Schools, Assessments, and Taxes

Because School District officials throughout Allegheny County are undoubtedly scrutinizing yesterday's PA Supreme Court ruling on real estate assessments (as well as waiting for the other shoe to drop, and the other shoe beyond that, and so forth), and because the most important impact of the ruling will be on school finance, here is a link to my post yesterday at Pittsblog, which is a cautionary if not perfectly applicable tale of what happened in California in the wake of "tax reform."

Public Hearing To Discuss Zoning Ordinance Change

The commission will have a public hearing at 8 p.m. May 26, in commission chambers, 710 Washington Road, to hear residents' comments about a proposed zoning ordinance change that would allow health clubs as a conditional use in certain areas of the municipality.

Kossman Development Co. would like to build a health club on property it owns at Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon boulevards and lease the space to LA Fitness. Kossman previously had plans that received final approval for two office buildings on the site. The land currently is cleared and vacant.

While Kossman has not submitted a formal development plan, the club could be 46,864 square feet with 286 parking spaces, 129 of which would be covered. The fitness center would have free weights, cycling, yoga, Pilates, personal training, aerobics, a pool, racquetball and basketball courts, a juice bar and a babysitting center.

The club has 280 locations in 21 states and typical operating hours are 5 a.m. to midnight weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. The nearest club is in Bridgeville.

Currently, health clubs are not permitted in districts with the "mixed use transitional overlay" designation. The overlay is meant to buffer the area between a residential community and a nearby commercial area. Mt. Lebanon has two such areas: the Kossman property and 1145 Bower Hill Road, near the post office.

In March, the Mt. Lebanon Planning Board voted not to recommend the zoning change but the commission has the final word and wants to hear from residents.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09120/966518-55.stm

Water Main Break Closes High School

Mt. Lebanon High School is closed today because of a water main break under the school parking lot, district spokeswoman Cissy Bowman said. No damage has been reported in the school, but water service has been cut to the building, she said. It was unclear when service would be restored. The tennis courts and part of the lawn behind the school are flooded, Bowman said.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_622994.html

Court Orders Allegheny County Property Reassessment

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled today that Allegheny County must reassess its property values.

The unanimous decision on the cases of Clifton et al and Pierce et al v. Allegheny County -- argued before the court in September -- states that the base year method for property valuation, as applied in the county, violates the uniformity clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution. In 2005 County Executive Dan Onorato set property values at 2002 levels to avoid a tax hike on property owners with rising values.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/09119/966406-455.stm

'Dire' Cuts Face Library

A proposed change in the disbursement of Regional Asset District (RAD) money to Allegheny County libraries will drastically cut nearly all South Hills library subsidies and in the case of Mt. Lebanon, lead to crippling employee and program cuts.

Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Dan Miller said if RAD disbursement formula changes are approved in June, Mt. Lebanon Public Library could lose up to $1 million in RAD funding over six years. "We are facing a potential crisis here," Miller said.

"Under this proposed funding formula, performance-based measures are not in the chart because Mt. Lebanon would be at the top. I'm not sure this was arbitrary. There might be someone out there who had an objective they wanted to fulfill," Miller said.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-29-ML-library-RAD-B

Agency To Coordinate Traffic Lights Along Route 19

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission has notified four South Hills communities that it is going forward with a project to coordinate traffic lights along Route 19. Domenic D'Andrea, a traffic signal projects coordinator for the agency, said the group had completed its field investigation of the scope and costs of the project.
Discuss this issue

He said in the coming weeks the group will schedule a meeting with the municipalities to go over cost and schedules. Bethel Park Council passed a resolution April 13 to participate in the plan. Jerry Duke, Bethel Park's municipal planner, said the municipality was a minor player in the project because it has only one signal -- at Highland Road -- in the affected corridor.

He said the majority of the project would take place in Mt. Lebanon, but it also would include participation from Peters and Upper St. Clair.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09113/964806-55.stm

Lebo Is A Best Community for Music Education

Mt. Lebanon is a winner in the 10th annual "Best Communities for Music Education" survey, which acknowledges school districts across the nation for support of music education in schools.

Other winners in the Pittsburgh region are Quaker Valley and North Allegheny school districts. A complete list can be found at www.nammfoundation.org.

Group Pushes ML Candidates

A survey put together by a group of Mt. Lebanon youth sports advocates is getting mentioned in a Mt. Lebanon blog and is the buzz among school board candidates for the May 19 primary.

Supported by members of various Mt. Lebanon athletic groups, Mt. Lebanon Field Sports Facilities Partnership asks candidates if they will spend $2 million on outdoor athletic facilities at the high school stadium and add turf at Mellon Middle School.

"Regrettably, the vast majority of our meetings with board members and candidates failed to reveal any clear and unequivocal position regarding the issues of most importance to our group at this time," according to the candidates' questionnaire. "...no person was willing and/or able to provide our group a firm commitment regarding a specific action plan." Resident Dave Reese is listed as a contact for the group.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-22-ML-election-issue-B

Police Search Authority Cut Back

In a recent post I noted how the Mt. Lebanon Police Department is welcoming a technology that expands surveillance of drivers in Mt. Lebanon. According to the officer quoted by the Post-Gazette, "This would give him cause to pull over, impound and search far more vehicles, which could contain contraband. He called it 'another avenue to get into the car.'"

Only a few people commented at the post. Here's a follow-up: Last week the Supreme Court decided Arizona v. Gant, which cuts back police authority to search vehicles of people who are under arrest. The very short takeaway point is that just because the police have a legitimate reason to stop you, the police do not automatically have a legitimate reason to search your car.

If you are interested in more on the Supreme Court ruling, you can go to SCOTUSBlog, which has a link to the opinions, or to the New York Times. The Post-Gazette, normally quite good when reporting on crime and punishment, didn't cover the story.

Summary of School Board Candidates' Positions on Lebo Athletic Facilities

During the last two weeks the "Mt. Lebanon's Field Sports Facilities Partnership" distributed a questionnaire regarding Mt. Lebanon High School outdoor athletic facilities to candidates for the School Board, and those candidates responded. All of that material was posted online, much of it here at Blog-Lebo. Here are the relevant links, collected in this one handy post:

A post that includes the original questionnaire. There are lots of comments at that post!

Responses from the candidates:
Jo Posti
Rob Gardner
Mary D. Birks
Alan Silhol
Dan Remely
Electa Boyle
Dale Ostergaard

Kudos to all of the candidates for sharing this information with the public!

Final Response on Athletics: Dale Ostergaard

There is one final candidate for School Board with responses to the facilities questionnaire. The following is from Dale Ostergaard. (I received this several days ago but was out of town until today!):

Mr. Reese,

I enjoyed meeting you and your partners for the overview presentation on your private-public joint venture initiative to address the athletic facilities in Mt. Lebanon. As the father of a student on the Soccer and Baseball teams I am well acquainted with the conditions of our current facilities and how Mt. Lebanon’s facilities compare to other schools in the WPIAL’s. You brought many interesting ideas and concepts to the table for refurbishing and enhancing our current sport fields and facilities. Your group has obviously given this a lot of thought and has a passion to make this happen. I am glad to see that there is a sufficient base within the community that is willing to enter into a joint public-private venture. I believe this type of private initiative done in concert with the School Board and Municipality has the best chance to succeed.

We are within 4-6 weeks of seeing the first schematic proposal from the architect on the High School Project. This proposal from my understanding will include new and renovated facilities addressing the needs in academics, athletics, and fine arts. A first estimate on costs will also be presented. No budget has been developed for either the academic, athletic, or fine arts components of the project. It is only after the schematics are presented that dialogue can begin in earnest about the project specifics and costs in all areas. This dialogue will include public forums. To this extent, I would encourage your Partnership to engage in the public forums that will be planned to openly view and discuss the architect’s proposal. The process of reviewing, amending, and consensus building I imagine will take some time. The more your group is engaged, the more informed you will become and your group’s interests heard.

