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Thank you all for your service to our District!
2030 Swallow Hill Road Pittsburgh, PA 15220 412.429.2201
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CHARTIERS VALLEY: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Excellence
By Dr. Daniel Castagna, hartiers Valley CHARTIERS CHARTIERS VALLEY VALLEY SCHOOL SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICT NEWS NEWS
The start of the 2025 school year has been one of tremendous progress, pride, and innovation for the Chartiers Valley School District. Together, we have achieved milestones that strengthen our schools today and shape a brighter, safer, and more dynamic future for our students and community.
Fiscal Responsibility and Growth
At a time when many school districts are facing financial challenges, Chartiers Valley successfully reduced a budget deficit of $ 7.3 million. Through a combination of an aggressive staff incentive plan and intentional expenditure reductions, we accomplished this without furloughing a single teacher. In July, we added 18 new teachers to support our growing programs and enhanced instruction in every classroom. This reflects the district’ s commitment to both financial responsibility and academic excellence.
Safety and Security Upgrades
Student safety remains our highest priority. This year, we completed major security improvements across all schools, including new door access systems, updated security cameras, and the addition of Kellington security guards in every building. Chartiers Valley also became the first school district in the nation to implement Curve Point, an advanced system that uses Wi-Fi and artificial intelligence to detect potential weapons in real time. This innovation places Chartiers Valley at the forefront of school safety and demonstrates our commitment to protecting every student and staff member, every day.
Facilities and Campus Improvements
Our focus on maintaining high-quality facilities continued throughout the summer. The High School and Intermediate School parking lots were completely repaved, while the Primary and Middle School lots were freshly sealed.
The stadium renovation project was also completed, including the installation of a brand-new track last spring. This fall, the stadium proudly hosted numerous athletic events, and for the first time in more than fifteen years, every fall sports team at Chartiers Valley qualified for the playoffs. What an incredible achievement for our student-athletes and coaches. Go Colts! Recently, a new High School Girls Golf Team has been added and will compete in the WPIAL in the Fall of 2026.
We also understand that we still have work to do to bring all facilities up to the expectations of modern learning. In the coming months, potential projects and a multi-year plan will be presented publicly for community feedback.
Academic Excellence and Innovation
Academically, Chartiers Valley is fully committed to innovation and creativity. This year, we integrated VEX Robotics into classrooms from kindergarten through twelfth grade, making robotics and coding part of the daily core curriculum. Students
22 CHARTIERS VALLEY are using hands-on STEM( Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning experiences every day to solve problems, work in teams, and think creatively. By the end of the school year, we will have VEX competition teams in every school building.
Our test scores have also increased, especially at the high school level. These gains reflect our focused effort to ensure that all required content is being taught and that teachers are using testing and classroom data to make continuous improvements in instruction for every learner.
To support this growth, we have implemented the NWEA MAP assessments( Northwest Evaluation Association to measure student academic achievement and growth in subjects like math, reading, and science) in grades K – 10. These nationally normed assessments are administered four times each year to measure student growth over time and help teachers personalize learning for all students. This data provides valuable insights so teachers know the effectiveness of lessons and areas that need reinforcement.
Additionally, our teachers are using the ATLAS Curriculum Warehouse to update curriculum and share best-practice lessons across grade levels. This collaboration ensures that every student benefits from a consistent, high-quality learning experience across every classroom.
Looking Ahead
The Chartiers Valley School Board recently approved the launch of a new district website that will debut on April 1, 2026. The new site will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, more user-friendly, and designed to make communication and access easier for families, staff, and community members. In addition, the board will live stream its monthly meetings.
From strong financial management to academic innovation, from upgraded facilities to groundbreaking safety technology, Chartiers Valley continues to move forward with purpose and pride. Together, we are building a district that values excellence, embraces progress, and keeps students at the heart of every decision. Thank you for your partnership.
As I shared in my message at the start of the year:
“ Good schools adapt to changing needs and trends. Great schools ensure student success while doing so. That is our goal.”
None of this would be possible without the Board of School Directors, the true decision-makers who take intentional, informed actions with the parameters of budget constraints. We would like to thank our nine elected officials who are committed to our community and stakeholders: Dr. Darren Mariano, Mrs. Lisa Trainor, Mr. Ed Brosky, Mr. Jeff Choura, Mrs. Kate Drury, Mr. Mark Fiorilli, Mrs. Louise Huehn, Mr. Mitch Montani, Mrs. Megan Sexton.
Thank you all for your service to our District!