The Quaker Valley School Board is under new management.
Daniela Helkowski and Geoff Barnes were appointed president and vice president, respectively, at a reorganization meeting on Dec. 3.
School Director Missy Walls was also named new board treasurer as part of a shift in leadership following an election year and the departure of board president Jonathan Kuzma, who decided not to run for another term.
Cookies, presents and applause helped mark the evening, which also included the swearing in of four board members, including Helkowski, to new terms.
Retiring district Solicitor Don Palmer of GRB Law administered the oath of office to incumbents Stratton Nash, Kati Doebler, Helkowski and newcomer Ellen Stevenson.
It was one of the final official district actions of the Pittsburgh attorney, who announced he is calling it a career next year after about 35 years in law, including at least 10 years as Quaker Valley’s legal representation.
Board members unanimously voted on Dec. 3 to appoint fellow GRB Law attorney Emily Mueller as their new solicitor.
The firm charges $700 per month for a retainer and $175 per hour for partner-level attorneys and $160 per hour for non-partner-level attorneys. Both Palmer and Mueller were listed as shareholders on the firm’s website.
With the gavel
Helkowski, 53, of Leet, has been on the board for 12 years. She starts her fourth term next year.
She served as vice president for the past two years. The 1990 Quaker Valley High School grad runs Insurance on Walnut with her husband, Dan.
She has a degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and an elementary education degree from Slippery Rock University. Helkowski also served as the school board representative on the Parkway West Career and Technology Center Board.
“I’m very honored to work with such a great group of people, administration and fellow board members,” Helkowski said after the meeting. “I’m really proud of the growth that our students have been making the past few years. We want to build on that and continue to have our test scores (increase).”
The board president said the proposed high school project, which just had its grand opening postponed two school years to 2029-30, remains a high priority.
Second seat
Barnes, 53, of Sewickley had served as board treasurer for the past few years. He was first elected to the board in December 2019.
Barnes is a former health and safety committee chair and member of the public relations committee. He is chair of the finance committee and a member of the facilities and operations committee.
“I think of this as an opportunity to get closer with the executive leadership team and be a stronger day-to-day partner with them,” Barnes said.
“Other than being a better support there, getting the (new) high school going is priority one.
“We’ve got to break ground on that high school. We’re going to keep moving aggressively forward with what’s in our control. Unfortunately, it’s not everything, but we’ll move forward with what we can. I’d like us to be farther along than we are. I think we all would. When we started this project, I wasn’t even on the board yet.”
He said the federal shutdown earlier this year slowed a lot of things down.
Growing up in Dallas, Barnes graduated from Cistercian Preparatory School in 1990.
He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and a master’s from the University of Oregon, both for painting.
Barnes taught at the Savannah College of Art and Design and at Robert Morris College before its change to a university. He helped develop RMU’s web design program and left teaching to practice design full-time in 2005.
He recently worked as a designer for Google, working on artificial intelligence projects. His wife, Julie Barnes, is Sewickley Council vice president.
New treasurer
Walls, 62, of Edgeworth, has been on the board for two years. She starts the second half of her first term next year.
Walls is a Quaker Valley grad and a former civil defense litigation attorney. She was surprised by the treasurer’s nomination.
“That was a little unexpected, but I have to say that I am honored that I was nominated and appreciate my fellow board members supporting me and having confidence in me to take on that role,” Walls said. “I look forward in serving in that capacity and contributing as much as I can and providing guidance as much as I can. It will be a bit of a learning curve at first, but I’m sure I will get into the role smoothly.”
Board member Gianni Floro said he nominated Walls for board treasurer because of her great attention to detail, preparedness and work ethic.
Walls earned a degree in communications from Robert Morris University and worked for many years as a nonprofit executive. In 2002, she received her law degree from Duquesne University and practiced law for many years. She lives in the borough with her wife and daughter, who attends Edgeworth Elementary.
Walls devotes her time to her family, and volunteers extensively with the Edgeworth Elementary HSA and other volunteer opportunities throughout the community.
The new leadership opportunities were made possible, in part, due to Kuzma’s departure.
The Leetsdale resident had been on the board since December 2013. He served as vice president in 2020 and as president since 2021.
His last meeting was Nov. 18.
Board members said Kuzma was a steady and calm leader, the opposite of grandstanding, and made pragmatic decisions for the betterment of the district.
Superintendent Tammy Andreyko said she is excited about the new year with the new board arrangements.
“We are thrilled to continue Daniela Helkowski’s leadership,” Andreyko said. “She has been a steady guiding hand as a vice president for the last few years. I’m excited to keep the work and momentum going with her. I think Mr. Barnes, his background in finance and facilities will be very important in these next few months as we move forward with the high school project.
“As we look through maintaining a very strong audit, a strong background in finance, I’m sure (district business manager Brooke) Baker will be able to lead our new treasurer into her new role. I think Mrs. Walls will do a great job and have many people with whom have served on that committee to lean on as she makes that transition.”
More information about the current board members is available on the district’s website.