Moon Area School District

The Moon Area School District is located about 20 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 High, at 8353 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108.

Moon Area School District
Address
8353 University Boulevard
Moon Township
, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 15108
United States
Coordinates40°29′35″N 80°11′49″W
District information
TypePublic
GradesK–12
Established1932
SuperintendentBarry Balaski
Schools7
NCES District ID4215830[1]
Students and staff
Students3,000
Teachers180
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

Moon Area School District Facilities

The district currently manages six schools:

  • Central Admin - inside Moon High; Phone: (412) 264-9440
  • Allard Elementary (grades K-4) - located in western Moon Township, 170 Shafer Road, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (412) 262-2500.
  • Hyde Elementary (grades K-4) - located in eastern Moon Township, 110 Wallridge Drive, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (412) 262-2700.
  • Brooks Elementary (grades K-4) - located in Coraopolis Heights, 1720 Hassam Road, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (412) 264-6540.
  • Bon Meade Elementary (grades K-4) - located in Bon Meade, on the Beaver County line, 1595 Brodhead Road, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (724) 457-7471.
  • McCormick Elementary (grades K-4) - located 5 miles south of Moon, 2801 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (412) 893-0421
  • Moon Area Middle School (grades 5-8) - located in Moon, 904 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (412) 262-4140
  • Moon Area High School (grades 9-12) - located in Moon, 8353 University Boulevard, Moon Township, PA 15108; Phone: (412) 262-9040.

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

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]

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:

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.
  14. "Deal for Moon teachers called compromise". triblive.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  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. Majors, Dan (December 28, 2006). "In wake of Nixon pardon, Ford visited Pittsburgh". post-gazette.com. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
  18. O'Toole, James (March 16, 2000). "Gore, in Moon, asks if Bush is qualified". post-gazette.com. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
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