October 01, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
In February, students at Francis McClure Elementary School learned about volcanoes and the culture of Chile with the help of Pittsburgh’s Latino Community Center and teacher Nevenka Kostley. The non-profit LCC is urging the McKeesport Area School District to do more to help the region’s small but growing Spanish-speaking population. (Photo courtesy Latino Community Center via Facebook)
An educator who works with the McKeesport area’s growing number of Spanish-speaking students said that more needs to be done to help them learn and succeed.
Last month, McKeesport Area school board approved the hiring of Kaelynn Hillegass for translation services at a rate of $35 per hour, not to exceed 10 hours per week, to be paid for by Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation.
Hillegass was already helping McKeesport Area High School students prepare for college or a career, through her work with Human Services Center Mon Valley, she said. The new role ensures that gaps will be “bridged” between the district and families.
Although Hillegass’s help is welcome, Monica Mendez, director of programs for the Latino Community Center, cautioned that the school district is going to need to do more.
“Adding one person, as amazing as she may be, is not going to be enough,” Mendez said. “The kids need super amounts of support in order for them to be able to advance.”
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September 22, 2024 |
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Revelers take the dance floor at the 2022 Voices Carry. (Photo courtesy Auberle via Facebook)
For 20 years, some of Pittsburgh’s favorite musicians have been performing at Auberle’s Voices Carry event to fundraise for the nonprofit agency’s human services programs.
On Tuesday, Auberle will be holding its 20th annual Voices Carry at The Westin Pittsburgh hotel at 1000 Penn Ave., downtown Pittsburgh, with doors opening at 5:45 p.m.
Attendees can expect performances from DJ Bonics, Scott Blasey of the Clarks, Kelsey Friday, and over a dozen others. Pittsburgh musician Josh Verbanets will be the MC of the event.
Blasey, who just released a three-song EP in February, will be playing two Motown classics at the event: “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch” by The Four Tops and “It’s Your Thing” by The Isley Brothers.
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September 17, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo for Tube City Almanac)
Three McKeesport Area School District employees have been moved from paid leave to unpaid leave as an investigation continues into the administration’s handling of an alleged sexual relationship between a former school contractor and a student.
A fourth employee, previously on leave, has been reinstated, effective Sept. 13, District Solicitor Gary Matta said.
The employees’ names have not been officially released or confirmed.
The district has retained an outside law firm, Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter & Graham, to investigate what happened when the administration learned that a former school security guard, Alexis Brown, had been accused of having a sexual realationship with a student.
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September 14, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Rev. Richard Truss testifies during Thursday’s McKeesport Area School District board meeting. (Screenshot from YouTube)
The loss of the superintendent, the arrest of the school police chief, and an investigation of multiple employees are taking their toll on McKeesport Area School District, one community leader said on Thursday.
“This city is on fire,” Rev. Richard Truss, pastor of Zion Baptist Church, told the school board. “The city is on fire, and you all are like Nero fiddling around while the city burns.”
At Thursday’s meeting, the board began filling administrative and other staffing holes. The district agreed to hire Albert Educational Consulting to conduct a superintendent search not to exceed $10,000.
The consulting firm is headed by Edward Albert, a former superintendent, who according to his resume has conducted “several superintendent searches throughout Pennsylvania.”
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September 09, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Musicians and color guard are all decked out for competition season with a “Robin Hood” theme. (Photo courtesy of Serra Catholic Marching Band)
There’s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in the air from Serra Catholic Marching Band members about the theme of their 2024 show – “Robin Hood.”
“When the band show was first announced to be ‘Robin Hood,’ I was beyond ecstatic,” said Emilia Capasso, a senior and one of three drum majors.
“I've always loved the story and all the different adaptations of it, so I was excited to see where our show would take it,” she said.
Junior Drum Major Lyndsay Chirdon not only was excited about the theme, but for her role as Maid Marian.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Bonnijean Cooney Adams | Posted in: Entertainment, McKeesport and Region News
CORRECTION, NOT PERFECTION: Two students, Deshea Davis and Marek Krol, were incorrectly identified. We apologize for the error.
