South Fayette School Board meeting highlights student, board accomplishments
South Fayette School District celebrated School Board Appreciation Week on Jan. 26 with recognitions and Mars rovers. The South Fayette High School Conference Center, filled with kids and community, was home to a parade of student projects on Jan. 26. Kids from third grade through middle school showed of their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) accomplishments, from fully-programmable model homes and artistic interpretations of cell development, to working Lego models of Mars rovers and 3-D printed canine wheelchairs.
“My favorite part of STEAM was building the Mars rovers,” said one student.
Why? “I liked it because we built a very good rover.”
Students showed off bridges and buildings, explaining to the rapt board members and audience the struggles and accomplishments that come along with learning. AJ Mannarino, a technology teacher at the middle school, and Stephanie DeLuca, a STEAM teacher for the intermediate school, thanked the board for its support in teaching the innovators of tomorrow.
“As most of you know,” DeLuca said, “I’m new to the district this year and I have been absolutely astounded by the amount of support I’ve received, from administration to teachers to students and families. I’m just absolutely blown away by it every day.”
The board also recognized Sarah Deutsch and Eric Songs as National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists. Samantha Vasalani, whose holiday artwork was made into a greeting card representing the district and displayed in the school’s central offices, was honored, and Samuel Miller was congratulated for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Miller worked with the Masonic Lodge on a Masonic Child Identification Program (CHIP) event to create kits to help find children should they go missing.
“It was a fantastic project,” Miller said. “I was glad to be a part of it. It’s a great cause and it was a great Eagle project to do.”
Several board members were recognized by Superintendent Dr. Billie Pearce Rondinelli, including Teresa Burroughs and Todd Petrillo for the School Board Honor Roll, which is awarded to board members on their eighth year of service and again every subsequent four years. Burroughs was elected to the South Fayette School Board in 2007 and Petrillo was elected in 2003.
After the accolades, the board discussed the results of a $18.8 million bond sale to be voted on. Jamie Doyle of PFM Asset Management phoned in from Harrisburg, to speak to the board about the bond sale, which she believes is to be a good investment and advised the board to accept.
“I was very, very pleased with the process,” Doyle said over the phone. “I’m extremely pleased with the results.”
Doyle credited the board with excellent preparation in the bond sale process.