USC names new athletic director
Kevin Deitrick is joining the Upper St. Clair School District as its new athletic director after the school board approved his appointment during its April 17 meeting.
No stranger to Upper St. Clair, Deitrick has filled various roles with the district including high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, assistant athletic director and assistant basketball coach between 1999 and 2005.
“The philosophy is student-centered, not just athletes but all kids,” Deitrick said in a written statement. “Upper St. Clair is a very supportive community in all three As: Athletics, arts and academics.”
Deitrick is currently the assistant athletic director for student support services at Duquesne University and has taught history courses as an adjunct professor in Duquesne’s liberal arts department. He also spent three years as director of athletics and activities for the North Hills School District.
In addition, Deitrick has served as an assistant principal and principal in the North Allegheny School District.
Deitrick earned a doctorate in educational instructional leadership and master’s degree in history from Duquesne University. He completed bachelor’s degrees in history and education from Washington & Jefferson College, and holds K-12 principal and social studies secondary education certifications.
“His wealth of knowledge and administrative experience from working in athletic departments at both the high school and collegiate levels will greatly enhance the support of our student-athletes,” high school Principal Louis Angelo said in a written statement.
Deitrick is expected to start with the district in late May.
At the same meeting, the board recognized Timothy Wagner, who was recently named an Early Career Awardee from the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.
The Early Career Award recognizes recent alumni with less than 10 years of professional experience for their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, administration, support services and/or extra-curricular activities and programs.
Wagner began his teaching career in the district in 2007 as an elementary teacher. He has taught middle-level English and social studies and has served as a gifted education coordinator for students in grades 7-12, and as the middle school English language arts curriculum leader. Wagner is currently the associate high school principal for program planning and innovation.
During the meeting, the board approved a settlement agreement on appeal of the 2013-14 school based ACCESS program.
Upper St. Clair School District has recovered more than $300,000 in federal ACCESS funds managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services via two separate lawsuits. The school board approved the first settlement, valued at $218,691 on Oct. 24, 2016, and the most recent settlement, worth $95,463.03 on April 17, 2017.
In September 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services claimed that Upper St. Clair School District had received an overpayment of $249,811 in ACCESS funding during the 2012-13 school year. Upper St. Clair, along with 124 other school districts in the same situation, filed an appeal.
In February 2015, 78 Pennsylvania school districts, including Upper St. Clair, filed suit against the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, with each district paying a fixed fee of $5,000 to the law firm of Sweet, Stevens, Katz and Williams. Under the approved agreement, Upper St. Clair’s ACCESS funding overpayment was reduced from $249,811 to $31,120.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services claimed that Upper St. Clair School District was overpaid $190,926 in ACCESS funding during the 2013-14 school year. Through an independent negotiation, the district’s attorneys reached a settlement whereby the Department of Human Services will pay the district 50 percent of the cost settlement value, $95,463.03.
ACCESS funds, federal dollars channeled through a designated state agency (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services), are a source of revenue for most school districts for services provided to special needs students.
USC Superintendent Patrick O’Toole, and USC Finance Director Scott Burchill, presented the latest draft of the district’s proposed final budget for the 2017-2018 school year.
Revenue for 2017-18 is budgeted to increase $2.95 million, or 3.87%, with most of the revenue coming from property taxes. The current budget calls for a 0.8172 millage increase, which includes the 0.2088 budget exception approved in February, raising the total millage from to 25.156. The impact per $200,000 assessed value would be an additional $163 per year.
Expenditures for 2017-18 are budgeted to increase $3.25 million, or 4.21%, leaving a current budget deficit of $79,971. Major contributors to the increase in expenditures are an increase in the 2017-2018 PSERS contribution rate from 30.03% to 32.57%, and a $1.33 million increase in salaries. Healthcare premiums are also increasing 1.9%.
District officials are in the process of continuing to review the budget to reduce the projected deficit.
Budget presentations are slated for the board’s April 24, and May 8 meetings. A proposed final budget is expected to be adopted on May 15. There will be a budget presentation on June 5, and the board will vote to adopt the 2017-2018 final budget on June 20.
The April 17 budget presentation can be viewed online at www.uscsd.k12.pa.us.