[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6120384,"mediaKeyId","2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3","parentId",2707313,"title","Votes at a glance: March 17 Mount Lebanon board meeting — policies, finance, HR, facilities and curriculum approved","audioSeconds",125,"startMs",5561000,"endMs",5686000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3&start=5561&end=5686","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3/thumbnail_5561000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120384/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-March-17-Mount-Lebanon-board-meeting-policies-finance-HR-facilities-and-curriculum-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120384-9373db0d8453947a33adade86220e10a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436878&Signature=n5IRBfVA3B9v1rhHt9Z3x5As3xZ8a-NvkCY7lg-lrYLdSE5G125L6y9TloxyAyQJ72YaUPO9pX2q3jnDP7ncWTh7dLOJGdy1hm4F4PPBS6wib3Ax01g3xHHb2ksV9Sw0XFkX5oEfMnpTD6el~nkoEGuKk67TrL8cgTfuHYiyN6OhrmcfpUWW0UlYHc72Z1AIX7-HvXeOcqSg~19A5Guq6bEScKtSpqKJwVZMvRA6zZU58mqLz7HYa-HtEW4eqTc6Xx0bEmD~2OHyVXWPEI8B8EeV0ZusjEm4zZtDaDEh3EWs-HNRtm3Tdw~Mv1Az1KeOttcxYdKmcvP2HyJpKO7VDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mt. Lebanon School District","date","2025-03-20T08:43:22.66Z","article","At its March 17 meeting the Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors approved multiple agenda items by roll call. Below is a concise list of motions taken and outcomes as recorded in the meeting.

1) Minutes and routine approvals — Motion to approve minutes of the policy committee (02/10/2025), discussion meeting (02/10/2025) and regular meeting (02/17/2025). Outcome: approved (voice/roll call recorded as part of meeting start). Vote recorded as unanimous for motion to approve minutes.

2) Policies — Motion to adopt policy package (301;302;304;304.1;305;306;307;815.1) and retire LEA and GDFAB. Outcome: approved by roll call 8-0.

3) Finance agenda — Motion to approve treasurer's report; monthly lists of bills; budgetary transfers; list of unusable equipment; AIU program of services budget; resolution to authorize reduction of professional staff for economic reasons for 2025-26; and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (pilot) agreement with Asbury Heights. Outcome: approved by roll call 8-0.

4) Human resources — Motion to approve personnel report and a settlement-and-release agreement for an employee. Outcome: approved by roll call 8-0.

5) Facilities — Motion to approve security window-film bid. Outcome: approved by roll call 8-0.

6) Curriculum & instruction — Motion to approve agreement with Sunbelt Staffing and extracurricular trip requests (Winter Guard trips to Dayton, Ohio and Orlando, Florida). Outcome: approved by roll call 8-0.

7) Other routine agenda items (treasurer's report, monthly bills, budget transfers, list of unusable equipment, AIU budget) were included inside the composite votes above and passed as recorded.

Provenance: each numbered item corresponds to the agenda sections where the motions were read and where roll-call votes were recorded (motions read around 01:23:00 for policies; 01:28:00 for finance; 01:26:00 for human resources; 01:27:24 for facilities; 01:28:41 for curriculum). The meeting record shows each composite motion was moved, seconded, and approved with the same eight board members recorded as voting aye.

Ending: The board approved all listed motions without recorded opposition; specific implementation steps, staffing decisions and administrative follow-up were delegated to staff and committees to carry out and to report back to the board at upcoming meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-03-17 MTLSD School Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors approved multiple agenda items on March 17 by unanimous roll call, including a new AI policy, a finance package that included a PILOT agreement and a resolution authorizing reductions in professional staff, human-resources actions, a facilities bid and curriculum items.","taxTitle","Mt Lebanon SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38302,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120394,"Mount Lebanon board hears $1.53 million preliminary shortfall; approves resolution authorizing reductions in professional staff",2428,2544000,4972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3&start=2544&end=4972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3/thumbnail_2544000.jpg","/articles/6120394/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-board-hears-153-million-preliminary-shortfall-approves-resolution-authorizing-reductions-in-professional-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120394-ea016fb66153ae44ea8c8437b7f4d7ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436878&Signature=O0W4OMW~70-MRw~1Pdcp2-0E20RY7ozRLDlWUjyeaabefZG9pMkpfGZW4yTRjjzZxAiaSrIgkbE8~8lf9AIWItmFvCtIIf6qPvXDf5d~Q~KPKAS61ClTjgbEngSLq4YolIj1HbdKfb9f2lKemeedkVBlic5N2HzZ-NQR3lYTyRF17sylFWJBRNrrcRD1c-i2ZJeejy25TJ6dxrbHDjPQ3FCd4Srwxf1V1ojOGSQbvmRxldc0ZAO5STsJjDqKvQRrotOom2GyYOkYZDP9b43fkNctDsRP2lQvMWsldqpzdgyQBElgvVunvjMVn9gbIOshx3fDxyLC69~rVZuANVs5qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors on March 17 reviewed the 2025-26 base budget showing a projected preliminary revenue shortfall of $1,528,081 and voted to approve finance agenda items that include a resolution authorizing reductions in professional staff for economic reasons for the 2025-26 school year.

