ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
830 OLD CLAIRTON ROAD
JEFFERSON HILLS, PA 15025
PHONE 412.655.8450
FAX 412.655.9544
www.wjhsd.net
I
Dr. Michael Ghilani,
West Jefferson Hills
School District Superintendent
t’s certainly no secret that over the last three years there has been an inordinate amount of change in the West
Jefferson Hills School District. From new schedules, to new curricula, to new buildings and configurations, the
District has been turned upside down. I can’t say enough about the flexibility and understanding that our
teachers and staff displayed through all of the changes. Our students have shown exceptional resilience and
have adapted to the changes positively. Many of the social issues that were prevalent three years ago in the district
survey and focus groups have been drastically minimized. We have transformed the administrative structure to one
that views our building principals as instructional leaders focusing on individual student growth driven by data and
teacher collaboration. Three years ago, we developed a three-year master plan created with feedback by teachers,
staff, parents, community members, and students. I am proud to say that we have completed or exceeded almost
every goal outlined in the plan. Instead of being known as a district marred by administrative instability and turnover,
we are now one that is recognized for growing students academically and socially-emotionally like never before.
We have made several improvements and enhancements to our facilities over these past three years. Our state-of-
the-art high school is one of the finest in the entire state, and we have had many school districts visit us this year to
see the building and the great things that are happening inside its walls. The Gill Hall Elementary School addition and
renovation not only prepares us for future growth, but has added spaces that are better suited for our instructional
model. One of the best aspects of these projects is that they both came in under budget. Moving forward, we are
looking at a possible renovation and addition at Jefferson
Hills Intermediate School as well as upgrades to PHMS and
McClellan Elementary School. In addition, we have begun
the permitting process for the installation of a turf field at
the new high school to be used primarily for band practice
and soccer.
In addition to celebrating the successes and
accomplishments of some of the changes and capital
improvements that have occurred within the District, it
should come as no surprise that we are also rapidly growing
in student enrollment. Since 2017, we have gained almost
three hundred new students with the majority of them
at the elementary level. We are now conducting a new
demographic and feasibility study using GIS to pinpoint
demographic changes and growth trends since the previous
study completed two and a half years ago is outdated. The
more success we have, the more families will want to move
to our district. While we continue to keep moving forward
and progressing, we will strive to be mindful of district spending and the tax burden on homeowners.
It’s certainly exciting to be able to highlight some of the progress we have made. While we have accomplished a lot
as a district in a short amount of time, there is still a lot of work to complete. We have only scratched the surface of our
potential. While we have moved up ten spots in the Pittsburgh Business Times school district rankings, I expect us to
quickly become one of the top districts in the state.
While our anecdotal feedback may seem overwhelmingly positive and attaining the goals set forth in the three-year
plan is a great accomplishment, I’ve always said that our growth and success as a district will ultimately be measured
by objective metrics. Please take a look at the data in this issue that our Assistant Superintendent for Secondary
Education Scott Milburn and Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Matt Patterson compiled to highlight
some of the District’s exciting academic growth. I promise you, the best is yet to come! #WErTJ
32 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS