Chartiers Valley board accepts superintendent resignation; interim leadership named as district faces $3.4M gap

The Chartiers Valley School District board on Feb. 27 accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Johannah Vanatta, effective Feb. 26, 2024, and approved interim leadership arrangements while the board determines a search process for her replacement.

Board President Dr. Darren Mariano read a statement thanking Vanatta for her service and outlining immediate leadership steps: "Going forward, Mrs. Julie Franczyk, our Assistant Superintendent will direct Education while Mrs. Connelly, our Director of Finance and Operations, will concentrate on all other aspects of the school district. We hope this will help with transitioning as the board decides on how best to proceed regarding searching for a new superintendent." The board approved the resignation on a voice vote.

The resignation came as district finance staff reported a projected $3.4 million deficit for the coming budget year. Director of Finance and Operations Pat Connolly told the board the district is exploring ways to balance the budget, including offering an early retirement incentive for members of the Chartiers Valley Federation of Teachers (CVFT). The board voted to approve that early retirement incentive at the same meeting.

In addition to the retirement incentive, the board approved routine grants, donations and contract actions intended to keep operations running. Approved items included small donations to playground and life-skills programs, a $750 Kids of Steel grant and a $2,000 United Way grant. The board also authorized advertising a request for proposals for contracted waste disposal services and approved a construction manager contract with CHC Enterprises Corporation.

One vote drew recorded dissent: the Construction Payments Report for Feb. 13, 2024, was approved on a voice vote with an 8–Yes, 1–No tally; Mr. Jeff Choura cast the lone No vote. The remainder of motions on the agenda passed by unanimous voice votes.

Public commenters addressed several related concerns during the meeting’s public comment periods. Laura Kelley spoke during the agenda-item comment period on the superintendent’s resignation. Later, non‑agenda commenters raised questions about booster-run concession operations (Gina Filippone), board directors entering schools during session and Policy 000/Code 002 (Emily Marko), the superintendent’s resignation and live-streaming meetings (Samantha Folmer), and the question of clearances for board members entering schools (Thomas Rubritz).

The board set the next workshop meeting for March 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Parkway West Career and Technology Center. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.