By David Whipkey
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Some parents of children attending Steel Valley middle and high schools will be seeking alternative methods of getting the students to class later this spring.
Beginning April 4, the Port Authority will discontinue the 55D West Run-Brierly Lane and 61F Homestead Park bus routes as part of the agency’s Transit Development Plan. According to Steel Valley Superintendent William Kinavey, about 60 students from both the middle and high school use Port Authority service to get to and from school.
Resident Gerry Hawkins asked the school board last week if anything can be done to help those students affected make it to school in a safe manner should no bus service be available.
“This has been reported all through the media,” Ms. Hawkins said of the service changes in Homestead, Munhall and West Homestead. “I know we do not have school buses in the district.”
Board officials said they planned to contact Port Authority to explore possible alternative transit options for affected students.
“I think that we should definitely have a meeting with the Port Authority to see what we can do,” school director Michael Terrick said. “We need to give the parents tools that can help secure some kind of transit to school for their children.”
[Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10063/1040014-55.stm]
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 Chris Ramirez
Tribune-Review
Getting across West Street is risky for Sue Etters and other patrons of a Homestead center for the blind.
A flashing yellow beacon near the Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh is supposed to warn drivers to slow down as they approach the building at West Street and East 18th Avenue.
But Etters and the center’s officials say drivers routinely ignore it, sometimes coming to within inches of running down visually impaired children and adults and their sighted guides.
[ Full story available at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_656344.html ]
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 ]
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A collection of news articles focused on the communities of Pittsburgh’s Steel Valley.