Fox Chapel Area School District officials excited to start the school year

The halls of Fox Chapel Area School District schools soon will echo with young voices and the tread of new shoes as students and staff begin the new school year on Aug 29.

And for those wondering, the last day of school for students is June 6, 2024.

The district’s projected enrollment this year is 4,146 with 350 teachers. No course or staff cuts were made as part of the 2023-2024 budget.

“We are very excited to welcome our students, staff, and families to the 2023-2024 school year and look forward to a productive and fulfilling year of learning and growing in this wonderful school community,” said Superintendent Dr. Mary Catherine Reljac.

Student lunch prices will be $2.95 daily for secondary students and $2.65 daily for elementary students. The price of milk will be 75 cents.

Breakfast once again will be free for all Fox Chapel Area students. The state will pay for a free lunch for all students eligible for a reduced-priced lunch.

The school board on Aug. 14 approved a strategic vision for the district after gathering input for nearly a year from school and community stakeholders. The district’s strategic vision is to provide each student with a well-rounded education that focuses on academic, physical, mental, social and emotional well-being in a learning community that values diversity and utilizes purpose, passion, care, and community as pillars of success.

It is a framework to guide the district over the next several years in decisions to benefit students and community.

A new principal will soon make her Fox Chapel Area High School debut. The school board hired Dr. Michelle Young on Aug. 14 to serve as a high school program principal. Her starting salary is $132,000; her start date will be determined. She will fill a vacancy left by the fall retirement of Dr. Daniel Lentz.

Young served as the principal of the Lakeview Middle-High School in Stoneboro and was the principal at Commodore Perry High School located in Hadley. Both are in Mercer County.

Young has a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, a master’s in education in Gannon University and doctorate from Robert Morris University.

“The district screened and interviewed a number of candidates, and Dr. Young’s experience, knowledge, and student-centered approach will be an asset to the district’s students, staff, and families,” Reljac said.

The high school’s student government will become the Fox Leadership Council. The change is the result of recommendations from students, administrators and club/activity sponsors, district officials said.

The FLC will incorporate the high school’s diversity council, community outreach, a new wellness council and a new student engagement team. It will be overseen by four student officers voted on by the student body. It will also have a special project area for new ideas. All of these groups are student led.

Turf on the high school baseball, softball, and multipurpose fields was replaced over the summer.

The high school main gym floor also was refurbished and features an athletic fox logo on the gym floor.

The district’s website, fcasd.edu, went through an upgrade to improve performance. A new, online payment system was implemented over the summer and is accessible under the “Quick Links” tab on the website’s main page.

This system allows individuals to pay for various fees and programs such as parking, technology fees, STEAM Camp, facility usage and more. Fees associated with this online platform are the same as the fees used in previous platforms.

Only a few payment options are currently available. The district expects to add more as the school year progresses.