Thursday, January 31, 2013
Pennsylvania School Boards Association says this month is a time to spotlight the contributions of public school board members.
Superintendent Patrick O'Toole recognized Monday the volunteer work of the Upper St. Clair School Board elected officials. Pennsylvania School Boards Association declared January as School Director Recognition Month, a time to spotlight the contributions of public school board members. "The thing that excites me the most is everyone is always thinking about how to improve education for kids," said Buffy Hasco, school director. "It's been very rewarding for me," said Harry Kunselman, school director. "Public schools are going through transformations ... I still believe Upper St. Clair does public education the right way and hope we can be an example for others." "The school district is the township's most critical asset," said Louis …
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Louis Oliverio has been selected as an alternate delegate for August's Republican National Convention.
Going to the Republican National Convention is something Louis Oliverio has wanted to do for a long time, and last Tuesday night, he learned he would get the opportunity. Oliverio is an alternate delegate for the 18th Congressional District Republican Party and heads to Tampa Bay, FL, in August to be part of the discussion to select a Republican presidential nominee. "I've always been interested in politics. It's very exciting," Oliverio said. At the convention, delegates will officially nominate the Republican candidates for president and vice president. Delegates and Republican leaders will also develop the party's platform of issues and ideas, as well as write the rules to govern the Republican Party for the next four years. This was …
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The move will give the board 'maximum amount of flexibility' come June.
The Upper St. Clair School Board passed a preliminary budget Monday night for the 2012-13 school year, which includes a 1.647-mill tax increase and the elimination of nine professional and five support staff positions. A 1.647-mill tax is equivalent to $329 per $200,000 of assessed value. The vote was 7-2. School Directors Louis Oliverio and Louis Mafrice voted against passing the budget. They said they aren't comfortable with such a large tax increase. "I believe a budget is a budget," Oliverio said. "In order for me to vote yes, I need to be comfortable with it." "I believe that this proposed budget falls short of serving members of the community," Mafrice said. "I look at it differently," board member Amy Billerbeck said. "There's one …
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday night's action will 'provide the boar with maximum flexibility' come June 2012.
The Upper St. Clair School Board passed a preliminary budget Monday night that could allow the school directors to raise taxes by 1.57 mills in June 2012. A 1.57 mills tax increase would be equal to $314 per $200,000 of assessed value. In addition, the budget would eliminate 16 staff positions, including 10 fulltime teachers and six supporting staff. The vote was made so early in the year to allow for the district to apply with the Department of Education to raise taxes above the pre-set state limit, which is .337 mills next year, equivalent to $67 per $200,000 of assessed value. District administrators recommended the board adopt the preliminary budget to allow for "maximum financial flexibility" when it comes time to adopt a final budget…
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The superintendent also gave an update on the rifle range at the high school.
The Upper St. Clair School Board appointed a new president and vice president Monday night. 2011-12 School Board Vice President Rebecca Stern will now serve as president. School Director Barbara Bolas was voted to become vice president. Superintendent Patrick O'Toole thanked Harry Kunselman for his time served as president for the past year and went over a long list of district accomplishments. Highlights included the middle school renovation projects, creating a director of advancement position, two bond refinancing opportunities, a wage agreement with Upper St. Clair School District support staff, new district policies, technology investments and a new district tagline. In addition, Judge Arnold Klein, an Upper St. Clair resident, swore …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The latest news from the Upper St. Clair School Board.
Upper St. Clair School District administrators are urging the school board to approve a preliminary 2012-13 budget at their Dec. 12 meeting so the district can apply for a tax exception. The exception could allow the board to raise taxes by .82 mills. Pennsylvania law will allow the school board to approve a .33 mills tax increase for the following school year. With that tax increase, the district's projected budget shortfall would be $2.8 million. Without a tax increase, the shortfall would be $3.4 million. The state allows for districts to apply for tax exceptions to help alleviate costs outside of the districts' control, for example rising pension or special education costs. According to preliminary numbers, and if the district applies…
Monday, November 7, 2011
Five school board candidates are running unopposed in Tuesday's election.
There are five open Upper St. Clair School Board seats this year and five candidates are running unopposed. Louis Oliverio is the only new candidate running for school board. The other four candidates are incumbents. Upper St. Clair Patch caught up with each candidate to hear their thoughts on the most important issues in the Upper St. Clair School District. On possibly making Streams Elementary an all-IB school Billerbeck said the board is in the middle of the process and she still needs more information. "I don't have any pre-conceived notions," Billerbeck said. "I've always been a strong IB supporter...I'm going to look at the demand for IB, how it affects the overall budget...and how it will affect home values in Upper St. Clair." On …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Election day is today!
The elections are today and a number of candidates are running for local office. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Click here to locate your polling place. Elections Manager Mark Wolosik is predicting that 30 to 35 percent of registered voters in Allegheny County will go to the polls today. The Upper St. Clair races are not competitive this November. There are four candidates seeking four open commissioner seats and five candidates seeking five open school board seats. During the primary, Upper St. Clair resident Dorothy Davis received enough votes to appear on the November ballot against Commissioner Glenn Dandoy. However, Davis said she did not file the proper paperwork with the Allegheny County Electons Division by July 1 in …
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Upper St. Clair School District must decide whether to make Streams Elementary an all-IB school.
The audience was divided in opinion Monday night at the Upper St. Clair School District's second meeting held to discuss the possibility of converting Streams Elementary School into an all-International Baccalaureate school. Nearly 50 people attended the "open microphone" meeting held at Boyce Middle School, according to the sign-in sheets. Voices grew loud and audience members argued at times, as Superintendent Patrick O'Toole warned, "This will be civil and respectful or it will be over." Some residents attended the meeting to speak out against the IB program, other residents came to support the IB program and the rest of the crowd seemed as if they were simply trying to figure out if they should enroll their children in the IB program …
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Upper St. Clair lawyer joins the Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
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Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair, recent recipient of Rotary Club of the Year for District 7300, is proud to announce the recent induction of their newest member, Lou Oliverio, a lawyer with DLA Piper LLP, with offices located at 2589 Washington Rd. in Upper St. Clair. South Hills professionals, business men and women, community activists and leaders who are interested in making their community and the world a better place are welcome to join the Thursday evening meetings of the Rotary Club of Bethel-St. Clair at 6 p.m. at St. Clair Country Club and learn more about Rotary, the world's first and largest international service organization. Please contact Jim Bolas for more information at 412-680-5708.
bob balmer
10:01 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
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