during October, December and January.
It was not yet immediately clear if the money had gone missing. The situation was discovered May 15, the district said.
Last week, Pittsburgh TV station WTAE (4) reported that two district employees were suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
“While there was a delay in sharing this information, it was necessary due to ongoing legal and investigative procedures,” District Superintendent Donald MacFann said Tuesday in a prepared statement. MacFann was not immediately available for further comment.
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May 27, 2025 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Saniya Rivers, a student at McKeesport Area High School, reads her essay entitled “America the Beautiful: A Legacy of Sacrifice and Struggle.” Her winning essay in the American Legion essay contest will advance to council level. (Vickie Babyak photo for Tube City Almanac)
Several local students were honored by the American Legion this month for writing essays on what it means to be an American.
At a dinner at Post 701 in White Oak, students whose essays are chosen to advance to the next level received a prize of $50, and in each of their names a $50 donation was presented to the Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship fund.
“The response has been great,” said Holly Gallagher, Americanism chairperson. In years past, she said, “we would average 10 to 12 essays, but this year we received a total of 37 essays.”
According to the American Legion National Headquarters, the essay contest was created to promote the value of patriotism, lifelong respect for the country and the American flag, and what it means to be an American. Thousands of students, grades 3 to 12 participate annually, and there is a category for students with special needs.
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May 23, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
A graphic provided by Penn State University shows the location of all of the regional, or commonwealth, campuses, as well as those slated to close. (Courtesy Penn State University)
Local officials and Penn State students and alumni are breathing a sigh of relief over the decision by the university’s board of trustees to keep the Greater Allegheny Campus open.
Seven other campuses will close under the plan approved by the board — although not without controversy — during a live-streamed meeting on Thursday night.
Penn State University currently has 20 regional, or “commonwealth,” campuses. The proposal approved by a 25 to 8 vote would close campuses in New Kensington, Fayette County and five other locations. Penn State is promising additional investment in the remaining locations, including Greater Allegheny.
“I love it,” State Rep. Dan Goughnour of McKeesport said. “I’m saddened that some campuses are being shuttered. I was hoping that there was a solution to keeping them all open. But obviously (Greater Allegheny) is near and dear to my heart and I’m happy that the administration and the board saw the value in it.”
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May 15, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Student Community Center at Penn State Greater Allegheny opened in 2003. (File photo taken by Ryan Kegel, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.)
A leaked report this week revealed that Penn State University’s nearly 78-year-old campus in McKeesport would survive a round of cuts that would lead to the closure of seven other regional sites.
The report, revealed by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA ahead of a planned Penn State board of trustees meeting, recommends the closure of regional campuses in Uniontown and New Kensington, as well as DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.
Two campuses in southwestern Pennsylvania would be spared — Penn State Beaver and Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport.
Local officials reacted with relief at the unofficial, though widely reported, news.
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May 12, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
New efforts are underway to improve student safety and opportunities at McKeesport Area School District, school board members said.
During Thursday’s school board meeting, MASD school director Matthew Holtzman told attendees he and fellow School Director Jason Pavlecic — members of the safe schools committee — met with administrators and community members on May 1 to discuss the enhancement of district “security features.”
Apart from identifying specific tasks, such as updating a security vestibule and rekeying door hardware, Holtzman said the meeting was a chance to welcome McKeesport and White Oak fire chiefs and examine current procedures.
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May 11, 2025 |
By Leslie Savisky | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections
* — CORRECTION: This story was corrected after publication. We regret the error.
(File photo by Adam Reinherz for Tube City Almanac)
Four seats are open on the McKeesport Area School Board and nine candidates — including two incumbents — are running in the May 20 primary election.
In Pennsylvania, school board races are officially non-partisan, and all candidates have qualified to run as both as Democrats and Republicans.
Candidates who finish in the top four positions in each party’s primary will be candidates for the general election, to be held Nov. 4.
Incumbents David Donato and Matthew Holtzman are running for re-election. School Director LaToya Wright, whose term expires this year, is not running again, while Dan Goughnour resigned after being elected state representative for the 35th Legislative District.
In addition to Donato and Holtzman, other announced candidates include Bob Boyle, Tom Filotei, Kevin Kovach, Arla Payne, Mike Shelly, Julian Thomas, and Tiffany Wampler.
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May 09, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo)
McKeesport Area School Board has filled a seat vacated by former school director Dan Goughnour, who resigned from MASD after winning last month’s special election to the state General Assembly.
Following a suggestion by School Director David Donato during the May 8 meeting, the empty seat will now be held by Josh Lefcowitz.
School directors, including Matthew Holtzman and Latoya Wright, praised Lefcowitz as well as Donato’s decision to put a name forward.
“Up until the last minute, even after the deadline, we were still getting people interested in applying, so we were thinking maybe just have the judge decide,” Holtzman said on Thursday. School Director David Seropian “brought up the point that we have a responsibility to at least try to fill the seat with people that put their names in.”
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May 08, 2025 |
By Jason Togyer | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
The Versailles Avenue Viaduct, which crosses Ravine Street, closed in 2022. (Tube City Almanac file photo)
McKeesport’s mayor is hopeful that an infusion of federal funding will help the city replace the closed Versailles Avenue Viaduct.
At Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Michael Cherepko said city officials have had productive conversations with U.S. Rep. Summer Lee and are scheduling meetings with U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick.
“Up to this point, the only money that has come into this project has been from the state,” Cherepko said. Funding obtained by retired state Sen. Jim Brewster and the late Rep. Matt Gergely enabled engineering and design work to begin, he said.
“Once the engineering is done, we’re hoping additional funding will come with it, and much more quickly,” Cherepko said.
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May 04, 2025 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area School Board will vote on updated policies concerning the eligibility of nonresident students and the use of generative artificial intelligence during Thursday’s school board meeting.
Both policies received first readings during the April 10 meeting.
Policy 202, the eligibility of nonresident students, was last updated Jan. 23, 2013, according to district records.
The new policy’s purpose ensures the board operates “district schools for the benefit of students residing in this district who are eligible for attendance.” Additionally, according to the policy, “the Board reserves the right to verify claims of residency, dependency or guardianship and to remove from school attendance a nonresident student whose claim is invalid.”
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