The Belle Vernon Area School District was created as a result of a merger between the Bellmarette and Rostraver Township School Districts in 1965, with the first graduating class from BVA in 1966 and official recognition by the Pennsylvania Department of Education on August 9, 1966. BVA’s first superintendent of schools was Thomas Gilmer, Jr. who led the District through 1978.  Mr. Gilmer was followed by Gregory A. Caruso (1978 -2000), Charles Chandler, Jr. Ed.D (2000-03), Robert J. Nagy (2003-08), and Stephen V. Russell (2008 to present). 

Located 25 miles southeast of Pittsburgh and encompassing 42.2 square miles in a rural/residential setting spanning Westmoreland and Fayette counties,  Belle Vernon Area School District’s population is over 20,000 residents  residing in five political subdivisions: Rostraver Township, Washington Township, Belle Vernon, North Belle Vernon, and Fayette City.   The district lies at the epicenter of Pittsburgh to the north, Uniontown to the south, Washington (PA) to the west, and Greensburg to the east in Southwestern Pennsylvania.    

Belle Vernon Area School District’s enrollment in 2000 was slightly over 3,000 students, a number that has gradually declined and now stands at 2,750 students in grades K-12.   The District operates two elementary schools, Marion, originally constructed in 1939 (with further upgrades, renovations, and additions following in 1958,1971,1994, and 2008) and Rostraver, originally constructed in 1958  (with building updates and additions following in 1967,1989,1994, and 2008); two middle schools, Bellmar, originally constructed in  1964 (with building updates following in 1984,1989, and 2001) and Rostraver, originally constructed in 1955 (with building updates following in 1968,1989, and 1994); one high school, Belle Vernon Area, originally constructed in 1966 ( fine arts wing in 1994) for 4.2 million dollars with architect Celli Flynn, and an adjacent field house and physical education building that was built in 1970.   Each building has its own cafeteria with on-site meals served daily. The district’s transportation system has a fleet of 30 buses housed in the converted 84 Lumber Company building on Finley Road, a facility renamed as the Multiplex.   The facility also serves as offices for support personnel in the maintenance and athletic departments.  A weight room and wrestling area complement the Multiplex along with extensive displays of sports memorabilia that showcase noteworthy Leopard athletes, teams, and accomplishments. 

The school district’s administration building, originally built in 1991(updated in 2008), is located between Rostraver Middle and Elementary schools which, along with the high school, make up the “Rostraver Township campus” in Westmoreland County. Marion Elementary and Bellmar Middle School, located in Fayette County, make up the “Washington Township campus.”

The district’s professional staff  consists of over 200 faculty members,  including  teachers from the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7, six principals, six guidance counselors, a school psychologist, a director of curriculum and instruction and Title I programs, and two nurses.  Support staff includes clerical, security, transportation and custodial-maintenance, along with coordinators of athletics, security, facilities, transportation, and maintenance.  The district utilizes the services of the Central Westmoreland County Vocational-Technical Center in nearby New Stanton for students seeking specialized career and trades training.  The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 services the district in technology, professional needs, and the education of students with special needs. 

Belle Vernon Area principals and teachers are highly qualified as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education standards.  Several faculty members have achieved National Board certification while their colleagues are working toward this prestigious acknowledgment. 

BVA’s educational successes and academic achievements demonstrate the innovation of the faculty and the initiative of the student body.  While maintaining a 21^st century learning environment through the use of “Classrooms for the Future,” the district creates a learning community that embraces collaboration between students and teachers.  With the incorporation of the Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System (SAS), BVA has achieved success on state testing through demonstration of the necessary academic rigor to meet student proficiency in reading, writing, math, and science.  BVA students have been honored as National Merit finalists, have qualified for state and national forensic competition, and have achieved perfect scores on portions of the SAT test.  

The school district offers a variety of enrichment and remediation programs that respond to the needs of a diverse student body in preparation for higher learning and careers that require 21^st century skills. BVA students have qualified for state and national forensic competition. In addition, dual enrollment classes allow students to receive college credit prior to high school graduation.  The eAcademy allows students to take classes not offered on campus.  All seniors are required to develop a graduation project in which they formally investigate careers of interest through research, job shadowing, and interviewing experienced people currently employed in the field.  Recognizing the importance of early childhood education, BVA expanded kindergarten from a half day to full day in 2008.

BVA also has reputable arts and sports programs. Each year, the high school drama and music departments collaborate on well attended and received productions of noted musicals. Recent performances have included Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The outstanding music department features a marching band replete with majorettes, color guard, and dance team. Students have qualified for All State Band and Choir, All East Band and All State Orchestra. BVA sponsors cheerleader squads in both the middle school and the high school.  These squads have cheered their teams on to championships, a glory with which BVA athletics is familiar. Among the highlights include a  2007 WPIAL Class AAA championship in Lady Leps softball, a 1995 WPIAL Class AAA championship in football, and a 1978 WPIAL Class AAA championship in basketball. {2007 Softball}   {1995 Football}   {1978 Basketball} Also, individual  {MattGreen} athletes have accomplished a 2009 track and field state (PIAA) and WPIAL Class AAA champion in the long jump with a distance of 23 feet 7 ½ inches, repeated in 2011 with a WPIAL long jump of 23 feet 6 inches and a PIAA long jump of 23 feet 5 ¾  inches; 2010 golf WPIAL Division I individual championship;

a 2008 wrestling WPIAL Class AAA champion 140-pound category; and a 1990 swimming state PIAA and WPIAL Class AAA champion in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.09 and 200 yard medley with a time of 1:55.04, among other honors and achievements.  Other accomplished sports teams include baseball, volleyball, and soccer.   

BVA students continue to devote time and energy to worthy community service projects through clubs and organizations. BVA graduates have continued their community spirit by offering their services following college graduation with “Teach for America.”  The tradition of a senior high yearbook, Leopard Profile, continues today since the first publication in 1967. This almanac maintains the school’s yearly history.  Ironically, the first BVA yearbook editor is our present superintendent of schools.

As we are now a full decade into the 21^st century, Belle Vernon Area School District continues to grow, innovate, and thrive. The strength of this academic community is in no small way relative to the exceptional quality of the youth, who are its charge, and the locality from which they spring; it is the ongoing commitment of the administration, faculty, and staff to ensure this proud legacy will always be as such.

                                                                            Superintendent Stephen V. Russell    

                                                                            February 2010 (Revised June 2011)