Even districts with stable or growing enrollments aren’t exempt from enrollment pressures.
North Allegheny — which had similar enrollments in fall 2004 and fall 2013 — considered but decided against closing Peebles Elementary.
North Allegheny, did, however, redistrict 151 elementary and middle school students to better balance enrollment.
North Allegheny superintendent Raymond Gualtieri said redistricting takes place about every seven years to adjust to changing enrollment patterns.
“We have [housing] developments that had a lot of kids at every bus stop 15 years ago and now there are not as many kids at the bus stops. All of those families had kids go through the system. They haven’t sold their house yet,” he said.
“In other areas, we have new developments going in and there are three tricycles in every driveway.”
The county’s fastest growing district, South Fayette, grew 45 percent since 2004. It still has a lot of undeveloped land, and growth is expected to continue, said Brian Tony, director of finance.
South Fayette didn’t have a neighborhood school tradition. Its four buildings — elementary, intermediate, middle and high schools — are on one campus that used to be farmland.
South Fayette is looking at renovating its high school, built in 2002, because it may not be large enough by 2016.
Superintendent Billie Rondinelli said, “I believe that parents are coming here because they want the quality of education we are providing for the students.”
South Fayette’s new intermediate building opened last fall. Both of the other growing districts also have added buildings, Avonworth’s new Primary Center opened last week, and Pine-Richland added Eden Hall Upper Elementary School in 2008.
Mt. Lebanon did move up from #6 to #3 in total enrollment, even though Lebo's total enrollment has declined since 2004. Yet, the board and the commission spend more and more money to attract young families. MTL's reputation for excellent schools just doesn't trump lower taxes or new housing stock on larger lots. Note: Artificial turf doesn't appear to be a draw for young families. Neither does a multi-million dollar high school renovation.
31 comments:
The moves in recent years--the new high school, disastrous land purchases, the turf--appear to be borne of desperation. Our community, once a "crown jewel", is no longer a direct competitor ( a word I use reluctantly) with others in the area. Cranberry, Peters, South Fayette--they are building new homes because they can. They have built new schools because they must in order to accomodate the influx of new kids. They have lower taxes because it keeps them attractive. They have brand new roads and sidewalks. What do we have? The cartoonish overspend on the high school for a declining student population. Roads with potholes the size of cars. A grand scheme for our "air rights" over the T that includes a few townhomes.
No, Lebo ain't what it used to be. It's a sad remnant of a once proud and robust community. That said, I dont think we're too far gone to salvage it all. It will start by ridding the school board and commission of homogenous thought and replacing it with people with diverse ideas, actual experience with fiscal matters and a willingness to say no to special interest groups and the teachers union. Unless that happens, this town will continue its descent into obscurity.
Just some thoughts regarding information that has been presented on this apparently unreputable blog which I'd love to read others thoughts on.
Earlier there was a comment that ahowed a PARealtors study of MTL denographics, income etc.
It showed a decline in the typical WASPish, high income population and a dramatic rise in minority population with a reduced income average.
Now we have this school district population that shows a rise in enrollments in our neighbor elementaries with more rental property.
Not trying to be politically inappropriate because I'm not asserting that these renters are any less desireable than the WASP population that appears to be leaving.
But wondering instead, do these new renters tend to have more kids- say 2.7 on average than the other group that may have 1.7?
So we get more kids, but less disposable income from which we get fewer tax dollars.
I'm just speculating here and looking for ibput on whether my assumption is all wet or on the right track.
Here is the PA Realtors study of MTL. Couple that with the PG declining enrollments for school districts. Are we seeing a dramatic shift in our community? If their is can we alter it? Should we?
Remember, Ms. Fraasch told Mr. Gideon that the commissioners have never really defined their target audience for property development initiatives.
http://www.parealtor.org/a-case-study-of-the-mount-lebanon-pa-multicultural-market/
Few if any residents, particularly the Muni & District elected and appointed, have apparently ever seriously studied the U.S. Census demographics of 1990, 2000 and 2010 for Mt. Lebanon. The trends leading to the present have been painfully obvious in the data. Yet, far too many seem surprised with the mess we have today !
We have no real strategic plan for our community - the District plan is a farce with unmeasureable self serving goals. And the Muni Comprehensive Plan is nothing more than a massive wish list of self serving outcomes to justify projects, spending, taxation and, of course, continued employment of all those employed at 710 Washington Rd.
The Commission, School Board and several Muni boards & authorities are out of control. The District is led by a dysfunctional board and a photo-op, pizza loving opportunistic wonk who has never taught an academic course; and, the Muni is led by four clowns and a feckless, silent so-called manager who looks only for where three votes will materialize on any issue.
But then, of course, we have a deplorable local situation where only 25% of our registered voters actually vote.
"We have met the enemy and it is us !"
Another phenomenon happening especially with younger people is the tiny house movement. Young people find tiny homes fit their lifestyle and budget.
Tiny house movement could be huge Or search micro home or tiny house.
