Kuzma reappointed as Quaker Valley School Board president

New board members were sworn into the Quaker Valley School Board at its reorganization meeting on Dec. 7.

Members sworn in included Kuzma and Daniela Helkowski, both of Region 1; incumbent Kati Doebler, of Region 3; and newcomer Stratton Nash, of Region 2.

Both Kuzma and Marna Blackmer were selected to serve again as president and vice president, respectively, for a one-year term.

School board member Gianni Floro nominated Kuzma for the position.

“He’s kept us in check. He’s moved our business along and he wholeheartedly has my full support,” Floro said.

Kuzma also took time to provide a review on the new high school project, set to be located off of Camp Meeting Road, where the district purchased approximately 130 acres of land that straddles Leet, Edgeworth and Leetsdale.

He said final arguments were made on Nov. 30 for the Leet Township zoning hearings, which began on June 28.

At this point, the attorneys representing both sides are preparing briefs summarizing their cases. These briefs will be submitted by Jan. 10, and the Leet Township Zoning Board will meet Feb. 15 for deliberations, Kuzma said.

The new high school may cost anywhere between $85 to $95 million per a May 2020 cost estimate. The district completed significant community engagement sessions with architect BSHM/Bohlin Cywinski last month.

“We’ve come a long way as a board and a district over the past year. The district is poised to really make some significant progress in 2022 and beyond,” Kuzma said.

Kuzma provided perspective on the journey of the high school project, noting initial discussions with the board and administration started in 2002. He said that since then, four superintendents have passed through the district, 15 school boards were elected, 41 school board members served, and approximately 4,000 students graduated from Quaker Valley.

The current high school was built nearly 100 years ago and is in need of major modifications and upgrades. The district came to the conclusion that no modernization of the current building will allow it to effectively meet the needs of QVHS students, according to the QV website.

Kuzma said none of this would have been possible without the passion from the community, which continues to seek engagement and conversations on the project.

“There’s going to be more coming in the very near future,” said Kuzma, adding to “check” mailboxes for news.

Floro, who serves as committee chair for facilities and operations, acknowledged the hard work of the project committees, administration and others, and encouraged them to stay the course.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

The district hopes to break ground in 2022 with the school opening in 2025, according to Kuzma.

Board member Jeffrey Watters said community members should visit the district website for updates and extensive information on the high school project and to reach out to the board and administration if they still have questions.

Other meeting items included the board appointment of Don Palmer, Esquire, of Goehring, Rutter Boehm, as the solicitor for the District for the term of one year, for a retainer of $700 per month at $160 per hour.