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PG East: Back to school

Ed Yozwick/Post-Gazette

PG East: Back to school


Allegheny County

Allderdice High School

Starting date: Aug. 28

Estimated enrollment: 1,550

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Principal: Robert Scherrer

Main phone: 412-422-4800

Web site: www.pps.k12.pa.us/allderdice.

Boyce Campus Middle College High School

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Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 160 (students living in the Gateway, Penn Hills, Plum and Woodland Hills districts)

Building: Boyce Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County, Monroeville

Leaders: Director Michele Markiewicz and Dean of Students Michael Verrico

Main phone: 724-325-6609

Web site: None

What's new: The Edline communications system, enabling parents to monitor students' progress online. ... Dr. Cleveland Steward, Gateway superintendent, is the lead superintendent for this school.

Central Catholic High School

Starting date: Aug. 26

Estimated enrollment: 840

Principal: Brother Richard Grzeskiewicz

Main phone: 412-621-8189

Web site: www.pittcentralcatholic.org

What's new: Four new math labs are on the third floor. ... Frank Kerber is the director of college placement, and Edward Bernot is the assistant principal for student affairs.

East Allegheny

Starting date: Sept. 4

Estimated enrollment: 1,875

Buildings: Three (senior high school; Logan Middle School (grades 4-8); Green Valley Primary School (1-3). The Early Learning Center (pre-kindergarten, kindergarten) will be on the second floor of the high school.)

Superintendent: Roger A. D'Emidio

Main phone: 412-824-8012

Web site: www.eawildcats.net

What's new: Logan, which eliminated the need for a junior high/high school in one building. ... Logan will have an accelerated curriculum program for seventh- and eight-graders. ... Club volleyball has been instituted at the high school.

The Ellis School

Starting date: Sept. 2

Estimated enrollment: 476 (pre-kindergarten through grade 12)

Head of school: Dr. Mary Grant

Main phone: 412-661-5992

Web site: www.theellisschool.org

What's new: Gregg Stone has been named middle school director after serving as interim director. ... A pre-kindergarten room has been added.

Gateway

Starting date: Sept. 2

Estimated enrollment: 4,300

Buildings: Eight (high school; Gateway and Moss Side middle schools; Evergreen, Pitcairn, Ramsey, Moss Side and University Park elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr.

Main phone: 412-372-5300

Web site: www.gatewayk12.org

What's new: Thirty teachers. ... Renovations will begin at Moss Side Middle, to expand the library and add six classrooms.

Imani Christian Academy

Starting date: Aug. 28

Estimated enrollment: 200

Headmaster: Elder Milton E. Raiford

Main phone: 412-731-7982

Web site: www.imanichristianacademy.org.

McKeesport Area

Starting date: Aug. 22

Estimated enrollment: 4,200

Buildings: Seven (high school; Founders' Hall Middle School; Cornell and Francis McClure intermediate schools; Centennial, George Washington and White Oak elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Shirley Golofski

Main phone: 412-664-3600

Web site: www.mckasd.com

What's new: Eighteen teachers, increased graduation requirements. ... The high school front office and auditorium have been renovated. ... Enhanced reading and math standards-based curricula will be introduced this year.

Oakland Catholic High School

Starting date: Aug. 22

Estimated enrollment: 585

Principal: Dr. Maureen Marsteller

Main phone: 412-682-6633

Web site: www.oaklandcatholic.org

What's new: Schoolwide renovations have been completed.

Penn Hills

Starting date: Aug. 27

Estimated enrollment: 4,984

Buildings: Six (high school; Linton Middle School; Dible, Forbes, Penn Hebron and Washington elementaries)

Superintendent: Joseph Carroll (acting)

Main phone: 412-793-7000

Web site: www.phsd.k12.pa.us

What's new: The district has downsized from six to four elementary schools, and grade levels and attendance areas of those four are new. Dible, Forbes and Washington will serve kindergarten through grade 3, and fourth- and fifth-graders will attend Penn Hebron. ... Students in kindergarten through grade 6 will have a new reading series, Harcourt's "Storytown," and grades 7-9 have a new language arts series, "Writer's Choice." ... Joseph Carroll was promoted to acting superintendent, following the resignation of Patricia Gennari. Interim principals are in place at the high school and middle school.