Elaine
Elaine:
Speaking of "tiny houses," your readers might be interested in the problems that confront people trying to locate a tiny house in certain communities. This video from the Reason Foundation, "Jay Austin's Beautiful, Illegal Tiny House," is probably indicative of what might confront a Millennial here.
Anecdotal...I spoke with two different Asian (Chinese) parents in the past year. Both were renters with 2 children each. One was my spouse's co-worker and a recent relocation from the other coast. Both said that there were only 4 school districts they would consider in Pittsburgh (in no particular order): North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair and Hampton. One parent mentioned Mt. Lebanon's commitment to music education as a deciding factor (their kids play string instruments). Informally, I have noticed a number of Asian families renting along Cochran Road and in Central Square. I think it's great - Asian families expect and drive achievement.
*Full disclosure - our family is partly Asian.
Elaine How long till the courts rule that the "Good" performing schools have to combine with "Poor" performing schools whos tax base is little to zero? We rich folks here in Mt Lebanon can afford it... The courts won't dare to try this in USC or Peters. But Mt Lebanon is and has always been fair game.
No why isn't that last post politically incorrect?
Jewish families don't strive for achievement. German? English? Etc., etc.
Seems the Mt. Lebanon School District has historically been based on a quest for high achievement even when there wasn't a lot of asians in the community.
This is a very interesting thread. I would like to offer these questions for discussion:
Does everyone remember the comments that were made during the arguments about the High School renovation...?
Didn't some of the residents who oppose the project warn everyone that the expenditures by the School District would eventually lead to a consolidation of Mt Lebanon and Keystone Oaks?
Isn't the increased capacity of the new high school addition approximately equal to the enrollment of Keystone Oaks?
Did PA approve a future merger of these districts prior to the construction of the new High School?
Has anyone ever thought about why various SD and municipal workers "in the know" are relocating to Upper St Clair?
Mr. Kendrick, you have brought up interesting points for discussion! I can perceive that what you have posted might take place in the future. Thank you!
While this is all pure speculation it does makefor an interesting discussion.
Could the absurdly expensive high school renovation be a poison pill of sorts to make a merger with Keystone Oaks or another district extremely unattractive?
The possibilty of having to pay MTL's millage rates would have to throw KO's homeowners into shock.
If it does happen I'm sure Mt Lebanon will be the losers in the deal! Many are saying that the courts will rule that parents in poor, under-performing schools will be able to determine the schools THEY want their kid(s) to attend and no school can deny them. Why should kids in Mt Lebanon, USC and Peters have safe schools when kids in McKeesport, Homestead, Woodland Hills don't?
A couple of years ago, as the high school project was just getting underway, Mr. Remely opined that, while the total District student population was in decline, the number of kids in the elementary school would likely rise, giving some verisimilitude to his arguments for a new high school, since more little kids translates into more high school kids down the road. Looking at the numbers from the Post-Gazette article he is correct. But there's more to the story than elementary school numbers.
Frankly, I don't think it's totally accurate to compare just two sets of figures, ten years apart. If we had everything in between we could get a better graph. Second, data from the past is data from the past, and while it will show historic trends, "past performance is no indication of future results."
Having said that, IF one wishes to compare the 2004 data to that of 2013 one will see a 2.94% increase in elementary school enrollment, overall. This translates into 66 additional kids. Unfortunately, that does not make up for, and in fact is part of, the net deficit of 250 District students when comparing 2013 to 2004 (-4.55%). The MLSD would need to see around 83 new families of 3 kids per family to go back to 2004 figures. Ironically, if these 83 families were to displace 83 wage earning "empty nesters" the District would likely see a net loss in revenues and a net increase in costs. Now if those families were absorbed into the community, or they displaced elderly couples or singles, that's another story.
My point is that the District (and the Municipality, too) is gambling on a certain amount of grown to justify their expenditures, and they are gambling with "capital" that belongs to the residents. Given the change in population, the rise of Millennials, what constitutes a "family," the affordability of housing, the archaic property tax system, the fact that young people have less wealth than old people (on average), and the plain fact that neither governing body in this town knows how to define their target audience, the District and Atlantic City may have a lot in common.
I was in Parkersburg over the weekend. It's always an interesting ride over Route 2 through the WV panhandle.
I was surprised to see the extent of the gas drilling in WV, but most of the chemical plants that remain are now owned by entities that are spin-offs or much smaller firms than the traditional names. It strikes me as the same model that was used to dispose of older manufacturing plants in PA before they eventually closed.
As I went further up the WV panhandle I noticed that Arcelor was selling the land and a few buildings in Weirton.
My point is simply that the engines of economic growth that propelled the local economy have imploded and I don't see anything, including Shale Gas, that has sufficiently replaced the loss of manufacturing in our regional economy - nor do I see any plan to revitalize the economy of the region.
I think that many of the prominent attorney's of the gigantic firms who have asserted their political influence over our community just don't get it. It's one thing to see the world through rose colored glasses when you're pulling in a eight or nine figure paycheck and known as who's who at the Country Club; and it's another when you actually have to find a way to create wealth.
Our leadership is kidding themselves and (as Richard pointed out very well) gambled with our largest investment, our homes.
