Monroeville’s Gateway School Board took several actions at its Oct. 27 meeting, unanimously approving a competitive cheer squad and a creative writing club, while again postponing a decision on new scoreboard software.
New programs approved
The board unanimously approved two new high school programs:
• A competitive cheer group to be entirely funded by donations, fundraisers and community events, with no cost to the district. Erika Bouma, the parent of a freshman cheerleader, spoke in favor of the program at last month’s study session.
• A creative writing club, a co-curricular proposal, which has no cost to the district.
Other approvals
In a vote of 8-0 — with Director Jack Bova was absent — the board unanimously approved a preventative maintenance agreement for the district’s HVAC systems from Huckestein Mechanical for $53,993.84. The agreement covers all district buildings from Nov. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
The board also unanimously approved accepting a $32,000 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association for the high school tennis courts. The USTA is a national program that promotes tennis and has donated more than $19 million since 2005 for court improvements, lighting, and accessibility.
Scoreboard proposal tabled
The board voted to retable a proposal to purchase $7,500 in software for the ScoreVision digital scoreboard in the sports complex gymnasium after directors raised new questions. The proposal had been debated for months, having previously been tabled on July 14 by a vote of 8-1, with Director John Ritter opposed.
Athletic Director Don Holl has continued to support the purchase. The new scoreboard, which costs approximately $153,000, would be given to the district free of charge, with the district only needing to purchase the software. Holl noted that the ScoreVision CEO and a salesperson are still willing to conduct a presentation for the board.
Land bank proposal lapses
The board dismissed a notice of proposed property disposition from the Tri-COG Land Bank for a parcel on Mosside Boulevard.
The property, lot block 857-M-351, is located between the Monroeville Public Library and the senior citizen center and is within the school district’s boundaries, though the district does not own it. Tri-COG’s plan was to transfer the parcel to a municipal member for use by the library and senior center.
The disposition requested that Gateway waive its right to collect any back taxes owed to the district for the parcel. All three taxing bodies — the municipality, county and school district — must be notified before a property is transferred and cleared of liens.
Gateway had a 60-day window to reject the disposition. Tri-COG Executive Director An Lewis said that failure to respond within that timeframe is considered agreement.
“Sixty days are up today, so now it’s a moot point,” said board President Leslie McBride.
