East Allegheny board honors scholar-athletes and longtime staff in round of recognitions

The East Allegheny School District board opened its meeting by recognizing student and staff achievements and several long-serving employees who are leaving the district.

Board members congratulated Lamaya Perise on receiving the James Collins Scholar Athlete Award, noting the PIAA District 7 scholarship program has provided about $760,000 in scholarships since 1992 and that this year marks the program's 35th consecutive year of funding. Charles Ward was honored with the William Mooney award for sustained athletic leadership and academic performance; the record cites Ward's 3.98 GPA and years on varsity football and track teams. The board said plaques will be placed in the high school to recognize award recipients.

The board also acknowledged several retirements and resignations. Lisa Patella (ATS employee), Donna (last name not fully recorded), Frank Zakowski and Mindy Vogle were named among retirees; Rachel M and Kirsten Pile were noted as resigning. Separately, the board repeatedly praised Tony Valisinski, named in the record as the district's business manager with 41 years of service, for steady leadership amid difficult financial circumstances.

The meeting record includes a written communication identified as from "Tony Balisenti" (spelling in the communications item differs from the name earlier in the record). That letter expressed gratitude for more than 40 years of service, referenced a start date in October 1985 and a promotion to business manager in 2006, and asked that the message be filed with the public record.

Board members framed the recognitions as central to the district's mission. "And guys, this is why we're here," one board speaker said during the presentations.

The recognitions and communications were presented as part of routine board business; no formal votes or policy actions were recorded in connection with the awards beyond directing that the acknowledgments be placed in the public record.