Penn Hills School District officials and bus drivers getting prepared for the coming school year

Penn Hills School District students will soon fill the halls of its elementary, middle and high school.

Nearly 3,000 youths are enrolled for the 2023-24 school year.

First day of class is Tuesday, Aug. 22.

“We are very excited to get the new year started,” Superintendent Nancy Hines said. “Linton Middle School will be showcasing a fully renovated auditorium and gym shortly after school starts. These new spaces will not only benefit students and staff but also our larger community.

”We also look forward to the extra energy our new hires will bring. That new energy will be enhanced with valuable experience provided by the veteran members of our staff. It will be a great combination that will afford tremendous learning opportunities for our students K-12.”

The district maintained all of its programs in the school year’s budget.

One of the new hires is high school principal Tricia Mayo. She formally took over for retired principal Erik Kostic on July 3.

The Pittsburgh native said she is ready for her first year with the new district.

Freshmen will get to meet their new top administrator and her team a little early. High school orientation is planned for Saturday, Aug. 19.

“I am so excited to welcome our incoming freshman scholars,” Mayo said. “Our freshmen will be received with light morning refreshments and then officially welcome them in the auditorium for their first high school assembly to discuss focus areas for our school this year, which include attendance, academic growth, and social and emotional learning.”

Students will also receive a mock schedule, review of student handbook highlights and a building tour.

“I am revved up and ready to collaborate with staff, students, families, and community partners in this important work,” Mayo said. “My hope is that after the orientation, the students will join the community day activities.”

She also touted the skills of recently hired school-community liaison and outreach coordinator Dion Dupree. His safe space program will provide various engagement, health and wellness opportunities for students.

Security is always top of mind for district officials, which is why they decided to add metal detectors at the elementary school.

Principal Kristin Brown said their uses will be staggered so the young ones can get acclimated with the new protocol and not be overwhelmed.

The middle school and high school already had metal detectors. Gates and security booths were also upgraded at each school.

Other elementary highlights include expanding its STEM coursework — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — coursework and the Dreamflight Adventures classroom will eventually be back up and running.

Brown said they will continue to work closely with the University of Pittsburgh’s Just Discipline Project to “implement restorative practices in our daily practice.”

That means fewer suspensions and exclusionary discipline and more relationship building and other ways to correct negative behavior.

Brown did not respond to further messages seeking comment. Linton Middle School principal Sandy Barker did not respond to messages by press time.

More mental and behavioral health services are expected to be provided districtwide courtesy of a $585,000 Allegheny County grant.

Student breakfasts and lunches are still free.

Transportation ready

Krise Transportation has been the district’s bus service for many years.

Tim Fezell, the company’s Penn Hills terminal manager, said crews have been training hard to ensure student safety and establish the best means of travel.

He said there are 91 routes — 59 bus and 32 van routes. There are still a few bus routes being worked out.

The company has done a lot to improve recruiting, including sign-on bonuses, a referral program, boosting its advertisement campaigns and increased participation in community events in order to ensure it has a large complement of drivers.

Issues such as missed stops and children on wrong buses have been known to occur throughout the country within the first few weeks of school.

Fezell said Krise and the district continue to do everything in their power to be as perfect and professional as possible.

“We keep up-to-date rosters on all vehicles with student information,” Fezell said. “We educate the drivers on what to do when a student is on their bus but not assigned to their bus. When loading the students on the buses, particularly at the elementary level, the district confirms students’ bus numbers prior to loading.”

Parents can direct their busing concerns to the district’s transportation department at 412-793-7000, ext. 1244.

There are also various forms for transpiration requests, complaints and concerns on the district’s website.