School Board Seeks Input on New Superintendent

District seeking 10-15 applicants, position open through end of October

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
October 14, 2024
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

McKeesport Area School Board is asking for the public to provide input as it searches for a new superintendent.

At last week’s agenda meeting, resident Louis Patil suggested that although the last two superintendents were graduates of McKeesport Area schools and longtime employees, the district’s next leader should not have any connection to the district.

“You’re looking for input about the new superintendent,” Patile said. “I honestly think the next superintendent should not have any connection to McKeesport from before. When businesses get in trouble, they don’t promote from within. They go out and find someone from outside who has no pre-conceived notions.”

District Solicitor Gary Matta said he welcomed those kinds of comments. “We are trying to get public input on expectations for a superintendent,” he said. “Then we can give it to the consultant” and talk to the people that truly want the job.

As for a timetable for replacing outgoing Superintendent Tia Wanzo, who has resigned effective Nov. 13, Matta said a new person will be in place “as soon as we can get one. The process needs to take place.”

The district will take applications until the end of October, Matta said, adding the district wants “10 to 15” applicants that they can wind down into as many as three sets of interviews. “We are hoping to have someone by the end of the year.”

In other business, resident Christine Robinson relayed concerns about the district’s special education programs. She estimated that “30 percent” of students in the district require some sort of special attention or services and they are overseen by one person.

Members of the school board agreed that the department is understaffed, and they are working diligently to fill positions as quickly as possible. When pressed by Robinson, officials offered different explanations.

Robinson suggested that the district is not paying competitive salaries and that negative news stories about McKeesport — and the recent upheaval in the school district — is discouraging applicants.

Acting Superintendent William Pettigrew said the district is “working on it” and “hoping to recruit as many teachers as possible.” He added that they can’t “force people to apply” but noted that despite negative perceptions of the area from outside of McKeesport, many teachers choose to spend their careers in the district.

Residents also continued to express concerns about the increasing numbers of Spanish-speaking students and the lack of district employees who are able to easily converse with them and their parents.

At this week’s meeting, the board is expected to vote on a contract between the school district and the McKeesport Educational Support Professionals Association. The union has been working without a contract since July 1.

The new agreement would run through June 30, 2027.

The board is scheduled to take action to approve an agreement with Young Scholars of Greater Allegheny Charter School for a five-year period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030 “subject to the condition that the charter (school) continue to work with district officials to ensure the district is only being assessed tuition by the McKeesport Area School District resident students.”

This week, the board also has scheduled first readings of six board policies, including policies on unlawful harassment, unlawful sexual harassment for both pupils and employees, as well as use of facilities and background checks.

Tom Leturgey is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh and the editor of KSWA Digest, the online news and features home of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. He usually covers Duquesne news for Tube City Almanac. School district reporter Adam Reinherz is on vacation.

Originally published October 14, 2024.

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