- Keystone Oaks welcomes two new administrators 🦅
- Board of School Directors approves 2026-2027 Final General Fund Budget 📊
- Elementary Schools Renovation Project: Check out the progress photos! 🏫
- Keystone Oaks is seeking stakeholders to serve on the district’s strategic plan committee 🦅
- Celebrating Success: Varsity athletes named to all-conference teams 🏆
- Keystone Oaks Foundation for Educational Excellence Prom 2.0 event raises more than $16,000 for the Keystone Oaks School District 💛
- Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors: Noteworthy actions from June ✅
- Keystone Oaks is hiring paraprofessionals, buildings and grounds staff, food service employees, and activity workers 📢
- Don't forget! Keystone Oaks is sponsoring a free Summer Lunch Program 🍎
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The Keystone Oaks School District is proud to welcome two new members to the district’s administrative team. Effective July 1, 2026, Mr. Richard Pattinato will serve as Athletic Coordinator and Dean of Students, and Mr. Casey Arnott will serve as the Director of Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation.
Mr. Pattinato most recently worked as a physical education and health teacher at Holy Family Specialized Learning. He also has several years of varsity coaching experience, including at Keystone Oaks, where he has previously served as both a middle school and varsity wrestling coach. As the Athletic Coordinator and Dean of Students, Mr. Pattinato will be responsible for supporting K-12 school administration by leading student services and discipline systems, as well as overseeing the district’s interscholastic athletic programs in accordance with PIAA guidelines.
Mr. Arnott most recently worked as the Director of Facilities & Maintenance for Hancock County Schools in West Virginia, a position he held since 2023. Prior to being named director, he spent 10 years as an education technology and digital systems coordinator for the same school district. He also holds superintendent, supervisor of general instruction, and principal certifications in West Virginia.
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The Keystone Oaks School District’s Board of School Directors approved the 2026-2027 Final General Fund Budget during its Business/Legislative Meeting on June 16, 2026. The Final Budget calls for total expenditures of $54,793,260 and total revenues of $50,744,540. The budget will be balanced with a 3.5% tax increase and by using a portion of the District’s available fund balance. The 3.5% increase is the maximum increase permitted by state law for the Keystone Oaks School District.
The increase in expenditures is primarily due to a $2 million bond payment for the renovation of the three elementary schools. The tax increase also offsets a $295,000 decrease in real estate tax revenue related to reductions in property assessment values, as well as increases in nearly all areas of operations, including:
- An 8.5% increase for medical insurance premiums
- A 10.5% increase in transportation costs
- A 16% increase in insurance costs
“District administrators and the Board of School Directors worked diligently to prepare a budget that provides for necessary improvements to our elementary schools while also maintaining all current programs and staffing levels,” Keystone Oaks Superintendent Dr. Stropkaj said. “We do not take raising taxes lightly, but when considering the impact of declining revenues, increasing costs, and the planned elementary schools renovation project, this tax increase was necessary to ensure that we can continue to provide Keystone Oaks students with an education that is personalized, competency-based, and provides opportunities for students to grow through real experiences. It also ensures that our facilities support our educational goals.”
The final millage rate for the 2026-2027 school year is 22.7122 mills. Taxes will increase by approximately $76 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. The median assessed property value in the Keystone Oaks School District is $120,000.
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Check out the progress on the work being completed at Aiken, Dormont and Myrtle Avenue Elementary Schools this summer:
- At Fred L. Aiken Elementary School, all of the old playground equipment and mulch have been removed. Crews are beginning to install the new playground equipment.
- At Dormont Elementary School, a majority of the new playground equipment has been installed, and crews have poured nearly half of the rubber surfacing. Additionally, the windows near the playground have been replaced.
- At Myrtle Avenue Elementary School, nearly all of the windows on the back of the building have been installed. Crews have been preparing the front of the building for new windows.
This work is part of the first phase of the Elementary Schools Renovation Project - an estimated $35 million renovation of all three elementary schools that will take place over the next several years. The estimated cost of the work being completed this summer is approximately $4.22 million.
Additional progress photos are available on the district's Facebook page.
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The Keystone Oaks School District is beginning to develop the district’s next strategic plan, which will be in place from July 2027 through June 2033, and is seeking individuals who are interested in serving on the committee that will help set the district’s priorities and goals for the next six years.
A key component of this work will be the development of a Portrait of a Graduate, which will define the skills, competencies, and attributes Keystone Oaks students should possess upon graduation to be successful in college, career, and life.
The Keystone Oaks School District is seeking committee members with:
- Diverse professional and educational backgrounds and areas of expertise.
- Knowledge of the Keystone Oaks community.
- A strong belief in the value and importance of public education.
