McKeesport superintendent resigns amid child abuse scandal

The McKeesport Area School District is facing significant turmoil as the school year begins, following the resignation of Superintendent Tia Wanzo. This resignation was prompted by an internal investigation revealing her failure to report allegations of child sexual abuse involving a security guard and an underage student. The investigation indicated that Wanzo, along with the high school principal and a teacher, did not act promptly upon learning of the allegations, which were first reported to a teacher in late October 2023. The report highlighted that Wanzo was in California when the allegations were communicated to her, and she assigned the reporting responsibility to the teacher, who delayed reporting for five days. Furthermore, Wanzo did not take action to remove the security guard, Alexis Brown, until months later, despite the serious nature of the allegations. Brown was arrested in January on charges related to corrupting a minor. In the wake of these events, Wanzo has entered into a separation agreement, receiving a one-year salary of $173,250. The principal and the teacher involved have been suspended with pay and faced termination hearings, with two additional employees also implicated in the investigation. The district has not publicly commented on the situation, citing personnel matters. The findings of the investigation have raised serious concerns about the adherence to mandatory reporting laws among the district's employees, exposing both the individuals involved and the district itself to potential liability. The situation has created a climate of uncertainty and disarray within the McKeesport Area School District as it navigates these serious allegations and their implications.