For the six candidates vying for four seats on Mt. Lebanon school board, renovation of the high school dominates debate.
One factor bogging down discussion on the topic is the sheer price of the project: $115 million.
"We have a board and construction manager who are committed to bringing that number down," said incumbent Democrat Josephine Posti, 41.
"One of the things we have to remember is, the timing of this project is such that we may be able to take advantage of costs savings with material and labor and low interest rates on the first phase of financing," she said. "I'm committed to doing whatever we can do to optimize our resources and bring it in under budget."
Posti is spokeswoman for Pennsylvania American Water in McMurray.
Mary D. Birks, 45, a challenger who filed as a Democrat and Republican, served on committees that planned the renovation.
"I have been watching very carefully everything that's been going on," she said. "At this point, (the plans) are as good as they can be."
Birks is a homemaker and community volunteer. She is past president of the Mt. Lebanon PTA Council.
Incumbent Alan R. Silhol, 53, a Republican who serves as president of the board, calls the $115 million figure "astronomically, way too high."
Silhol said the board lopped $2 million off the price by saving $2 million on finance charges.
"I believe we can get this into the $90 (millions)," said Silhol, chief counsel for real estate for American Eagle Outfitters in Warrendale.
Dale F. Ostergaard, 53, a challenger running as a Democrat and Republican, thinks the $115 million figure can drop.
"I would have considered a schematic design that would have considered a renovation-only option six months ago," he said. "Today, I don't think the community is ready to go back and look at another design."
Ostergaard is program director for software development at Ansys Inc. in Canonsburg.
Robert Gardner Jr., a Democratic challenger who is vice president and general manager of Donna Karan Intimate Apparel, called for more transparency and community involvement on the project.
"We need to review our processes as a school board, how can we involve the community better," he said. "We've got capable people on the board, but the processes have been weak and could be improved on, and as a business manager, that's what I do."
Incumbent Daniel L. Remely, a Republican, expects the cost of the high school will drop as the economy drives bids down 20 percent below original estimates.
"My target is $95 million or less," he said.
Remely said the challenge for the school board will be controlling the cost and change orders, a chore he does on his job as president of H-Squared Properties in Castle Shannon.
In addition to the high school, Remely said the board will have to address pension obligations for employees as the cash-strapped state weighs whether districts should increase contributions. He said he hopes to work with other districts to ensure the state does not overburden them.
Silhol said the board needs to update the district's strategic plan. Among issues that need to be addressed, he said, are inadequate athletic fields.
Birks noted the board will have to address the teachers' contract, which expires in June.
"It's making sure that delivering education to our children is top-notch, that we can attract and retain the highest-quality educators," she said.
Ostergaard is concerned about the strategic plan and a lack of progress on student achievement goals.
"The more important objectives I want to concentrate on are education and achievement," he said. "Student achievement is not achieved by bricks and mortar. It's achieved by students, teachers and administrators working collaboratively with parents."
Gardner would like to use the teachers' contract to establish a program in which teachers could mentor each other.
"I'm all for merit pay, frankly," he said.
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