P-G: Mt. Lebanon suspends choir director after ex-student claims 'inappropriate communications'

A Mt. Lebanon High School graduate said the school's choir director made "inappropriate communications of a sexual nature before and after graduation," the Mt. Lebanon School District told parents in a letter today.

Jason Greenawalt has taught at the high school since 2004 and has been musical director for the annual spring musical, which this year is "Seussical." The district suspended Mr. Greenawalt, according to the letter sent to parents.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/mt-lebanon-suspends-choir-director-after-ex-student-claims-inappropriate-communications-678329 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Meetings will discuss new math curriculum in Mt. Lebanon schools

The elementary mathematics curriculum in Mt. Lebanon School District continues to raise concerns among some parents.

Those parents will have the opportunity to discuss the issue during the next few weeks at the elementary buildings.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/meetings-will-discuss-new-math-curriculum-in-mt-lebanon-schools-663114 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

WTAE: Bump-and-grind no more, Mt. Lebanon High School says

Some students consider school to be a grind, but the Mt. Lebanon High School District says a bigger problem is some student couples "grinding" it out on the dance floor.

Mt. Lebanon High School principal Brian McFeeley tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that school officials are adding chaperones and even changing the kind of music played at school dances to enforce a no-grinding policy.

Read the full article:

• www.wtae.com/news/local/Bump-and-grind-no-more-Mt-Lebanon-High-School-says/-/9681086/17111714/-/g54ii3/-/index.html (WTAE)

P-G: $6 million goal urged for Mt. Lebanon schools

A fundraising consultant has recommended that Mt. Lebanon School District embark on a $6 million capital campaign to raise $3 million for the high school renovation project and establish another $3 million in endowments.

The district, however, does not have enough support to raise $15 million, the original target that Pursuant Ketchum studied while soliciting feedback from the community this summer, according to the company's analysis.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/6-million-goal-urged-for-mt-lebanon-schools-654177 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: PSSA results come up short in Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park

Two school districts in the southern suburbs are pointing to positives after disappointing state test score results: Mt. Lebanon for its high school, which failed to make adequate yearly progress, and Bethel Park for the district as a whole, which missed the mark on graduation rates and high school math scores.

The preliminary PSSA results first released to school districts this summer show Mt. Lebanon met graduation and reading targets districtwide. But it fell short in math at the high school because of low scores among its special education students.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/pssa-results-come-up-short-in-mt-lebanon-bethel-park-653167 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon's healthy lunches earn awards

Students in the Mt. Lebanon School District are eating some of the healthiest school lunches in the country. All seven elementary schools in the district were recognized Sept. 7 with the HealthierUS School Challenge Bronze Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On hand to present the awards to each school principal was Dr. Janey Thornton, Department of Agriculture deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services. Also at the event, which was held at Jefferson Elementary school, Thornton presented the district with a check from the USDA for $3,500 - $500 for each of the seven schools winning the award.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/09-12-2012-ML-healthy-lunches (The Almanac)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon school officials given raises

Mt. Lebanon school board raised administrative salaries in June an average of 3 percent. The increases are based on evaluations that determine whether each administrator far exceeds, meets, approaches or does not meet the expectations of his or her job category.

Those who met expectations received a 3 percent raise. Those who approached meeting expectations saw a 1.5 percent raise, and those who far exceeded expectations saw a 4.5 percent increase, said district spokeswoman Cissy Bowman.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/mt-lebanon-school-officials-given-raises-646316 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Cooking up new cafeteria menus in Mt. Lebanon schools

Orange and fennel salad, fruit blossoms and Mediterranean couscous may not sound like typical school lunch fare.

But food service officials in Mt. Lebanon hope that by offering creative, nutritious dishes like these, they'll encourage kids to eat healthier under new federal regulations for school lunches taking effect this month.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/cooking-up-new-cafeteria-menus-in-mt-lebanon-schools-646318 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: ML welcomes PT students to advanced math course

The Mt. Lebanon school board unanimously approved a distance learning initiative at its July 16 meeting, paving the way for six Peters Township high school students to take an advanced math class via videoconference.

The Peters students will attend Mt. Lebanon's 2012-2013 Linear Algebra course alongside 17 of their Mt. Lebanon peers.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/07-18-2012-ML-PT-math-exchange (The Almanac)

P-G: District awaits word on campaign for Mt. Lebanon High School renovations

Mt. Lebanon School District should know by the end of summer whether it has enough support to collect private donations to help pay for the high school renovation project.

In March, the district hired fundraising consulting firm Pursuant Ketchum, which is studying whether the district has a compelling case, sufficient donors and volunteers, and the proper timing for the campaign. A successful campaign means the district could circumvent a second bond issue for the $109.6 million construction project.

Read more:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/district-awaits-word-on-campaign-for-mt-lebanon-high-school-renovations-644282 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PG: Just a bruisin': A charged Mt. Lebanon student is treated fairly

Back in the day, when teenage boys had crewcuts and met girls wearing poodle skirts and bobbie socks down at the drug store for a malted, they said that someone courting trouble was "cruisin' for a bruisin'."

