Gateway School District begins the 2023-24 school year with a new lead administrator.
The school board unanimously approved Guy Rossi as acting superintendent, stepping in for William Short, who took the superintendent’s position in 2016.
Short approached the school board in late June about taking “leave to deal with family medication issues,” according to Jack Bova, board president.
“His intermittent leave will extend through the start of the school year, and understanding that this would be his last year before retirement, the board approached Dr. Short with an opportunity to extend his contract while serving in a capacity to assist Dr. Rossi’s transition while also finalizing the Gateway Middle School project,” Bova said, reading a statement during the board’s Aug. 15 meeting.
In 2021, the board approved a two-year renovation and reconstruction project at the school to allow for the merger of Moss Side and Gateway middle schools.
“His valuable knowledge and commitment to the district in which has he served for over 30 years will allow this board and the next elected school board a smooth transition,” Bova said regarding Short.
An educator with the district since 1992, when he started as a social studies teacher at Gateway Middle School, Short later taught at the high school, where he eventually became principal. He was appointed assistant superintendent in 2014 and took over the top post two years later.
Short grew up in Pitcairn and is a Gateway High School graduate.
Rossi, a Beaver County native, was a Plum Borough School District assistant superintendent from 2011-16 before succeeding Short in the same position at Gateway.
