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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August 29, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
With additional reporting from Jason Togyer
McKeesport Area School District will pay $173,250 as part of its settlement with outgoing Superintendent Tia Wanzo.
In the meantime, the Tribune-Review has reported that the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether school officials promptly reported a series of sexual encounters between a former security guard and a McKeesport Area School District student.
The guard, who worked for an outside contractor, faces criminal charges in connection with those incidents.
Rumors have circulated for several weeks that Wanzo’s decision to step down was somehow connected to the incident involving the former security guard. Neither Wanzo nor district officials have been willing to confirm, deny or comment on the rumors.
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August 26, 2024 |
By Staff Reports | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
McKeesport police Chief Mark Steele, Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, South Allegheny school police Chief Adam Alfer and Ethel Balas of St. Stephen’s met at International Village this month. (Tube City Almanac photo)
A Downtown church is continuing its practice of providing $300 gift cards to McKeesport police officers who were on duty when a tragic shooting claimed the life of one officer and seriously injured another.
This month, members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church provided retired McKeesport police Chief Adam Alfer with a $300 gift card for Alfer and his spouse to use at a restaurant of his choice.
Funds were donated by members of the parish, said Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre, priest in charge of St. Stephen’s.
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August 26, 2024 |
By Adam Reinherz | Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
There are things Dr. Tia Wanzo will speak about, and things she won’t. It’s a knotty position for someone who’s always considered herself “an open book.”
Currently on leave as superintendent of McKeesport Area School District, Wanzo won’t talk about her separation agreement, the board or personnel issues.
She won’t talk about the events of recent weeks — how prior to Thursday evening, rumors circulated about her continuance with MASD.
Some clarification was offered Thursday night, when after the meeting’s adjournment Solicitor Gary Matta told the public that “Dr. Tia Wanzo has requested a leave of absence from the district effective Aug. 14, 2024 until Nov. 13, 2024 at which time Dr. Wanzo will resign as superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District.”
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