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Sto‑Rox board approves new assistant principal, dean of students and awards Foster School bid
Summary
The Sto‑Rox board approved hiring Dr. Thomas Iaquenta (assistant principal) and Dr. Darnell Shahid (dean of students), awarded the Foster School building bid to DH3 Ventures LLC for $250,000, accepted donations and approved routine consent items.
The Sto‑Rox School District board approved several personnel hires and routine business items at its meeting, including two administrative hires and the award of a former school building to a private bidder.
Hires: The board voted to hire Dr. Thomas Iaquenta as assistant principal at the junior/senior high school under an Act 93 contract, effective 11/03/2025 pending completion of required paperwork. The motion passed 7–0. Dr. Iaquenta told the board he is "here for the kids" and described experience as a former alternative‑school principal, Spanish‑language fluency and a military background.
The board also unanimously approved hiring Dr. Darnell Shahid as dean of students (MA+60 plus the dean stipend), effective 11/03/2025 pending paperwork. Dr. Shahid said he was motivated to join the district to "build up the community" and strengthen student‑community relationships.
Property and procurement: The board awarded the bid to purchase the Steven C. Foster School building (800 Russellwood Ave., McKees Rocks) to DH3 Ventures LLC for $250,000; that motion passed 7–0. The board accepted several consent items bundled across the meeting, including approval of various financial and operational matters and personnel actions.
Finance and donations: Mr. Reed explained that the month’s larger bills reflect reconciliation of last year’s charter school bills and multiple months of transportation billing that were recently received. The board accepted donations noted in the agenda, including $20.30 from the Greater McKees Rocks Rotary for a choir dinner and $4,350.82 raised for the Sto‑Rox athletic department volleyball team.
Other actions: The board approved renewal of the district’s athletic accident policy (excess medical limits noted in the packet as $600,000 with a 10‑year benefit period) and approved an AIU MOU for TransPerfect/Google translating services covering 01/05/2026–01/27/2027 as presented on the agenda.
Votes at a glance: • Consent items A1–B1 (bundled) — passed, 7–0. • Award Foster School bid to DH3 Ventures LLC for $250,000 — passed, 7–0. • Personnel bundles (multiple G, I items) — passed, 7–0. • Hire Dr. Thomas Iaquenta (assistant principal) — passed, 7–0 (effective 11/03/2025 pending paperwork). • Hire Dr. Darnell Shahid (dean of students) — passed, 7–0 (effective 11/03/2025 pending paperwork).
Student report: Student representative Jay Ellerby provided a fall activities update, noting PBIS incentives, a mental health fall fest, attendance incentives (seventh grade at 89% reported attendance), PSAT testing for juniors and upcoming trips to the builder’s guild for grades 6–12.
The meeting concluded with committee comments on safety and technology readiness and scheduling announcements for the district’s next joint meeting and the December reorganization meeting.