McKeesport Area High School’s Tiger Band opens tournament competition for the season on Saturday at Penn-Trafford. This year’s show, titled “Recess,” includes use of a swing set as part of the show. (All photos: Bonnijean Adams for Tube City Almanac)
McKeesport Area High School Marching Band’s 2024 show is designed to bring smiles to faces of all ages during “Recess.”
“It was a fun and upbeat concept,” Band Director Drew DeCarlo said, “and most likely was the best time for students when they were in elementary school. We wanted a show this year that everyone would understand.”
He and his staff started their yearly brainstorming sessions in January, DeCarlo said.
“We talked about our strengths and weaknesses for this season, and had many ideas. We didn’t have a nailed-down concept until about March. We all settled on ‘Recess,’” he said.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
(Adam Reinherz photo)
A McKeesport resident asked Thursday why the school board gave its police chief a raise in salary while rumors were swirling about a possible criminal investigation at her previous job.
Brenda D. Sawyer, 61, of North Versailles Twp., was arrested Thursday by detectives from the Westmoreland County district attorney’s office following an months-long investigation into mishandling of funds during her time as regional director of narcotics investigations for the state Attorney General’s Office.
Sawyer retired from that job after being appointed police chief for McKeesport Area School District in October 2023.
During Thursday’s school board meeting, resident Julian Thomas asked board members and district officials if they knew that Westmoreland County detectives had searched Sawyer’s home in May.
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September 06, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District’s treatment of outgoing Superintendent Tia Wanzo was raised again during Thursday’s open agenda meeting. Parents and residents expressed dismay — and at points contempt — with the board and Solicitor Gary Matta’s handling of personnel.
A separation agreement between Wanzo and MASD signed on Aug. 22 states the parties will not “disparage” the other.
Nonetheless, during Thursday’s meeting McKeesport resident Bridget Truss accused director Diane Elias of making “disparaging comments” toward Wanzo on social media on Aug. 23, merely one day after the separation agreement was signed.
“You deleted the comment but I have screenshots,” Truss said. “You said and I quote, ‘I refuse to support our children being put in danger.’ But that was when somebody stated their support of Dr. Wanzo, so you are alluding that Dr. Wanzo's presence in the position of superintendent is jeopardizing our children's lives.”
“That is your opinion,” Matta said. “That is your conjecture.”
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September 03, 2024 |
By Vickie Babyak | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Two of the Callos’ family’s emus relax inside an enclosure at the family’s home. (Vickie Babyak photo)
It was a typical Saturday morning — until city residents spotted a giant Australian bird casually strolling down Soles Street.
By Saturday afternoon, videos, pictures and jokes were posted all over social media about an emu on the loose in McKeesport. Even the Pittsburgh Meme group got in on the social media action, and created humorous memes regarding the unusual event.
All joking aside, David and Carly Callos of McKeesport own the emu, and live in the city with their four children. After they realized their 6-foot-2, 120 pound bird had roamed away, they immediately jumped into action to retrieve him.
Callos was concerned that someone could accidentally harm the emu while trying to capture him. He said an emu is susceptible to neck injury if a person is not familiar with how to correctly handle them.
After Callos saved his emu from the street, the big fellow rode in the passenger’s seat of the truck until they got home safely, he said. “We love our emus,” Callos said.
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August 30, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport Area School District is continuing to investigate matters pertaining to an alleged sexual relationship between a former guard and student.
The guard, Alexis Brown, worked for outside contractor Homeland Intelligence & Protective Services and now faces criminal charges in connection with incidents occurring last year.
“We are still investigating all the concerns with this issue and taking our due diligence to make sure that anyone who was involved in this, and any information that we have about this, is being investigated thoroughly,” Solicitor Gary Matta said in an interview.
Matta would not confirm the rumor that two assistant principals and a teacher have been placed on leave pending the investigation. KDKA-TV reported that a principal also has been placed on leave.
“We are taking the actions that we believe are appropriate,” he said. “The district has and will continue to take the appropriate actions as we obtain information on this issue and any other issue.”
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