One comment on this site put it best, "When you don't know where you're going any road will get you there."
Mt Lebanon needs new leadership. The key word is leadership. Both parties have let us down. Even if the Machine can muster enough steam to put a footprint together for the next election, they need to realize that they need a new generation of leadership, with a vision and the conviction to turn the community around. Putting establishment candidates on the ballot or running the relative of Who's Who won't change anything - and it sure won't get them elected.
TTFN,...
For those interested, there is a link on WPXI.com to the Teacher Salary Database.
Mr. Gideon, if the district is "gambling on growth" as you suggest then why are they downsizing the HS from 540,000 sq ft to 470,000 sq ft. Plus much of that 470,000 sq ft area is invested in a bridge, larger pool, common areas and administration offices.
If they're preparing for student population growth why wouldn't they have mothballed a floor or two in building C and just updated areas from year to year?
2:50 PM, as a rule, Richard Gideon does not answer anonymous comments.
Elaine
That is fine, if Gideon choses not to respond to anonymous questions.
The point or if preferred - question - has been made and each reader can arrive at their own conclusions.
2:50pm - why don't you ask the district that question? I know exactly where Gideon is coming from. During the debate over the floor space the board said there would be plenty of space to accommodate modest growth. As it is they can absorb and extra 250 students easily in the new building.
If there is plenty of room in the 'new' building for modest growth, how much room was there in the 'old' building?
For labs that could occupy a whole floor, or a fine arts floor?
A Cyber School or adult education floor?
I understood where Mr. Gideon was coming from, he said the district was gambling on a certain amount of growth. What if they gambled with an $80-100 million renovation rather than a $113 million roll of the dice.
If you want to know the answer of what's going to happen to schools, research the birth rate for the past 10 years.
You can't have enrollment if you don't have kids.
--Tom the Tinker
4:36 those questions were asked of the district, especially be the CAC comprised of 12 professionals in the building trades.
Cappucci said she had no intentional of revisiting bldg. C and Kubit led people to believe their gamble would come in under $100 million.
Do you really believe they'll answer any differently now that we're about to surpass the $113 million mark?
Why not renovate building C and house both middle schools there? We could sell the land and add high end real estate to our tax base if we tore down the unused buildings.
I think joining Mt Lebanon with Keystone Oaks would be a very difficult job because the three communities that make up Keystone Oaks (Greentree, Dormont. and Castle Shannon) don't connect geographically. The walk from those communities to the high school would be very lengthly and adding busing would exceed our taxing authority.
8:56, The Department of Education is overruling state law and school district policy. What else can we expect with a fool in the white house?
Hey 9:57: When was the last time you read school district and state education policies? They are so outdated and full of loopholes that it appears that everyone in the education department works one day week. Last year, I was listening to a school board podcast in my car (yes, for real) while picking up my child from an activity. The topic under discussion was Mt Lebanon SD's policy on using corporal punishment. If I remember correctly, it hadn't been updated in 40 years. My son started listening on the conversation (priceless education for him) and when the SB member said that the board would have to look at this at a future meeting, my son exclaimed, "Ya mean they are just going to leave it like that??!?!?!?!?".
Yes, 7th graders know that our school and state policies are backwards, outdated and in need of serious rehauling. If the feds want to help us out, I WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS.
2:28 Dave Brumfield has a plan for that! Get rid of all the seniors as they don't pay ENOUGH taxes.
So 10:20 you welcome federal intervention with open arms?
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/BL-WB-48567
"Did the Health Law Raise or Lower Wages"
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid 10:20!!!
You want more Federal involvement in our local school district... you pay for it!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/food/wp/2014/03/04/two-new-studies-underscore-hopes-frustrations-of-revamped-school-lunches/
"The recently released U.S. Government Accountability Office report paints a fairly bleak picture of school districts trying to adapt to the revised USDA nutrition standards, which went into effect during the 2012-2013 academic year for administrators who want the extra federal reimbursement for their lunch programs. Among the changes to the National School Lunch Program, which was established in 1946 and feeds more than 31 million kids annually, is a requirement for students to select either a half cup of fruit or vegetables with their meals. School cafeterias have increased the amount of whole grains, reduced calories and eliminated the availability of whole and 2 percent milk as well.
According to the GAO report, local and state authorities told researchers the new standards have resulted in more waste, higher food costs, challenges with menu planning and difficulties in sourcing products that meet the federal portion and calorie requirements. The GAO researchers based their findings on historical data as well as on 2013 surveys and interviews with state child nutrition directors and food service providers at eight school districts across the country. They also observed lunches and spoke with students."
It is published today that two more NY school districts are dropping the Federal lunch program. Google it and you'll find districts in Chicago, Cinncinati, Kentucky, Virginia considering opting out.
Then there is this from Education Next: http://educationnext.org/fraud-in-the-lunchroom/
OK, 10:20, we will welcome the common core standards with open arms, let a federal computer grade teacher performance based on test scores, and release the teachers whose students don't make the cut. Pension problem solved. Local control gone. Maybe a federal arbitrator will dictate salaries. Is that what you really want?
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