The Mt. Lebanon school board's decision last week to form a community advisory committee for the $115 million high school renovation project last week doesn't mean a consensus has been reached.
Before the 5-3 vote, some board members expressed concern that the committee could cause delays and increase costs. The committee will meet over the next six to eight weeks with the architects to review the design plans for the high school.
"Right idea, wrong vehicle," said member Susan Rose before casting a dissenting vote. Also voting no were Elaine Cappucci and Josephine Posti. Faith Ann Stipanovich was absent.
Rose suggested changing the wording of the committee's purpose so it could not significantly alter the project or increase its cost. She said she was worried the formation of the committee would put "too many chefs in the kitchen."
Posti, who was reelected to another four-year term, said she wanted a timeline established to ensure the committee wouldn't delay the project, expected to start next fall. She also wanted to know what the board would do with any changes suggested by the committee.
Board member Daniel Remely also was reelected, and two new members won seats, Mary D. Birks and Dale F. Ostergaard. The results are unofficial until certified.
Board president Alan Silhol, who was defeated in his bid for reelection on Tuesday, said he envisioned the committee as a fresh set of eyes -- an entity that could look for errors and mistakes before they become serious.
"We must get it right and get it right now," he said.
Board members were to vote this week for 15 of the 27 residents who applied to serve on the committee. The 11 who get the most votes will be named to the committee Monday. The group must submit its first report before the school board meets in December.
Nancy Tashman of Mt. Lebanon said she opposed the committee because she doesn't want the project to be delayed.
"My daughter was 10 when I moved here," she said. "She's 13 now. She will be 14 when we break ground and she will be lucky to be in the new high school as a senior."
She compared the committee's formation and role to a school board conducting a national search for a superintendent, choosing one, and then asking an outside body to come in and confirm the decision.
"Any delay would be detrimental to the community as a whole," Tashman said.
Rob Gardner, who was defeated in his attempt to win a school board seat, said he supported the committee because he believes it will revive public support for the new high school.
"It is smart to choose to have a final, but urgent, review by the committee," he said.
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