Specific to your questions, here is my response numbered according to your questions.

1) The field house is in very poor shape and should be renovated or replaced with a new facility. The playing surface itself, while correctly sized for football, is undersized for other field sports. The turf is hard and dangerous to our athletes. Any athlete who falls on the turf gets brush burns. The turf is a health risk to our athletes.
2) The High School renovation project was designed to fairly treat all aspects of education. This includes academics, fine arts, and athletics. I believe it is necessary and important to address some components of the athletic facilities as part of a fair and equitable treatment with the academic and fine arts facilities.
3) I do not have a specific plan for prioritizing the athletic facilities upgrade. In talking with a variety of students and parents connected to athletics, I find wide ranging opinions as to priorities. In my mind there is no clear consensus on what the priorities are. I would welcome a clear consensus from the Athletic community as a whole that is agreeable to all. From there, specific projects can be proposed, estimate and plans drawn up, and financing determined. Until then it is premature to talk about financial commitments. Also, the architect’s schematics may in fact address some of the current needs in athletic facilities and point toward a clearer direction that other initiatives could take. Let’s first see what that plan delivers.
4) Again, how much money will be committed to athletic facilities should wait until the architect’s schematic and costs are unveiled over the coming weeks and a first estimate of total project costs are revealed.
5) I would fully endorse any proposal that brings together public and private financing to achieve a goal that enhances our athletic facilities and our student athletes experience. All parties must be fully committed and ready to bring financial resources to the table. The parties also must be able to work together, build trust, be able to gain consensus. The group will need to be able to work with the Commissioners and other township officials depending on the project. The commitment and effort must not be underestimated.
6) Any plan brought before the board would necessarily have to be a plan that has broad appeal and consensus among board members. It would be the Board’s plan, not an individual’s plan. If the plan is in line with the Boards overall mission, has gained broad consensus from student athletes, parents, and the community, has a viable business plan for the private-public partnership, and is financially viable, I imagine that consensus building would be easy.
7) I support funding for an upgrade to the field house. But this may be a mute point if in fact the architect’s schematics cover a renovated or new field house facility as part of the whole package.
8) If renovating building B achieves, in part, the stated goals of the High School project and is more cost effective than new construction then I am in favor of it.
9) Your partnership’s proposal for a revamped athletic field at Mellon is intriguing. Done properly, it could serve the community with a viable competitive sports facility, draw in competitions and spectators, and pump dollars into the uptown restaurants and businesses. Let’s think strategically here and not just ‘immediately turf’ the field.
10) I favor re-turfing the high school field to cut down on injuries and provide a viable playing surface for all field sports. If we just re-turf what is there now, it may well serve the football community, but will it not fall short the expectations of the other field sports? Again, what is the consensus of all the stakeholders? In any case, we need to wait and see if the turf is needed as a construction staging area for the high school project which may delay any decision for next fall.

Private-public ventures have worked in other school districts. I see no reason why it could not work in Mt. Lebanon. They require visionaries and experienced leaders committed to a common set of goals and objectives. It requires a collaborative effort between the private venture, the School Board, the Commissioners, and the community. It requires persistence, patience, process, and financial commitments.

Regards,
Dale Ostergaard

School Board OKs $72 Million Budget

The Mt. Lebanon school board approved a $72 million preliminary 2009-2010 budget that calls for a real estate tax hike of .3 mills.

The increase, if approved in the final budget, will mean that taxpayers will pay an additional $30 for each $100,000 in assessed value on their homes, said Finance Director Jan Klein. The new proposed millage rate will be 24.11.

Under state Act 1, which limits the amount of tax increases districts can impose, Mt. Lebanon could have raised taxes by 1 mill. The vote to approve the preliminary budget, taken last week, was 7-1, with school director Mark Hart voting against the plan and school director Ed Kubit absent.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09113/964805-55.stm

Another Response on Athletics: Electa Boyle

Another candidate for School Board asked me to post her responses to the facilities questionnaire. The following is from Electa Boyle:

Dear Mr. Reese and Members of the Mt. Lebanon Field Sports Facilities Partnership,

It is with interest that I respond to your email dated April 9th regarding your hopes to form a non-partisan collaboration between the Mt. Lebanon School Board, the Municipality and your Partnership to create athletic facility upgrades for Mt. Lebanon’s students, as well as, the community. Since I was unable to attend the discussions regarding your planned proposals, I have relied on discussions with some of my running mates to understand your ideas. As such, I would like to give you an overview of my thoughts with hopes that we can review together the particulars of your plan at a later date.

As a school board candidate, I support a well rounded education including academics, fine arts and athletics which will allow our students to fully develop. The school facilities should reasonably support these activities in a way that demonstrates our pride in Mt. Lebanon’s students and in our community. The current high school facilities do not accomplish this and I believe we can do better.

Regarding the specific questions within your questionnaire, you will find my responses below.

Best regards.

Electa M. Boyle

1. What is your view of the current condition of the field house, track & field and stadium complex on the campus of Mt. Lebanon High School?

The field house should be renovated or replaced – depending on which is the most cost effective solution. There may already be some consideration of this within the High School Project proposal. The outdoor facilities, reportedly, present some safety risks to our student athletes. I will review these with someone more experienced than myself to understand these hazards further. Student safety is very important.

2. Do you believe that it is necessary to address significant upgrading of the outdoor athletic facilities as part of the proposed High School renovation project?

It is necessary to treat equitably all aspects of a student’s education – academics, athletics and fine arts. By necessity, the High School Project should include enhancements to the facilities supporting all three of these areas.

3. If so what is your specific plan (including order of priorities for such upgrades) and how much money do you believe the District should commit to this endeavor in Phase I as part of the overall High School renovation?

Keeping in mind that I believe specific plans for any construction project should include architectural drawings and associated cost estimates, I do not have specific plans, nor am I aware of anyone who does, for prioritizing the outdoor athletic facilities upgrades. Public opinion on such upgrades seems to vary widely according to community interests. I would first like to see the architectural schematics for the High School Project. I think that is a good launch point for open and public discussions of any gaps in the athletic facilities.

4. Separate and apart from how much money the District “should” commit to this initiative, how much money do you believe the District “will” ultimately commit as part of the High School renovation project and at what stage (i.e., Phase I) will it be committed ?

Given that the first schematic and budget for the High School Project is not complete, it is premature for me to say what the District should or will commit to the outdoor athletic facilities. For me to venture a number at this stage would be like grabbing it out of thin air – and this I will not do. We should wait until we have the schematic for the High School Project in hand to begin any further analysis of the outdoor facilities.

5. Would you support our group “bridging the gap” between the resources that “should” be dedicated to address this need and the resources that “will” be dedicated by the District to address the needs articulated by our group?

I support the concept of a private and public partnership as long as it done in a spirit of collaboration and service to our students and our community.

6. Are you committed to prioritizing your specific plan while serving on the School Board and, if so, do you believe you are capable of building a consensus to support your plan on the Board?

My intention is to become a collaborative member of the Mt. Lebanon School Board. As such, I do not come to the board with a personal agenda in mind. I will listen, with an open mind, to all viewpoints regarding academics, athletics and fine arts with the goal of providing an excellent education for each and every Mt. Lebanon school student.

7. During the past 12 months, the School Board has referred to a two million dollar commitment of funds to upgrade the outdoor athletic facilities at the stadium/field house. At a minimum, will you vote to commit to advance funds from the capital improvement reserve of two million dollars in Phase I of the high school renovation project to address outdoor athletic facility upgrades at the stadium as part of our proposed joint private-public venture?

