Monessen has discussed school merger
By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO
ebennett@yourmvi.com
Monessen City School District has discussed merging with Belle Vernon Area or Charleroi Area, but School Board President Roberta Bergstedt said Tuesday that no progress has been made.
Speaking at a school board meeting, Bergstedt said Monessen’s goal is to remain “autonomous,” although a merger shouldn’t be considered off the table.
“I have some interesting news, I’m sure, to the public,” she said. “Our ongoing responsibility is to be fiscally responsible as well as provide the most for our kids. We know there’s always been ongoing talks about what Monessen should do, what we need, what we can’t provide and how much money we’re spending, but we need to investigate options.”
Bergstedt said a representative from BVA expressed interest in having discussions and “wanting to talk or being willing to talk” with Monessen about merging, among other topics.
“We met with their new superintendent (Dr. Michele Dowell),” she said. “It was not to discuss ‘merger only’ or anything like that. It was to talk about what we can do for each other.”
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