posted by Joe Polk at 12:30 AM /
The Mt. Lebanon school board is poised to vote on a construction or renovation alternative for the high school on Monday night. But just what the options are at this point aren't entirely clear.
During 3 1/2 hours of meetings Monday -- first an architect's update and then a board discussion meeting -- the board heard from a group of residents who are pushing for a newly constructed high school and a community referendum that would be required by state law to approve the financing of the project.
During the architect's update, it was announced that the estimated price of a new high school has been lowered to $146.1 million from $157.9 million.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09043/948374-55.stm
During 3 1/2 hours of meetings Monday -- first an architect's update and then a board discussion meeting -- the board heard from a group of residents who are pushing for a newly constructed high school and a community referendum that would be required by state law to approve the financing of the project.
During the architect's update, it was announced that the estimated price of a new high school has been lowered to $146.1 million from $157.9 million.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09043/948374-55.stm
Labels: high school renovation, school board
2 Comments:
Mary Niederberger fails to understand the board does indeed have additional options. The board needs to vote on them before even discussing the options presented by Celli-Flynn Brennan, OWPP and P.J. Dick. Why? Because they were presented by current school directors! The electorate put directors Silhol, Remely and Fraasch in the same taxing body as Kubit, Stipanovich, Hart, Cappucci, Posti, and Rose. Their opinions need to be considered. If Kubit, Stipanovich, Hart, Cappucci, Posti, and Rose put out a proposal, that proposal should also be considered. Kubit, Stipanovich, Hart, Cappucci, Posti, and Rose did not put out their own proposal. Taxpayers have a right to see a roll call vote on the plans presented, not "floated", by the full board. Perhaps if Celli-Flynn Brennan, OWPP and P.J. Dick ran for school director office their opinions would be given more weight. In order for taxpayers to hold elected officials accountable, we need to see them vote on their own proposals.
"Mr. Fraasch and Mark Hart, who said they don't believe the district should embark on a major construction project in the current economy, said they would vote to put the project to referendum because they believe it will fail."
That is hardly what I said on Monday night. I said that I am leaning towards voting to send this to referendum because I think this community deserves a chance to have its voice heard- both FOR and AGAINST the massive spending it would take for the construction of a new school. I said that I felt there would be lingering feelings of unease between the community and the Board without going to referendum. I think I even talked about how we would not have "peace for lack of a better word" on this issue in the community until it was sent to the ballot box. I do believe very strongly that a referendum would fail but that is not a reason to go to referendum. If the community votes to support the addition of $150 million of new debt and exceed the state's non-electoral debt limits, then by all means, I will build the best building we can get for the money.
We'll see how things go on Monday night.
James
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