Since I am not a sitting board member, I am unaware of any ‘committed’ funds within the High School Project. All funds within the High School Project at this time, I believe, are ‘proposed’ funds. I believe that the current process of obtaining schematics and associated costs for discussion prior to committing funds is an appropriate one as it will allow for reasonable review and discussion before funds are committed. Fully understanding the proposal before voting is appropriate and that is the path I will follow.

8. What is your position regarding either renovating or demolishing Building B of the High School? If you are in favor of renovating Building B, what was the basis for your decision both financially and politically?

The High School Building B, along with many of our historical structures in Mt. Lebanon, contributes to the ambiance and esthetic beauty of our community. I support the preservation of building B so long as it is not cost prohibitive to do so. I believe that building B can be renovated in a cost effective manner to provide functional educational and administrative facilities for our school.

9. Would you support financially a collaborative project with the municipality regarding immediately “turfing” the field at Mellon in preparation for the High School renovation project?

Since the earliest I could vote for any proposal would be next year, it would be premature for me to speak to any ‘immediate’ plans. However, I think your proposal is very interesting and has in it opportunities to benefit the school district and the community. I would like to hear specifics with regards to plans and costs before venturing a final opinion.

10. Do you support re-turfing the high school stadium’s field this summer in preparation for Fall sports in 2009?

The idea of re-turfing the field, before other High School plans are known, is also premature. We do not know the sequence of construction and, thus, do not know how the field facilities will be impacted by the High School improvements. While re-turfing appears to be a good idea, it should be planned in conjunction with the entire High School project, not in isolation.

Another Response on Athletics: Dan Remely

Another candidate for School Board asked me to post his responses to the facilities questionnaire. The following is from Dan Remely:

1) What is your view of the current condition of the field house, track & field and stadium complex on the campus of Mt. Lebanon High School?

The locker rooms and restrooms are in immediate need of total renovation. I have asked for a tour of the field to personally visualize the concerns and hazards that our student athletes endure.

2) Do you believe that it is necessary to address significant upgrading of the outdoor athletic facilities as part of the proposed High School renovation project?

The high school project has been reviewed and analyzed for several years with an equitable emphasis on academics, fine arts and athletics contained within the facility, save and except those funds proposed for renovations and improvements to the locker rooms and facilities at the stadium. Could some “outdoor athletic facilities” be included in the overall high school renovations project? Possibly, if the budget will allow. As the final plans, phase schedules, and cost estimates are prepared and reviewed, if further renovations to these facilities can be incorporated into the process, I would have no objection.

3) If so what is your specific plan (including order of priorities for such upgrades) and how much money do you believe the District should commit to this endeavor in Phase I as part of the overall High School renovation?

I have no specific plans or priorities at this time, nor do I have any idea of the dollars that are needed or that could be committed. The thoughts and desires of your group regarding the outdoor fields and facilities have not yet been reviewed by the community to determine their support, have not been designed or planned, have not been engineered, and have not been professionally costed out. Until all of these items are available for analysis, and public hearings are held, if required ( Act 34 hearings may be required if public funds that are part of the school construction project are employed), dollars in excess of the proposed budget can not be committed.

4) Separate and apart from how much money the District “should” commit to this initiative, how much money do you believe the District “will” ultimately commit as part of the High School renovation project and at what stage (i.e., Phase I) will it be committed?

In light of the required information outlined in #3 above, as well as an understanding of what the commissioners and the contributors to your effort intend to do, I would have no firm estimate of what could, will, or should be designated to these outdoor facilities proposals. Your project’s cost may vary greatly depending upon what indoor facilities are included in the high school project, and where the final budget for the high school is established.

5) Would you support our group “bridging the gap” between the resources that “should” be dedicated to address this need and the resources that “will” be dedicated by the District to address the needs articulated by our group?

Absolutely! However, as you have asked of us, I ask if you as well, are capable of building a consensus within the community to support your plan? I do not want this effort to result in a “here’s ours, now where’s yours,” rather than a team effort focused on success. Please recall the failure of the McNeilly project where no contributions were committed and the project failed.

6) Are you committed to prioritizing your specific plan while serving on the School Board and, if so, do you believe you are capable of building a consensus to support your plan on the Board?

The School Board is made up of nine members that operate through consensus on every issue. To prioritize one’s specific plan would equate to joining the Board with a personal agenda which is inappropriate and, to my knowledge, has never been successful. The Board’s “priority” is our mission, “To provide the best education for every child.” The best education includes academics, athletics, fine arts, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, and if your goals can be incorporated to enhance this mission then they should and will receive priority from the Board and the community.

7) During the past 12 months, the School Board has referred to a two million dollar commitment of funds to upgrade the outdoor athletic facilities at the stadium/field house. At a minimum, will you vote to commit to advance funds from the capital improvement reserve of two million dollars in Phase I of the high school renovation project to address outdoor athletic facility upgrades at the stadium as part of our proposed joint private-public venture?

Funds have been proposed in the high school improvement budget for the upgrading of the stadium locker room facilities. I have supported this proposed budget item from the onset of the project.

8) What is your position regarding either renovating or demolishing Building B of the High School? If you are in favor or renovating Building B, what was the basis for your decision both financially and politically?

I support the renovation of B Building for several reasons: (1) Classrooms that meet regulations and student comfort can be completed on the lower floors and the upper floors can be improved to serve as district and administrative offices; (2) the renovation of this structure will be less costly than a complete demolition followed by the reconstructing of equivalent square footage; (3) saving B Building will meet our desire to be “green” in our development effort which will assist in securing LEED Certification and thereby possibly a higher reimbursement from the State; and (4) from a community cultural prospective, this structure has a historical significance in that it’s architecture is the same as six other buildings in Mt. Lebanon including other school facilities and the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building.

9) Would you support financially a collaborative project with the municipality regarding immediately “turfing” the field at Mellon in preparation for the High School renovation project?

I would support the concept of a financially collaborative project with the Municipality regarding the Mellon field. As to whether or not this could be done “immediately” would depend on several factors including design, engineering, planning, the time requirements of the bidding process, the schedule for completion, and of course the funds required and available.

10) Do you support re-turfing the high school stadium’s field this summer in preparation for Fall sports in 2009?

I cannot answer this question until several factors are known:

a) Will the high school construction project damage or destroy a new turf, causing an expense to replace it again, or at least sooner than its expected life?

b) What will the phasing of the high school improvements be, and will any portion of this area be needed for staging or otherwise?

c) What is the cost of this effort?

d) How long will this effort take since there are only about 8 weeks between graduation and the start of daily field use?

e) What is the timing for public notice and the advertised bidding process?

f) Are there contractors acceptable to us still available for this work to be one this summer? (And, if they are that good, why aren’t they booked for this summer?)

g) Is there money in the budget for this project?

I have no problem supporting a turf replacement proposal, however, I might think that it could be better planned for the summer of 2010.

Another Response on Athletics: Alan Silhol

Another candidate for School Board asked me to post his responses to the facilities questionnaire. The following is from Alan Silhol:

Our current High School, academics, athletics and fine arts facilities are in dire need of replacement and/or refurbishment. To meet these needs the School Board has directed our architects and project managers to prepare a preliminary set of plans and costs estimates to reflect a partial new and partial refurbished facility. This information should be available for review sometime in May, however, at this point in time the true extent and cost of this project are unknown.

As I have stated in public, my first priorities and responsibilities are to education and the safety of our children. It is essential that our district provide our teachers, students and administration with the facilities and tools they need to exceed our current level of educational excellence. As referred to above, safety, deals not only with a secure environment during construction, but also includes providing athletic and educational facilities which protect our children's health and welfare.

Other Stakeholders, such as your group, have expressed concerns regarding such issues as, historic preservation, environmental design, ADA compliance, cost, timing and pool facilities. While you may or may not agree with these priorities, it is imperative that each individual understands that the High School project is not the only issue which will impact our millage rate and that there is no guarantee that each stakeholder group will receive everything they are requesting.

