May 29, 2014 By Deana Carpenter 3 min read

Lena Hannah was named to the South Fayette School Board by school directors at a meeting May 27. She was chosen unanimously by the board after it interviewed three candidates at the meeting. Hannah had previously served on the board about five years ago and replaces Frank Morelli, who died suddenly earlier in the month.

The remaining eight board members interviewed the three candidates for about 30 minutes each. The other candidates were Bill Ainsworth and Natalie Kugler.

Hannah has put three children through South Fayette, with her younger children, twins, graduating this year. She has an associate’s degree in paralegal studies and works as a receptionist in a doctor’s office.

She served as vice president of the Parent Teacher Association for three years and president of the association for another three before serving on the school board the first time. She also started a program at South Fayette called Girls Night Out, in which high school staff and students mentor girls who are transitioning from eighth grade to the high school.

“I feel I’m in a good place in life to commit back to the amount of work it takes,” Hannah told the board in her interview.

One of the questions the board asked of all the candidates regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the district. Hannah said the strength is “the educational value you get,” at South Fayette. As far as weaknesses, Hannah said she would call them “areas of improvement.” She added, “There’s always something you can do to be better.”

She said it is her intention to run for the seat after the term expires next spring.

The board officially introduced the district’s new school resource officer. A member of the South Fayette Township Police Department, Officer Jeff Sgro will be working full-time at the school district. The funding for the position was obtained from a grant earlier this year.

Sgro, a South Fayette Township resident, has been a police officer for 20 years and with the South Fayette Police Department for 15 years.

“We are very proud to have you as part of our South Fayette team,” superintendent Dr. Bille Rondinelli told him at the May 27 meeting.

“This is a great opportunity for me. I want to say thanks,” Sgro said. Although he has been at the district for a couple of weeks, Sgro said he “can’t wait to hit the ground running next year.”