The McKeesport Area School District is navigating uncharted waters this school year with the unexpected resignation of Superintendent Dr. Tia Wanzo. Details surrounding her departure are scarce, as the district remained tight-lipped about the events leading to this decision. "Dr. Wanzo has requested a leave of absence from the district effective Aug. 14, 2024 until Nov. 13, 2024," her statement read on Thursday, "At which time, Dr. Wanzo will resign as superintendent of the Mckeesport schools," according to a report by CBS News Pittsburgh.
Wanzo's resignation follows an investigation that revealed a school security guard's alleged sexual relationship with an underage student. School Solicitor Gary Matta could neither confirm nor deny connections between the investigation and the superintendent's resignation when pressed by reporters. "I can't confirm or deny any of the reasons for her resignation," Matta said. "I don't give opinions or comment on personnel matters", as per details shared by CBS News Pittsburgh. Despite the unknowns, during her leave, Dr. Wanzo will receive her full annual salary of $173,250 and health benefits.
This administrative shake-up follows on the heels of an internal investigation that, left unchecked, the sources claim exposed the district and its children to risk. Dr. Wanzo was allegedly slow to act upon allegations surrounding the sexual relationship between a then-16-year-old student and school security guard Alexis Brown, who is now accused of bearing the student's child. The district took nearly six weeks to remove Brown from school grounds after these allegations came to light, by which time, Brown had left on maternity leave. "That investigation found Wanzo had exposed not just the district with her actions but also endangered the children of the district; and those findings ultimately led to her voluntary resignation according to our sources," as WPXI News reported.
