 Back to School -
North
By Karen. Neuman
Here is a look at what students will see at their districts this year.

Allegheny Valley
OPENS: Aug. 31
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 1,350
WHAT'S NEW: The new jewel in the Allegheny Valley crown is the track and field complex
at Springdale High School. The $8.5 million project included renovations to the high
school completed last year. The track will be ready for the spring season while the soccer
team will begin playing on a new field next fall.
Data coordinator Matt Little's districtwide network comes on-line this fall, linking
all schools. The primary school has a new computer lab, and the high school lab has new
computers and software.
William Mitas has been hired to direct all musical productions.

Avonworth
OPENS: Sept. 3
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 1,317
WHAT'S NEW: For the first time, Avonworth Junior High Students can be Antelopes - that
is, they can play football in the new program being offered.
Avonworth High School will have its first assistant principal. Six teachers and an
elementary school principal also are being sought to replace retiring staff members, so
almost 10 percent of Avonworth's 76 teachers will be new faces.

Butler Area
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 8,700
WHAT'S NEW: Connoquenessing Elementary School is completely renovated and has
additional classroom and activity space. Summit Township, Clearfield Township and
McQuistion Elementary School renovations also will be completed this year.
Butler Area High School by summer 2000 will have a newly renovated math/science wing,
gym, pool, television studio and auditorium. Construction gets under way this year, to be
completed by the end of the 1999-2000 school year.
Superintendent Edward Fink says he hopes to improve communication with parents through
better report cards, parent math nights, science fairs and exhibition nights.

Deer Lakes
OPENS: Aug. 31 for grades seven-12, Sept. 8 for kindergarten-6th grade
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 2,200
WHAT'S NEW: "We are standing pat on curriculum this year," said
Superintendent Joel Carr.
The school does have a $16.5 million construction project under way. The 1998-99 school
year will be the last for seventh- and eighth-graders to attend Deer Lakes High School
before moving to the new middle school opening in September 1999.
Renovations to East Union Elementary and Curtisville Elementary will be complete in
January.

Fox Chapel Area
OPENS: Aug. 24
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 4,563
WHAT'S NEW: Fox Chapel Area High School's first football game this year will be played
in the new stadium, and a new field house should be completed shortly thereafter. For the
younger students, all buildings have new playground equipment.
Dorseyville Middle School assistant principal Rox Serrao becomes principal this year,
succeeding retired Robert Chiappetta. A new assistant principal will be appointed later
this month.

Freedom Area
OPENS: Aug. 31
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 1,900
WHAT'S NEW: The Freedom Area School District will invest $14 million to renovate its
middle school and high school buildings. About $280,000 is earmarked for technological
improvements including new computers and telephones, plus wiring for network capabilities.
Assistant Superintendent Ron Sofo said increased energy efficiency, handicapped access
and security also are primary goals of the construction projects. "We look forward to
maintaining a positive safety record in all buildings and working with the community to do
so," said Sofo.
Dan Matsook was named acting high school principal, and Robert Gallagher will fill
Matsook's former position as assistant principal. Gallagher was the instructional support
teacher at the middle school.

Hampton
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 3,125
WHAT'S NEW: About $2 million in improvements to the Fridley Field complex means the
Talbots will play football on a new field this year. A thousand new seats and an
all-weather track also were added to the complex.
Cheryl Griffith replaces retiring Gerald Goga as Central Elementary School principal.
The board will appoint Griffith's replacement at Poff Elementary later this month.
The district administrative center and business annex have moved from Central
Elementary School to new offices located on the third floor at 5316 Route 8 in Gibsonia.
The new telephone number is 724-449-8888.
"One of our main goals this year is to integrate technology into our
curriculum," said Assistant Superintendent Lawrence Kortchnack. The curriculum for
math and science is currently under review for all grades.

Highlands
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 3,300
WHAT'S NEW: Major technological advances mark the start of the new school year at
Highlands. The high school and four elementary schools each have new computer labs. All
schools will be networked together and linked to the Internet.
The district will highlight the state School-to-Work program throughout this school
year. "Making every student knowledgeable about the world of work is the goal,"
said Superintendent Louis Baldassare.

Mars Area
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 2,500
WHAT'S NEW: Three teachers at the elementary school, one at the middle school, and one
teacher plus a guidance counselor at the high school will be added due to an enrollment
increase of 85 students.
Superintendent William Pettigrew said he will introduce ninth- and 10th-graders to
career opportunities at a career day sponsored by the Cranberry Chamber of Commerce. He
also will add a second set of parent-teacher conferences in March to keep parents better
informed about student progress and problems.
Three new construction projects begin this year, including the new primary center, to
house kindergarten through second grade at a cost of $9 million.