The board meeting, held in Room D205 of Mount Lebanon High School with a Zoom option, included a presentation of revenue and expenditure assumptions by a district finance presenter and a discussion among board members and the superintendent about options to balance the budget.

The budget presenter said the district projects total expenditures of $126,647,338 for 2025-26 and that local real-estate taxes are the largest revenue source. Local revenues account for about 77 percent of the budget overall and real-estate revenue projections were described as driven by the Act 1 index and a district adjustment. The presenter reported a projected real-estate revenue increase tied to the Act 1 base index and noted the district has applied for Act 1 exceptions for special education and retirement; a Commonwealth response was expected by March 26.

The presentation listed these key figures from the board packet: projected preliminary revenue shortfall $1,528,081; projected expenditures $126,647,338; a projected federal revenue total of $559,891 (described as about 0.004% of total revenue); and an unassigned fund balance of roughly $2.1 million as of June 30, 2024. The presenter said the board would be asked to adopt a proposed final budget on April 21 and the final budget on May 21, and that a public budget forum is scheduled for April 7 at 6 p.m. in Room D205.

Board members repeatedly raised the impact of the common level ratio (CLR) changes in Allegheny County, citing a court injunction and subsequent appeals that reduced assessed values and, they said, have lowered taxable values available to school districts. Board discussion emphasized that the CLR declines have depressed district taxable value over multiple years and complicate budgeting under Pennsylvania\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000law (Act 1) limits. Board member Weiland said, \"This isn't a problem that confronts just us here in Mount Lebanon; this is a problem that confronts all school districts across the state,\" during a lengthy discussion of county and state responses.

Superintendent Dr. Fries addressed staffing options during the budget Q&A, saying, \"Our goal is to not furlough.\" The superintendent and finance staff described steps the district prefers to take first: reassign staff, use attrition, modify programs, and evaluate equipment lifespans before relying on furloughs, while acknowledging a vote tonight was required to meet Pennsylvania Department of Education timelines for possible reductions.

The board took a single roll-call vote on a composite finance motion that included the treasurer's report, monthly lists of bills, budgetary transfers, a list of unusable equipment, the AIU program of services budget, the resolution authorizing reduction of professional staff for economic reasons, and a pilot (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) agreement with Asbury Heights. The motion was moved and seconded; the roll call showed eight ayes (Mrs. Burdick; Mrs. Crabill; Miss Fleischer; Mrs. Gellman; Miss Genssel; Miss Guth; Mr. Hoffman; Mr. Weiland) and no nays or abstentions.

The finance presenter described assumptions embedded in the base budget: an Act 1 adjusted index applied to current real estate values (presented as a 4.7% applied figure in the packet), exceptions included for special education, flat state basic and special education funding in the projection, a 3.5% salary increase assumption, a 10% assumed increase in health-insurance premiums pending final rates, and a projected 3% increases to special-education and charter-school tuitions. The packet also showed a $721,000 deficit projected for 2024-25 if unaddressed and noted prior-year real estate refunds related to CLR appeals.

Members of the public asked questions during the residents' comment period about related topics. Two speakers requested follow-up information and context about the CLR effects and state responses; the board requested contact information for follow-up and reiterated the dates for the budget forum and subsequent votes.

The board's adoption of the finance agenda that included the staffing-resolution does not itself specify the names of individual employees to be reduced. The district staff said the required authorization applies directly to MLEA employees for the furlough process but that the resolution lists all employee work groups to show potential effects across classifications. The administration said formal staffing decisions will follow the staffing process and further board discussion; the administration reaffirmed its stated goal to minimize impacts on student programming and to avoid drawing down fund balance if possible.