I will not make false promises to win a vote, but I will tell anybody, (i) that athletics has always been and will continue to be a part of the High School project, (ii) a budget for the entire project has not been established and therefore, no allocation of funds for fine arts, athletics or education has been developed, (iii) I would welcome and support any efforts to further a public/private partnership, (iv) I would support any initiative to re- turf the stadium's field once it is established that this area would not be required as a staging area and when a solid plan is presented to enlarge the field to accommodate all sports, (v) all facets of the project, education, athletics and fine arts will be treated as equitably as possible and (vi) I will continue to work with any stakeholder to find solutions and build support and consensus for the project.

It is my hope that this election does not become a one issue campaign. When determining which candidate or candidates to support each individual should consider, all the issues which the next board will have to face, which candidate(s) have the experience to oversee a project of this magnitude and who will work best with the community to build consensus.

Another Response on Athletics: Mary D. Birks

In response to my request for more information from the School Board candidates regarding their positions on athletic facilities renovations, candidate Mary D. Birks sent me a complete copy of her responses to the facilities questionnaire. Thanks, Mary!

Her responses follow:

1. What is your view of the current condition of the field house, track & field and stadium complex on the campus of Mt. Lebanon High School? I believe that the current state of our facilities is abysmal. I have visited many other facilities because of football, soccer and track and have come to realize that our facilities are old, seriously lacking and do not reflect the excellence we expect from our student athletes. (I was part of a team of parents who volunteered to paint the weight room last year and it was gross) There are safety, health and privacy issues that need addressing.

2. Do you believe that it is necessary to address significant upgrading of the outdoor athletic facilities as part of the proposed High School renovation project? Absolutely. They must be part of the overall and long term designs being discussed.

3. If so what is your specific plan (including order of priorities for such upgrades) and how much money do you believe the District should commit to this endeavor in Phase I as part of the overall High School renovation? This is a difficult one to answer, not knowing what the schematics include. I have heard board discussions about the pool being a non-negotiable, along with our gyms, locker rooms, etc. I would need to see more, and if anything is being left out of the overall plan, before I could give you priorities. I will say that any issues involving the health, safety and security of our students should be the top priority for renovation/construction.

4. Separate and apart from how much money the District “should” commit to this initiative, how much money do you believe the District “will” ultimately commit as part of the High School renovation project and at what stage (i.e., Phase I) will it be committed ? I am not in favor of a phased in project. But again, this is one of those questions I do not believe I can properly answer at this juncture. I have heard the $2 million figure being thrown about, but not in a clear cut way, and not with a definitive use attached to it. These decisions will be made by the sitting board, and if I am fortunate enough to be elected, I would be diligent in my oversight of any monies being used to upgrade the athletic facilities, fine arts facilities and the overall renovation project. I would also want the community’s input at all stages, and would expect this group to be visible and vocal at the meetings.

5. Would you support our group “bridging the gap” between the resources that “should” be dedicated to address this need and the resources that “will” be dedicated by the District to address the needs articulated by our group? Absolutely. I believe that any group willing to organize, put together a plan, present it to the board and open it up for public discussion should be seen as a resource for the Board and the community. We should encourage this type of citizen involvement and collaboration for the benefit of all students and residents.

6. Are you committed to prioritizing your specific plan while serving on the School Board and, if so, do you believe you are capable of building a consensus to support your plan on the Board? I have always believed that a plan must include plenty of input from our community members, so that the facility is seen as a resource for their use. I promise to listen to all sides of any issue, to educate myself on the pros and cons, and I believe I can help build consensus with my fellow board members for the best interest of our students and the community at large. I might not agree with everything, but there is always a starting point for discussion and compromise.

7. During the past 12 months, the School Board has referred to a two million dollar commitment of funds to upgrade the outdoor athletic facilities at the stadium/field house. At a minimum, will you vote to commit to advance funds from the capital improvement reserve of two million dollars in Phase I of the high school renovation project to address outdoor athletic facility upgrades at the stadium as part of our proposed joint private-public venture? If elected, I will be inheriting decisions already made by the sitting board. If this $2million figure is accurate, I would hope that the board would commit these funds so that the fundraising arm of this group can proceed with raising more capital for specific athletic facility improvements.

8. What is your position regarding either renovating or demolishing Building B of the High School? If you are in favor of renovating Building B, what was the basis for your decision both financially and politically? I do not base any decision on politics. (I am, after all, the un-endorsed Republican candidate.) Again, this decision will probably be made by the time of the election. I saw a lot of creative ideas when I was part of the Education Specification Committee, and learned a lot from the DeJong study. The overall plan has to make sense when/if utilizing this space and the price tag needs to be considered carefully. Will the resulting cost to renovate render appropriate, useable space? I do not know the answer to this without seeing schematics and the figures associated with those drawings.

9. Would you support financially a collaborative project with the municipality regarding immediately “turfing” the field at Mellon in preparation for the High School renovation project? In light of the fact that there is no money in this year’s budget to turf the high school field, I’m not optimistic that monies would be found to turf MMS field. But supporting a collaborative effort between the Board and the municipality? Absolutely. Long overdue. Same pants, different pockets.

10. Do you support re-turfing the high school stadium’s field this summer in preparation for Fall sports in 2009? Again, this decision has already been made by the sitting board. I happen to know that it was not on the Capital Improvement list, so that it will not happen. These types of items are usually brought forward by the director of facilities and/or the AD, and I didn’t see a request for upgrading the turf this year. As a private citizen, and the parent of student athletes, I know the turf is not in great shape and I do worry about the number of concussions which have occurred. New turf needs to be part of the complete plan for the stadium, field house and press box facilities. The time to address this issue next year (if not in the overall schematic), would be at December’s meetings so that it is on the radar for the Capital Improvements list presented to the Board in January/February.

(Also, remember that there is a School Board candidate forum next Monday, April 27th in the Jefferson Middle School Auditorium, from 7:30-9:00pm. Mary told me that she will make herself available after the event for further questions from residents, and I expect that other candidates will do the same.)

Candidate Bundling

As a non-native, I've been mystified for years by local political practices. The obsession with party-based slates of candidates and slates of candidates in general is a special oddity, and it never annoys me more than during local races.

The current Mt. Lebanon School Board election features Mary D. Birks, running on her own; Jo Posti and Rob Gardner, running together, and Remely, Silhol, Boyle, and Ostergaard, running as a group. (I'm reminded here of the human "centipede," which is a term in road racing for a group of 13 runners who run together -- while tied together.)

Of course, I can vote for whatever candidates I want to support. But it is difficult to publicly support only the candidates I want to support. If I want to put up a yard sign for Posti, I can't; I can only put up a yard sign for Posti and Gardner. If I want to put up a yard sign for Ostergaard, I can't; I can only put up a yard sign for Ostergaard, Remely, Silhol, and Boyle. If I want to put up a yard sign for Remely but communicate the message that "I'm not a Republican and don't care whether or not he is," I can't do that; Remely is part of the "R Team."

And if it were up to me, I'd ban campaigning within 100 yards of a polling place. Getting pestered with pamphlets and voting cards while I'm walking in to vote gives me the creeps.

None of this justifies not voting. I will definitely vote. And so should you. May 19!

More on High School Athletic Facilities

Following up on last week's post about the insistence by some Mt. Lebanon citizens (the "Mt. Lebanon's Field Sports Facilities Partnership," which is a real mouthful) that School Board candidates sign on to their agenda regarding renovation of the high school football stadium:

Two of the School Board candidates, Jo Posti and Rob Gardner, posted public responses to the athletic supporters' questionnaire.

According to Dave Reese, who commented at the earlier Blog-Lebo post, some of the other School Board candidates also have responded -- but they have done so privately, sending their responses only to the Partnership.

