[{"_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",6205664,"mediaKeyId","3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca","parentId",3768862,"title","Mount Lebanon projects $923,000 surplus after unbudgeted pilot payments and delinquent‑tax collections","audioSeconds",360,"startMs",4977000,"endMs",5337000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca&start=4977&end=5337","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca/thumbnail_4977000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6205664/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-projects-923000-surplus-after-unbudgeted-pilot-payments-and-delinquenttax-collections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205664-e027bae1cdcec020a050c557aa5af3da/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055864&Signature=eGoTz2Kcgn6Rw2JjCjvTGy5rAIF-z8kN~k175rO2jT6gK9q8ic7oEpkZRSrgMHhAIexyc5xgE5jaxrGj0KHcbKYOQCr6JY9vI2FWE5-5qwh9FgxJZV7JXwkC4IXP~E5beF1liWjzoE~Gw-W-9dykC2VHQMT-BI322uoaO591Bw7qWLclM7azgXbqtvr9YQr~GQ5EQVCZ-KrWnbY74S7k2e~fC-TSHjeCV8wvK0sQ6xiuwME3GLBY0~pcqsMPbh9qrygHQ6iSPvFkHIca3MxZR8E8ZNf8tNXIq7kVKLuhcjG6Xn46m8iUHtbrF3zO165f74NVozNEjCBwFBVKxGCFfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mt. Lebanon School District","date","2025-06-10T20:05:24Z","article","Mount Lebanon School District finance staff told the board on June 9 that, after a year of budget adjustments and a freeze on non‑essential expenditures, projected fiscal‑year results show a surplus of about $923,000, reversing earlier deficit projections tied to a $1.1 million state funding shortfall.

Miss Connolly, presenting the treasurer’s report, said the district’s May financial review shows a swing from a prior projected deficit to a projected surplus of $923,000. “Although our real estate revenues have not increased, other revenues have,” Connolly said, and she identified the major contributors: two unbudgeted pilot payments from Asbury Heights and Dorchester apartments totaling $564,997, an increase of about $395,000 in collections of old delinquent taxes attributed to Weiss Burkhardt Kramer’s collections, and higher tuition and facility rental revenues. Connolly also said the IDEA grant came in larger than budgeted: it was budgeted at $720,000 but actual award totaled $936,000, with the second half of payment expected from the AIU in June or July.

Board members and administrators emphasized continued caution: the fiscal year closes in June and some expenses posted over the summer will still affect final audited totals. The district said it had maintained a hiring and purchase freeze for non‑essential items since January 2025 and asked budget managers to report emergent expenses immediately; that discipline, combined with the unexpected revenues, produced the current surplus projection.

Other finance items: The board reviewed routine monthly items including the list of bills for May checks, three tax refunds totaling $25,757.75, budgetary transfers totaling $136,056 for supplies, utilities, boiler repairs and other operating costs, and acceptance of community donations. The board was also asked to approve contracts and bids, including PNC Capital Markets for bond investment banker services (no fee unless a transaction closes), annual dairy and ice cream suppliers (Turner Dairy and Hershey’s), and a multi‑year agreement to purchase PSBA’s comprehensive policy review service (total contract cost $77,200 to be paid over fiscal years 2025–2028).

What comes next: Administrators said board action on many of the items presented (for example, approval of policies, contracts and the graduation list) is scheduled for the board’s next regular meeting on June 16; Connolly said any surprises in the final closeout would be reported to the board immediately. Board members asked that any surplus first be used to rebuild the district’s unassigned fund balance to policy levels.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-06-10 MTLSD School Board Discussion Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The district’s treasurer reported a projected fiscal‑year surplus of about $923,000 driven by unbudgeted pilot payments, higher delinquent‑tax collections and an IDEA grant larger than budgeted; the board discussed transfers, refunds and upcoming budget work.","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},6205669,"Mount Lebanon displays draft technology‑usage rules: K–8 'away for the day', nuanced high‑school guidance and AI cautions",1326,2660000,3986000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca&start=2660&end=3986","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca/thumbnail_2660000.jpg","/articles/6205669/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-displays-draft-technologyusage-rules-K8-away-for-the-day-nuanced-highschool-guidance-and-AI-cautions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205669-81c28eb5ec3ccda69059ce717dd9dbcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055864&Signature=fRzgPqANnrZo6tXK5-2aCLVjTSRiB21cYiMDOPq-p1aVD1LMW9DYT~1XLpzLQas-17n~Hm3V7kbvP1iaXgTAdLT9vjFs3XtJCLAoUh2FTfUXdUNxLKwO4bG7WakSM1oV3FkmEuigFis9L960vlYBrM-KeyTYChxjNILQ3d~s5of300VgCelRUu-mlcyY~~Hmx5H5h2EigYYXcUzTFXGlliHD7SyZm~FRqc0i5VtMBtDV3EiOvQnHIe-vP8z6pNVwJ9nRbF2hhSS2kB0HpMS8aje3GRaBAIrjkiUYRv8~Ouy8LTxq9PR5~7UlXPca4f74QRFoC~VjxkxtV94ysRE0rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Lebanon School District administrators unveiled draft technology‑usage guidelines and an implementation plan at the June 9 board meeting that would prohibit personal electronic devices during the school day in K–5, restrict them in grades 6–8 and allow more limited, supervised use in high school while adding guidance on generative artificial intelligence.

