North Allegheny School District

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North Allegheny School District
District type Public
Religious affiliation None
Location North of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Enrollment 2005-2006 Approx. 8,041 students
Grades K-12
District location Suburban
District Mascot Tiger
District colors Black and Gold
Average Class Size 23

North Allegheny School District (NA or NASD) is located about 12 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It serves an area of 48 square miles, including Marshall Township, the Town of McCandless, and the boroughs of Bradford Woods and Franklin Park. Not only is the district the largest suburban school district in Allegheny County, but it is also one of the largest employers in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, employing over 1,000.

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[edit] The North Allegheny School District

The North Allegheny School District is regarded as one of the best public school systems in the state of Pennsylvania. North Allegheny has an exceptionally strong academic reputation and regularly scores above statewide and national averages on standardized tests. 63% of its professional staff possesses either a masters degree or a doctorate. Its budget for the 2005-2006 school year was $104,670,122, or $12,269 per student. The school district is one of the top 100 employers in the North Hills section of Allegheny County. The school district houses 7 elementary schools, three middle schools, one intermediate high schools (grades 9-10), and one senior high school (grades 11-12).

[edit] Athletics, facilities, and activities

The school district offers 24 varsity sports. During the 2004-2005 school year, nine of these sports took WPIAL titles, 18 took section titles, one took a PIAA title. Additionally, the inline hockey team won the 2005 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Roller Hockey League "Penguin Cup".

The 2005-2006 school year heralded the following WPIAL wins for the Tigers: Cross-Country, Swimming, and Softball, in addition to a PIRHL championship for Inline Hockey.

In the 2006-2007 School Year, North Allegheny's Cross-Country and Field Hockey teams both won the WPIAL, with Cross-Country placing 5th in the PIAA. Winter sports such as Gymnastics and Swimming also captured WPIAL titles, with Swimming taking 3rd in the PIAA. In addition, the Ice Hockey team captured the WPIHL and PIHL Championships. For the 2007 Spring, Boy's Volleyball took the WPIAL Championship.

The 2007-2008 has thusfar resulted in two WPIAL Titles: Boys Cross-Country and Field Hockey. The 2007 North Allegheny Varsity football team was undefeated until the semifinal round of the WPIAL AAAA playoffs. The Tigers lost to Gateway 28-27 in OT after a two-point conversion fell inches short. The conversion would have won the game for the Tigers and sent them to the finals for the first time since 1998. They last won WPIALs and states in 1990.

North Allegheny's primary athletic rival is neighboring district North Hills, and this rivalry has often become extremely intense.

The school district owns Newman Stadium which seats 7,500, and a $5.1 million multi-purpose athletic facility called the Baierl Center. In addition, North Allegheny has 31 playing fields, a 6-lane 25 yard pool, 2 400 meter tracks, and 14 tennis courts.

North Allegheny also has an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) unit.

Schools in the District include:

[edit] Academics

Six of the district's schools (both high schools, all three middle schools, and an elementary school) have received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award. The Senior High School offers 17 Advanced Placement courses, and both high schools offer a combined 32 honors courses. The class of 2006 had 12 National Merit Finalists.

[edit] Transportation

North Allegheny is also unique in that it owns its own transportation fleet based at the Marshall campus and the NA Transportation Department on Hillvue Lane. Their fleet transports over 9,200 students to 16 different schools and consists of 128 vehicles used to pick up students living throughout the district.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Disapproval of Superintendent

North Allegheny's superintendent, Dr. Patricia Green, was the source of some controversy in July 2005. 15-year school board veteran Jim Beierle abruptly resigned, saying he did not want to be a part of offering Green a contract extension. "I don't think she knows what she's budgeting," said Beierle. "I don't agree with her vision, the way she handles students and staff, the curriculum and her leadership in general." However, School Board President Maureen Grosheider disagreed, explaining, "I think the superintendent has done ... what we've asked her to do -- to focus on curriculum and instruction."[6]

[edit] Student website critical of District

A number of students made news when they opened a website entitled North Allegheny Sucks during the 2004-2005 school year.[7] The website featured a forum, attacked various policies of the School District, and allowed students to rate teachers. When North Allegheny administrators attempted to discover who was involved in the website's development, the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union warned North Allegheny that "they don't have a right to investigate these kids". The ACLU further explained that, "If they start threatening kids to identify the webmaster, they're setting themselves on a collision course with a lawsuit." [8]The site is now offline.

[edit] Teacher/student sex scandal

In early January 2007, a member of North Allegheny's English department, Mrs. Julie Stimmel, was accused of having sexual relations with a student at the North Allegheny Senior High School. Stimmel resigned from her position, and the family of the student involved is not pressing charges.[9]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Hart, Melissa A.. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2007-06-20.
  2. ^ a b Knavish, Brian. "The Clarks still like rockin' in the North Hills", McKnight Journal, Trib Total Media, 2005-12-15. Retrieved on 2007-01-17. 
  3. ^ White, Mike. "Tradition of Western Pennsylvania quarterbacks continues", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PG Publishing Co., 2005-08-26. Retrieved on 2007-01-25. 
  4. ^ Wilson, P.F. "Game Show Over", Pittsburgh City Paper, 2005-03-24. Retrieved on 2007-01-17. 
  5. ^ Machosky, Mike. "NA grad takes director's chair in 3rd 'Shrek'", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Tribune Review Publishing Company, 2007-05-18. Retrieved on 2007-06-20. 
  6. ^ Kerlik, Bobby. "16-year board member quits", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Tribune-Review Publishing Company, 2005-07-15. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. 
  7. ^ McConnell Schaarsmith, Amy; Sally Kalson. "As if teens don't talk enough, now there are blogs", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2005-03-27. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. 
  8. ^ Kerlik, Bobby. "Vent site stirring district concern", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Trib North, Tribune-Review Publishing Company, 2005-03-24. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. 
  9. ^ http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_490179.html Pittsburghlive.com

[edit] External links