Fast forward to our less innocent time. Mitchell Klemencic, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School, was cruisin' for a bruisin' -- and, what's more, he knew it. Every student in Mt. Lebanon signs a statement acknowledging that they have read and understand school policy.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/editorials/just-a-bruisin-a-charged-mt-lebanon-student-is-treated-fairly-637960

P-G: Tax hike, funding, job cuts, tap of reserves characterize plan in Mt. Lebanon

After a months-long budget-making process some of them said was their most difficult to date, Mt. Lebanon school directors approved a final 2012-13 spending plan Monday night that will raise the property tax rate by a half mill and includes $850,000 in program and staff cuts.

No teachers will be furloughed in the $80.6 million budget, but the district will furlough one 10-month secretary, six part-time library clerks and one high school library clerk. The millage increase will mean an extra $50 a year for a home valued at $100,000, and the total millage is 27.13 mills.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/tax-hike-funding-job-cuts-tap-of-reserves-characterize-plan-in-mt-lebanon-637368/ (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon student's arrest sparks court case over school authority

Mt. Lebanon High School senior Mitchell Klemencic missed his prom Tuesday night.

And he will miss graduation June 4.

He missed his senior reception last week and will miss the senior picnic next week.

All because he was cited -- but not yet convicted -- for possession of drug paraphernalia April 23 by Mt. Lebanon police in an off-campus, after school hours incident.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/mt-lebanon-arrest-sparks-court-case-over-school-authority-637271 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trib: Judge: Mt. Lebanon senior with drug charges can't attend graduation

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Judith L.A. Friedman denied a request Wednesday from a Mt. Lebanon High School senior that would have forced the district to allow him to participate in his graduation ceremony.

The district barred Mitchell Klemencic, 18, from prom and June commencement because police charged him in April with possession of drug paraphernalia.

"I don't necessarily agree, but there's not much I can do now," said Klemencic, who attended the hearing with his father.

Read the full article:

• www.triblive.com/news/1851610-74/district-klemencic-drug-alcohol-students-activities-charged-graduation-judge-june (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon school board passes budget

Mt. Lebanon school directors approved a final 2012-13 budget tonight that will raise the property tax rate by a half mill and includes $800,000 in program and staff cuts.

The $80.6 million spending plan will use roughly $106,000 in reserve funds and includes furloughs of one 10-month secretary, six part-time library clerks and one high school library clerk. No teachers will be furloughed.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/mt-lebanon-school-board-passes-budget-636926/ (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Tax likely to fill budget gap in Mt. Lebanon schools

Mt. Lebanon school directors are poised to vote on a final 2012-13 budget Monday that will raise the property tax rate by a half mill. If passed, the final spending plan will use roughly $106,000 in reserve funds and make about $800,000 in program and staff cuts. The millage increase would mean an extra $50 a year for a home valued at $100,000. Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/tax-likely-to-fill-budget-gap-in-mt-lebanon-schools-636339 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

WPXI: Authorities investigate bomb threat at Mt. Lebanon High School

A bomb threat was reported Wednesday afternoon at Mt. Lebanon High School.

School officials said graffiti was found written on a wall in the 6th-floor stairwell in the high school that stated, "Bomb 5-17 Everyone Die."

The Mt. Lebanon Police Department was contacted. After investigating, they classified the incident as institutional vandalism.

Read the full article:

• www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/authorities-investigate-bomb-threat-mt-lebanon-hig/nN7fk/ (WPXI)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair high schools get high state rankings

In its latest rankings announced today, U.S. News & World Report has named two Allegheny County schools among the top 10 public high schools in the state with Mt. Lebanon at No. 8 and Upper St. Clair at No. 9.

The top-rated high school among 752 Pennsylvania high schools is Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia. It ranked No. 61 of nearly 22,000 high schools nationwide.

In the national rankings, Mt. Lebanon ranked No. 557 and Upper St. Clair was No. 604.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/mt-lebanon-upper-st-clair-high-schools-get-high-state-rankings-634945 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon elementary school student schedule changes coming

Students in Mt. Lebanon elementary schools can expect some changes in the fall.

Elementary principals recently introduced a new plan that, among other things, will make the elementary school day more closely resemble the secondary schedule, said Deborah Allen, superintendent of elementary education.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/mt-lebanon-elementary-school-student-schedule-changes-coming-633187 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Property taxes to rise a half mill in Mt. Lebanon schools

School directors in Mt. Lebanon voted Monday night to increase the property tax rate by a half mill in the district's proposed $80.6 million final 2012-13 budget.

The increase would mean an extra $50 on tax bills for a home valued at $100,000. With this plan, the district's millage would total 27.13

Read the full article:

• http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/property-taxes-to-rise-a-half-mill-in-mt-lebanon-schools-632133 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)