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It was cold enough last week to freeze the stuff inside your nose. But one parent of a second-grader at George Washington Elementary was plenty steamed.

Steamed enough to write the Almanac and attach the above photo, with the following message:

As I took my daughter to school at George Washington Elementary this morning (Jan. 4), her first day back after the holiday break, I was simply appalled by the lack of maintenance to the school grounds and the roads leading to and from the school from Versailles Avenue.

Allow me to point out that there was a two-hour delay today, which one would expect would allow ample time to clear and salt sidewalks, correct? ... Anyway, after seeing several kids fall, some very hard, and many more sliding around, I thought I would take some photos of this situation.

Our unnamed correspondent claims "the sidewalk on the front of the school" and the entrance bridge on Sumac Street "weren't even touched," and adds that he then went to White Oak to check out the situation near that school:

I don't tend to agree when people say everything is so much better in White Oak, but, nonetheless I was wrong. First, every street around that school was plowed, salted and dry. No kids falling down walking to school.

Then, I got to the drop off for the students ... shoveled, salted and dry, not a slippery spot to be found. Even their parking lots and playground areas were plowed, salted, and looked great.

Are children who live in McKeesport second rate as far as safety is concerned? I surely hope not.

. . .

Most definitely not, says Jim Humanic, director of administrative services for McKeesport Area School District. Sidewalks aren't his department, but with Director of Buildings and Grounds Ed Fagan out of the office, Humanic agreed to investigate.

Humanic was surprised to hear about a complaint --- but if there's a problem with snow removal at George Washington or any school, "it needs to be addressed," he says.

"It's something we take very seriously," he says. "The last thing we want is a teacher or student falling."

During last week's snow storms, Humanic says, the district's salt crews were called out at 3 a.m., while building maintenance personnel reported to each school at 4 a.m.

"There's a concerted effort to ensure that the snow around all of the buildings is cleaned and ready to go," he says. "If it's really bad, we call them out on a weekend to get things prepped."

. . .

At George Washington in particular, Humanic says, a salt truck treated the sidewalks and the parking lot before teachers arrived last Monday, while custodians made two additional passes on the sidewalks with salt spreaders before students reported.

In addition, he says, a city public works truck was spotted by 7 a.m. salting the crosswalks around the building. "The city --- and White Oak, too --- make a concerted effort to keep those streets around the schools clean," he says.

Humanic hopes any problems were "an isolated incident," but says parents who are concerned should contact their building principal right away ... and not, um, email a website. (Even one as well-intentioned as the Almanac.)

The phone numbers are (412) 664-3650 at the high school, (412) 664-3690 at Founders' Hall, (412) 664-3720 at Cornell, (412) 664-3740 at Francis McClure, (412) 664-3750 at Centennial, (412) 664-3770 at George Washington and (412) 664-3790 at White Oak.

. . .

P.S.: The Almanac says "slippy," even if they don't teach such poor grammar in McKeesport schools. 'N at.

. . .

To Do This Weekend: Wayne Macuga and his 17-piece big band swing into town Saturday night to play the Palisades ballroom, Fifth Avenue at Water Street, Downtown.

Tickets are $10 at the door and dancing starts at 8 p.m.

Sunday night, it's Chuck Corby and Quiet Storm, with a holiday concert that was rescheduled from December due to bad weather. Advance tickets sold for that show are still good.

Tickets for Chuck Corby are $20. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 8. Call (412) 672-2001 for more information or visit the Palisades' website.

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