Moon Area School District

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Moon Area School District
Map of Allegheny County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Address
8353 University Boulevard
Moon Township
, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 15108
United States
Coordinates40°29′35″N 80°11′49″W / 40.493°N 80.197°W / 40.493; -80.197Coordinates: 40°29′35″N 80°11′49″W / 40.493°N 80.197°W / 40.493; -80.197
District information
TypePublic
GradesK–12
Established1932
SuperintendentBarry Balaski
Schools7
NCES District ID4215830[1]
Students and staff
Students3,900
Teachers180
District mascotTigers
ColorsRed and White
   
Other information
Schedule
  • High School: 7:30-2:15
  • Middle School: 7:50-2:40
  • Elementary: 8:30-3:10
Websitewww.moonarea.net

The Moon Area School District is located about 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It serves a portion of the West Hills/Airport Area and comprises Crescent and Moon townships, which include unincorporated villages such as Glenwillard, Wireton, Coraopolis Heights, Thorn Hollow, West Coraopolis, Carnot, Thorn Run Valley, and Mooncrest. Moon Area School District encompasses approximately 31 square miles. The district's administration offices are located inside Moon Area High School, at 8353 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108.

Moon Area School District Facilities[]

The district currently manages seven schools:

  • Central Admin - inside Moon High
  • Allard Elementary (grades K-4) - located in western Moon Township, 170 Shafer Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
  • Hyde Elementary (grades K-4) - located in eastern Moon Township, 110 Wallridge Drive, Moon Township, PA 15108
  • Brooks Elementary (grades K-4) - located in Coraopolis Heights, 1720 Hassam Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
  • Bon Meade Elementary (grades K-4) - located in Bon Meade, on the Beaver County line, 1595 Brodhead Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
  • McCormick Elementary (grades K-4) - located 5 miles south of Moon, 2801 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
  • Moon Area Middle School (grades 5-8) - located in Moon, 904 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, PA 15108
  • Moon Area High School (grades 9-12) - located in Moon, 8353 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108

Academic Achievement[]

Senior High School: PSSA Results

11th Grade Reading

2009 – 60% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 65% of 11th graders on grade level.[2]
2008 – 61%, State – 65%
2007 – 65%, State – 65%

11th Grade Math:

2009 – 57% on grade level. In Pennsylvania, 56% of 11th graders are on grade level.[3]
2008 – 54%, State – 56%
2007 – 52%, State – 53%

11th Grade Science:

2009 – 37% on grade level. State: 40% of 11th graders were on grade level.
2008 – 42%[4]

Middle school[]

In 2009, the 8th grade was ranked 102nd out of 141 western Pennsylvania middle schools based on three years of student academic achievement in PSSAs in: reading, math writing and one year of science.[5] (Includes schools in: Allegheny County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Westmoreland County, and Washington County

Statewide PSSA Rankings[]

High School PSSA standardized tests are administered statewide to public high schools. Moon's rankings are as follows:[6]

  • 2017- 45th of 659
  • 2016- 17th
  • 2015- 23rd
  • 2014- 20th
  • 2013- 17th

In the news[]

Construction Controversy[]

Moon Area School Board members, in 2004, voted to undertake a massive renovation project of the school district's middle school and high school campus.[7] The construction, set to begin after the 2005–06 school year, prompted district residents to elect a new majority of school board members opposed to the construction plans.[8] The plan was halted in 2006 after a 5–4 school board vote.[9]

The new plan calls for building a new high school and renovating the current high school, making it the new middle school.[10]

The school earned a poor grade, a "D-" according to Sunshine Review's transparency checklist, for not disclosing information on the school's website.[11]

District Employee Contracts[]

In March 2007, Moon Area School Board approved a five-year contract for the district's support staff. The new contract included an increase of 2.85 percent and the support staff members must now pay part of their health care benefits.[12]

Teacher strike, eventual contract (2010–2011)[]

In November 2010, Moon Area School District teachers went on strike for three weeks before returning to the classroom.[13]

In June 2011, Moon Area School Board members approved a five-year contract with the teachers union that included no raise the first year and for salary increases as follows in the next four years of the deal: 4 percent, 3.2 percent, 4.5 percent and 4.4 percent.[14]

School board votes to furlough at least 20 staff members[]

Without any warning, Moon Area School Board members voted, 7–2, to furlough at least 20 staff members in June 2011.[15]

Moon Area School Board votes to put superintendent on administrative leave, Auditor General called in to evaluate[]

On December 8, 2015, the Moon Area School Board voted to put superintendent Curt Baker on administrative leave. Board president Jerry Testa stated, "We made decisions we felt where in the best interest of the district." After the vote, Dr. Donna K. Milanovich became the new Moon Area School District's interim superintendent.[16]

In February 2017 Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale released an audit of MASD that covered July 2012 - June 2015. He characterized the report by saying it "shows the lack of oversight and poor judgment of the former board of directors and former superintendent resulted in unchecked spending, wasted tax dollars, and actions that could have put students at risk."[17]  

District in the spotlight[]

Given the district's location to the Pittsburgh International Airport and access to the city, many of the school's students, faculty and buildings have been thrust into the spotlight.

The school's marching band has, at times, performed at the airport for presidential visits.

Some notable spotlights include:

  • Scenes from the 1979 movie The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh were shot in the gym at the high school.
  • President Gerald Ford made a surprise visit to Moon a day after pardoning President Richard M. Nixon on Sept. 9, 1974.[18]
  • A day after grabbing the Democratic nod for president, then-Vice President Al Gore held a rally at the school's gym on March 16, 2000.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Moon Area School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  2. ^ Moon Senior High School Academic Achievement Report Card 2009
  3. ^ 2009 PSSAs: Reading, Math, Writing and Science Results by Grade and School
  4. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education Report on Science PSSA 2008 August 2008.
  5. ^ The Rankings: Eighth grade, Pittsburgh Business Times, May 15, 2009.
  6. ^ EL. "Moon Senior High..." Schooldigger.com. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Gigler, Dan (May 12, 2004). "Board OKs school project". post-gazette.com. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
  8. ^ Gigler, Dan (November 10, 2005). "Building project anger wins day". post-gazette.com. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
  9. ^ Gigler, Dan (April 27, 2006). "Moon tosses out all contracts for high school". post-gazette.com. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
  10. ^ "Moon Area moves ahead with McCormick Elementary plans". The Times. UK. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  11. ^ Your Moon Township, MASD Board of Education gets D-, June 7, 2010
  12. ^ "Board gives support service staff contract final approval". yourmoontownship.com. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  13. ^ "All Moon Area students to return to classrooms Monday". triblive.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Deal for Moon teachers called compromise". triblive.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "At least 20 Moon Area staff positions eliminated". yourmoontwp.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  16. ^ "Moon Area board says little on superintendent being put on leave, CFO's departure". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  17. ^ "Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General -Auditor General DePasquale Says Moon Area School District Former Board, Former Superintendent Failed Students, Taxpayers". www.paauditor.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Majors, Dan (December 28, 2006). "In wake of Nixon pardon, Ford visited Pittsburgh". post-gazette.com. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
  19. ^ O'Toole, James (March 16, 2000). "Gore, in Moon, asks if Bush is qualified". post-gazette.com. Retrieved February 18, 2007.

External links[]

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