The first of two forums about the district's feasibility study will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school auditorium, Kings Highway.

Representatives of L.R. Kimball, the architects conducting the study, will present a series of questions to gauge opinions and thoughts about the district and the current conditions of its buildings.

The meeting is part of the fact-finding process of the feasibility study.

The district has devoted several pages of its website to the study process with details about budget information, timelines and documents from Kimball.

Visit www.carlynton.k12.pa.us, click on the "About the District" tab and select the "Feasibility Study" page.

Also, Rosslyn Farms resident Tony DeWitt, who works for Google, has offered to provide information on the study and help facilitate discussion by creating a website, Carlynton Talk, www.carlyntontalk.com.

Thomas Hylton, President of Save Our Land, Save Our Towns, made an offer to provide a free evaluation of the condition of the Carnegie and Crafton elementary schools. For information about the group, visit www.saveourlandsaveourtowns.org.

Regarding the study and rumors that school closings could be part of the recommendations, Crafton resident Marta Pletz presented the school board last Thursday with research that indicated that smaller class size and smaller schools are more beneficial to students.

Board member Nyra Schell told her that the district has no plans to consolidate the elementary schools.

The district will sponsor a second forum at 7 p.m. April 14 in the high school.

• Classes will be in session April 1 and 5 and June 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 as make-up days because of snow. Graduation will remain at 7 p.m. June 4.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Panza announced March 4 that the district is asking the state Department of Education to waive three days for seniors.

• The Rev. Ed Bowen of Crafton United Presbyterian Church donated $1,150 to the district last Thursday for supplies, equipment and games to be shared by Crafton and Carnegie elementary schools.

The materials will be used to enhance the physical education curriculum at the elementary level. The church has supported the schools and offers after-school tutoring programs for Carlynton students.

The school board meeting has been changed to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday because of last week's high school basketball playoffs. The agenda is available online at: www.cvsd.net.

• The intermediate school raised over $8,800 in the Pennies for Patients program to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The program was organized by the Outreach teacher COLT team. Also, the homerooms that collected the most money will receive lunch from the Olive Garden sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

• The high school has received a $9,801 Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant to purchase SPARK --Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids -- physical education equipment and training.

SPARK represents a collection of programs that support lifelong wellness.

Physical education department chairperson Alicia Guarnaccio said that the department hopes to increase moderate and vigorous physical activity to over 50 percent of class time.

The grant will enable the purchase $3,600 worth of equipment to be used with the SPARK curriculum. The rest of the grant will be used for staff development, including program documentation and workshops for training on the SPARK curriculum.

The Little Green Machine Marching Band was named the best school band from Allegheny County, winning the County Executive's Award at the St. Patrick's Day Parade March 13 in Pittsburgh.

The judges were members of the All-American Judges Association who scored all marching units, high school bands and floats in the parade. Bands were judged on music, marching and visual appeal.

The district's Web site will have a new address starting April 1. The district will shorten its domain name from westallegheny.k12.pa.us to westasd.org.

The transition to the new address will coincide with the launch of the new site.

The district will not accept content for the current website after Wednesday. While the current site will remain live during the changeover, anything submitted beginning April 1 will be posted only to the new site.

• For the fifth consecutive year, West Allegheny teachers may retire under an incentive program, which the school board approved March 17.

By April 15, professional, full-time employees who are at least 55 years old and have served in Pennsylvania at least 25 years may opt to retire early in exchange for either continuing health benefits or a $1,000 monthly stipend until age 65, when they become eligible for Medicare.

Five board members voted yes -- Debbie Mirich, Patrick Konieczny, Ed Faux, Anne Bolind and Ron Pasic. Tracy Kosis voted no, and John Scott abstained. Robert Ostrander and Eugene Sciulli were absent.

The school board had been obligated to offer at least two early retirement incentives during the life of the five-year collective bargaining agreement, which expires at the end of this school year. New contract negotiations are under way.

• The high school band program percussion festival has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. April 8 in the high school cafeteria. The original date was Tuesday.

In addition to the middle school and high school percussion ensembles, groups from Norwin High School and Geneva College will perform.

The concert is free. For information, call Darren Humbert, Wilson instrumental music teacher, 724-695-3300.

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