Schools

Moon Area School District Buys Bradley Drive Property

Residents speak out against the board's purchase and its approval of personnel contracts.

The approved the purchase of property at 111 Bradley Drive as well as a list of undisclosed personnel items, drawing criticism from members of the public.

Outgoing board members also made departing remarks Monday night during the board’s final televised meeting of its current term, with each recalling their service on the board.  

Board members Rosemarie Varsanik, Lisa Wolowicz, James Donohue and President Mark Scappe their re-election bids in the general election last week. Board member Nicholas Pollack was defeated in April’s municipal primary, and board member Mark Ulven did not seek re-election.

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Residents who attended the meeting denounced the board's passage of several items listed in general terms on the agenda, including real estate transactions and personnel contracts.

Board members would not disclose specific costs or identify the employees involved. Residents said the board should have deferred decisions on those matters to newly elected school board members, who will begin their terms in January.

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Board members approved the purchase of a residential property at 111 Bradley Drive near the district’s University Boulevard campus, but they would not comment during the meeting on the price paid for the property or its intended use.

Allegheny County property records list the property’s value at $109,000. Various online real estate listings advertise the property's value at upwards of $131,000.

School solicitor Jack Cambest said he would not comment on the cost of the three-bedroom home and surrounding property until the sale had been consummated.

“I wasn’t going to speak tonight,” said Moon resident Joseph D’Andrea, who serves on the Moon Township Planning Commission . “But why are we buying this property? Is it a piece of land? Is it a structure? Ten pine trees? This is public knowledge.”

Cambest told D’Andrea that he may request a copy of the contract after the sale is final.

Board member Jerry Testa said the property may be used in a variety of ways, including as a storage area.

The board also approved a list of personnel items without disclosing specific details or costs of those items. Ulven, who voted against a specific personnel item presented to the board, addressed one of the items as the renewal of a staff member’s contract. The board did not publicly name the employee whose contract was renewed.  

“My vote was 'No' only because I did believe that coming in here, it was a decision that should be deferred to the next board,” Ulven said.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the things she has done for this district,” said Ulven, looking toward Superintendent Donna Milanovich, whose contract expires June 30. “And her determination to help every student in the district achieve academically.”

Milanovich’s contract contains a provision requiring a year’s notice if her contract will not be renewed.

Crescent Township resident Brian Morrow asked board members to table personnel matters and the property purchase until new board members are seated.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate that you spend a half-million dollars with the results of the election last week,” Morrow said.

“Any large purchases should be tabled until the new board makes those purchases,” he said.

Other items of interest from the meeting:

  • The board approved a series of first and final readings of revised policies, including employment of the superintendent, school bus driver hiring, behavior support policy, and the employment of substitute educators and student teachers, among others. 
  • The board awarded a bid for an athletic fields alterations project to at the bid price of $252,556. The project will include the construction of dugouts, pitchers mounds and fencing, among other items, to the district’s softball and baseball fields.
  • The board purchased two Kubota tractors with plows from Murphy Family Inc. for a total cost of $17,506.94.  The tractors are replacing equipment used by the district, said maintenance director Jim Heck.
  • The board approved the purchase of a new Ford F-350 truck with a plow and spreader from Day Ford Inc. via the Central Westmoreland Council of Governments cooperative purchasing agreement at a cost of $41,423.
  • The board approved a proposal from Joe Aiello Flooring to replace carpet at Bon Meade Elementary at a cost of $18,625.  

 


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