Plum Borough

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 4,146

Buildings: Seven (high school; Oblock Junior High; Adlai Stevenson, Center, Holiday Park, Pivik and Regency Park elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Lillian Naccarati (acting)

Main phone: 412-795-0100

Web site: www.pbsd.k12.pa.us

What's new: The "AlertNow" system, which asks parents to choose from among 11 ways to be notified in case of an emergency. ... The district has upgraded its "Electronic Mustang" e-mail communications system. E-mailed messages can include hyperlinks in addition to text. ... No decision has been made on a new superintendent.

Riverview

Starting date: Aug. 27

Estimated enrollment: 1,160

Buildings: Three (junior-senior high school; Verner and Tenth Street elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Charles P. Erdeljac

Main phone: 412-828-1800

Web site: www.rsd.k12.pa.us

What's new: Jason Shoaf is the assistant principal at the junior-senior high, and three high school teachers.

Serra Catholic High School

Starting date: Aug. 21 (freshmen, transfers), Aug. 22 (other students)

Estimated enrollment: 365

Principal: Timothy Chirdon

Main phone: 412-751-2020

Web site: www.serrahs.org

What's new: Mr. Chirdon moved up from assistant principal, succeeding Michael Luft, who assumed the newly created administrative post of president principal. Mr. Luft's focus will be on business matters. ... Five teachers were hired. ... The old friary across the street was renovated to include Mr. Luft's office and a new art room.

Trinity Christian School

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 320 (K-12)

Headmaster: Dale W. McLane

Main phone: 412-242-8886

Web site: www.trinitychristian.net

What's new: A few teachers.

Wilkinsburg

Starting date: Sept. 2

Estimated enrollment: 2,000

Buildings: Six (high school, middle school, Johnston, Kelly and Turner elementaries, Wilkinsburg Academy (alternative)

Superintendent: Archie Perrin

Main phone: 412-871-2255

Web site: www.wilkinsburgschools.org

What's new: Two ongoing programs -- Pre-K Counts and Educational Assistance tutoring -- are expanding. ... New full-day pre-k programs will be at Johnston, Kelly and Turner schools. ... Classrooms of the Future, a statewide initiative on educational technology, will expand to include math and science classrooms. ... Two new programs are Science: It's Elementary, which will provide professional development and equipment to elementary science teachers, and Project 720, which will help high school students prepare for college. ... Wilkinsburg Academy will have a new schoolwide behavior support plan, based on evidence of what has worked best in previous years. ... Major renovations at the high school football stadium, Graham Field, are complete.

Winchester Thurston School

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 627 on the two campuses (pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in Shadyside, pre-K through grade 5 in the North Hills)

Head of school: Gary J. Niels

Main phone: 412-578-7500

Web site: www.winchesterthurston.org

What's new: This summer, Winchester Thurston was awarded a matching $25,000 grant from the Benedict Foundation for Independent Schools. The grant is to continue the evolution and growth of the school's City as Our Campus Program, which links the curriculum with city resources.

Woodland Hills

Starting date: Aug. 26

Estimated enrollment: 4,500

Buildings: Eight (high school; junior high; Dickson, Fairless and Rankin intermediates; Edgewood, Shaffer and Wilkins primaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Walter M. Calinger

Main phone: 412-731-1300

Web site: www.whsd.k12.pa.us

What's new: Seventh- and eighth-graders will be in one building, Woodland Hills Junior High (formerly West Junior High in Swissvale). ... The superintendent, assistant superintendent and transportation director, and principals at the high school, junior high and Dickson and Rankin schools are new. ... The district's first grant for educational technology and training from the state's Classroom of the Future program will begin, and continued funding for the Career and Counseling program is in place.

Westmoreland County

Burrell

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 2,000

Buildings: Four (high school; Charles A. Huston Middle; Bon Air and Stewart elementaries)

Superintendent: George W. Staudenmaier

Main phone: 724-334-1406

Web site: www.burrell.k12.pa.us

What's new: Matthew Connor, former middle school assistant principal, will be the principal following the resignation of Tim Glasspool. ... The online courses being offered will expand to include science and social studies by next spring. ... All district buildings will be hooked up with a new fiber optic connection to enhance the speed of all existing systems, including the district's electronic grade book and video streaming capabilities. ... A $20 million renovation of Charles A. Huston Middle School is complete and will be dedicated at a ceremony at 1 p.m. Sept. 7. Mr. Huston, 92, will attend.

