This is what USC is doing.UPDATED

We live in a school district where the superintendent laughed when he heard about swastikas drawn in Washington Elementary playground mulch. This is what Upper St. Clair is doing.

From: Upper St. Clair School District <tvojtko@uscsd.k12.pa.us>
Date: Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:06 PM
Subject: USCSD: School counselors available
To: Upper St. Clair Families

Dear Upper St. Clair Families:

Our region, our nation, and the world are stunned by the horrific event that occurred Saturday morning at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill. For our families that have been affected directly or indirectly, please know we are here for you.

As adults, it is challenging to find the right words in the face of such adversity. Imagine how difficult it can be for our children. Below please find several resources for talking with children about tragic events.

• Talking with Children about Tragic Events, The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
• Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events, American Academy of Pediatrics
• How to talk to children about difficult news, American Psychological Association

I hope these are helpful to you as we try to move forward together, while supporting our Jewish community and those who have been impacted by this senseless and unimaginable violence. Please know that our school counselors are here to help if your child shows any signs of distress.

Tomorrow and Tuesday are scheduled professional development days for district staff, with no school scheduled for students. However, school counselors will be in the buildings and available if your child needs them prior to returning to school on Wednesday. A full listing of the district’s school counselors, including contact information, is provided below. If you are unable to reach your child’s counselor directly, please contact the main office for assistance. 

We offer our deepest sympathy to those who have been affected by this tragic event. As always, our district staff will be there to support our students.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. John T. Rozzo
Superintendent of Schools

---

School Counselors

Baker Elementary
Kristin Rose: 412-833-1600, ext. 4010  |  krose@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Eisenhower Elementary
Amy Miller: 412-833-1600, ext. 8010  | amiller@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Streams Elementary
Leslie Smirniw: 412-833-1600, ext. 6010  |  lsmirniw@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Boyce Middle School
Amy Antonio, 5th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 5011  |  aantonio@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Tonia Autieri, 6th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 5010  |  tautieri@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Fort Couch Middle School
Jace Palmer, 8th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 3011  |  jpalmer@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Lauren Madia, 7th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 3010  |  lmadia@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Upper St. Clair High School 
(click here for counselor assignments)
Jennifer Kirk: 412-833-1600, ext. 2403  |  jkirk@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Jerry Malarkey: 412-833-1600, ext. 2401  |  jmalarkey@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Thomas Marquis:  412-833-1600, ext. 2406  |  tmarquis@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Gordon Mathews:  412-833-1600, ext. 2402  |  gmathews@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Kristin Pardini:  412-833-1600, ext. 2404  |  kpardini@uscsd.k12.pa.us
William Rullo:  412-833-1600, ext. 2400  |  brullo@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Update October 29, 2018 3:40 PM

In Response to the Tree of Life Shooting: Community Resources

Letter to Parents from Dr. Timothy Steinhauer

South Fayette still ranked #1

The Pittsburgh Business Times' annual Honor Roll ranking is here, with data based on three years of performance on state standardized test scores.

USC names new superintendent

Timmy didn't make the cut.
Upper St. Clair names new superintendent

Upper St. Clair doesn't fool around

Torrente project to get under way in Upper St. Clair

The apartment boom is now reaching what might be one of the last places you’d expect in the region — Upper St. Clair, your suburb’s suburb. 

One of the region’s wealthiest communities with one of the strongest school districts, Upper St. Clair is set for a new apartment complex called Torrente, a 220-unit project consisting of nine buildings and a clubhouse on 25 acres of land at the end of Boyce Plaza Road.

Meanwhile, it's been almost a year to the day since there was an informational meeting about the Zamagias property across the street from St. Bernard's Church. Informational Meeting about Zamagias Property How many years have they been fooling around?

Big deal. Ours gets a $1,000 bonus!

Upper St. Clair High School principal named principal of the year

The Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals named Upper St. Clair High School principal Michael P. Ghilani its 2013 principal of the year.

Big deal.  Don't they have their priorities straight? Our school board certainly does. Our high school principal got the coveted Award for Construction Excellence.  Can Upper St. Clair make that claim? Hardly. People move to Mt. Lebanon for the schools.

