[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6196371,"mediaKeyId","3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2","parentId",3857719,"title","Mount Lebanon board approves finance agenda as district reports progress from deficit to positive revenue","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1720000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2&start=1720&end=1720","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2/thumbnail_1720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6196371/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-board-approves-finance-agenda-as-district-reports-progress-from-deficit-to-positive-revenue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196371-f51e0d5ee76361e33771b325d9e086f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176445&Signature=otW-Dx~r2EVfP7ZlVSTJtz3NDc2f1HMqe0wQFV1pSWsd6hErB9dqTaUDOqgKsmq5IlUNV-IImMtY4iM91AHDQROc4b2-WgWMYPzoAYBb1EIQ82OCB8djCsofQITMSK83NJ5cOi4rMc-tukpXTSy6~3dy7zaY9eb4enOdVJ8VEmFTZ6Pm~e-xPzd2ecH9R5V8S81-a7iaDFBfAGhiyF~bBHQb4leCgK-keYF9-NcAqwcFYG9zVUurQWUvaGE6NYty~SK82vcPxEYz3NcrwHDw7orSmYGkLpAh8vQEdQkiT4SrOoKugKfXMhQuEsSA0sWohIgRX4cEOgIZU8UjfvTVVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mt. Lebanon School District","date","2025-06-18T08:48:57.097Z","article","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors unanimously approved the finance agenda at its June 16 meeting and heard trustees praise the district’s recent budget progress.

During discussion ahead of the vote, board members singled out the business office and administration for their work closing a prior deficit and achieving a positive revenue position. One board member said, “Mrs. Connolly, well done,” and multiple trustees thanked the administrative team for a “very big team effort” to move finances in a positive direction.

The finance motion was moved by Mrs. Gellman and received a second; a roll‑call vote recorded seven ayes and no dissent. The board directed the business office to finalize documents and present year‑end financial results for public reporting and to continue routine financial oversight.

Separately during board reports, Pathfinder School staff presented a balanced 2025‑26 budget of $342,792 and told trustees that last year’s budget is anticipated to close within projections while modest capital improvements will be completed over the summer. The board did not take a separate vote on the Pathfinder presentation at the June 16 meeting; the district indicated the Pathfinder budget will be part of continuing finance oversight.

The board approved several other financial agenda items as part of the finance vote; the business office will provide updated financial statements and a year‑end report to the board before the district’s next regular meeting in August.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-06-16 MTLSD School Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors approved the finance agenda on June 16. Board members and residents praised the district's budget work, noting progress from a prior deficit toward positive revenue; the Pathfinder program reported a balanced budget for 2025‑26 totaling $342,792.","taxTitle","Mt Lebanon SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38302,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196376,"Residents, students urge Mount Lebanon School District to add gender‑neutral bathrooms and allow elementary bike access",177,1928000,2105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2&start=1928&end=2105","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2/thumbnail_1928000.jpg","/articles/6196376/Pennsylvania/Residents-students-urge-Mount-Lebanon-School-District-to-add-genderneutral-bathrooms-and-allow-elementary-bike-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196376-580e37300426e98491d9b47f1b8eeff1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176445&Signature=hLbMpMM1zoj-3nVl-XRCdVdAVgboLX2mQ8ZN2U9j43W596t9K5cRFliFdItX-1hNQWXzuE-paV0ofOXKf~vqn~A7a8dRl7BujUSgalIRRJXWojHo5gYOlYrJvp06-9uVz7XB7LK19HZOBM3B0QhzEHQQ9A6CwudBopVoXHNQewr5PU4kr~oL1VPMXgi6MSu1N2Yxdxfl7UIL2ICwsMCXKtkBqzFO3~L56JMZZZSfvZS5WB64qsWRhH4Zcxi5~y~Q-xVYXQoAB5BjvKLsoj4wx6qDhFJoEpAavatYsZDjk~yTQKq-vbw5kuceTq81BdnpFVlVhmoVFz4fIBpfK5-AIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and students used the Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors’ public comment period on June 16 to press the district for gender‑neutral bathrooms at school and for a change to an elementary‑school ban on biking.

Stacy, a Mount Lebanon resident, told the board that gender‑neutral bathrooms are about dignity and safety for transgender and nonbinary students and said the district should make them available as an additional option rather than a replacement. “This is not just about bathrooms, this is about dignity, safety, and ensuring that every student in our schools feel respected, included, and able to focus on learning without fear or shame,” she said.

