Board approves security upgrades, closes East End Academy and accepts personnel slate

The McKeesport Area School District board on June 4 approved several agenda items by roll call, including a contract for security upgrades at the high school, the closure of East End Academy and routine personnel recommendations.

The board approved a contract award to Waller Corporation to complete security entrance upgrades and door hardware at McKeesport Area High School. The base contract price was announced as $692,800 with an alternate adding to a total contract price of $720,900. Superintendent and facilities staff said the work will be paid using a PCCD grant. The motion passed by roll call.

The board also voted to close East End Academy (the district’s alternative-education/expulsion-placement program) effective June 30, 2025. Board discussion before the vote focused on enrollment and cost. Board member remarks said operating costs for East End Academy are approximately $822,000 per year and that only nine students were projected to enroll in the alternative-education portion at the start of next school year.

Administrators told the board that placing those students in approved external programs (for example, AIU-approved placements) would cost roughly $10,000–$14,000 per student annually, and that avoiding the operating cost of the Academy this year would save the district roughly $500,000. Board members said no staff layoffs were planned; district officials said they would attempt to place affected employees into current vacancies where possible. The board approved the closure by roll call.

Finally, the board approved personnel recommendations as presented on the agenda and adjourned. No individual roll-call vote tallies with member-by-member yes/no were read into the public transcript; the meeting record shows motions, seconds, and that each motion “carried.”

Votes at a glance

- Contract award: Waller Corporation — Approved. Action: security vestibule and interior door/hardware upgrades at McKeesport Area High School. Contract total: $720,900 (base $692,800; alternate $28,100). Funding source: PCCD grant (as read into the agenda). Motion passed by roll call.

- East End Academy closure — Approved. Action: Close East End Academy (located inside McKeesport Area High School South Hall) effective 06/30/2025. Discussion noted operating cost ≈ $822,000/year; projected nine students for the coming year in the discipline/alternative-education program; estimated placement cost $10,000–$14,000 per student externally; estimated near-term savings ≈ $500,000. District stated there are vacancies and the administration intends to offer positions to affected staff. Motion passed by roll call.

- Personnel recommendations — Approved. Routine personnel slate presented and approved by roll call as the agenda listed.