Would those candidates who replied privately please post their responses on their websites, or otherwise share their responses with the rest of Mt. Lebanon?

All of the voters deserve to know whether or not incoming Board members have made promises to honor requests by specific community groups.

Thank you.

Judge: Try Mt. Lebanon Hammer Attack Suspect As Juvenile

An Allegheny County judge ruled today that the case of a Mt. Lebanon teenager charged with attacking his ex-girlfriend with a hammer should be moved to Juvenile Court.

But Judge Anthony Mariani agreed with a request from prosecutors to delay signing his order until Monday at noon while the DA's office decides whether to appeal.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09107/963607-100.stm

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_621124.html

Police Arrest Mt. Lebanon Man After Raid

Mt. Lebanon police and Pittsburgh SWAT and narcotics officers arrested a Mt. Lebanon man after a raid on his home last night.

Officers executed a search warrant at 172 Cochran Road at 7:54 p.m., according to Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard. Officers repeatedly announced their presence, saying "Pittsburgh Police . . . we have a search warrant for 172 Cochran Road . . . surrender the residence," according to Ms. Richard.

When there was no response, officers broke down the door and searched the home.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/09107/963601-100.stm

Retiree Housing 'Ages' Mt. Lebanon

Having one of the highest median ages in the country doesn't reflect Mt. Lebanon's aging so much as its diversification, Manager Steve Feller said. The municipality, like the entire region, is getting older, but the construction and expansion of several adult care facilities has Mt. Lebanon looking older than it actually is, he said.

"It's not an empty-nester community. It's sort of a combination community," Feller said.

Mt. Lebanon ranks among the top 10 percent of communities when it comes to age and education levels as well as the percentage of workers who are in professional or management jobs, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The survey data covers 2,580 communities and includes results from 2005 through 2007.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_620775.html

School Board Mulls Raising Taxes

School board members in Mt. Lebanon are poised to approve a preliminary budget for 2009-2010 that includes a .30 mill tax increase with cuts to some programs and travel.

This projected tax increase figure could change by the time the board approves the final budget. The preliminary budget will be on display for 30 days after April 13. The projected tax hike is .70 mills less than permitted under Act 1.

Act 1 is a state law which outlines a process school districts must adhere to if they plan to increase taxes beyond pre-set limits. The law aims to ease the financial burden for home owners by providing school districts the means to lower property taxes, especially senior citizens, via the funding provided by gaming revenue.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-15-ML-school-budget-B

Commissioners Soon To Be On TV

If you enjoy watching Mt. Lebanon School Board meetings on public access TV, municipal commissioners have a special treat for you.

By May, Mt. Lebanon Commission meetings will also enjoy a prominent location on the public access cable lineup. Commissioners approved the taping and broadcasting as part of the 2009 budget. On the radar for years, a final push by Democrat councilman Dan Miller in late 2008 pushed the issue to the table. Some $30,000 in funding for taping equipment was approved in the budget.

The cameras and recording equipment were installed in February and March. Miller said that meetings in April will be taped on a test-basis and not broadcast. "I am told that we will start broadcasting in May. Initially we said April, but that got pushed back."

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-15-ML-will-tape-meetings-B

Group Honors BP, ML Libraries

The Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) has honored Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon public libraries with Best Practices Awards for programming and services to children under the age of six, their families, and caregivers.

Bethel Park Library received an award for programs for children between four and six Years of Age for its Kinder-Ready Families. This literacy-based "mini-preschool" was designed to help smooth the transition to public schools. Children starting kindergarten the next fall - and their parents - learned a variety of educational and practical topics.

For family programming, Mt. Lebanon Public Library won for Sunday Fun-Days. For six weeks in January and February, the library is the place to be on Sunday afternoons. Storytelling, music, games, and art projects are all designed to beat the winter blahs - and cabin fever.

The awards were presented at the sixth annual Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Luncheon, Pennsylvania Libraries: Learning Starts Here! -- an education session at the Hilton Harrisburg attended by several hundred librarians, advocates, and policymakers.

"Pennsylvania's public libraries provide crucial early learning services to the state's children and families," said Paula Gilbert, PaLA's marketing committee chair, "and we want to celebrate their contribution to the commonwealth."

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-15-SH-libraries-honored

School Board Members OK Playground Project

School board members in Mt. Lebanon approved reconstruction of the playground at Washington Elementary School, which includes security gates which will be closed during the school day.

The $150,000 construction project was approved April 13. Contractors will be on-site beginning in June, said Facilities Project Manager Rick Marciniak. The work should be complete in time for the opening of the 2009-2010 school year.

As far back as June 2008, the board received comments from parents who were divided over whether the security features were needed. At the time, school Principal Emily Kirkham said she favored the extra security features. The plans include security gating at Lawncroft at Mellon, along with steps at the upper playground, and gating between the Bognar Building and Washington school.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-15-ML-School-Board-playground-B

Science Textbook Questioned

At the recent Mt. Lebanon school board meeting, at least two directors were also curious about an item near the bottom of the agenda--a student textbook on the 2009-2010 recommended book list.

"Dire predictions: Understanding Global Warming--The Illustrated Guide to the Findings of the IPCC" by Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump was recommended for a high school environmental geoscience class. The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

By law, the school board is required to approve all student texts. There are seven books on the list. Board members Mark Hart and James Fraasch, however, questioned this book selection. "Why is this on the list?" Hart asked. "And is there another book used in the class which shows the other side-that science is not in complete agreement about global warming?" "I'd like to see what other materials are used in this class," Fraasch said. "If you research Michael Mann, you will find there is not complete agreement about his theories."

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-15-ML-book-issue-B

Lebo Athletic Facilities: School Board Candidates Respond

Two candidates for the Mt. Lebanon School Board, incumbent Jo Posti and challenger Rob Gardner, have posted joint responses Incumbent School Director Jo Posti, who is running for reelection, has posted responses to the "athletic facilities questionnaire" that's the subject of this earlier Blog-Lebo post.

Read their her full comments here. On the whole, the comments strike me as balanced. Nice work.

Added: Rob Gardner comments below to note that he will be posting his own responses shortly.

And now read Rob Gardner's comments in response to the athletic facilities questionnaire.

Mt. Lebanon Awards Contract For Street Maintenance

Mt. Lebanon commissioners last night awarded a contract for street maintenance to A. Folino Construction, Inc. that will include work on four roads. Folino submitted the lowest bid, $267,710.

Streets to be resurfaced include Sunridge, from Connor Road to 125 Sunridge; Ridgefield, from Twin Hills to Morrison; Cedar, from Cochran Road to Hollycrest; and Beverly, from 259 Beverly to Overlook. Cedar and Beverly are major, high-traffic roads.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/09104/962712-100.stm

An Ultimatum from Some Athletic Supporters

Over the weekend I received a copy of a "questionnaire" that was sent last week to all candidates for the Mt. Lebanon School Board. I'll excerpt the "questionnaire" below rather than post the whole thing.

The "questionnaire" has a presumptuous "or else" tone that I find pretty amazing. If I were a candidate for the School Board, I would respond by telling this group that they can count on my support when they actually show up with cash in hand, and even then, that the School District may have more important athletic facility priorities than new turf at the high school stadium. How about that swimming pool and locker room area? Why prioritize outdoor athletics or athletics of any kind over arts and other non-athletic programming?

No "public/private partnership" should dictate strategic priorities to the School District, no matter how much money they claim to have - or threaten to withhold.

April 9, 2009
Mt. Lebanon's Field Sports Facilities Partnership
Advocating a private-public joint venture
Board and Candidate Questionnaire
... As you are already aware, our group of concerned Mt. Lebanon taxpayers is prepared to launch, and is wholly dedicated to promoting, a private-public partnership to secure adequate funding for capital improvement projects that will benefit Mt. Lebanon's students and residents. In so doing, our group, comprised of Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike, will shoulder a large portion of the financial responsibility of raising private funds for athletic facility improvements, including the athletic fields, track, field house and stadium-complex, on the campus of Mt. Lebanon High School and, if necessary, other properties within the School District.

