Groundbreaking Ceremony is today

It's a Great Day for the Mt. Lebanon School District! 
It has been a long time coming, but the day is finally here to celebrate the groundbreaking of our new high school. The ceremony is set for 4:00p.m., rain or shine, this afternoon on the lawn near the Fine Arts Theatre. Come hear the Marching Blue Devil Band, the Triple Trio and the High School Chamber Choir. Students hand painted all the hard hats that will be worn by the participants. Join us for a reception in the upper lobby of the Fine Arts Theatre following the ceremony. Let's Celebrate!

Update January 27, 2012 Video of Groundbreaking Ceremony


Update January 28, 2012  I am sorry.  I can't resist. This picture of the groundbreaking ceremony was sent to me.

Groundbreaking Ceremony is a bit premature. Again.

When it comes to homework assignments, the School Board should get an "Incomplete." There is a parking ordinance in Mt. Lebanon which mandates 528 parking spaces must exist on site. The current parking plan violates that ordinance. The School District needs to apply for a variance with the Zoning Hearing Board once again. Come on School Board, when are you going to start doing your homework? Or is there another lawsuit on the horizon which we, the taxpayers, get to pay for both sides again?

Update: Beginning this Wednesday, students will not be allowed to park on site.  Isn't that a bit premature, as well?  Do you have the blessings of the Municipality since you will be in noncompliance with the parking ordinance?

An invitation to the rest of us

Dear Mt. Lebanon Parents and Students,

On behalf of the Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors, I would like to extend an invitation for you to attend the Mt. Lebanon School District groundbreaking ceremony for the High School Renovation Project. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. on the lawn next to the Fine Arts Theatre. An invitation is attached. I hope you will join us for refreshments following the ceremony in the upper lobby of the Fine Arts Theatre. 

This is a historic moment for the Mt. Lebanon School District and community, and represents the culmination of many years of planning and perseverance. It is now time to celebrate! 

I look forward to seeing you at the groundbreaking. 

Sincerely,

Timothy Steinhauer, Ed. D.

Not feeling so festive now (Updated)

From the District website:

Latest News

• School Board Awards Bids for High School ProjectThe Mt. Lebanon School Board awarded bids for the construction of the high school project at the December 19, 2011, School Board meeting in a unanimous vote of 9-0.  P. J.  Dick Inc., the project construction manager, estimated bids for the project at $93,424,000. The total of the lowest base bids was $87,876,977—5.9% below estimates. The low bidder for general construction was Nello Construction of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at $49,137,000. The following companies were awarded bids for the project:
  
  

  General Construction	Nello Construction	$49,173,000
  HVAC Construction	McKamish	$14,947,000
  Plumbing Construction	Vrabel	$4,771,200
  Electrical Construction	Farfield	$10,927,000
  Casework Construction	Reed Associates	$1,148,800
  Fire Protection	SimplexGrinnell	$944,777
  Asbestos Abatement	Precision	$6,077,000

The School Board took action on alternates to add classroom and lab casework, blown fiber-optic cable and operable windows for a total addition to the base bids of $111,800. Those numbers are included in the totals above for Nello, Reed Associates and Farfield.  The expected length of the project is 48 months.


The awarding of the bids for the project caps six years of planning the new high school that will consist of new construction and renovated portions of the existing building for a total of 454,816 square feet. The building along Cochran Road will be completely renovated while maintaining the traditional exterior of Mt. Lebanon High School. The existing competition gym will be renovated into a new center court with the cafeteria integrated into this multi-level space, along with key student resources such as the media center, writing lab, math lab and activities office. All academic areas will intersect at this space, creating a vibrant school center. New fine art spaces and technology center will also be located near the core of the building. Thoughtfully designed student navigation patterns will connect these spaces throughout the complex.  New construction will link the center court to a new academic wing that will house state of the art science labs and classrooms. A new student entry on Horsman Drive will anchor the back of the building. The auditorium and fine arts theatre will also undergo a complete renovation. A glass-enclosed  bridge over Horsman Drive will connect center court with the new athletic field house that will hold a competition gym, two auxiliary gyms and a new eight-lane pool. New tennis courts will be built along Horsman Drive next to the building.  There are currently 1800 students who attend Mt. Lebanon High School. 

A ground breaking ceremony for the high school will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. All are invited to attend. 

Not taking any anonymous comments on this thread.  


http://www.mtlsd.org/highschoolrenovation/

Podcast is available at 2011/12/19 School Board Business Meeting

Mt. Lebanon school renovation work to begin next month
Mt. Lebanon awards construction contract

A photo of the "glass" bridge:

Groundbreaking Ceremony Postponed

From the Mt. Lebanon School District website:

The High School groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for April 28, 2011 is postponed while the Board deliberates on the outcome of the bids for the High School project.  http://www.mtlsd.org/district/

I hope the School Board considers rescheduling the reconvened meeting that conflicts with the Commission meeting on April 25, 2011.  The Commission will be holding a public hearing to amend the Mt. Lebanon Code regarding signs, such as the Save Our School signs.  Bill No. 6-11 http://www.mtlebanon.org/archives/30/APPROVED%20Supplemental%20agenda%2004-12-11.pdf

Update 5:57 PM The Post Gazette now says that the bids came in $15.3 million or 16.5% over cost estimates. More numbers have been released.  Read them here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11110/1140565-100.stm

Celebrate Fiscal Responsibility Day

Here is an idea for the School Board, for what it's worth.  Change the April 28, 2011 Groundbreaking Ceremony to "Celebrate Fiscal Responsibility Day."  Show the community that we are all in this together.  We're not fear mongers, hijackers, anti kids, obstructionists, anti sports, or naysayers as we have been called in the past year.  We want what is best for the community too.  Let this be a wake up call and turn this into an opportunity to unite the community.  Come up with a good plan and let's get the high school renovated at a cost that is more in line with our economic situation. We can't say that we didn't see this coming.  I still have the link to the August 9, 2010 presentation on lebocitizens.com.  http://www.mtlsd.org/highschoolrenovation/stuff/presentationarchitectaug2010.pdf  This would be a good start.

In case you didn't get the invitation...

Invitation from the Mt. Lebanon School District  I hope there will be enough parking. 

P.S. Isn't "Ground Breaking" one word?