Resident questions cost and eligibility of University School enrollment contract, asks about superintendent travel expense

John Harrison, a McCandless Township resident, used his two-minute public-comment time Aug. 6 to ask the North Allegheny School Board for clarification about a University School College Preparatory enrollment contract on next week’s agenda and about superintendent Dr. Hyland’s upcoming conference expense.

Harrison said that the University School’s website lists a cost of $22,775 per year but that documents the district provided list a cost to taxpayers of $13,500, an apparent difference he called an “offset of about $5,000.” He asked board members how the offset is calculated and whether the $13,500 is an annual per-student cost. He also asked how students qualify for the program and whether the contract covers only a student’s senior year or multiple grades; he noted that if the program spans grades 9–12 the district’s obligation per student would rise substantially.

Harrison asked for an explanation at the next meeting and said he would raise the questions again if staff could not provide details. He also asked about a $3,000 conference trip that Dr. Hyland is scheduled to take to an Apple conference in California and what taxpayers receive for that expenditure.

Board members did not provide detailed answers during Harrison’s comment period; Harrison closed by saying "that's all I have." The board’s agenda materials list the University School College Preparatory enrollment contract as an item for board action at the Aug. 13 regular voting meeting; staff indicated earlier in the meeting that additional documentation on actionable items will be provided at that meeting.

Harrison’s remarks will be part of the public record and the board may address his questions when it considers the contract and the superintendent’s travel expenses at the Aug. 13 meeting.