As momentum enthusiastically builds during our group's continued organizational efforts, we have, unfortunately, started to detect a notable distrust amongst many private funding sources and Mt. Lebanon residents regarding the School Board's ability to serve as a responsible partner in our proposed joint private-public venture. This is a potentially problematic development since our group's ability to effectively raise private funding will depend heavily upon the assessment of donors who are interested in determining whether Mt. Lebanon's elected officials are committed to the shared vision, and are responsible custodians of the shared financial resources, of this proposed joint initiative.

We have carefully considered how best to address this concern by attempting to identify elected officials and/or candidates who may be counted upon to willingly partner with our group to ensure that whatever public dollars are available for outdoor athletic facility upgrades as part of the pending High School renovation project are identified from the outset and are appropriately applied to realize the collective goal of our private-public collaboration.

Given the foregoing, and in an initial attempt to preliminarily promote our mission, representatives from our group met with all of the candidates running for and currently serving on the School Board (with the exception of two). We did so in the spirit of partnership and with the optimistic hope that our elected officials (and those running for office), who - by virtue of your title - are in the best position to prioritize the co-curricular and extra-curricular needs of our high school students, would share our commitment to this political-neutral initiative.
...

Regrettably, the vast majority of our meetings with Board members and candidates failed to reveal any clear and unequivocal position regarding the issues of most importance to our group at this time. The single most obvious consensus point was that no person was willing and/or able to provide our group a firm commitment regarding a specific action plan related to short-term and long-term steps to bring the outside athletic facilities such as the stadium, field house, etc. up to best-in-class status.

As a result, we now question whether our initial optimism and faith in the School Board as a partner in this joint venture may have been misplaced given its prolonged lack of vision, lack of creativity and inability to build a consensus. To this extent, we remain uncertain as to the School Board's vision and leadership capabilities when it is considering a massive renovation project at the High School without dedicating specific resources to reasonably address the long-neglected needs of our students and residents.

Fearing that nothing may be done for several more decades to timely address the needs of current and future Mt. Lebanon students and residents as it pertains to the dedication of sufficient resources for improved outdoor athletic facilities, our group is now prepared to take ownership of this matter. In so doing, we are exceedingly confident that as the only group within the community that has commenced mobilizing in support of a private-public partnership to address the challenges of the High School renovation project, we are well postured to respond to the needs of Mt. Lebanon's students and residents. To this extent, we are unlike any other group within the community -- we are committed to putting our own skin in the game, in terms of our collective good will, sweat equity AND millions of private equity dollars.

In order to assess whether you may be counted upon to support a private-public funding partnership dedicated to committing financial resources for upgrading the outdoor athletic facilities at the High School and other locations, we encourage you to respond to the following questions. Your responses will afford our group the opportunity to evaluate your formal commitment to both the needs of our students and the community, and your commitment to a position consistent with the mission of our group.

In responding to the following questions, please be advised that we will advise members of our group and residents as to your responses.

1. What is your view of the current condition of the field house, track & field and stadium complex on the campus of Mt. Lebanon High School?
2. Do you believe that it is necessary to address significant upgrading of the outdoor athletic facilities as part of the proposed High School renovation project?
3. If so what is your specific plan (including order of priorities for such upgrades) and how much money do you believe the District should commit to this endeavor in Phase I as part of the overall High School renovation?
4. Separate and apart from how much money the District should commit to this initiative, how much money do you believe the District will ultimately commit as part of the High School renovation project and at what stage (i.e., Phase I) will it be committed?
5. Would you support our group "bridging the gap" between the resources that should be dedicated to address this need and the resources that will be dedicated by the District to address the needs articulated by our group?
6. Are you committed to prioritizing your specific plan while serving on the School Board and, if so, do you believe you are capable of building a consensus to support your plan on the Board?
7. During the past 12 months, the School Board has referred to a two million dollar commitment of funds to upgrade the outdoor athletic facilities at the stadium/field house. At a minimum, will you vote to commit to advance funds from the capital improvement reserve of two million dollars in Phase I of the high school renovation project to address outdoor athletic facility upgrades at the stadium as part of our proposed joint private-public venture?
8. What is your position regarding either renovating or demolishing Building B of the High School? If you are in favor of renovating Building B, what was the basis for your decision both financially and politically?
9. Would you support financially a collaborative project with the municipality regarding immediately turfing the field at Mellon in preparation for the High School renovation project?
10. Do you support re-turfing the high school stadium's field this summer in preparation for Fall sports in 2009?

... Please forward your responses to [the] Mt. Lebanon's Field Sports Facilities Partnership by no later than April 15, 2009. If we do not receive any response from you, we have to assume you are unwilling to commit to the type of private-public partnership that our group envisions.

Thank you for your participation.

Updated 4/16 at 5 pm: Way down in the Comments to this post, I volunteered to post an unedited version of the questionnaire if I was asked to. I was asked to. You can find the full document that I received -- with some formatting curiosities that are undoubtedly caused by some OS incompatibilities -- here.

LeboALERT Launches This Week

The community has launched LeboALERT, a free service that automatically will notify residents of emergencies within minutes. The system also can provide information about municipal programs, services and events to those who choose to receive non-emergency alerts.

During an emergency situation, residents will receive short pre-recorded messages on their main telephones describing the nature of the event, telling them what precautions to take and letting them know where to go for more information. Emergency alerts will be sent about anything that has the potential to be dangerous -- gas leaks, serious weather conditions, hazardous materials spills or urgent crime issues.

Residents and nonresidents may sign up to receive short non-emergency messages about special events, cancellations, public documents, job openings, planned utility work, volunteer opportunities and other matters. They may choose to be notified by e-mail, text message, pager or, in some cases, phone, and may change their options as often as they wish.

Link: leboalert.mtlebanon.org

H2OPE Water Walk For Southern Sudan

The district is sponsoring a H2OPE Water Walk on April 25 with a goal to raise $5,000 to build a well in southern Sudan.

The High School Emergency Club organized the event, which will begin at 1 p.m. with a presentation in the High School Fine Arts Theatre by Benjamin Ajak, author of "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky" and one of the refugees called "Lost Boys of Sudan." The talk is free and open to the public.

The walk starts at 3 p.m. at the stadium. Other activities include a mini-walk for elementary-age students that will involve water activities and performances by a group from the Mt. Lebanon Percussion Ensemble and an African dance troupe.

Suggested donation to participate in the mile and a half walk is $5 for individuals and $10 for families. All proceeds go to build a well in Mr. Ajak's village in southern Sudan. The well will be built by Water For Sudan Inc., a charitable organization based in Rochester, N.Y., that operates in Sudan.

For those who can't participate in the walk but want to contribute, mail or bring a check -- made payable to Mt. Lebanon School District with Water for Sudan written on the memo line -- to Mt. Lebanon School District, Finance Office, 7 Horsman Drive, Pittsburgh 15228.

Link: www.waterforsudan.org

Mt. Lebanon To Celebrate Earth Day

Want to learn how to plant a square foot garden? Want to try tie dying a shirt using natural local pigments? Play games and learn about the environment as more than a dozen Mt. Lebanon community groups join to celebrate Earth Day in Main Park, off Cedar Boulevard, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Admission is free.

"Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon will be a chance for all of us park- and tree-loving residents to get together and discover the abundant opportunities to get involved right in our own community," said Melissa Cicozi, co-chair of the Earth Day in Mt. Lebanon committee, along with Beth Hedin. "Not only will folks have a chance to become familiar with all of our green clubs and committees, but there will be lots of activities for kids and adults, including quality entertainment, Earth-friendly crafts and activities, learning opportunities, great food and even a little shopping."