A soon‑to‑be fifth grader at Washington Elementary School, who identified herself as Sophia, said elementary schools currently lack gender‑neutral restrooms and described the district practice of directing students to the nurse’s office when a gender‑neutral option is needed. Sophia also told the board that the elementary student handbook currently bans riding bikes to school and said that many families would prefer the option to walk or bike. “Students should be able to choose to walk, bike, or be dropped off at school,” she said.

Board members did not take immediate action on either request during the meeting. The board’s public comment rules state that questions requiring follow‑up will be referred to the administration for later response, and members directed administration to respond to public‑comment questions in the coming weeks.

Speakers who raised these items asked the board to consider practical steps, including creating accessible gender‑neutral restrooms at school buildings and adding bike racks and handbook language to permit supervised bike travel for elementary students. The board did not vote on changes to facilities or student‑handbook language on June 16.","During public comment at the June 16 meeting, residents and students called on the Mount Lebanon School District to install gender‑neutral bathrooms in elementary schools and to revise the student handbook ban on biking to school.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6196381,"Mount Lebanon board adopts policy updates; technology rules remain under review as parents press for phone‑free schools",1106,1655000,2761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2&start=1655&end=2761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3857719-34c5a0e3bf36a5d320fe3990943a0ec2/thumbnail_1655000.jpg","/articles/6196381/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-board-adopts-policy-updates-technology-rules-remain-under-review-as-parents-press-for-phonefree-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196381-0bca11ec3f6a11cb85a40ae1d2c7cf1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176445&Signature=K~jStEhwZbgmF6rAovxodsLn9dtIdpSdATDfjQbrl5KrIiNl0hocBnhvRnNNm~0oB4XN0ag4dM9pjkhyYaz7gRxsOf1AoEw~Mjtl3AKXwsu8LDctQomv4TxU8-cNssFAM6I72SfvwV-7MEviWW-PaBVIB6VgQTofOMLdwo6JJji52la7tazRRYL-eLxTmSeBAMbrq-AvDzwEsRofmMIl~WIz6hICzmzDnoPELvSHwVpCDLjIZwU0eLtuU9lv6MeZFxabVVA-c2FcAtJRyvS7VPnFW4mjR5QcVu9UV9YukzPZnkffL1jsA43alGqPsvoxfP3XP52Asq3e0scyYdH1Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors voted June 16 to approve a package of policy adoptions and retirements, while trustees said a separate set of technology rules will return for additional discussion.

Public comment at the meeting focused on device use and enforcement. Several residents urged the district to adopt stronger, clearer limits on phones and Chromebooks and to prohibit earbuds and student picture‑taking during instructional time.

The board approved the policy adoptions and retirements after a motion to adopt the policy agenda was moved by Mr. Hoffman and seconded; a roll‑call vote recorded seven ayes and no dissent. Mr. Hoffman told the board that technology remained an ongoing topic and would receive further attention at upcoming meetings.

During public comment, Christine Sorensen Griffin, a Mount Lebanon resident, praised components of the draft guidelines that “prohibit cell phone use in the academic areas,” and urged the district to take a broader step. “I hope Mount Lebanon will take the lead and go phone free for the sake of our kids who will experience the academic and social and emotional rewards if we free them from their phones for the important hours that they're here at school,” Griffin said.

Other speakers identified specific enforcement gaps they would like addressed. Jane Cassella asked the district to tighten playground rules and remove devices as post‑work rewards, saying, “It needs to be changed to no devices during any recess.” Several commenters recommended that classroom monitoring software (for example, GoGuardian Teacher) be considered to ensure Chromebooks are used for assigned instructional tasks and not gaming or social media.

A 14‑year‑old student, Maya Stranden, described personal experience at both public and private schools and argued that reduced device use improved learning and social interaction. “It was the best field trip,” she said, describing a school trip where phones were collected.

Board members acknowledged the comments and said the technology policies remain under review. Mr. Hoffman said there had been “a lot of discussion” on technology and that further opportunities for conversation were planned. The board approved the other policy adoptions and retirements on the meeting agenda.

The board and administration did not take immediate additional formal action on a district‑wide phone‑free policy at the June 16 meeting; public‑comment questions that require follow‑up will be referred to the administration for response prior to future deliberations.","The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors approved a set of policy adoptions and retirements on June 16 while signaling that technology‑use rules will continue to be discussed. Multiple public commenters urged stricter enforcement of device rules, a phone‑free high school day and limits on earbuds, photo/video, and unsupervised Chromebook use.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mount Lebanon board approves finance agenda as district reports progress from deficit to positive revenue

Residents, students urge Mount Lebanon School District to add gender‑neutral bathrooms and allow elementary bike access

Mount Lebanon board adopts policy updates; technology rules remain under review as parents press for phone‑free schools