North Allegheny board honors diversity-contest winners, hands out Foundation scholarships and recognizes 25‑year staff

The North Allegheny School Board on May 22 recognized students, donors and longtime employees in a ceremony that combined celebration with routine board business.

Jenna Frazier, an assistant principal at Marshall Middle School, introduced the revived Marcia Martin Diversity Expression Contest and said the district is “so proud of all of our students and their families that are here tonight.” Staff reported 162 contest entries across elementary and secondary divisions and presented winners in writing, fine arts and multimedia categories. Examples named by district staff included Jordy Dobish (Marshall Elementary), Claire Zhang (Franklin Elementary), Meghana Chipali (Marshall Middle), Evie Yin (NAI) and Amelia Karan Baburi (NASH). The contest had not been held since 2019.

Peter Martin, husband of the late Dr. Marsha Martin — for whom the contest is named — reflected on his wife’s work promoting diversity at Carson Middle School: “My wife was extremely passionate about children,” he said, praising her efforts to incorporate diversity into curriculum and school life.

The board also heard from Alice Beckett Remberg, chair of the North Allegheny Foundation, who announced the Foundation distributed about $60,000 in teacher grants this year and presented multiple named scholarships to graduating seniors. Remberg said some scholarship dollars come from the Foundation and other awards are funded by alumni and family donations; among the amounts mentioned was a $5,000 Westminster scholarship given by North Allegheny alumni to a student, Lauren Burks. Winners were invited to pick up scholarship checks after the meeting.

Staff played a newly produced video by NASH TV showcasing students’ entries and perspectives, and the meeting included remarks from several student winners describing their pieces and what diversity means to them.

Later in the agenda the board recognized staff members who reached 25 years of service and invited honorees to the front for certificates, gifts and a group photograph. The meeting closed its recognition items and moved to routine business; the board will meet again on June 12 where it is scheduled to approve the district’s final budget.

Minutes and consent items
The board took routine votes in the meeting: it approved the April 17 and April 24, 2024 minutes by voice vote and moved the consent agenda after noting additions to the human-resources report (a resignation, wage‑status changes and appointments). The chair announced both votes closed and the motions passed unanimously. No substantive policy decisions or changes to the proposed budget were recorded at the May 22 meeting.