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-08-ML-Earth-Day

Survey: Expand Lunch Plans

Citing parent and student survey results of a pilot lunch program at Mt. Lebanon's Lincoln and Washington elementary schools, administrators say they favor expansion of the program for the remaining five elementary schools.

Of the 600 elementary students polled, 82 percent said they bought a "sack lunch" at school. Of the 300 parents polled, 92 percent said they favored expanding the program to include all the elementary schools, said Superintendent John Allison.

In the 1980s, most students in Mt. Lebanon went home for lunch. They needed a note from a parent to remain at school during lunch hour. Today, however, students need a note to go home. Mt. Lebanon Spokeswoman Cissy Bowman said many Mt. Lebanon elementary-aged students still choose to go home for lunch, but increasing numbers stay and purchase sack lunches prepared at either the high school or middle schools.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-08-ML-food-service-B

So When Do We Start Printing Lebos?

USA Today had an article yesterday titled "Communities print their own currency to keep cash flowing" which reports on communities creating their own currency which is purchased at a discount and can only be used in that specific community. Could something like this fly in Mt. Lebanon?

Mt. Lebanon Schools Compete in “Odyssey of the Mind” Regional Tournament

On March 7, almost 200 Mt. Lebanon students competed in the Western Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind Tournament, held in Moon Township. Twenty-seven teams of students from Washington, Markham, Foster, Hoover, Lincoln and Howe Elementary Schools, Mellon and Jefferson Middle Schools and the High School participated in Odyssey, competing against teams from school districts throughout western PA. A team from Markham, two teams from Mellon and two from the High School earned the honor of proceeding to the State Finals to be held in Williamsport on April 18.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem solving competition for students, kindergarten through college. Participants present creative solutions to problems ranging from designing and building small vehicles, constructing balsa wood structures, and humorous and dramatic presentations of team-created plays and music. This year, students created and performed stories about the lost labors of Hercules, presented the origins of “new” superstitions, created self-mobilizing mechanical creatures, complex vehicles and balsa-wood structures.

Mt. Lebanon first entered the Odyssey of the Mind program seven years ago, with two teams from Washington and Howe Elementary Schools. This year, Mt. Lebanon had more teams competing at the tournament than any other school district. In Mt. Lebanon, Odyssey of the Mind is an out-of-school program open to all children, sponsored by school PTA’s in the elementary and middle schools, in which a group of 5-7 children and a volunteer parent coach practice creative spontaneous and strategic thinking throughout the winter. Each March, teams present their creative-solutions to panels of judges, who evaluate the teams on their creative achievements. Odyssey teams organize in October of each school year. Interested parents and students should look for sign-up notices in September. For more information, contact your school’s Odyssey coordinator, or John Herman at 412-561-4549.

School Board Candidate Forum Coming on 4/27

A flyer received the other day reports:

MT. LEBANON SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009

7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Jefferson Middle School Auditorium

It’s IMPORTANT to come and……

Hear the platforms of the candidates for School Board
Ask questions directly to the candidates
Learn the issues facing the School District

ON THE BALLOT:

Mary D. Birks

Electa Boyle

Robert Gardner

Dale Ostergaard

Josephine Posti

Daniel Remely

Alan Silhol

Sponsored by the nonpartisan organizations:

Mt. Lebanon Council of PTA’s, League of Women Voters, Pennsylvania League of Young Voters and Greater Pittsburgh Student Voices.

Martha's Run Returns to Lebo This Saturday, April 11

Posted by request and with pleasure:

A 10-K run, 2 mile fun run, Memorial Fun Walk, with Children's Races.

The next Martha's Run will be conducted April 11th, 2009 at 8:30 AM and will follow the now classic, challenging, certified trail through the hills of Mt. Lebanon beginning at the Horsman Drive entrance to Mt. Lebanon High School and finishing at Dixon Field. There will also be a 2-Mile Fun Run and a one mile walk, and children's races. Register at the Mt Lebanon Recreation Center on April 10th, 2009 or download the form and register by mail. If you cannot attend the run, you may still make a donation and receive a Tee Shirt with the beautiful Martha's Run logo (while supplies last). Our website is www.marthadixon.org.

Please remember that some important traffic restrictions will be in place on Saturday morning. The affected areas and streets are identified below, which is taken from the flyer distributed in affected neighborhoods in Mt. Lebanon:

The 13th Annual Martha's Run 10-K will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2009. The 10-K Course creates a dedicated runner's lane along portions of Cedar Boulevard, Cochran Road and Washington Road. This dedicated runner's lane is essential to protect the several hundred runners, walkers and children participating in the Race from accident or injury. Although the affected streets have been posted by the Mount Lebanon Police Department, we want to provide you with this extra notice as a courtesy to you because of the location of your home. In addition, LONGUEVUE, WOODHAVEN, MARKHAM,INGLEWOOD, CRESCENT And ALTADENA will be closed to all traffic from 8:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. NO TRAFFIC IS ALLOWED ON THESE STREETS DURING THAT TIME.

I've been a Martha's Run volunteer for many years (watch for me at the intersection of Crescent and Inglewood), and every year I'm surprised by the number of our neighbors who ignore the traffic restrictions and jeopardize the safety of the runners -- including many seniors, and many children. I can vouch personally for the fact that the race course is well-marked days in advance with warning notices. Since the course is virtually unchanged over the last decade, very few neighbors can claim genuine ignorance of what is going on. PLEASE RESPECT THE RUNNERS AND THOSE WHO ARE HELPING MARTHA'S FUND.

Note the following addition to the race this year, which is especially poignant in light of the events in Stanton Heights last Saturday:

Slain FBI agent to be honored with Pa. 10K run
The Associated Press
MOUNT LEBANON, Pa. - A Pittsburgh-area FBI agent slain in a drug raid last year will be honored at a suburban race that already honors another agent who was also slain in the line of duty.

Thirty-three-year-old Samuel Hicks will be honored at Martha's Run in Mount Lebanon on April 11. The 10K run is named for Special Agent Martha Dixon who was killed in the line of duty in 1994.

The first-place awards for law enforcement officers who run in the race will be named for Hicks.

He was fatally shot Nov. 19 while raiding a home in suburban Glenshaw. ...

See also http://inmemorysahicks.webs.com/apps/blog/

Lebo Writer Up For Romance Novel Award

Gwyn Cready, a novelist from Mt. Lebanon, has been nominated for a prestigious award for romance novels. Cready's "Seducing Mr. Darcy" (Pocket Books) is a finalist in the Paranormal Romance category of the RITA Awards, sponsored by the Romance Writers of America.

Set in Pittsburgh, the book features locales including the National Aviary, the Cathedral of Learning, the Monongahela Incline and Mt. Washington. "Seducing Mr. Darcy" is Cready's second novel.

The RITA Award winners will be announced July 18 at the Romance Writers of America Conference in Washington, D.C.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_619151.html

Audit Says Allegheny County Sewer Fixes Could Cost $21 Billion

NOTE: Mt. Lebanon is one of 83 communities served by Alcosan, so this possible rate increase will affect us.

An audit of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority released this morning estimates the authority might need as much as $21 billion to comply with a federal order to upgrade its storm water and sewer management system.

Allegheny County Controller Michael Patrick Flaherty and city of Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb said their review of Alcosan -- from January 2007 to July 2008 -- shows the authority will face a huge funding hurdle in the next 15 to 20 years.

"We want people to be aware of this now," said Mr. Lamb. He and Mr. Flaherty revealed that the authority's funding troubles may lead to as much as a $3,104 annual rate increase for ratepayers in the Alcosan system if the authority doesn't receive any outside funding to help pay for its system-wide upgrade, slated to start in about five years.