- A willingness to engage in thoughtful discussion and collaborative problem-solving.
- A commitment to helping prepare students for future success.
The ideal committee member is respectful, collaborative, dependable, responsible, professional, a strong communicator, and open to considering new ideas and perspectives. The Strategic Plan Committee will work together to identify priorities, provide feedback, and help establish a shared vision for the future of the Keystone Oaks School District.
Committee members should expect to attend between four and six meetings between Labor Day and Thanksgiving.
Submissions will be reviewed, and selected candidates will receive a formal invitation to participate on the strategic plan committee in early August.
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Five graduates of Keystone Oaks High School's Class of 2026 have been named to the WPIAL All-Section Baseball and Softball teams for their respective sections.
Softball - Class 3A, Section 3 🥎
- Nina Buckley
- Kylie Stahl
- Kennadi Smith
Baseball - Class 3A, Section 4 ⚾️
Congratulations to these outstanding Golden Eagles!
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The Keystone Oaks Foundation for Educational Excellence’s inaugural Prom 2.0 event was an incredible success, raising more than $16,000 to fund grants that will directly benefit Keystone Oaks students!
Held on May 30, 2026, at the Dormont Recreation Center, the event brought together more than 100 alumni, residents, and supporters enjoyed a night of dancing, food, photos, auction items, and a whole lot of fun!
This year’s event was sponsored by Dormont Florist, Paul Sinnett Realtor, and The Musuneggi Financial Group, which is owned and operated by alumnus Chris Musuneggi, Class of 1994.
To learn more about the Keystone Oaks Foundation for Educational Excellence, including how you can get involved in events like Prom 2.0, please visit the district’s website or reach out to the Board of Directors via email.
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In addition to passing the budget for the 2026-2027 school year and appointing two administrators, the Keystone Oaks Board of School Directors took the following noteworthy actions at its June Business/Legislative Meeting:
The Board approved the Superintendent’s Goals for the 2026-2027 school year. The goals will be made available on the district’s website.
The Board hired the following individuals:
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Alexis DeShong, districtwide school counselor
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Nicholas Palermo, high school social studies teacher
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Sharon Wilhelm, food service employee
The Board approved a number of individuals for coaching positions for fall sports and activities.
The Board recognized eight teachers for completing the requirements for tenure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
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Jessica Anderson, Keystone Oaks High School
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Danielle Brandt, Myrtle Avenue Elementary School
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Brandi Forster, Dormont Elementary School
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Katheryn Galbreath, Dormont Elementary School
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Robert Mays, Keystone Oaks High School
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Emily Milbert, Dormont and Myrtle Avenue Elementary Schools and Keystone Oaks Middle School
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Laura Miller, Dormont Elementary School
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Jennifer Reinard, Dormont Elementary School
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The Keystone Oaks School District is currently hiring for the following positions. Please visit the Employment Opportunities section of our website for details on how to apply.
Paraprofessionals
Instructional paraprofessionals play a key role in supporting Keystone Oaks students and teachers. Positions offer:
- Starting pay of $20 per hour
- Work days that follow the school calendar
- Paid holidays
- Sick leave and personal days
- Individual health insurance
- Enrollment in PSERS retirement system
Buildings & Grounds Staff
There are immediate openings for Buildings & Grounds staff. Custodian positions offer:
- Starting salary of $37,400 for full-time positions
- Vacation benefits, including one day per month worked in the first year
- Twelve sick days per year
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance offered to full-time employees
- Fringe benefits, including paid sick leave, bereavement leave, and holiday pay
Food Service Employees
The Keystone Oaks School District has several openings for food service employees. Food service employees play an important role in providing an essential daily service to more than 1,900 Keystone Oaks students. Positions offer:
- Starting wage of $13/hour
- Part-time daylight shifts
- Work days that follow the school calendar
- Fringe benefits, including paid sick leave, bereavement leave, and holiday pay
Activity Workers
Activity workers support Keystone Oaks’ Athletic Department by working in various positions during home athletic events, including game manager, clock and scoreboard operator, ticket sales and more. Pay ranges from $30 to $65 per event, depending on position.
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The Keystone Oaks School District is sponsoring a free lunch program this summer beginning on Monday, June 8, 2026. Through the program, which is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, a free, nutritious bagged lunch will be available to any child 18 years of age or younger from any community at five distribution sites throughout the District. The program will run Monday through Friday throughout the summer.
Alvern Gardens, Castle Shannon
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Keystone Oaks High School (Entrance C31 behind the building)
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Wilson Park, Green Tree
11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Dormont Recreation Center
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Castle Shannon Library
12:15 p.m. - 1 p.m.
No photo identification or sign-up is required for children to be able to receive lunch. Program guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Education require that meals be eaten on site.
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