Superintendent Dr. Chrissy Friess framed the work as one of the district’s annual goals and described the process used to develop the draft: a survey sent to roughly 7,700 recipients with about 2,500 respondents, 28 focus‑group sessions with 518 participants, and work group meetings with the teachers' association and administration. “We will be informing families about these technology guidelines through email notification, our newsletters, student handbooks, starting this summer,” Friess said when describing the communication plan.

What administrators proposed: For K–5, the draft handbook language says “the use of any personal electronic device is prohibited during the school day,” devices must be turned off and stored and “devices that go off in class, ring, or vibrate will be confiscated,” language presented by Dr. Joseph Shula. The recommended elementary practice described in the slide was that phones “shall be turned off and put away in a student's locker unless approval has been granted by administration for medical or translation purposes.” The elementary discipline matrix cited a graduated response from warnings to lunch detention to parent retrieval and suspension for repeated violations.

Middle‑level guidance and AI: Dr. Ronald Davis presented the grades 6–8 draft, which repeats the prohibition during the school day, requires lockers for storage, bars device use in restrooms and locker rooms, and allows district or personally owned devices only for explicit teacher‑directed learning with Internet access through the district network. Davis also introduced classroom guidance about generative AI: “Students recognize that generative AI tools like language models and image generators can be powerful aids for learning across all disciplines,” he said, adding that students should “double check the importance of facts that are generated” and not “blindly trust all of the information that it generates.”

High school approach and discipline: Dr. Friess summarized the 9–12 language as more permissive in non‑instructional spaces: cell phones would be “strictly prohibited in academic areas or during instructional time” unless a teacher gives explicit direction, but “students are permitted to use their cell phones or their smartphones in hallways, between classes, in center court, in the student activities area,” according to the slides. High‑school disciplinary steps are analogous to the lower grades but include an option for Saturday detention and escalating consequences for repeat infractions.

Implementation, training and costs: Officials said implementation would begin with communications to families in July and return‑to‑school communications in August; students and families would be required to acknowledge the handbook language. Staff professional development and role‑playing scenarios are planned; device holders for classrooms were suggested (district inventory indicates a small purchase need). Administrators said there is minimal cost for implementation, estimating remaining purchases of roughly a dozen device holders, and that enforcement will be supported by professional development and ongoing administrative support.

Public comment: The meeting’s public‑comment period drew strong, repeated calls from parents, students, teachers and medical professionals for extending “away for the day” rules to older grades. Two elementary students told the board they wanted fewer games and more play during indoor recess; one described classmates as “bottle zombies.” Parents and experts repeatedly cited academic and mental‑health studies when urging a bell‑to‑bell ban through high school. A number of commenters asked the district to give teachers tools to manage student web use on district devices; an ESL teacher who uses GoGuardian urged deployment of classroom monitoring software so teachers can close distracting tabs and block inappropriate content in real time.

Board discussion highlights and follow up: Board members and administrators discussed operational details — whether device holders are practical for assemblies and auditoriums, how to define “appropriate social media” in policy language, whether smartwatches and earbuds should be explicitly listed in the definition of personal electronic devices, and how coaches and outside activity sponsors will be informed. Missus Genzel and others pressed for clarity about enforcement in large gatherings and requested the policy committee and board see a policy‑level document: administrators confirmed they plan to bring proposed policy language to the board’s policy committee and possibly to the board for review later in the calendar.