Derry Area

Starting date: Aug. 27

Estimated enrollment: 2,500

Buildings: Five (high school; middle school; Grandview, Loyalhanna and New Derry elementaries)

Superintendent: Roberta J. McCahan

Main phone: 724-694-1401

Web site:derryasd.schoolwires.com

What's new: SMART Boards have been installed in each main classroom area. ... In a partnership with Saint Vincent College's Han Ban Program, the district will offer Chinese as a credited course in the middle and high schools. ... Early dismissals have been scheduled throughout the school year to allow a data analysis team to examine formative assessment in the district. ... Planning continues on the implementation by fall 2009 of the Olweus anti-bullying program in elementary and middle schools. ... The district will begin the bidding process for a complete renovation of Grandview School in fall 2009. Once the renovation is complete, Loyalhanna and New Derry schools will close, and all district buildings will be on one campus.

Franklin Regional

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 3,700

Buildings: Five (high school; middle school; Heritage, Newlonsburg and Sloan elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. P. Emery D'Arcangelo

Main phone: 724-327-5456

Web site: www.franklinregional.k12.pa.us

What's new: The Dashboard attendance and grade book system have been implemented, enabling parents to have access to their children's data in grades 4 through 12. ... New French textbooks have been purchased for grades 7 through 12. ... The visitors locker room in the football stadium has been renovated, and new roofing was completed on the middle school and Sloan school.

Greater Latrobe

Starting date: Aug. 27

Estimated enrollment: 4,200

Buildings: Five (high school; junior high school; Latrobe, Baggaley and Mountain View elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. William Stavisky (acting)

Main phone: 724-539-4200

Web site: www.grlatrobe.k12.pa.us

What's new: Dr. Stavisky retired in June, but is staying on as acting superintendent until the district hires a successor, which could be in a few months. ... Scott Marker is the district technology coordinator, Robin Pynos the principal at Mountain View school, and Sherri Holler the principal and Kimberly Hrezo assistant elementary principal at Latrobe Elementary. Eight elementary teachers and one secondary teacher were hired. ... Teachers attended workshops in spring and summer to prepare for a new elementary reading curriculum with strong literature and skills-based components. ... The online Blended Schools curriculum is expanding to serve all grades. Students may take courses online beyond what they are taking during the school day.

Greensburg Central Catholic

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 429

Principal: Donald Favero

Main phone: 724-834-0310

Web site: www.gcchs.org

What's new: Gymnasium.

Greensburg Salem

Starting date: Aug. 27

Enrollment: 3,278

Buildings: Five (high school; middle school; Hutchinson, Metzgar and Nicely elementaries

Superintendent: Thomas M. Yarabinetz

Main phone: 724-832-2901

Web site: greensburgsalem.org

What's new: Tammy Wolicki was promoted from middle school principal to the new position of school district director of K-12 and curriculum assessment.

Hempfield Area

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 6,800

Buildings: 10 (high school; Harrold, Wendover and West Hempfield middle schools; Bovard, Fort Allen, Maxwell, Stanwood, West Hempfield and West Point elementaries). Hempfield also operates an alternative education school -- along with the Mount Pleasant district -- called Crossroads in South Greensburg. It is for students who have been removed from a school in those districts for various reasons.

Superintendent: Dr. Terry J. Foriska

Main phone: 724-834-2590

Web site: www.hempfieldarea.k12.pa.us

What's new: The school board has levied a $20-per-student participation fee and a $50 fee for athletes. ... Athletic fields on the high school campus have been resodded after being vandalized last week.

Jeannette City

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 1,200

Buildings: Three (high school; McKee Middle; McKee Elementary)

Superintendent: Sharon L. Marks

Main phone: 724-523-5497

Web site: www.jeannette.k12.pa.us

What's new: Ms. Marks said "things have calmed down dramatically" from her first year as superintendent, when there was a lot of excitement over Terrelle Pryor and the football and boys' basketball teams. Mr. Pryor, rated the top college football recruit in the country, chose Ohio State. And the football and basketball squads won WPIAL and PIAA Class AA championships. ... "We're hoping for an encore" by those teams, she said, adding that "we will concentrate on seeing our students continuing to achieve more proficiency [academically]."

Kiski Area

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 4,800

Buildings: Nine (high school; intermediate school; Allegheny-Hyde Park, Bell Avon, Laurel Point, Mamont, North Washington, Washington and Vandergrift elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. John M. Meighan

Main phone: 724-845-2022

Web site: www.kiskiarea.com

What's new: A gifted center will serve students in grades 4 through 6 at Allegheny-Hyde Park school. ... New computer labs were added at Washington school and the intermediate school. The latter also has a new media resource center. ... In addition to 33 teachers, the district hired Dr. Patricia Thomas as assistant to the superintendent for administrative services and Peggy Gillespie as business manager. ... A third full-day kindergarten class was added at Bell Avon, to go with existing full-day kindergartens at North Washington and Vandergrift schools. ... An initiative is being launched that encourages elementary schoolchildren to read based on incentives and community support.