Why don't we try to keep up with USC on this one? UPDATED 2X

When Upper St. Clair commissioners adopted their 2013 budget of $18.8 million, they reduced their millage to 3.9 mills, due to the Allegheny County Reassessment. They are at it again.  To prevent a windfall, the Upper St. Clair commissioners dropped their millage again to 3.83 mills. 

In addition to lowering their millage, the commissioners adopted an ordinance encouraging homeowners to install solar power systems. There is a 30% federal tax credit available, in addition to state grant money, which is available through the end of 2013. I can't get the commission to work out a group rate for energy use here. The best I got, was a link on our municipal website with help in choosing energy suppliers.

Why would anyone want to move here instead of Upper St. Clair? Is it for the schools? The taxes? Remind me.

USC lowers millage rate again

Update March 6, 2013 12:55 PM Sorry for the cross post. I had to update this thread with Upper St. Clair's Magazine Fund. TOWNSHIP/SCHOOL DISTRICT MAGAZINE FUND USC has one PIO, not two separate offices. Did you see how much the editorial staff is budgeted? $35,000! USC's total magazine operating budget is $191,043. They made $6,157 last year. Our editor in chief's base salary is $96,252.  This does not include any longevity bonus or benefits. In addition, she has a managing editor, a senior editor, an associate editor, a photography editor, a design associate, a production assistant, a clerical assistant, 9 photographers, 15 contributors, 4 people for copy desk, an art director, an advertising manager, and 4 account executives in advertising. That is just on the municipal side! 

Update March 7, 2013 9:28 AM I debated about starting a new post, but since it pertains to the PIO spending our tax dollars, I am adding it as an update. One of Lebolife blogs, is promoting a business, as well as his own blog. three ways to spice up spring That doesn't feel right to me. Somehow I feel that if I submitted an article and added a tag "Read more of Elaine's blog at lebocitizens.blogspot.com," it would not meet Susan Morgan's approval. I want to say something positive about our new "baby blogs," but I am at a loss.

USC, Bethel, but not here UPDATED

A Lebo Citizens reader was kind enough to send me the following message from the Bethel Park School Board President, Donna Cook. http://www.bpsd.org/boardmessage.aspx

The take-away that I got from President Cook's message:

• All Bethel Park Administrators voluntarily took a wage freeze for the 2011-2012 school year.
• The  school board appreciates their constituents' attendance and participation in these meetings;  it has become increasingly difficult to sit silently while statements are being made that are simply not correct.

All BP's administrators voluntarily took a wage freeze for 2011-2012.  Upper St. Clair's top administrators took voluntary wage freezes. All of our school administrators got sizable increases. We have parents complaining about the math program. One parent's comments from Monday's meeting about our math program are spot on. Monday's presentation was illustrating a state wide comparison. Interestingly enough, the regional comparison is disappointing. Here is a page from the presentation comparing math SAT scores. We're ranked 18, while Upper St. Clair is ranked #8, North Allegheny 10, and Fox Chapel is ranked at 14. Dr. Deb Allen said that we must not rest on our laurels. I don't think we have "laurels to rest on." Our science scores are marginal.  While our super Super is blogging about Chinese proverbs and is "transfixed" while doing photo essays on the view outside of his window, our school board directors continue to spend money like there is no tomorrow.  If the Mayans are right, maybe there will be no tomorrow, but in the meantime, how about putting a cork in it, Josephine? Stop wasting our money.

The second point is for my commissioner's benefit.

Update November 23, 2012 2:45 PM Witte comment about MTLSD math program
Also available here:
Witte comment on Lebocitizens.com

USC Superintendent is at it again

From Upper St. Clair Patch:

USC School Administrative Changes Represent Savings

Take a look at who's who for 2012-13 and some positions that have been eliminated.

The following restructuring of the Upper St. Clair School District administrative team represents approximately $100,000 in salary savings for 2012-13, according to information provided by Dr. Patrick O'Toole, superintendent:

• Dr. Sharon Suritsky was officially appointed as assistant superintendent after serving as acting assistant to the superintendent/supervisor of special education since 2009.
• Melissa Garvin started her assignment as the supervisor of special education in February. She came to USC from Wesley Spectrum Services, where she was director of academics and instruction.
• Patrick McClintock-Comeaux returned to USC as principal of Baker Elementary School, from Stephen C. Foster Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon. He was a teacher and curriculum leader at USC from 1995 to 2001.
• John Rozzo, who has served as assistant principal at Fort Couch Middle School since 2005, became the academic principal for both Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools.
• Lou Angelo, who was recently named the Pennsylvania Assistant Principal of the Year, was promoted to associate principal of Upper St. Clair High School. He had been the assistant principal at the high school since 2006. Christine Mussomeli was hired to replace him as assistant principal, effective Aug. 15.
• Amy Pfender was named assistant principal at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools, effective March 1. In her role as special education curriculum leader, she has assisted principal Karen Brown at Boyce Middle School since 2009.

