October 11, 2024
Dear Shaler Area Families,
As October unfolds, the fall season brings with it a wave of new opportunities and accomplishments across our district. I’m excited to take a moment to share some of the latest updates and highlight the outstanding efforts of our students and staff.
- Strategic Planning: The Shaler Area School District is entering into a strategic planning process to thoughtfully prepare for the future. The voice of residents of each of the four communities in our district is essential for this process. We will be holding a series of community forums starting on October 22nd to enable all stakeholders—parents, students, educators, and community members—to share feedback, ideas, and perspectives that will shape the future of the Shaler Area School District. Visit bit.ly/SASDforum for more information and to register for our upcoming forums.
- Athletic Hall of Fame: The Shaler Area School District will induct 4 individuals and one team into the Shaler Area Athletic Hall of Fame. These athletes reflect the excellence and drive that Titans bring to competition and the caliber of excellence of the District, with athletes who have won WPIAL titles, local accolades, and even gone on to compete in the NFL. The honorees will be introduced on Friday, October 11th, before the varsity football game at Titan Stadium. The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, October 12th, at Shaler Area High School. Click here to read more about our honorees.
- Volleyball Coach of the Year: Coach Paul Stadelman, head coach of the Titan Boys Volleyball Team, has been named the 2023–24 PA Boys’ Volleyball Coach of the Year by the NFHS/PIAA. This prestigious award recognizes not only the team’s outstanding performance but also Coach Stadelman’s remarkable leadership and dedication. A huge congratulations to Coach Stadelman on this incredible honor!
- National School Principal Recognition Month: October is National School Principal Recognition Month! We want to take this opportunity to thank our incredible principals for their tireless leadership and dedication to our students, staff, and school communities. Their commitment to creating a positive and supportive learning environment is instrumental in our success. Please join us in celebrating and appreciating our outstanding school principals throughout the month!
- Planning Ahead: Please remember that there will be no school on October 14 due to a scheduled teacher in-service day. This long weekend offers a great opportunity for family time or relaxation.
- Nominations Open for the 2025 Kim Baysek-Young Extra Mile Award – Do you know a Shaler Area teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, school counselor, administrative assistant, custodian, or other staff member who has gone above and beyond? Nominate that person for Shaler Area’s Extra Mile Award through the online nomination form: https://tinyurl.com/58utkwdv. Nominations are open through November 1, 2024. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of district stakeholders, and winners will be announced mid-January.
- Transportation and Road Construction Update: In the upcoming week, there will be significant road work on Mt. Royal Boulevard, including drainage work, bridge repairs (Pine Creek Bridge), milling, and paving between Hoffman Street and Dehaven Street. This construction may impact school transportation schedules, potentially causing delays due to lane restrictions and road closures. Work will start at 9 AM and will be weather dependent. Single-lane traffic restrictions will be in effect while the work is being performed.
Additionally, installation of the waterline on Geyer Road (Haser Place) will begin on Tuesday October 15th and the work is expected to last approximately 4 weeks. Please expect traffic delays beginning at 7:00 AM Tuesday morning at the intersection of Mt. Troy Rd. and Geyer Rd. Traffic control will be in place for the duration of the waterline installation from Mt. Troy Rd. to the entrance of the new development. Please anticipate longer travel times and plan accordingly. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these necessary improvements to our local infrastructure.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for being such an engaged part of the Shaler Area community. Together, we continue to Engage, Empower, and Excel, and we’re excited for another fantastic week ahead!
Yours in education,
Bryan E. O’Black, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
Shaler Area School District
