The community of McKeesport Area School District is grappling with the aftermath of a sex scandal that has placed three district employees on unpaid leave. According to WPXI, a former security guard was arrested and accused of having a relationship with an underage student. Amid investigations, the fallout continues to rock the administration as the superintendent has resigned, and disciplinary measures were taken against those involved.
Reports from a CBS News article revealed that allegations first came to light in December 2023, when it was reported that Alexis Brown, a 24-year-old former security guard, allegedly engaged in sexual activities with a student at McKeesport Area High School. Superintendent Tia Wanzo stepped down after failing to report the incident. A teacher initially brought the allegations to the principal's attention on October 2023, which were not reported to ChildLine until five days later. The details of three employees being shifted to unpaid leave emerged in a recent school board meeting.
The Allegheny County police are scrutinizing the motives behind the delayed response to the allegations following a request from the district attorney’s office. According to the statement detailed by WPXI, Gary Matta, the school district solicitor, informed attendees of the action taken against the three employees without divulging their identities or roles within the district. Matta explained, "The process now has been placed in the employee’s hands if they would like to move forward with some type of hearing or arbitration."
Though the specific findings from the solicitor's investigation into the scandal were not made public, the school board has offered a path for the employees to seek legal recourse or settlements. Matta expressed confidence in the district's current trajectory under acting Superintendent William Pettigrew, stating, "I think things are back on track the day Dr. Pettigrew came to McKeesport." His remarks suggest a turn toward stability following the upheaval, and the reinstatement of a separate fifth employee commencing on Friday indicates preliminary steps towards restoring the district's image, as reported by CBS News.