As part of the reorganization, two district office positions (director of human resources and director of operations, community relations and special projects) and one building-level position (director of high school guidance) have been eliminated.

********

Here in Mt. Lebanon, we pass out administrative raises left and right. Has there been a complete turnover in school principals in Mt. Lebanon? I lost track.

http://upperstclair.patch.com/articles/usc-school-administrative-changes-represent-savings

Newsweek's Best High Schools 2012

It's that time again.  I wrote about this last year here: Newsweek's Best Public High Schools in America Newsweek released their list today.  America's Best High Schools 2012 Upper St. Clair ranked #244, while Mt. Lebanon was "close behind" at No. 518.

Other southwestern Pennsylvania high schools that made the list are:

• No. 488 Fox Chapel Area
• 
  
• No. 624 North Allegheny 
• 
  
• No. 627 Pine-Richland 
• 
  
• No. 648 Quaker Valley
• 
  
• No. 662 Hampton
• .

A dollar not borrowed is not a dollar and 77 cents saved.

Yesterday's Almanac captured the essence of the District mentality. Mt. Lebanon resident, Bill Matthews submitted this letter to the editor.   Intent to spend a dollar still the same (Saved in Google Docs) Bill pointed out the twisted logic that Jan Klein shared with the Almanac.  Ms. Jan estimated that for every dollar the district did not borrow, it would save about $1.77.  The implication was that by raising taxes and preserving squirreled away funds for the renovation we can avoid buckets of interest expense. But the underlying intent is still the same - to spend a dollar.  Hence the savings is only 77 cents, not 177 cents.

Now go to the headlines of the May 2, 2012 Almanac. USC needs more cuts (Saved in Google Docs) USC still needs to cut $520,000, after teachers' union concessions totaling $3.7 million over the next two  years. The new budget deficit would amount to $520,000.  USC is trying to hold their tax hike to .41 mill, not taking advantage of the higher exceptions granted by the state.  Mt. Lebanon has indicated that we will be getting a .5 mill increase.

The Board plans to continue budget discussions at the May 14 Discussion Meeting. The budget will be approved at the May 21, 2012 school board meeting. Send your emails to schoolboard@mtlsd.net.


At the bottom of both online articles:

Posting on Almanac website suspended

Beginning Tuesday, May 1, The Almanac will temporarily suspend the posting of reader comments on stories on the newspaper's website.

The move is necessary as the newspaper prepares to install a new content management system and launch a redesigned website this summer.

The comments feature will be restored at that time.

While we are talking about how to spend $1.3 million...

Upper St. Clair is talking to teachers and saving $3.7 million. Upper St. Clair teachers accept concessions Yes, I realize I am talking about two different taxing bodies. What is Mt. Lebanon School District doing? "The List," which we should all be proud of, is cutting $878,991 out of the district budget by eliminating jobs and towels. USC's $3.7 million in savings does not include the savings as a result of the superintendent's and finance director's pay freezes. Here is a thought. Come up with a new teachers' contract, save jobs, and demand that Dr. Tim and Ms. Jan take pay freezes. Let the municipality buy a mower for the golf course, meet the FCC deadline by replacing the public works radio system, buy a stump grinder, replace the ice rink floor, fix the tennis center sidewalk and steps, upgrade the phone system, improve the drainage at Bird Park field, continue to improve the parks according to the Parks Master Plan, install 850 linear feet of sidewalk, buy 17 automatic external defibrillators, replace the fueling station, replace the security system at the Public Safety Building and Municipal Building, enhance the ice center facility, improve the community center rooms, replace the four year old watch commander vehicle, or put some in pensions. Spend the savings from contract concessions and administrative pay freezes on the best artificial turf available and build your own showcase fields.  Or better yet, put it back into education.