Where things stand: The presentation described the guidelines as administrative regulations to be enforced through the student handbook and staff training; administrators also said they will bring model PSBA electronic‑device policy language to the policy committee as a possible separate board policy in the fall. The district intends to begin family communications this July and require student and family acknowledgment of the handbook before school starts.","Administrators presented draft K–5, 6–8 and 9–12 technology‑usage guidelines calling for K–8 restrictions (devices off and stored), updated discipline matrixes, teacher training, rollout plans and classroom rules for generative AI; public comment largely urged a full bell‑to‑bell phone ban through high school.",{"_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},6205674,"Mount Lebanon presents 6‑year curriculum review and elementary program changes after year‑long study",1330,563000,1893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca&start=563&end=1893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3768862-56f559614302e60a014c16c2343ae5ca/thumbnail_563000.jpg","/articles/6205674/Pennsylvania/Mount-Lebanon-presents-6year-curriculum-review-and-elementary-program-changes-after-yearlong-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205674-d7ae7108ae3e32721a8c6b2cdc2b95d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055864&Signature=g5zofxSVI-oBokOgJtpG56LYqjPC6h~2nnmQABsyQz~HqFCGmLTVaWOhAyhZTV8hXKO7shI6nOZSRZJaxypFAlIacEsCJfRGiFcn9XIaD~57EYyYzTZU1Vk5UCotosRvfinnPBEInrScxaap3RooRaE6A2gNDF33El1BxkiwJUVKYJsiX-ZvyFIS-v76gQp5lU1konv8rVx97FFCQxzPgLH2B7dKVf-vd9v9TD0rq~TEGLNQ538456n~D1CqQH-XHWZb3YA-hl5d5dirWDv--xS4OveftzQFc1kaJR1BcNQH8NXkf1nNynJ9-vxfw1SWHC30alKtJu6QVxws0Ha24Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Lebanon School District staff presented findings from a year‑long elementary program review at the June 9 Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors meeting, recommending a six‑year districtwide curriculum review cycle, standardized written curriculum access and new implementation steps for instruction and interventions.

The district’s assistant superintendent for elementary education, Dr. Joseph Shula, told the board the curriculum‑review calendar is a six‑year cycle that begins with “research and program analysis,” moves to “curriculum development and resource selection,” then to implementation and revision, and finishes with evaluation and reflection. “The elementary written curriculum in Atlas is not complete, accurate, accessible to colleagues, or accessible to families,” Shula said, adding the district will move those materials into a single repository.

Why it matters: Board members and administrators said the review is intended to produce consistent instruction across all seven elementary schools and to address gaps revealed by post‑pandemic test trends. The review includes adoption and training plans for new elementary ELA and science materials, steps to standardize instructional minutes and departmentalization across schools, and measures intended to expand social‑emotional supports and targeted interventions.

Most important details first: Shula reported the district purchased new K–5 ELA materials (noted in the presentation as the recently adopted ELA program) and new science materials (Amplify) and trained staff before the school year ended so teachers could begin planning over the summer. The district also committed to using AIMSweb Plus and MAP assessments for the next three years to monitor the effect of new materials. For intervention, the district bought a defined Tier‑2 math program and plans to roll out that program “with fidelity across all seven buildings.” Reading supports named in the review include the Wilson Reading System and other evidence‑based interventions already in use in some schools.

Supporting details and discussion: The program review combined an external review, a self‑assessment using PSSA and other local data, and focus‑group input from teachers, PTA representatives and students. Shula said district performance remains above the state average on many measures but that scores have not yet fully returned to pre‑pandemic levels except in Grade 4 science; the presentation flagged areas to watch as comparator districts start to catch up. Shula also said English‑learner outcomes prompted targeted attention: the district’s EL proficiency for some cohorts was described as roughly in the 30–40 percent range, and staff proposed expanded translation devices and parent supports. “We were able to purchase 30 this current school year that we've gotten great feedback on,” Shula said of translation devices.

Staff recommended operational standardizations: all schools will adopt an instructional‑minutes guideline (with limited exceptions for traveling teachers), begin departmentalizing some grades so students have subject teachers for math or ELA in upper elementary, and move all written curriculum into the Atlas system for public and staff access. The district also plans to pilot coordinated monthly “math makerspace” lessons tied to science units and to expand pre‑service teacher partnerships with the University of Pittsburgh and Point Park University to increase in‑class adult support.

Board questions and clarifications: Board members asked how students would be identified for acceleration and gifted services; Shula said universal screening begins in Grade 3 and that existing acceleration screens (third‑ and fifth‑grade winter AIMSweb plus local measures) would be reviewed in the fall. On assessment anomalies, a board member asked Shula to check a flagged chart showing a precipitous drop in a Keystone literature subgroup; Shula agreed to investigate and report back. Board members also pressed for clarity about device use, classroom expectations and the timeline for full Atlas publication.

Next steps and implementation: The district will continue the curriculum review work in scheduled phases—math and social studies research in 2025–26, health and PE resource development, and implementation and revision stages for other grade bands in subsequent years. Shula said buildings will pilot changes in the 2025–26 school year and that a more detailed implementation timeline and accountability measures are included in the written report accompanying the review.

Closing note: Board members praised the breadth of the review and urged careful sequencing and teacher support to avoid overwhelming staff when multiple adoptions and changes occur in a short timeframe.","District staff summarized a year‑long elementary program review and recommended a six‑year, cyclical curriculum review, standardization across seven elementary schools, new K–5 materials and assessment tools, stronger MTSS procedures and expanded supports for English learners and special education.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mount Lebanon projects $923,000 surplus after unbudgeted pilot payments and delinquent‑tax collections

Mount Lebanon displays draft technology‑usage rules: K–8 'away for the day', nuanced high‑school guidance and AI cautions

Mount Lebanon presents 6‑year curriculum review and elementary program changes after year‑long study