Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Public Notice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keystone Oaks board eyes options after local paper’s circulation ends; solicitor flags legal notice requirement
Summary
Board members discussed how the district will meet state law requiring public notices in a newspaper 'in general circulation' within the district after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s circulation ends; legal counsel said website posting alone may not satisfy the code.
Board members and district staff raised a practical compliance issue after the announced end of circulation for a local paper that previously carried legal notices.
The superintendent (S3) told the board the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will no longer be circulating in the area effective May 3 and said the district is discussing alternatives, including posting on the district website. "We basically do not have papers in circulation anymore," the superintendent said.
Solicitor/legal counsel (S5) warned that Pennsylvania school code requires required notices to appear in a newspaper "in general circulation" within the district and that a paper circulated in only one of the district’s boroughs may not meet the statutory requirement for all towns the district serves. "The way the school code is defined, it says it has to be in general circulation in your district," the solicitor explained.
Why it matters: Many school districts legally must publish formal notices (budget notices, tax-index resolutions, meeting announcements) in a newspaper that reaches all municipalities the district serves; the loss of a widely distributed local paper could force districts to seek other legally sufficient publication methods or request legislative clarification.
What’s next: Board members asked the superintendent to consult the solicitor and to explore options for advertising and posting while remaining compliant with code; staff will report back with options and comparative district practices.
