North Allegheny School Board reorganizes

The North Allegheny School Board selected new leadership on Dec. 7 by electing Elizabeth Blackburn board president and Marcie Crow as vice president.

Blackburn will replace Richard McClure, who has served as president of the board for four years. Blackburn had been vice president.

“To become president is truly a blessing,” Blackburn said.

She said Pennsylvania is one of the few states that does not compensate its school board members, calling that a positive because it’s “truly volunteer.”

“We’re all volunteers. We’re up here because we want what’s best for North Allegheny,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn and board member Elizabeth Warner were each nominated for the president’s position. Blackburn won on a 6-3 vote, with yays from herself, Crow, McClure, Dr. Vidya Szymkowiak, Michael Weniger and Shannon Yeakel.

Warner received votes from herself, Leslie Britton-Dozier and Paige Hardy.

The voting took place at the annual school board reorganization meeting.

Crow was approved as vice president also on a 6-3 vote.

The president and vice president serve one-year terms.

Blackburn has served on the school board since 2011 and Crow and Warner both began serving in 2019. All three board members’ terms expire in 2023, along with Yeakel and Weniger.

Terms of McClure, Britton-Dozier, Hardy, and Szymkowiak will expire in 2025.

Crow also called it an “honor and privilege” to serve and said she’s excited for the coming year.

We “are determined to make the best decisions possible,” Crow said.

Committee chairs and board report liaisons were also established.

A new Policy Review Committee is being established this year to be chaired by Warner. It will review the many existing policies or those which may require a legal update.

The student school board representative from North Allegheny Senior High School will be senior Brendan White and from North Allegheny Intermediate High School, sophomore Architha Kamath.

The NA Honors Chamber Choir, under the direction of David Schmiech, performed after the reorganization.

The schedule for school board meetings is listed on the school district’s website at www.northallegheny.org. Meetings are held in the board room at the Central Administration Office at 200 Hillvue Lane.