Board hires new athletic director, discusses starting district swim program and scholarship outreach

The McKeesport Area School District board on March 12 recognized the long service of Athletic Director Charlie Kiss and approved a successor, Mr. Schaefer, who was in the audience and was congratulated by board members.

Board members praised Kiss's 23 years in the role and said Schaefer "stood above and beyond all the rest" during interviews. The transcript records the motion to approve the athletic-director appointment carried, and board members congratulated Schaefer in person.

Under new business members also discussed the possibility of starting a district-run swim program now that a Woodland Hills permit that covered 10 Saturdays is nearing expiration. Board members said they can begin a program seven days a week once control of the facility is established; they discussed recruiting volunteers and lifeguards and suggested forming a committee to develop a proposal for board consideration.

Separately, a board member expressed concern that too few eligible senior boys had applied for a $5,000 scholarship and urged staff to increase outreach to students and parents before the application deadline. The speaker said the scholarship is the largest single endowment the district gives and described it as character-based rather than solely academic.

Also during the meeting a board member addressed community reaction to Dick's Sporting Goods withdrawing from a partnership; the member defended board colleagues against public criticism and urged caution about airing internal deliberations publicly.

The board did not take final action immediately on starting a swim program; members indicated next steps would include forming a committee, drafting a program plan and returning to the board for approval.