Sto Rox (Pittsburgh, Carnegie, Crafton: low income, school district, income)

[WILWRadio]

Can anyone tell me what the latest status is with the Sto Rox School district? A year ago I read a news article indicating it might close due to financial problems.

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

They just hired Carlynton's old superintendent as their new one. I'd consider that to be a bad sign considering the recent woes within the Carlynton SD.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by trlstreet

They just hired Carlynton's old superintendent as their new one. I'd consider that to be a bad sign considering the recent woes within the Carlynton SD.

Can you expound a bit on your point? I am not very familiar with the Sto Rox area but have an interest in moving there. Do you mean a bad sign in that the new Superintendent might be there to run the Sto Rox district into the ground which in turn would lead to a merger with another school district?

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

A few years back Carlynton hired a firm to study the options for the district's two elementary schools in Crafton and Carnegie. The study was highly biased in the direction of consolidating schools into one school, taking a phased renovation plan for both schools out of the mix. The consolidation plan was endorsed by the superintendent and the school board against massive public outrage. At the latest school board election, all of the pro-merger board members were voted out, a clear referendum that the board and Dr. Panza were not in touch with the public. Dr. Panza quickly took the Sto-Rox job within a few weeks.

That being said, he may push hard for a merger. He, along with another Carlynton board member, pushed hard for consolidation with one of the surrounding districts (Montour, Chartiers Valley, Keystone Oaks) when it became clear that the elementary school plan was doomed. Problem is, he went about merger talks WITHOUT school board or voter approval. This looked particularly bad when two of the three districts (Montour and CV) publicly declined to even discuss the possibility of a merger with Carlynton.

Sto-Rox biggest biggest merger possibility would be Montour. Since Montour already said they wouldn't merge with Carlynton, I'm not sure the likelihood they would discuss merging with Sto-Rox without some sort of mandate from the state.

[WILWRadio]

trlstreet. Thanks.

[Pitts10yrs]

Two of SR schools, elementary and middle, are they not in Montour district area?

[Retiredcoach]

The Sto-Rox School District is in dire financial straits that are forcing board members to explore a multitude of unpleasant possible options. Unfortunately for this district, they seem to be continually dealing with an ongoing stream of bad news. The state budget cuts have been the most recent obstacle, devastating the financially troubled district to explore other revenue sources that cannot be remotely satisfied by local property tax increases. The school district has a huge population of special needs children that are very expensive to provide mandated educational services, and a multitude of low income housing within its boundaries. There are no easy solutions, and the thoughts of merging with a nearby school district is more a pipe-dream, than a remote possibility...... there is not a district willing to absorb all of the problems that Sto-Rox will bring their way with no real benefits coming their way.

[Craziaskowboi]

Heh, merge Sto-Rox with the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

[WILWRadio]

Thanks for the additional info. Sounds like a merger is far from a certainty and quite likely the school district is going to have to come up with their own solutions to the problem of funding.

[PeterRabbit]

Radio, what do you think about Rostraver?