An open letter to my commissioner

Kristen,
I am not having trouble understanding how this works. Perhaps Nick Schalles or the other commissioners would explain how they ARE able respond on their mtlebanon.org email address.


Tonight, I did some research on Upper St. Clair's parks and recreation. I found the results of a 1997 survey which seemed to be done in a more equitable way, rather than having eblasts sent out to all the parents of sports teams urging to them to storm tonight's meeting. http://www.twpusc.org/rec/parks/boycemay/masterplan/survey.htm I found Question #4 to be most interesting. This question was not asking what was wanted, but just what residents enjoy doing outside the home. Considering that 82% of the respondents had at least one child in the household up to age 19, it is curious that soccer (#6 out of 8) and baseball (#8 out of 8) were at the bottom of the list.


Tonight's exercise reminded me of the high school renovation process all over again. Those who were the loudest, got what they wanted. It is sad that this community is being controlled by a special interest group, while the older residents get ignored.


Elaine

-----Original Message-----
From: Kristen Linfante <kristenlinfante@yahoo.com>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Apr 19, 2012 10:34 pm
Subject: RE: RE: Parks and recreation

Dear Elaine,

I believe I already explained to you that I don't have the ability to send mail 
through the mtlebanon.org server as it is only a forwarding service.  When 
people send me (and the other commissioners) mail at the mtlebanon.org address 
is automatically forwarded to a designated address, which in my case is the 
yahoo address.  This is not my personal email account, but rather one that is 
set up specifically for this purpose.  I'm sorry you are having trouble 
understanding how this works.  If you would like further explanation, I suggest 
you contact Nick Schalles, our IT director at the municipality.  He can be 
contacted at nschalles@mtlebanon.org.  I'm sure he would be happy to explain the 
process to you.

Kristen Linfante
Commissioner, Ward 3


-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476@aol.com [mailto:egillen476@aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 8:41 PM
To: commission@mtlebanon.org
Subject: Fwd: RE: Parks and recreation

Kristen,
As you can see, I did not attend tonight's meeting.

First off, using your yahoo account is not being transparent. I would love to 
see your mtlebanon.org email be your official email.

Secondly, the commissioners are far from acting on a whim. You wrote about a rec 
bond on your campaign website back in October. It was your second to the last 
post. Wasn't it a campaign promise? So why are you responding on behalf of the 
commission? I sent this response to the entire commission so that they were 
included.

It is a shame that eblasts were sent out to all the sports parents. The older 
people in this community don't stand a chance. When do they get represented? 
When eblasts are sent to hundreds of people saying to show up at the special 
meeting, it is really a command performance. It is not a true reprentation of 
the community.  Rest assured.

Elaine



-----Original Message----- 

From:
Kristen Linfante <kristenlinfante@yahoo.com>
To:
egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Subject:
RE: Parks and recreation
Date:
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 2:29 pm

Dear Ms. Gillen,

Thanks for taking the time to contact the commission.  We have received a multitude of emails regarding fields/rec, and we will surely receive more input from the community at large tonight. It is wonderfully transparent, open-forum discussions like these that surely discourage commissioners from acting on “whim”, but rather on information received by the community.   Rest assured.

Regards,

Kristen Linfante

Commissioner, Ward 3

From: egillen476@aol.com 
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:14 PM
To: commission@mtlebanon.org
Cc: sfeller@mtlebanon.org
Subject: Parks and recreation
 

Dear Commission:

You are elected stewards of taxpayer funds. It is your responsibility to spend 
my money wisely and without regard to influence from special interest groups. 
While I know two of you have made campaign promises in the past, it is my 
sincere hope that you are now realizing the folly of floating bonds to pay for 
your every whim. We do not have the money.

I support the commission spending an appropriate amount of the existing fund 
balance to maintain what we have.

Spending more than the existing fund balance or floating bonds for recreation 
use should be off the table in this economic environment. 
You will, in the very near future, need to ability to float bonds for other uses 
that should take priority over recreation.

Please use fiscal restraint when considering how to address your parks and rec 
issues.

Sincerely,

Elaine Gillen

Note: I apologize for the variations in fonts. 

We moved up! (Updated)

Pittsburgh Business Times reports this morning that we have moved from the third postition to number two in school rankings!!! 2012 School Guide to Western Pennsylvania Schools  Of course, Number One Upper St. Clair has been voted top school district SEVEN years in a row.

