Gateway School Board has a new president and vice president after a reorganization meeting on Monday.
With five votes, Director Leslie McBride was selected as the new president for 2025. Robin Mungo, current president, received four votes.
Valerie Warning was nominated as vice president, receiving five votes from board members. Director Susan Delaney voted for Mungo; the other three votes were not read after Warning received five votes, enough to make her the new vice president.
The board voted unanimously to reappoint Bruce Dice Associates as solicitor.
Therapy dog introduced
Rich Taylor, Gateway Middle School counselor, spoke to the board about the benefits of having a therapy dog.
Taylor said he was inspired when he attended his son’s orientation at Penn-Trafford High School. Principal Tony Aquilio talked about that school’s therapy dog, Asher, and the benefits of having the dog on site. Asher’s owner, Linnea Sherman, is a school counselor at Penn-Trafford.
After getting Gateway Middle School Principal Michael Jack’s blessing, Taylor began working with Glora Frick at Alliance of Therapy Dogs to obtain certification for his dog, Kyla.
The four-year-old havapoo — a Havanese and miniature poodle mix — does not shed and is hypoallergenic.
Frick, a test evaluator and Gateway graduate, suggested Taylor start the process by getting Kyla out into the public.
“So all of August, all of September and most of October, we’re going to Home Depot, we’re going to Lowe’s, we’re going to Tractor Supply,” Taylor said. “Just walking up and down the aisles around people. She did great.”
Kyla’s first observation was held at Sunrise School in Monroeville; her second was at an assisted living facility’s dementia unit. Both outings were a success, Taylor said.
Because of Kyla’s small stature, she is not intimidating and can easily be held. Both the students and assisted living residents were able to handle her without concern.
“If someone was in a wheelchair, I was able to pick up Kyla and put her in their lap,” Taylor said.
Kyla’s final observation will be at 12:05 on Dec. 11 in the middle school’s gymnasium. Kyla will be there with other dogs and will take part in Marcie Crow and Taylor’s “Speaker Series.” Frick will be the guest speaker.
Kyla will be leashed and harnessed at all times. A crate will be kept in Taylor’s office and used for Kyla when he’s on lunch duty or in a meeting.
“I take her to the middle school in the evenings, just to walk the halls and get used to the school,” Taylor said.
Director John Ritter asked about students who may have an allergy or aversion to dogs. Taylor said Kyla she can be put in her crate, or he can use the extra room adjacent to his office.
Director Cheryl Boise asked what Taylor would you do with an aggressive student, since Kyla is a small dog and could be harmed easily. Taylor said he feels confident that most students would not be a concern, but that he would “keep an eye out.”
Taylor said that he would like to utilize Kyla in the English language arts and life support classrooms, as well as for students who may be in crisis.