The board set these next steps: a public budget forum April 7 at 6 p.m., presentation of a proposed final budget April 21, and a vote on the final budget May 21. The administration said final health-care rates will be available after an April 4 consortium meeting and that the Commonwealth\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000response on Act 1 exception requests was expected March 26.

Ending: The board approved the finance agenda, including the authorization to pursue reductions in professional staff for economic reasons, by unanimous roll call. More detailed proposals on specific staffing changes and a proposed final budget will be discussed at the April 7 budget forum and at subsequent board meetings.

","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors on March 17 reviewed a 2025-26 base budget showing a projected $1,528,081 revenue shortfall and voted 8-0 to approve finance agenda items that include a resolution authorizing reductions in professional staff for economic reasons.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120389,"Mount Lebanon board adopts multiple personnel and AI policies, retires student-teaching and reporting-arrests policies",66,4980000,5046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3&start=4980&end=5046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2707313-da6f8d7921af0c38f995cfd98f3c47e3/thumbnail_4980000.jpg","/articles/6120389/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-board-adopts-multiple-personnel-and-AI-policies-retires-student-teaching-and-reporting-arrests-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120389-8cd0ffb98dd370a92f469a1bc1169be2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436878&Signature=NkUP18xnZlqtsR38UUp0DvGC3kVY9B5s24XOkTs21~DVwkYNgIig8lYGYOqnpMLaPbPFm3kDDdcfVctx~4CZrzzmDNC4ulYwJu1Wy73mRzXM9wgyE6yKAzLPtqccZkzOkvoSomyfCCOsVPPcOF1o5guRY3AJGfxxp7AvvFyyvsetjTjq1JH~ezGjeGeueAZsLOLa~1I9VZeK6ii0Mo6azuwdMPhDlTqqsK64m5d5t2X3UN4DOQnuSYFFAA2Phd7h0m5bQfV9-CYfhALOgb0qY8e1PIIR8bFUbxrgUErPrSDyRat~43KBiguJnKxipMRFWEr0O~W~nxzA93tISQPqcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors voted unanimously on March 17 to adopt several revised personnel and administrative policies, including a new policy numbered 815.1 governing the use of generative artificial intelligence in education, and to retire two legacy policies on student teaching and reporting arrests and convictions.

The motion, read at the meeting, listed the policies adopted as 301 (creating a position), 302 (employment of superintendent and assistant superintendent), 304 (employment of district staff), 304.1 (anti-nepotism), 305 (employment of substitutes), 306 (employment of summer school staff), 307 (student teachers), and 815.1 (use of generative artificial intelligence in education). The motion also included retiring policy LEA (student teaching) and GDFAB (reporting arrests and convictions).

The policy committee reported earlier in the meeting that it had been reviewing numerous policies during the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000transition from NSBA to PSBA services and that the AI policy work had involved several administrators. Policy committee chair Miss Guth thanked staff and described the AI policy work as collaborative: \"Massive thank you to Dr. Friese and Dr. Joel Thompson and Dr. Schuman, Dr. Shulu and Dr. Davis about the artificial intelligence policy. It's really exciting work that they're doing and we are happy to have it on the agenda today to vote for,\" she said.

The board took a roll-call vote on the composite policy motion; the vote was recorded as eight ayes (Mrs. Burdick; Mrs. Crabill; Miss Fleischer; Mrs. Gellman; Miss Genssel; Miss Guth; Mr. Hoffman; Mr. Weiland) and no nays or abstentions. The motion was moved and seconded at the meeting; the board did not record any dissent during roll call.

Board members said the policy updates reflect a district effort to modernize governance documents and to align position- and personnel-related policies with current employment practices. The administration and policy committee indicated that additional administrative regulations and implementation details would follow where needed.

Ending: The policy package passed unanimously; the board will implement the new AI policy and updated personnel policies per the district's adoption timeline and follow-up materials from the policy committee.

","The board unanimously adopted a set of personnel policies and a new policy on generative artificial intelligence in education (policy 815.1) and retired two older policies during the March 17 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: March 17 Mount Lebanon board meeting — policies, finance, HR, facilities and curriculum approved

Mount Lebanon board hears $1.53 million preliminary shortfall; approves resolution authorizing reductions in professional staff

Mount Lebanon board adopts multiple personnel and AI policies, retires student-teaching and reporting-arrests policies