Just when we moved up a notch, the board and administration are discussing closing an elementary school, increasing class sizes, furloughing teachers, and all the other things the "fear mongers" have been predicting.

Finally, an explanation to 21st century learning by Dr. Steinhauer:

 A major challenge for us will be to stay abreast of the rapidly changing technologies that impact education and infusing 21st- century skills into our curriculum. We will need to offer a more blended instructional environment with some online classes offered as well as building-based instruction.

Regarding PSSA scores, "Upper St. Clair School District once again had the highest-scoring students in Pennsylvania on state standardized tests. Upper St. Clair has led this ranking all seven years the Business Times has done statewide rankings."  Mt. Lebanon came in fifth in the state.

I am looking forward to reading the guide after it arrives in my mailbox. I will be going into more detail in the next couple of days.

Foster is losing their principal to USC

Upper St. Clair School District has restructured its administration.  Foster Elementary Principal Patrick McClintock-Comeaux is the new Baker Elementary School principal.

As part of the reorganization, two district office positions—director of human resources and director of operations, community relations and special projects—and one building level position—director of high school guidance—have been eliminated.

http://upperstclair.patch.com/articles/mt-lebanon-administrator-named-new-baker-principal

District's $2.4 million shortfall, but hey, we're accepting base bids for $84.4 million

I know. It must be me. The School District is the sane bunch. I am the one losing it. I think it is insane that we have a $2.4 million budget shortfall, but Josephine Posti posts how the School Board is accepting the base bids on her blog today. Renovation Bids Come in Low.

According to the Almanac article listed below, Josephine Posti is quoted as saying:

"This $2.4 million is an enormous amount," said school board president Jo Posti. "To give the public an idea of how large, our staffing review team estimated something as drastic as closing an elementary school would only save $1.1 million."

And while we're at it, let's give Tim Steinhauer another raise and more vacation time. Of course, Upper St. Clair's Superintendent Dr. Patrick O'Toole was named the 2012 PA Superintendent of the Year and will compete for the national award.

USC's O'Toole named Pa. superintendent of year

None of this is making any sense to me. I guess I should relax. The District has it covered.  They want input from the community.

*******

Lebo schools facing $2.4 million budget shortfall

By Nick Lewandowski For The Almanac writer@thealmanac.net

Mt. Lebanon School District was unusually fortunate to have been spared both tax increases and cost-cutting in the 2011-2012 school year. The same will not hold true in 2012-2013.

At the Dec. 12 school board meeting director of fiscal services Jan Klein explained the district is facing a $2.4 million shortfall, largely due to rising pension costs.

State-mandated pension contributions are 43 percent higher for that school year, a significant financial strain for school districts which have salaries and benefits as their largest operating costs. In Mt. Lebanon these account for some 70 percent of the budget.

"This $2.4 million is an enormous amount," said school board president Jo Posti. "To give the public an idea of how large, our staffing review team estimated something as drastic as closing an elementary school would only save $1.1 million."

Hence the district faces the classic dilemma: raise taxes or cut programming.

The problem is compounded by the fact 2012 is a presidential election year, which has shortened the budget timeline. In January state law requires the board to either pass a preliminary budget or a resolution not to increase millage beyond an amount specified by an inflationary index.

According to Klein, tax increases up to the limit imposed by the index would still leave the district's budget at least $1.4 million out of balance.

By passing a preliminary budget, the board would preserve its right to apply for exceptions from the state from that limit, allowing it to raise taxes further to cover costs such as pension contributions. Klein said this could bring the district within $250,000 of a balanced budget.

Board member Dale Ostergaard urged the board to look beyond 2012-2013, however.

"This pension spike is likely to increase for the next few years," he said. "Over the next four years we could face a $9.7 million shortfall. That would require us to raise taxes about 4.5 mills."

A single mill is equivalent to $100 of property tax on a home valued at $100,000.

Ostergaard argued relying solely on tax increases to make up for the shortfall would be too heavy burden on the community. "We need to accept the fact that change to programs and operations must happen over the next four years," he said.

Board member Mary Birks disagreed.

"I would caution this board against making any long-term decision (that would impact programming)," she said. "Remember this impact's not only the value of our children's education but also of our homes."

