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The North Allegheny School Board has a new president and vice president.
Christopher Jacobs was unanimously elected president at Wednesday’s reorganization meeting. Mr. Jacobs, of McCandless, joined the board two years ago.
Newcomer Tara Fisher, also of McCandless, was elected vice president by a 5-4 vote over eight-year incumbent Thomas Schwartzmier of Franklin Park.
To read more, click here.
This Wednesday, December 4th, the newly-elected board members will take their oath of office. The ceremony begins at 7pm in the Central Administrative Office board room. After swearing in the newly-elected and re-elected members, the board will appoint new officers for the coming year. Entertainment will be provided by the NASH Honors Chamber Ensemble and refreshments will be provided to all in attendance.
SaveNASchools encourages everyone who has supported these candidates to attend this celebratory event!
Enrollment continues to climb slightly in North Allegheny School District. And, although the district’s 12 schools can handle the enrollment, capital projects will have to be done in order to keep the buildings in good shape.
To read more, click here.
North Allegheny school board members approved three administrative appointments, honored departing board members and heard more concerns from parents in Franklin Park and Marshall about proposed redistricting.
To read more, click here.
The two redistricting scenarios presented to the school board on October 23, 2013, will move considerably more elementary students than the redistricting scenario presented last year.
On November 14, 2012, the administration presented a redistricting scenario that only moved 264 elementary students if Peebles Elementary remained open. The same presentation showed 500-600 elementary students would be moved if Peebles Elementary were to close.
Now the administration is proposing two scenarios that would redistrict 400 or more elementary students, despite the fact Peebles Elementary will remain open. The October 23, 2013 presentation does not account for the number of middle schools students who would be impacted.
These inconsistencies illustrate the need for more transparency surrounding the redistricting process. The administration has not released maps, enrollment projections, or other details upon which these scenarios are based.
The administration’s October 23, 2013 redistricting presentation may be viewed here.
The candidates endorsed by SaveNASchools are running on a platform for more transparency and more community involvement in the board’s decision-making processes. Please visit www.movenaforward.com to learn more.
Note: It’s extremely important that NA residents are aware of the special election for a 2-year board seat. The redistricting plan will be voted on by the new school board and Kevin Mahler is a strong advocate for the community.
At the school board meeting on Wednesday night, the administration presented two preliminary redistricting scenarios.
SaveNASchools believes that, prior to redistricting students, the administration needs to:
If the redistricting plan is not based on a model that accurately reflects enrollment trends, it will limit the district’s ability to administer equitable class sizes across all buildings.
Last year, the administration recommended closing Peebles Elementary School based on a projected decline in elementary enrollment in McCandless. This year, there was a 60 student increase across Peebles (+15), Hosack (+20), and McKnight (+25).
The projection model used by the district to make 5-year enrollment forecasts has consistently underestimated actual enrollment. In 2008, the district predicted an elementary enrollment of 3,182 students for the 2013-14 school year—400 students below the third-day enrollment of 3,582 students.
SaveNASchools has endorsed candidates who are focused on improving projection models and creating more transparency around the board’s decision-making processes. Please visit www.movenaforward.com to learn more.
Students in all seven elementary and three middle schools in the North Allegheny School District will be affected by a proposed redistricting plan.
Roger Botti, supervisor of transportation and operations, told school board members Wednesday that two plans are being considered, and each would move approximately 400 students.
To read more, click here.
Redistricting Scenarios: Balancing Enrollment Versus Closing Peebles (Posted: March 15, 2013)
The North Allegheny School District will seek input from parent focus groups before redistricting elementary and middle school students.
The redistricting, the third in 20 years, will take effect for the 2014-15 school year.
Administrators provided a timeline and parameters to school board members at their Sept. 25 board meeting.
Residents of the North Allegheny School District will be able to see what the district has planned for the next five years.
The district’s proposed new comprehensive plan will be available for public inspection online. The school board heard an update of its new plan from administrators Sept. 18 and is scheduled to vote on the plan Nov. 20.
To read more, click here.
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The North Allegheny School District will redistrict elementary and middle students next spring for the 2014-15 school year.
The redistricting, the third in 20 years, will relieve overcrowding in Franklin Elementary and Ingomar Middle School, and will balance class sizes in the three elementary schools in McCandless.
To read more, click here.
The community group “Save NA Schools” says the most recent enrollment numbers, obtained under the “right to know” law, confirm what it campaigned more than a year for; closing an elementary school in the North Allegheny School District would lead to larger class sizes.
To read more, click here.
The North Allegheny School Board will not close Peebles Elementary in the next few years. Instead, the district will work on redistricting to alleviate overcrowding at Franklin Elementary School.
Board President Maureen Grosheider made the announcement during the board’s meeting Wednesday.
To read more, click here.
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