North Allegheny
OPENS: Aug. 27
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 8,400
WHAT'S NEW: The big news for North Allegheny students is smaller classes. Six teachers
have been added at the secondary level, so class size should drop from an average 28-29 to
25-26. The district also will keep four teachers on staff at the elementary level who
could have been furloughed due to shifting enrollment, bringing the class size average
down to 23.
A new wide-area network links all 13 schools and provides Internet access. "With a
single source you can put up fire walls to keep students out of inappropriate areas (on
the Internet.) The same software will be available on all computers, and parents will be
able to contact teachers via e-mail," said Superintendent Lawrence Bozzomo.
About $40 million in renovations to the Peebles, Hosack, Franklin, Ingomar and McKnight
elementary schools will be completed this year.

North Hills
OPENS: Sept. 8
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 5,028
WHAT'S NEW: West View Elementary and North Hills Junior High will open for the first
day of school after $20.5 million in renovations, said district spokesperson Barb Hecht.
New classrooms and a wide-area network connecting all nine buildings in the district
are ready for returning students. A new phone system also was installed, so parents should
call 412-318-1000 for phone number information.
Joseph Belotti joins North Hills Junior High as principal, and Amy Mathieu will be
principal at McIntyre Elementary School.

Northgate
OPENS: Sept. 8
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 1,700
WHAT'S NEW: Though school officially begins Sept. 8, seniors will attend a half-day
session Sept. 4 on setting career goals and being role models for the student body.
District staff members will complete a review of the language arts curriculum for all
grades by January, comparing it to new state standards and evaluating possible revisions
and new course offerings. Superintendent James Manley says a similar study of the math
curriculum should be completed by June 1999.
Former assistant principal John Wilkinson replaces retired G.A. Caldwell as principal
of the high school, while William Hand from Highlands School District becomes assistant
principal.

Pine-Richland
OPENS: Aug. 31
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 3,092
WHAT'S NEW: District spokeswoman Judy Boren says Wexford Elementary School has doubled
in size, and will open for the first day of school.
Kathleen Harrington is the new principal at the middle school, with former teacher
Laura Davis as assistant principal.
The district will offer Russian 2 for the first time; Russian 1 was offered last year.

Quaker Valley
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 1,850
WHAT'S NEW: "There are endless possibilities," said district spokeswoman
Fazio about the new cable television channel at Quaker Valley. "I hope it will
strengthen bonds with the community." Initially a list of district information and
events will scroll across the channel. Eventually board meetings and even musicals can be
televised.
Edgeworth Elementary school offers a new full-day kindergarten program for students
needing extra attention. After attending regular kindergarten in the morning the students
will stay for a special afternoon program.
A new instructional support teacher at the middle school will help pupils with academic
problems, and James Walls will be the first full-time gifted program facilitator at the
high school.

Seneca Valley
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 7,376
WHAT'S NEW: A $132,000 Link-to-Learn grant will fund the new wide-area network linking
the schools. District spokeswoman Linda Andreassi says students will take "virtual
field trips" using the Internet and a satellite communications link.
"This (technology) will take us well into the 21st century," said Andreassi.
The secondary campus has new tennis courts, and the new middle school which opened last
year is now complete.

Shaler Area
OPENS: Sept. 2
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 5,700
WHAT'S NEW: The new intermediate school opens this year for about 1,000 incoming
eighth- and ninth-graders.
Of $3.7 million spent upgrading technology, $2.5 million went for centralized hardware
while $800,000 went to purchase new computers for students. Superintendent Donald Lee said
every classroom would have Internet access, and each teacher would have an e-mail address.
A districtwide effort will be aimed at reducing drop-outs and helping youths in trouble
with the law. Allegheny County will have a probation officer based in the district, and
alternative education will be offered at the high school. "We want to assist them in
being productive in school," said Lee.

South Butler
OPENS: Aug. 26
ESTIMATED ENROLLMENT: 3,002
WHAT'S NEW: The middle school has six new classrooms plus new facilities for art, music
and science, and a new cafeteria. The completed addition came in under budget at $1.06
million, school officials said.
The Butler County sheriff will assist district administration in training professional
staff in new safety and security procedures; this follows an extensive internal review.
District spokesman Todd O'Shell said safety also was a primary concern in designing the
newly paved auxiliary student parking lot with 50 additional spaces.

Karen Neuman is a free-lance writer
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