Complicating matters is the fact that there are still major uncertainties regarding costs for 2012-2013--never mind the four following years. The district still has yet to receive student course selections, for example, and it does not know the cost of healthcare.

On top of that there is concern about the county property assessment. Property assessments play a critical role in determining real estate tax revenue, and there is a chance the latest round will not be completed by the time the board must pass a budget.

By evening's end the board reached a general consensus that it would be better to pass a preliminary budget in January, preserving its ability to raise taxes beyond the index. Board members were also keen on establishing a forum or ad hoc committee to get input from the community.

USC teachers facing job cuts

11/30/2011 

USC teachers facing job cuts

By Carla Valentine Myers for The Almanac writer@thealmanac.net

Even if they get exceptions to raise the tax hike ceiling, a budget proposal discussed Nov. 28 by the Upper St. Clair School Board would cut 14 teaching positions and six support staff positions.

The district's director of business and finance told the school board Nov. 28 that she expects to recommend at its final meeting of 2011 that the board propose a 2012-13 preliminary budget showing a nearly $2.8 million shortfall.

A preliminary budget is required to be proposed by Jan. 5 if the district intends to apply to the state for exceptions that would allow them to raise taxes higher than their 0.337 mill ceiling for 2012-13.

Expenditures are currently projected at $63,833,907, with revenues falling short by $2,798,428.

The district could apply for an exception of $600,000 for pension payments, and $230,000 for special education costs. The pension exception would permit the district to raise taxes another 0.352 mills and the special education exception would permit another 0.135 mills of taxes. This would bring to 0.82 the total tax hike for 2012-2013, if approved by the state.

Combined with the use of $400,000, which the board had been saving for future pension fund payments, the additional taxes would bring the budget deficit down to $1,568,428.

Frosina Cordisco, director of business and finance, said the district will also be able to apply for an exception to raising taxes related to the amount of debt that the district incurred prior to the approval of Act 1. The act sets a ceiling on how much each district can raise taxes each year without applying for exceptions or putting an additional tax hike to a referendum.

She said the amount of that potential exemption has not been calculated due to the difficulty of portions of the existing debt at the time having been refinanced several times to date. She said she hopes to have an estimate of that number in December.

The board meets to reorganize on Dec. 5. Its final meeting of 2011 will be Dec. 12.

Patrick O'Toole, district superintendent, presented a possible budget scenario to the board Nov. 28 that would erase the final $1.5 million shortfall.

That budget would include eliminating 14 teaching positions and six support staff positions. In addition, the budget would cut technology spending by $100,000 and operations and maintenance spending by $100,000.

This would leave the district with a $8,919 surplus in the 2012-13 budget.

"Those are pretty drastic cuts," O'Toole said. "We need to look at staff cuts to balance the budget."

O'Toole said they usually plan for 5 teachers to retire each year, but this year they may get as many as 10. That would mean two thirds of those eliminated positions would be lost through attrition.

"On Feb. 1, we'll have a better idea of retirements," he said.

Cordisco told the board Nov. 28 that even if the district applies for the exceptions to raise taxes higher than the allowed rate, they would not have to follow through and do that.

"Applying for exceptions provides us with flexibility," she said.

Rebecca Stern, board vice president, said "all we're saying is we want to keep our options open."

The alternative to moving forward with the preliminary budget in December is to adopt a resolution before Jan. 10 that the board does not intend to raise taxes by more than 0.337 mills.

Board President Harry Kunselman asked what happens if the board neither proposes a preliminary budget by Jan. 5, nor adopts a resolution to not raise taxes beyond 0.337 mills by Jan. 10.

District staff said they would have to research that question and report back to the board regarding potential consequences.

District solicitor Robert Prorok told the board that if they did not proceed with the process to apply for the exceptions in any of those three areas, then they would not be able to raise taxes higher than 0.337 mills.

Normally, school boards consider preliminary and final budgets in May and June--the months leading up to the implementation of a new budget on July 1. Applying for the exceptions does not alter the June 30 deadline for final budget adoption.

The state not only places taxation limitations on school boards, but also limits the reasons for eliminating teaching positions. O'Toole said they can only be eliminated due to a reduction in enrollment, a change or elimination of programs, or attrition.

