McKeesport Area SD board appoints Josh Lefkowitz to fill vacant seat through December reorganization

The McKeesport Area School District Board of Directors voted unanimously May 8 to appoint Josh Lefkowitz to the vacant school director seat created by the resignation of Dan Gogenaar.

Board members said the appointment fills the seat only through the district’s December reorganization. The motion to consider Lefkowitz was made and seconded during the meeting; board members then approved the appointment by voice vote.

Board members described deliberations leading to the nomination as driven by a desire to avoid perceived favoritism toward current electoral candidates. Several directors said they preferred selecting someone not actively running for election to prevent appearance of political advantage. Members also cited Lefkowitz’s prior attendance at meetings and his stated interest in district finances and ethics as reasons for support. One board member described Lefkowitz’s background in financial review and auditing as an asset for the board’s work on bidding and fiscal oversight.

Board members discussed the limited duration of the appointment and the board’s responsibility to fill the seat before turning to the courts if they could not reach a decision. One member noted the appointment runs only until the December reorganization, meaning the appointee’s term is short.

No formal minority- or demographic-specific candidate pool was reported; one member said she would have liked to see more minority candidates apply. Multiple members urged that the board treat the short appointment period fairly and not hold the appointee to long-term expectations.

Outcome: The board approved the appointment; meeting minutes record the motion carried unanimously by voice vote.