Chartiers Valley officials: Staffing, education have bright outlook for school year

Chartiers Valley School District officials say an aggressive, early retirement incentive resulted in no furloughs and a positive staffing outlook this school year.

“Contrary to published reports of mass furloughs, the board and administration implemented this strategic initiative to address ongoing fiscal challenges while maintaining our commitment to high-quality education,” said Superintendent Daniel Castagna.

“Thanks to these retirements and a comprehensive realignment of staffing needs across all buildings and grade levels, the district is proud to report that no furloughs will be necessary. More than $7 million was cut from the budget, taxes were not raised and no jobs were lost.”

Thirty-one teachers opted to retire at the end of last school year. The district will welcome 18 new teachers for this upcoming school year. In total, Chartiers Valley will employ 231 teachers at the start of this school year, according to the district.

“This outcome reflects a thoughtful, student-centered approach to long-term planning,” Castagna said. “We are proud to have proposed a budget that addressed a $7 million deficit left unaddressed by prior administrations, all without raising taxes or compromising educational quality. We thank our retiring educators for their years of service and commend our administrative team for executing a smooth transition that preserves morale and instructional continuity.”

Chartiers Valley officials said in a statement that the district is focused on improving academic achievement, integrating STEM and raising test scores “to reflect the high-quality teaching taking place across our schools.”

Principals across the district will spend more time in classrooms, officials say, observing instruction, monitoring student engagement and providing feedback to teachers. Doing so will “help ensure that every classroom remains a place where teachers teach, students learn, and progress is constantly supported.”

School Board President Darren Mariano said: “This is a win for students, staff and taxpayers. We avoided furloughs, maintained class size targets in many areas and are welcoming a new generation of educators to Chartiers Valley.

“That said, we recognize that class sizes at the Primary and Intermediate Schools still need to be addressed. As we plan for future growth, it’s essential to prioritize reducing class sizes — especially in the early grades — where research clearly shows a direct impact on student learning and success. We remain committed to making progress in this area.”