New Kensington‑Arnold board approves hires, in‑house English‑learner plan and flag‑football pilot

The New Kensington‑Arnold School Board on Feb. 3 unanimously approved routine financial and personnel actions, adopted an in‑house English Learners (EL) plan through a French curtailment, and created a pilot flag football program for spring 2026.

Board members voted to authorize February payroll and payment of properly approved bills after receiving the treasurer’s report. The board recorded January payroll of $1,582,025.77 and approved bills totaling $2,966,335.08; reported cash balances included a General Fund balance of $2,345,549.59 and a PLGIT General Funds balance of $10,440,650.00.

The board approved several personnel motions including the hiring of Taylor Riazzi as a speech‑language pathologist and appointments for Brianna Eckenrode as a special education teacher (effective Aug. 18, 2025) and Amy Gouza as a food prep server at Roy A. Hunt Elementary. The board also awarded supplemental coaching contracts for the 2026–27 school year (for example, Mark Adams as varsity head football coach at $6,600) and appointed summer school and extended‑year staff with the compensation amounts listed in the agenda.

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Sefcheck announced that Roy A. Hunt received grant funding enabling 20 students to visit the NASA facility in Greenbelt, Maryland; "We got notification of grant funding today that our students will get to go on a luxury charter bus with their Teacher and three other adult chaperones," he said. The board also approved travel for administrators to professional conferences (RTM and MTSS) as presented.

On safety and compliance, the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Northern Westmoreland CTC to jointly employ a Director of Safety and Security to support implementation of the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act (Article XIII‑A of the Public School Code of 1949, 24 P.S. § 13‑1301‑A et seq.). Vo‑Tech cost‑sharing was noted: the CTC will pay 25% of the shared director’s cost.

The Education Committee’s recommendation to adopt a French curtailment plan and create in‑house EL programming was approved unanimously, moving the district toward an internal EL model. The superintendent outlined a four‑phase design‑team timeline that begins when school resumes, with an Education Committee presentation planned for April 29 and final board consideration in May.

Athletics and student activities received several approvals: the board authorized a district flag football program and creation of head and assistant positions for a modified spring test season, approved the annual Kennywood school picnic (May 30, 2026) and accepted a DECA volunteer. Building and Grounds chair Mr. Timothy Beckes also reported on facility work, noting the high school gym divider motor burned out and is being repaired and that auditorium doors are being installed; he praised district custodial staff after the recent snowstorm: "The Maintenance Department deserves some props."

Votes at a glance

- 2602140: Approve payroll, bills and treasurer report — approved unanimously (Jan. payroll $1,582,025.77; bills $2,966,335.08). - 2602141: Approve hiring of Taylor Riazzi (Speech & Language Pathologist) — approved unanimously. - 2602142: Appoint Brianna Eckenrode (Special Education) and Amy Gouza (Food Prep Server) — approved unanimously. - 2602143: Award supplemental coaching contracts for 2026–27 — approved unanimously (see agenda for full list and stipend amounts). - 2602144: Appoint and compensate summer school professional employees — approved unanimously. - 2602145: Award extended year contracts for professional staff — approved unanimously. - 2602146: Approve MOU with Northern Westmoreland CTC for shared Director of Safety and Security — approved unanimously (references Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act). - 2602147: Adopt PSBA Principles of Governance and Leadership — approved unanimously. - 2602148: Approve final reading of Policy 627 (Procurement Plan for School Food Authorities) — approved unanimously. - 2602149: Adopt French curtailment plan / create in‑house EL programming — approved unanimously. - 2602150 / 2602151: Approve superintendent/administrator conference attendance — approved unanimously. - 2602152 / 2602153: Table appointments to Westmoreland Intermediate Unit Board — motions to table approved unanimously. - 2602154: Approve Service Agreement and MOU with Good Samaritan Hospice (Hope’s Road Youth Bereavement Program) — approved unanimously. - 2602155: Create Flag Football Program and coaching positions (pilot) — approved unanimously. - 2602156: Approve Kennywood school picnic — approved unanimously. - 2602157: Approve volunteers (DECA) — approved unanimously.

Why it matters: The meeting moved several personnel and programmatic decisions off the agenda and into implementation, including a shift to in‑house EL services and a new shared safety director arrangement designed to meet state Safe Schools obligations. The unanimous votes indicate managerial continuity but do not preclude future debate at committee or board level as the realignment and EL implementation progress.

The board adjourned at 8:03 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.