Steel Valley
By David Whipkey
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Residents of the Steel Valley School District may be digging deeper into their pockets when paying their school taxes next year.
The board passed a preliminary budget last week that included a three-mill increase for the 2010-11 school year, which translates to a 14 percent boost from this school year’s budget.
Mark Cherpak, director of operational services for the district, explained following Tuesday night’s regular board meeting that increased costs in staff salary, retirement plans and health benefit payments led to the tax increase.
“Those three factors were the main factors in the increase,” Mr. Cherpak said.
Teachers’ salaries and benefits account for nearly $18 million of the preliminary budget. A little more than $1 million of the budget will be consumed by retirement benefits.
[Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10056/1038357-55.stm ]
Two administrators in the Steel Valley School District learned a lesson last week about social media and the eyes it can provide to the public.
On Feb. 9, someone took photos of Steel Valley director of facilities Dennis Keesecker supervising the plowing – with the use of a school district truck – of the driveway at the Munhall home of Mark Cherpak, director of operational services for the district.
The event was captured several days after a major snowstorm dumped about 2 feet of snow on the area and at a time when many homeowners in the district were still digging themselves out.
The photos, nine in all, were taken from a vantage point across from and above Mr. Cherpak’s home. Some appear to have been shot through a screen.
They were posted on the Facebook page that is linked to the Munhall News Watch website. The website is maintained by Munhall resident Larry Rettger and is not affiliated with the municipality.
No one is sure who posted the photos; the posting name could not be verified.
[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10049/1036526-55.stm?cmpid=neighborhoods.xml ]
By Mary Niederberger
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The president of the Steel Valley school board and the district’s superintendent walked out of last night’s meeting as a resident was attempting to discuss a citizen coalition she is trying to form to work with the board and administration on district projects and programs.
The abrupt end came after a meeting during which the board, at the recommendation of Superintendent William Kinavey, eliminated three administrative positions and created another without much explanation.
After the board’s actions and during the citizen comments portion at the end of the meeting, resident Sharon Ford had used the three-minute time limit the board has imposed on public comments. She wanted to continue, but board President Joseph Ducar announced her time had expired and immediately gaveled the meeting to a close. Then, he and Dr. Kinavey abruptly walked out of the meeting.
The rest of the board, with the exception of school director Edward McCallister who was absent, remained and continued a discussion with Ms. Ford for approximately 20 more minutes. Several board members explained to Ms. Ford that it is common practice for public bodies to impose time limits on comments.
Ms. Ford has exceeded the time limit during previous addresses to the board and has tried to maintain that it is not legal for the school board to enforce the limit.
In the end, board members encouraged Ms. Ford to prepare and deliver a written report to board secretary Mark Cherpak to be included in the packets that they receive on the Fridays before board meetings. The hope is that would eliminate the need for long presentations by Ms. Ford.
[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09175/979489-100.stm ]
By Ken Fibbe
Tribune-Review
The Carnegie Library of Homestead receives “horrendous” support from government and is seeking more money to combat the effects of the recession on the library’s music hall and fitness center, board president Dan Lloyd said.
“We aren’t in dire straits, but we still need more money,” Lloyd said.
Marilyn Jenkins, executive director of the Allegheny County Library Association, said the four municipalities the library serves gave it about $25,000 last year, far less than the $5 per capita the state requires. Munhall, Homestead, West Homestead and Whitaker have a combined population of about 19,000 people.
The Regional Asset District, funded by an extra 1 percent on the county’s sales tax, supports 44 libraries in Allegheny County and gave $67,000 to the Homestead library last year. The library could get more RAD money by 2010 if the library association approves a funding formula that would lessen emphasis on municipal support, Executive Director David Donahoe said.
[ Full story available at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_625426.html ]
By Mary Niederberger
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Move over Ty Pennington. You’re about to get some competition from students at Steel Valley High School who are planning their own Mon Valley version of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
About 100 students — members of The Future Is Mine and the Environmental Club and some of the high school’s vo-tech students — plan to spend May 1 and possibly May 2 making outside improvements to 15 homes within the school district’s boundaries.
The work will include such activities as cutting grass, planting flowers and grass, mulching, pulling weeds, painting and building ramps.
The event is part of Pittsburgh Cares Hands on Pittsburgh project, which will involve more than 2,000 youth and adult volunteers working throughout the region on volunteer projects.
But instead of being assigned to one of the more than 100 service projects sponsored by Pittsburgh Cares, the Steel Valley students decided to create their own project that benefits residents of the district, said Ryan Dunmire, a business education teacher at Steel Valley High School who is the sponsor of The Future is Mine.
[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09057/951715-55.stm ]
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A collection of news articles focused on the communities of Pittsburgh’s Steel Valley.