The Mount Lebanon Board of School Directors voted Friday, Oct. 20, against the facilities items that would have authorized the purchase and financing of real estate on behalf of Parkway West Career and Technology Center.

Board members heard that Parkway West and its joint operating committee seek capacity improvements to accommodate rising enrollment and program needs. Dr. Darby Copeland (Parkway West) and his team had previously presented to the member boards and the joint committee asked all 12 participating districts to consider purchase and financing motions.

At the Mount Lebanon meeting, board members expressed concern about the pressures on career and technical education (CTE) programs and urged state-level action to support CTE funding. Despite that support, the roll-call vote on the Parkway West purchase and financing items recorded dissent: the Mount Lebanon board members present all voted no.

A board member said the outcome emphasises the strain CTE programs feel statewide and encouraged constituents to contact state legislators about funding. The motion failed at Mount Lebanon; the transcript indicates that other member districts were also uncertain, and at least one district indicated it would not support the measures.

The board took no further action on the Parkway items at the meeting.