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Board Hires Superintendent, Promotes Assistant
MASD leader is CalU grad, has roots in region
By Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim
The Tube City Almanac
January 17, 2025
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News
Donald MacFann addresses the audience Thursday after being hired as McKeesport Area School District’s new superintendent. Board President Mark Holtzman looks on. (McKeesport Area School District via YouTube)
The McKeesport Area School District hired Donald MacFann as its new superintendent on Thursday by unanimous decision. He was approved for a five-year contract at the salary yet to be determined.
MacFann replaces acting superintendent William Pettigrew, who was himself the replacement of Superintendent Tia Wanzo. Wanzo resigned amid significant controversy in August.
“He’s a Mon Valley guy,” said district solicitor Gary Matta on the new hire. “That’s what we need. We need one of our own to help lead the charge here.”
MacFann, an alumnus of California University of Pennsylvania, is expected to start within the next 60 days, but he hopes to start in 20 days.
MacFann was previously the superintendent of Bethlehem-Center School District, and has been working in education for 30 years. His teaching career began in 1994 at the elementary and alternative education levels for Clairton Area School District as the director of special education and later served as the elementary school principal.
He was then hired as the high school principal and athletic director within the Clairton Area School District. He served as the high school principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent of Schools for East Allegheny Area School District.
On the subject of why he chose McKeesport, MacFann said, “I’ve had a lot of experience in the Mid-Mon Valley. I was at Clairton for well over a decade, I was at East Allegheny for well over a decade … I’m honored that these people considered giving me the interview, and I am humbled that they actually chose me as their superintendent.”
The board also unanimously approved the promotion of Matthew Mols from assistant to the superintendent to assistant superintendent on a five-year contract. Both hires received standing ovations from the room.
Also discussed at the meeting were two motions to approve the termination of two unnamed employees. These motions are related to alleged sexual misconduct between a security guard and a student that occurred in 2023.
The motions were both tabled for the next meeting by a vote of 5-4.
Yousuf Lachhab Ibrahim is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh and a Penn State University graduate. He won a Golden Quill award for his work at the Penn State Greater Allegheny Gazette.
Originally published January 17, 2025.
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