Keystone Oaks board approves teacher memorandum, $85,000 equipment grant and routine budget items

The Keystone Oaks School District Board of Directors voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with the Keystone Oaks Education Association and carried multiple routine administrative and finance items at its meeting.

Board action was led by a recommendation to ratify a memorandum of understanding between the district and its bargaining unit. The board moved, seconded and approved the memorandum by voice vote. The administration described the item as a memorandum of understanding tied to the K OEA collective-bargaining agreement.

The meeting included several items affecting career-and-technical programs. Mrs. Shaw reported that Parkway West students earned numerous top finishes at the district SkillsUSA competition and noted four students advanced to the state contest. She also announced that Parkway West received a competitive equipment grant of $85,000. Those funds, she said, will be used to purchase a 2018 Mack diesel semi to support the diesel-technology program and a virtual airless paint simulator for the auto-body repair program.

On personnel matters the board accepted the resignation of Michael Momes and approved the appointment of Donald McGrey as a custodian. The board also approved listed activity sponsors and coaching appointments, and authorized postseason coaching stipends of $100 per week for the basketball and wrestling sponsors named on the agenda, in accordance with the K OEA collective-bargaining agreement. The board approved family and medical leave requests and a leave of absence for employees listed on the agenda.

Financial items included approval of accounts payable for February—described in the meeting as a little over $2.1 million—and approval of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) program-of-services budget for 2024–25. The transcript recorded an estimate of the district’s contribution to the AIU budget but the numeric wording in the record was garbled and could not be confirmed verbatim. The board also approved exoneration of the tax collectors for Dormont and Green Tree based on reports dated Jan. 15; parts of the recorded dollar amounts were unclear in the transcript.

During the superintendent’s report, board members discussed private-school placements for special-education students and asked whether medical-assistance reimbursement could offset costs for placements at Wesley, an approved private school. Administration and staff explained that such billing and eligibility are processed separately through individualized systems, that state funding can cover a portion of costs if a slot is available, and that HIPAA and privacy rules limit staff from sharing specific student medical information.

Other administrative approvals included the second reading of listed policies, authorization to advertise athletic bids for winter and spring sports, and approval of a slate of competitive events including basketball, Odyssey of the Minds and robotics. The board also announced a buildings-and-grounds meeting set for April 4 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom.

Votes at a glance: the board carried motions to approve meeting minutes, changes to the health and safety plan, the employees’ memorandum of understanding with the K OEA, policy second readings, the AIU program budget as presented, appointments and resignations on the personnel list, family and medical leaves, accounts payable for February, exoneration of the listed tax collectors, advertisement of athletic bids, and approval of competitive events.

The meeting adjourned following the completion of business. The board did not meet in executive session before the public meeting.