Elective areas like foreign languages, physical education and music could be eliminated or reduced in order to successfully justify a furlough, he said. For example, music education could be altered to be offered at a later grade than it is now.

http://www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/11-30-2011-USC-to-cut-jobs

Taxes kill the middle class

This letter, written by an Upper St. Clair resident, appeared in yesterday's Almanac.  Oren Spiegler begins his letter with, "I often feel isolated in my consistent drive for government to practice fiscal conservatism and prudent spending..."  It sounds vaguely familiar, doesn't it?

"The deck is stacked against the taxpayer and in reality, there is no functioning Republican Party in the community, at least not one which would be recognized by its founders, who could not have imagined that teachers would someday be paid over $100,000 in today's dollars (or that the public would be compelled by the police powers of government to construct and to subsidize the operation of a luxurious, palatial recreation center against their will)."

The middle class is being pushed out.  In Mt. Lebanon, the School Board doesn't have a clue as to the meaning of "prudent spending."  The Municipality gets around it by charging fees.

But then, the unbelievable happened.  On Rt. 19, near Boyce Road, a bank courier van spilled money well into six figures.  Police recovered about $400 of it. 

"This is not a free-for-all situation," he said. "Obviously, this money is...bank property."

Lt. Englert said police intend to give people a reasonable amount of time to "come to their senses" and return any money they might have taken. After that, he said, they could charge people with theft.

Police are asking anyone who collected money or anyone who might have seen the hubbub to contact them at 412-833-7500.

 

Schools to watch

For the second time in three years (2008 and 2011), both Fort Couch Middle School and Boyce Middle School were on the PA Schools to Watch list.  Pennsylvania currently has 21 Schools To Watch. As the Upper St. Clair Patch reports in Fort Couch Middle Named a 'School to Watch,' Again

Based on an analysis of academics—as well as attention to developmental and social challenges—the designation recognizes Fort Couch as one of nine schools in the state making noteworthy strides toward educational excellence.
Boyce Middle School also received the award this year.

As a grandmother, I am proud to say that my grandson was a student at both schools when they received this designation.  I am one of the 70% of the households that do not have children in Mt. Lebanon Schools.  How do the remaining 30% feel about our school system?  Aren't you tired of hearing about USC always beating MtL?  As a parent, I would demand more from the District. I wanted my kids to get the best education in the area.  I am glad my kids are doing the same for their kids.

Has there been a review team established to study what USC is doing, that we are not?  Do they have a PTA that is more concerned about education than sending political emails or having underage drinking parties?  The 70%'ers faithfully pay our taxes for above average education, but why do the remaining 30%'ers tolerate this?  Why aren't you demanding excellence?  Where is the outrage?

Upper St. Clair budget slashes middle school sports

While our superintendent and school board are desperately trying to spend $113+ million, Upper St. Clair's superintendent and school board are cutting programs and positions.  Included are cuts in staffing, reduced technology spending, and reductions in middle school sports programs. Is this when someone brings up Mellon turf?
http://postgazette.com/pg/11144/1148727-100.stm

Here in La-La Land, we forge ahead

Due to lower enrollment, Upper St. Clair is not replacing ten educators who either retired or resigned.

To balance the budget, administrators may reduce its support staff through furloughs, reduce the athletics and activities budgets, reduce curriculum-related purchases and reduce transportation expenses, they said.

Upper St. Clair School District Narrows Budget Gap

It’s a problem that will also affect educational programming in the Upper St. Clair School District, administrators said.
The numbers are “staggering,” said Sharon Suritsky, assistant to the superintendent for curriculum and instruction/supervisor of special education.
Projections show:
--Athletics, arts and academics will face significant changes in programming and staff, according to district projections.
--Elective offerings will be reduced, eliminated and/or changed.
--Transportation would be affected, with increased student travel time and reduced or eliminated field trips.
--Class sizes would significantly increase.
--Instructional support and enrichment opportunities would be reduced, eliminated and/or see a significant change.
--Foreign language/international learning opportunities would be reduced, eliminated and/or significantly changed.
--Professional development and staff may also be reduced, eliminated and/or significantly changed.

Upper St. Clair Projections Show Long-Term Challenges

I guess since people move to Mt. Lebanon "for the schools," we don't have this problem.  Wake up, School Board!  We're talking Upper St. Clair!  They have been number one for six years in a row!!!!