Towns

Peters

Peters Township Public Library now offers free wireless Internet access. Patrons can bring their laptop computers to the second floor of the library to do research, homework or browse the Internet at their leisure. They will have to bring their own wireless-enabled laptop and configure their computer to use the library's high-speed Internet connection. For more information, call 724-941-9430.

Several dozen people turned out at council's meeting Monday to express reservations about a sewage treatment plant on Churchill Road.

The township's sanitary authority recently bought two lots on Churchill Road, near the border with Bethel Park, township Manager Michael Silvestri said. Although the authority would like to connect with a sewage system in Bethel Park, that municipality can't accommodate Peters because of sewer capacity limits.

Homeowners are concerned about property values and quality of life, but council told the group, some of whom were from Bethel Park, that the authority had submitted no plans and it was unclear if the property would be developed. Mr. Silvestri said the property could be used for underground tanks, a pump station or a treatment facility.

Council will meet with authority members this summer and will determine plans then.

Council voted 4-3 Monday to approve a zoning ordinance amendment allowing Martik Properties to develop 6.6 acres on Venetia Road for townhouses. The area had been zoned for single-family homes, but was rezoned for multifamily residences. Councilmen Robert Lewis, David Ball and William Merrill voted against the measure, saying they were concerned about future development of 300 acres which would substantially increase traffic on the rural road.

Council discussed the possibility of using a paperless system to review bimonthly dockets and other township material. Currently, council members receive a docket including about 250 documents for each council meeting. A new system would allow the use of laptop computers for document review, and would keep people better informed with documents uploaded on the Internet twice a month.

Council approved a contract with Anthony Merante Contracting for storm sewer expansion and additions on Oakwood and Alexander roads. The $346,194 project is expected to be finished this summer.

Council named Geraldine Zalazar and James Marchewka to the township library board, and Jim Vine, Rosemarie Trunzo, Gary Kowalczyk, and Kimberly Zachary to the township environmental quality board.

Schools

Brookline

Brookline Elementary School, 500 Woodbourne Ave., will hold its first Walk for a Cure at noon today to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Donations of drinks, cookies and other refreshments for the children will be accepted, as will monetary contributions. For more information, call 412-571-7380.

Mt. Lebanon

The school board approved a $68.1 million budget for the coming school year that provides no new revenue for the district, but is likely to bring a tax increase for some.

The spending plan, based on last year's real estate assessments, would not require a tax increase, but the county's rollback to the use of 2002 assessments will mean a 0.38-mill increase will be needed to balance the budget.

Board President Joseph Rodella said the use of 2002 assessments means that some property owners' tax bills will increase and others' will decrease under the new budget.

The budget includes money for a new social studies curriculum in grades 1-5, a new math lab at the high school and an expansion of the elementary foreign language program.

The school board approved a debt authorization resolution that reserves its right to borrow up to $69 million, its current borrowing capacity, for renovation or new construction at the high school.

The board made the move to circumvent any back-end referendums that could become part of whatever tax reform legislation the state Legislature approves. Board President Joseph Rodella said the resolution did not require the district to borrow funds, but simply reserves its right to do so if needed.

In the past year, board members have discussed the need for a major renovation at the high school or the construction of a new one. In discussions last week and this week, some members said they doubted the board could get public approval on a referendum to allow enough financing for the project.

The resolution passed 6-2, with Dan Remely and Alan Silhol opposed and Mark Hart absent.

Board President Joseph Rodella said the construction audit of the district's $52.7 million renovation of its seven elementary schools being conducted by the state auditor general's office was nearing completion.

He said the office was now considering if it could do an audit of the district's construction management practices by its performance review department.

The auditor general's office began an audit shortly after Director Alan Silhol asked the board in January to consider hiring an independent consultant to review all costs, documents and change orders in the elementary renovation project.

Peters Township

The high school in McMurray is one of 130 U.S. schools elected to receive a $35,000 HP Technology for Teaching grant to buy HP wireless equipment,and for professional development to improve student achievement.

HP is awarding $4.5 million in cash and equipment to teams of five teachers at 130 kindergarten through 12th-grade public schools.

Preference was given to schools serving low-income students, and projects including a math or science component.

The HP Technology for Teaching grant program is designed to transform and improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology. During the coming school year, these projects will impact nearly 40,000 students.

The school board OK'd a training camp Monday for high school cheerleaders in Ocean City, Md., this summer, but said attendance wouldn't be mandatory.

Last week, the board spent more than 30 minutes debating whether attendance at the Aug. 11-14 camp should be mandatory, as requested by high school varsity cheerleading coach Barbara Deliere. Ms. Deliere said all of the approximately 50 cheerleaders should be required to attend the Universal Cheerleaders Association training camp because they would be learning complex stunts, and safety was an issue.

There is no cost involved for the district.

Several parents objected to the cost, location and mandatory nature of the trip. The board asked district solicitor Jack Cambest for a written opinion on the matter, which he provided Monday. Mr. Cambest said attendance should be optional and said nonattendance should not reflect poorly on any student who does not make the trip.

The board approved the voluntary trip unanimously.

Upper St. Clair

Three days after the Upper St. Clair school board failed to reach a consensus at its regular meeting to pay the district's monthly bills, they paid all of them except a legal bill.

At a special meeting Friday, the board voted 8-0 to pay all the bills, with the exception of a $78,691 bill from McGuireWoods LLP. That firm was retained in March to represent the district in a lawsuit filed by parents who sued to restore the International Baccalaureate program.

The IB program was eliminated in February, but restored in April.

The board was unable to reach a consensus to pay the bills at its May 15 meeting because of a dispute over whether the McGuireWoods LLP bill should be paid.