Resignations of both instructors in the program were accepted at Thursday’s meeting.

Some students involved in West Mifflin Area High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC program said they were “blindsided” by news that both instructors with the leadership group have resigned from their posts.

School board officials unanimously approved the resignation of senior aerospace science instructor James Straub and AFJROTC instructor Thomas Weir during Thursday’s meeting.

Weir, who in a text message offered no comment on his resignation other than he has accepted another position, finished as of July 28.

A 1999 graduate of West Mifflin Area High School, Chief Master Sergeant Thomas C. Weir took over for long-time AFJROTC instructor Otis DiCerbo upon his retirement in 2023. Weir has been in the Air Force for more than 25 years.

Straub’s resignation is effective Aug. 15.

During public comment, Thomas Smolinski, a recruitment specialist for the AFJROTC, said he received a text at 10:04 a.m. Thursday about the resignations and that the AFJROTC was going to undergo a “temporary pause.”

Smolinski said he was “livid and confused” by the development, which he believes was in the works for a while before the resignations were made public.

He was concerned that his son would not be able to continue with the leadership components of the group and be recognized during senior ceremonies. Joey Smolinski talked about how the group, which was first formed in 2004, has helped him with public speaking and other leadership qualities.

Superintendent Jeff Soles said the school is working with the Air Force to find at least one replacement, but added that it’s “a process.”

Thomas Smolinski asked if Di-Cerbo could be contacted to come back in the interim. Reached by text, DiCerbo said he hadn’t heard of the resignations or from the school. DiCerbo retired to run a real estate investment business and property maintenance business.

School board Member Mark Donahoe said no one is interested in seeing the program end.

None of the officials could address senior recognition questions, and Soles said the school is “actively seeking to fill the positions.”

Parking fee reduced at the high school

Near the end of the meeting, school board Member Gina Englert asked about the cost for parking at the high school. She said that around the time of COVID-19, the school stopped enforcing parking payments, but now, the school is set to charge $50 per semester per permit. Englert called that amount “unattainable for a lot of our students.” She called the new amount “completely ridiculous.”

School board member Janelle Kopay said that she understood that the payments would resume, but was unaware of the cost. After some discussion, the board altered the agenda to amend the district’s handbook. They agreed to charge $40 a year for each permit, with payment divided between two semesters. Money received for the parking permits will go to the school’s general fund.

West Mifflin’s first day for students is Aug. 20.

Council approved a proposal from Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC for auditor services for the 2025-26 audit at a cost of $25,000. Solicitor Russell Lucas said they were a new firm to the district and the lowest bidder.

The board also accepted a renewal quote from PowerSchool for software add-ons for state data validation, enrollment and online forms at a cost of $20,603.09; and for Naviance college and career readiness curriculum from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, at a cost of $2,936.39. In addition, they accepted a renewal quote from PowerSchool for software add-ons for attendance tracking and communications at a cost of $22,443.10.

The board approved a renewal quote from United States Fire Insurance Company for interscholastic sports accident coverage from Aug. 1, 2026, through Aug. 1, 2027, at a cost of $8,686, along with a quote from Fitness Room Concierge for semi-annual preventive maintenance of fitness center equipment at the High School and Middle School at a cost of $1,850.

They also accepted a quote from Container One for a shipping container that will be used for storage at the High School stadium at a cost of $4,436.00.

Also accepted were a proposal from Johnson Controls for backflow preventer inspections across the district at a cost of $4,249.00; and another from Unified Door and Hardware to replace doors and hardware for high school stadium doors D1 and D2 through the COSTARS cooperative purchasing program at a cost of $11,275.00.

A quote from Insight Public Sector for one-year virtual reality software licenses through the OMNIA Partners purchasing program at a cost of $7,136.64 was accepted, as was a quote from Insight Public Sector for 5,000 training minutes between July 15, 2026, and July 15, 2027, through the OMNIA Partners purchasing program at a cost of $7,452.71.

The board accepted a number of resignations, hires and transfers in the academic and athletic departments. Athletic personnel who resigned are Chris Capozzoli, high school assistant boys varsity basketball coach; Monica Poupakis, middle school boys and girls basketball coach (she also resigned as dean of students at the middle school); Jackie Caputo, high school girls basketball second assistant coach; Dan Olasz, high school baseball second assistant coach; Robert Yeschenko, high school assistant golf coach; Thomas Simcho, high school first assistant baseball coach; Sam Sherlock, high school head wrestling coach.

Council approved new hires John Chavis, middle school assistant football coach; Stacy Galiyas, high school cross country coach; Dunovan Cook, high school third assistant marching band director and Derek Ross, middle school volunteer girls soccer coach.

Council approved a memorandum of understanding with AmeriCorps Seniors for the volunteer Foster Grandparent Program, from Aug. 11, 2026, through Aug. 10, 2027. The program is described as one in which seniors, who receive proper clearances and through no cost to the district, would come in to assist students in the elementary schools.

Barbara Boyland, manager of the Munhall Community Band, presented a check for $108 for the high school band, stemming from a fundraising effort.

Steel Center is scheduled to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 27 for its “grand reopening.”

Mon Valley Independent

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