Not Born Here

[A]ccording to new research co-authored by a Brigham Young University business professor, better decisions come from teams that include a "socially distinct newcomer." That's psychology-speak for someone who is different enough to bump other team members out of their comfort zones. ...

"One of the most-cited benefits of diversity is the infusion of new ideas and perspectives," said study co-author Katie Liljenquist, assistant professor of organizational leadership at BYU's Marriott School of Management. "And while that very often is true, we found the mere presence of a newcomer who is socially distinct can really shake up the group dynamic. That leads to discomfort, but also to a better process that ultimately yields superior outcomes."

The key factor is simply whether newcomers are distinct in some way from the other group members. ...

"[This research] is groundbreaking in that it highlights that the benefits of disparate knowledge in a team can be unleashed when newcomers actually share opinions of knowledge with old-timers but are socially different," Thomas-Hunt says. "It is the tension between social dissimilarity and opinion similarity that prompts heightened effectiveness in diverse teams."

Read about the whole thing here.

Lebo Police Are Watching You

The headline in the Post-Gazette reads "License plate readers keep eye on scofflaws, criminals," but that title is misleading. (Joe posted a link to the full story here.) Mt. Lebanon police now have equipment in their cars to track all vehicles in town, whether or not they belong to scofflaws or criminals. They're watching all of us.

From the story:

Officers might run only 100 or so license plates in a shift, but the ALPR system will record 7,500 plates in just a couple of hours.

[Mt. Lebanon police officer Thomas "Chip"] Sanders hopes that eventually the ALPR device will be able to fish out cars with expired tags, because they're difficult to see with the naked eye, or suspended registrations.

This would give him cause to pull over, impound and search far more vehicles, which could contain contraband. He called it "another avenue to get into the car."

This, too, concerns [Electronic Privacy Information Center founder and executive director Marc] Rotenberg, who said ALPR "creates an enormous opportunity to stop people who might not otherwise be stopped." Mr. Rotenberg said that record accuracy also has been an issue, even with national databases. In a recent case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that anything recovered from a search prompted by bad information is admissible in court.

"The likelihood will evolve that a lot of innocent people are stopped," he said.

In general, I assume that our local police officers are acting in good faith. But the notion reflected in that passage -- that Mt. Lebanon police are looking for another way to get into my car -- is chilling.

(Of course, you can avoid problems by ensuring that no one who rides in your car ever carries anything that anyone, anywhere might find objectionable or offensive. You'll still get pulled over, but you may get off with just a warning.)

Marc Rotenberg, quoted above by the Post-Gazette, is one of the leading privacy advocates in the world. But he isn't some radical civil libertarian run amok. I've known Marc for 25 years, and he is and has always been a voice of reason and moderation in analyzing the uses of new technologies.

License Plate Readers Keep Eye On Scofflaws, Criminals

Perched atop the Mt. Lebanon Police Department's traffic enforcement vehicle are two cameras that look like a pair of robot eyes. They're watching passing motorists and parallel parked cars, photographing their license plates then comparing the numbers to a nationwide database of cars connected with crimes and -- in the case of Mt. Lebanon -- a list of local parking scofflaws.

The system is called Automatic License Plate Reader technology, a tool that law enforcement units in the United States have used since 2001. Since then, the largest vendor, PIPS Technology, has furnished more than 400 agencies nationwide with systems.

Mt. Lebanon is the first department in the county and may be the only agency in the state to use the system, which vendor Vigilant Video gave it on a trial basis.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09092/959914-56.stm

Link: www.kdka.com/video/?id=55574@kdka.dayport.com

Lebo Is Tree City (Again!)

Mt. Lebanon will celebrate Arbor Day and its renewed status as a Tree City USA with a celebration at Howe Elementary School at 11 a.m. on April 23. This year is the third year the town met requirements for Tree City status. To achieve, a community must have a forestry commission, budget a requisite amount of public funding for forestry and have an annual Arbor Day Celebration.

The celebration will include a flag ceremony by the Girl Scouts, student poetry readings and musical performances, along with reading of a proclamation from commission President John Daley. The event will culminate in a tree planting -- a northern redbud, which is native to Pennsylvania -- and the raising of the Tree City USA flag, which will fly at Howe for the rest of the year.

Howe students created "Trees Are Terrific ... In Cities and Towns" posters to publicize the celebration; some are on display at MoJoe Coffee House, Mt. Lebanon Boulevard.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09092/959959-55.stm

Going To The Geography Bee

Two middle school students have qualified to compete in the Pennsylvania Geographic Bee. Ben Zheng, of Jefferson Middle, and Matt Broeren, of Mellon Middle, were notified by the National Geographic Society that they are semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2009 Pennsylvania Geographic Bee tomorrow at Penn State University. Both took the qualifying test and are among the top 100 scores to compete at the state level for a spot in the national competition in Washington, D.C., in May. The Bee is organized by the National Geographic Society.

The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09092/959959-55.stm

ML Directors Preparing Five-Year Plan

Administrators in Mt. Lebanon School District and others are tackling the budget process a little differently this year, attempting to project financial needs five years out and plan for large forecasted expenditures.

With mounting state economic woes and rising unemployment, Mt. Lebanon and school districts across the state are feeling the pinch. The five-year planning process drafted by Finance Director Jan Klein gave Mt. Lebanon board members a picture of upcoming attractions they'd rather not see. By far the largest forecasted jump in expenses is due to the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) shortfall, and the costs associated with the high school renovation.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-01-ML-5-year-plan-B

Mt. Lebo's Oldaker Named Coach Of Year

Three hours after The Associated Press named Mt. Lebanon's Dori Oldaker the Pennsylvania girls basketball Class AAAA coach of the year, she still hadn't heard the news. She was too busy taking care of her other team — daughters Taylor, 2, and Ryan, 13 months.

Mt. Lebanon finished 31-0 and became the first WPIAL team since 1983 to win a state championship with an unbeaten record. The Blue Devils also won the WPIAL and did so with only one senior in the starting lineup — forward Emily Miller, who was named second-team all-state.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/s_618710.html

LA Fitness Plan Fails, But Appeal Is Likely

Two Mt. Lebanon Planning Board members rejected a proposal from Kossman Development Co. to add a text amendment to the municipal zoning code permitting a health club in the mixed-use (MX) overlay district.

There are two such zoning districts in the municipality: the Kossman property on Castle Shannon Boulevard, and 1145 Bower Hill Road. The next step open to Kossman would be to go to municipal commissioners directly and ask them to approve an amendment to that zoning district to allow construction of an LA Fitness.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-01-LA-Fitness-B

Keystone Oaks and Mt. Lebanon in School Swap

In a maneuver reminiscent of the "jury switch" memorialized in Brian DePalma's 1987 film "The Untouchables," the Keystone Oaks School District and the Mt. Lebanon School District have announced a "high school switch." Beginning next Fall, faculty, staff and students currently occupying Mt. Lebanon High School on Cochran Road will relocate to the recently-renovated Keystone Oaks facility on Kelton Ave, and KO faculty, staff, and students will relocate to the current Mt. Lebanon High School. As part of the deal, the KO district has agreed to contribute $1.5 million per year to the upkeep of the Cochran Road facility.

Alan Silhol, president of the Mt. Lebanon School Board, and Marian Randazzo, president of the KO School Board, issued a joint statement praising the spirit of cooperation between the two communities and the "win-win" character of the deal. "This arrangement addresses students' needs and taxpayer concerns," according to the statement. "Mt. Lebanon parents and students get to use the first-rate facility that they've needed for years, and Keystone Oaks students get to go to school in the heart of one of the prime suburbs in the eastern U.S."

Joe Ravita, owner of Empire Music and a leader of Mt. Lebanon's Uptown shopping district, noted that the deal was likely to increase traffic on Washington Road, "and that can only be a good thing for local business owners."