Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education held its August 13, 2024 business meeting at the High School Auditorium, called to order by the president. Before the meeting, the board met in executive session over personnel and legal issues. The vice-president asked the board to acknowledge only union comments as the collective teacher voice. Community members spoke extensively, mostly urging the board to keep all five elementary schools open.

The board approved the June 10 and June 24 minutes and the August financial reports, and approved the bills. In personnel, it accepted the resignations of five employees, plus the retirements of two employees. It approved new hires including four individuals, along with cafeteria, custodial, and special-education assistant positions, and various leaves of absence. It also approved volunteer and head coaches, activity sponsors, event workers, internal movements, and authorized the superintendent to fill additional positions before the August 26 meeting.

The board's headline action was approving Resolution No. 2024-5 to close Richard J. Hyde Elementary School, effective May 31, 2025. The motion passed with four directors voting against: Zieger, Simmons, Gill, and White. Simmons argued for more reading and ELL specialists rather than closures, while Zieger expressed disappointment. The board approved the 2024-2025 meeting dates, a CEC geotechnical proposal for the middle/high school campus funded by a bond issue, and a Typing.com subscription. It approved an updated workers' compensation panel (White abstained for conflict), a Kelly Services staffing addendum, a Title I non-public agreement with AIU 3, a field rental with Friends of Pittsburgh Professional Soccer, and educational-services agreements with Assist Services, The Bradley Center, The School at McGuire Memorial, and The Watson Institute/WISCA. It approved the MAHS Choir's operation request and a Disney World field trip. The board passed second and third readings of revised PSBA/MASD policies and approved conferences for two employees. In closing, the board clarified it had not approved the bond and that the future of the elementary school remains undecided, with possible redistricting ahead. The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.