High School Upper Practice Field Update

I'm a little behind. sigh.

High School Upper Practice Field Update

Posted 03/26/2018 04:04PM

The School Board has asked the Facilities Department to move forward with plans to construct a competition, artificial turf field on the Upper Practice Field at the high school.

Work is underway to complete the field design and obtain storm water management permits. A committee is being formed to evaluate differ types of artificial turf to help inform the Board's decision.

Contract pricing will be brought to the School Board to consider, possibly in May. 

Bad News/Good News UPDATED 10/11/17

The PA Department of Education released the Keystone Exams scores. The bad news is that Mt. Lebanon High School can't compete with Upper St. Clair High School.

How local high schools fared on this year's Keystone Exams

By Ethan Lott / The Business Times ranked schools based on scores just released by the state Department of Education. 

Top 5 High Schools

The good new is that Mt. Lebanon School District is considering a $1,347,000 investment for a competitive size artificial turf field on the Rock Pile. Always being fiscally responsible, by throwing in the replacement of the high school stadium artificial turf, the school district can save 10% for a total of $1.7 million. Where will the money come from? Well, Jan Klein claims this month, that there is about $5 million available in the capital projects funds. Next month may be a different story.

At last night's school board meeting, the Draft Rock Pile Presentation was made with all the different options explained. Miraculously, the presentation was posted on the school district website last night. Of course, we're still waiting for Mary and Timmy to release the timeline promised last month. But when it comes to sports in this town, people move in warp speed. A suggestion was made for money to come from THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, since it could benefit the community. People would WANT to give, for sure. Cheerleader Larry Lebowitz said that this is a "golden opportunity" and he is excited! By adding lights, we could certainly get even more use.

Still waiting for the day when education is discussed at a school board meeting, instead of construction. Tonight, the municipality held a public hearing on the CIP which includes $5.5 million for Muni Field Improvements in 2022.

So even though we can't compete scholastically with Upper St. Clair, we can have some awesome fields! The band is excited. The soccer coaches are excited. The track coaches are excited. Larry is excited. Several 2016-2017 Key Communicators are excited. Go Lebo!

Update October 11, 2017 7:39 AM Here is how Mt. Lebanon Magazine spins it.

BTW, we want artificial turf for the Rock Pile

The commissioners filled a vacancy on the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) on Monday evening. Not sure of the circumstances for this new appointment, I asked during Citizens Comments for more details. Apparently, the school board directors no longer want to be a part of the ESB.

The following is a letter to Kristen Linfante and Steve Feller, from school board president, Elaine Cappucci:

On Jun 11, 2014, at 4:34 PM, Elaine Cappucci <ECappucci@mtlsd.net> wrote:

Kristen and Steve,

As you know, there is currently one open position on the Environmental Sustainability Board, and the School Board is slated to select a candidate.

In past years, there have been two open seats at a time, and the municipality has advertised the openings and accepted resumes and applications which were then sent on to us after the commission chose a candidate.  Unlike the commission, the School Board does not operate any other volunteer boards like the ESB.  We do not have any applications for the currently open seat.

When the ESB was formed, its purpose was to gain local government approval of the Mt. Lebanon Climate Action Plan, which was prepared by a group of resident volunteers interested in reducing energy use in Mt. Lebanon.  Both the commission and the School Board approved the plan and formation of the ESB.  The goal of the Action Plan was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption, a goal the School District continuously works on.  Since that time the ESB has expanded their role, but the majority of their work has been on issues pertaining to the municipality, not the School District.  Our role in the ESB is limited to projects within our buildings, while the commission’s responsibilities are more far-reaching. 

We would like to ask the commission to appoint a new ESB member to the open position this year and for the next two open School Board positions since you have the pool of candidates for volunteer board positions.  At the end of that process, the ESB would be a board of the commission.

Respectfully,

Elaine

So the school board wants to back out of the ESB. This move falls in line with the school board's desire to tear down Building C, built in 1972 and supports their future capital project of artificially turfing the Rock Pile.

The commission president blindly honored Elaine Cappucci's request and never realized that it was a violation of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon Administrative Code. 

140.2 Membership and Term. The Environmental Sustainability Board shall consist of seven (7) members each appointed for a three (3) year term. The initial terms of board members shall be one (1), two (2) and three (3) years. No more than three (3) members’ terms shall expire in any one year. Three (3) board members shall be appointed by the municipality, three (3) shall be appointed by the Mt. Lebanon School District and one (1) shall be selected by the six (6) seated members.

I asked if the ordinance needed to be amended, and the solicitor's response was, "Yes."

Additionally, I asked for the list of unassigned funds discussed at the Commission Discussion Session. Kristen was referring to items by letter, instead of explaining what each line item was for the public's benefit. That list has been posted on the municipal website. I could not find it on the website, so Steve Feller sent this to me this morning.

The link is: http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/10437
It was posted the next morning under finance dept.with a paragraph stating: 

Finance Department 

Documents

• The Commission had a public hearing on June 23, 2014 to consider projects for the unassigned fund balance and received comments at that hearing. Since then there have been a few additions. Here are the most recent items that are being considered, all of them under the general categories that previously were discussed. 2014 Capital worksheet

Thanks.
Steve 

Kristen would not approve items O and P, feeling that there was a statement being made. She went on to say that it had something to do with those opposed to artificial turf. Unfortunately, there is no statement being made. I can vouch for the need in Rockwood Park. The black rubber sidewalks are a perfect palette for sidewalk chalk drawings during cool weather like we had yesterday, but the children cannot walk on the black rubber in hot weather, let alone sit on the walk while creating their masterpieces. Unfortunately $1,500 is money not well spent, in Kristen's mind. 

More artificial turf coming to the high school

A RTK was filed for the capital projects list, of which 67 items were to be approved at tonight's school board meeting. The person who requested the list asked for it to be published on the school district website, but that idea was rejected.

The five year capital projects list contained something buried on the 23rd page of that pdf document.

No. 48 Install turf on upper practice field   HS  8 Yrs.     2016      $1,000,000

The upper practice field is also known as The Rock Pile. During the high school renovation, that practice field has not been available. According to the capital projects list, there is a plan to turf that area in 2016 for $1,000,000, and to be replaced on an eight year cycle. 

I was hoping to see something about this in the RTK that is due this Friday. Why wasn't this brought up at a Sports Advisory Board meeting? The high school athletic director should have known this was coming. Ed Kubit, the school board representative should have known that this was coming. Certainly, Dave Franklin should have known that this was coming. Yet, the commission is spending $750,000+ in our over tax dollars for the "new crown jewel." The SAB's portion is to be $250,000 or 25%, whichever is less. According to President Linfante, there were no other options.

At the same time, Mt. Lebanon School District is in the middle of a capital fundraising campaign. The $1,000,000 toxic turf will come out of capital projects fund.  Has MTLSD hired someone to fundraise for turf? It sure looks that way to me.