Mount Pleasant Area

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 2,505

Buildings: Five (junior/senior high school; Donegal, Norvelt, Ramsay and Rumbaugh elementaries)

Superintendent: Terry Struble

Main phone: 724-547-4100

Web site: mtpasd.schoolwires.com

What's new: After four years as principal of the junior/senior high school, Mr. Struble takes over as the top administrator in the district from which he graduated. He succeeds Frank D. Watson, who retired. ... Kenneth Williams, a former administrator in the Fox Chapel Area district, was hired Monday as Mr. Struble's successor. ... Viking Stadium has a new $770,000 artificial-turf playing surface and all-weather competitive running track. The track will be available to Mount Pleasant Area residents.

New Kensington-Arnold

Starting date: Sept. 2

Estimated enrollment: 2,144

Buildings: Six (Valley High School; Valley Middle School; H.D. Berkey, Greenwald Memorial, Martin and Fort Crawford elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. George Batterson

Main phone: 724-337-4536

Web site: www.nkasd.com

What's new: The district appointed Tim Glasspool as assistant to the superintendent for academic improvement and Tammy Cavanaugh as assistant to the superintendent, pupil personnel services and human resources. John Banko is now the principal and Jeff Timons the vice principal at the high school, and Pat Nee is the principal and Todd Kutchak vice principal at the middle school. ... With a Classroom of the Future grant, the district will provide a laptop for every student in fourth through eighth grade and one laptop for every two high school students. ... There will be interactive white boards in all classrooms in grades 4 through 12. ... Over a three-year period, the district will invest $1.8 million to improve technology. ... The district has established a partnership with a school in Jilin City in northern China and will welcome two full-time Chinese teachers to teach Chinese in the district. At the end of September, four more Chinese educators will be working in the district for a month. In December, 22 students, 12 teachers and Dr. Batterson will travel to China for nine days. ... The football field has been renovated to include a "sprint turf" synthetic surface.

Norwin

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 5,279

Buildings: Seven (high school; middle school; Hillcrest Intermediate; and Hahntown, Scull, Sheridan Terrace and Sunset Valley elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Jack Boylan

Main phone: 724-861-3000

Web site: www.norwinsd.org

What's new: The district will celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout the school year. To mark the occasion, it developed a blue and gold flag with a 50th anniversary logo that will fly above all district buildings. ... Flip-flops are in, lounging pajamas are out, and electronic games and handheld instruments will be prohibited during school hours. Use of cell phones will not be allowed during class hours or on buses.

Penn-Trafford

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 4,400

Buildings: Eight (high school; Penn and Trafford middle schools; Harrison Park, Level Green, McCullough, Sunrise Estates and Trafford elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Deborah Kolonay

Main phone: 724-744-4496

Web site: penntrafford.org

What's new: The high school roof has been replaced and 1,000 lockers are new. ... A system for quick, efficient communication with staff, parents and students has been implemented.

Southmoreland

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 2,200

Buildings: Four (high school; middle school; elementary (grades 2-6); primary care (kindergarten and first grade)

Superintendent: Dr. John K. Halfhill

Main phone: 724-887-2000

Web site: southmoreland.schoolwires.com

What's new: A $25 million renovation and construction project at the Scottdale site includes renovations to the Scottdale Elementary building and the building of a new middle school.

Yough

Starting date: Aug. 25

Estimated enrollment: 2,435

Buildings: Five (high school; intermediate/middle school; and H.W. Good, Mendon and West Newton elementaries)

Superintendent: Dr. Denise Shipe

Main phone: 724-446-7272

Web site: www.yough.net

What's new: Dr. Shipe was hired in July to succeed Lawrence Nemec, who retired. Dr. Shipe had been acting superintendent of the Ambridge Area district. ... The reopening of West Newton school is a hot issue over the assignment of students living in Sutersville. Twelve from there are enrolled at West Newton and the rest are to attend Good school in Herminie. Dr. Shipe told parents last week that the realignment will stand, but some parents maintain that the old alignment is grandfathered. School directors are pondering a decision.

First Published: August 21, 2008, 8:00 a.m.

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