MCKEESPORT, Pa. — A partnership that brought millions of dollars to a local school is suddenly ending.
In a statement released Tuesday, Dick’s Sporting Goods says it’s truly disappointed that the partnership with McKeesport Area School District has ended. It’s unclear exactly why things dissolved but a Dick’s spokesperson says it has to do with the current school board and district leadership.
The McKeesport Area School District Superintendent, Don MacFann, released a letter about the situation on social media. It says members of the MASD Administration and School Board met with Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation representatives last week when they were told their partnership was ending.
“They wanted a true partnership. They bought into this community,” McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “They’re in with these families, they’ve provided so much to these families in need, to the students, to the teachers, this is just absolutely so disheartening.”
The partnership started in 2021 with Dick’s investing more than $13 million, offering summer programs, providing academic and athletic support for students and families along with creating a vibrant community center.
“They did a lot of good things for the kids,” LuEthel Nesbit said. “They opened up a community room where the community could go in and get their clothes washed and there were a lot of helpful things that went on there.”
In a statement, Dick’s Sporting Goods said:
“Unfortunately, the current school board and district leadership did not uphold the written partnership agreement we had in place. When we sought a path forward, the school board president made it clear that there was ‘no page to get on.’ That response left no room for continued collaboration.”
Mayor Michael Cherepko says United at Twin Rivers Elementary School, which was part of the partnership, is the only school in the district that is no longer on a “plan” because test scores have improved drastically.
“This is the best thing that’s happened to this school district in a very long time and you talk about kicking a gift horse in the mouth. I just don’t understand it. I’m baffled by it and I’m extremely saddened by it,“ Cherepko said.
WPXI reached out to the Superintendent’s office for comment, but didn’t hear back. The letter says that the board is “deeply disappointed by this unexpected decision.”
The school also said that Dick’s has committed to honoring its existing obligations to the students and community through the summer.
Dick’s Sporting Goods says it’s grateful to the educators, families and community members here in McKeesport. Dick’s says it remains open to the possibility of future partnership opportunities under new leadership.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2025 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
