School board puts end to controversial capital campaign

The Mt. Lebanon School Board at an Aug. 20 meeting unanimously voted to conclude the district’s capital campaign that had become a source of friction in the district.

The district will continue its traditional practice of “gratefully accepting gifts from residents, alumni and others,” stated the Aug. 20 meeting agenda. However, the capital initiative has concluded.

Developed in 2013 by the school board, the capital campaign was designed to provide a way for individuals, groups and companies to make private donations to be used for capitalprojects and special programs.

But the campaign has fallen far short of its original goal to raise $6 million and instead has been operating in the red in the past several years.

According to a financial report from July posted on the district’s website, the campaign has lost money with total revenues of about $1,008,000 and total expenditures of $1,174,302.

The board hired Sloane McCabe Astorino as its director of advancement in 2015 to oversee the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign, as well as the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education. She served in that roleuntil February.

The board extended its thanks to all the donors and volunteers who have worked on the capital campaign over the years.

In other business, the board unanimously approved the salary of Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer in the amount of $217,822, and rated his performance as “satisfactory.”

Mr. Steinhauer’s 2017 salary was $205,492.

“It continues to be my honor to serve this board, to serve this community and most importantly to serve the kids of Mt. Lebanon,” Mr. Steinhauer said.