Upper St. Clair superintendent announces retirement
It was a bittersweet moment at Upper St. Clair School Board’s Jan. 22 meeting as Superintendent Patrick O’Toole announced his pending retirement effective June 30.
“It has been the greatest honor of my career to serve the community of Upper St. Clair,” O’Toole said. “I never imagined having this opportunity to work with such talented educational leaders, faculty, support staff and students.”
Serving as Upper St. Clair’s superintendent of schools since March 2007, O’Toole has provided leadership of numerous projects and programs, focusing on the district’s vision for these initiatives on a new tagline: “Customizing Learning, Nurturing Potential and Delivering Excellence.”
During his tenure, he led two strategic plans, expansion of STEAM programs and the creation of the Innovation Hubs at the middle and high schools, renovation of Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools, and the current capital project effort.
“Dr. O’Toole often shares how fortunate he is to work at Upper St. Clair School District,” board President Amy Billerbeck said. “In fact, it is our community, our staff, our school board and, most importantly, our students who have been fortunate to have benefited from his leadership for more than a decade.”
Billerbeck said the school board could appoint the next superintendent early this spring.
“The board has already begun the work of evaluating a successor to Dr. O’Toole,” Billerbeck said. “We are very fortunate to have strong, committed leaders in place, and will not need to undertake an external search.”
During the Jan. 22 meeting, the board was updated on the district’s planned capital projects. Architect David McLean reviewed the scope of the project and timeline, which he said is on schedule. Bids are due Jan. 31, with the board expected to award the bids at its February board meeting. Construction is expected to run from March 2018 through August 2019.
The total cost for the projects is estimated at $16 million.
In other business, the board approved a resolution limiting any 2018-19 tax increase to within the inflationary index determined by the state Department of Education. Upper St. Clair’s current millage rate is 25.156 mills, so with passage of the resolution, any proposed increase to the real estate tax rate will not exceed 2.8 percent or 0.7 mills.
Also approved were several fast track curriculum recommendations.
Among the approved recommendations for high school students are offering dual enrollment college credit courses through the Community College of Allegheny County, designating LabRATS and STEAM Innovation and Consulting as Honors level courses, studying and increasing opportunities that promote an entrepreneurial spirit, and researching and developing integrated STEAM projects for freshman taking biology, civics and geography and geometry. In addition, several new courses will be piloted at the high school. A complete list of the approved fast track curriculum recommendations is available on the district’s website.
The board also recognized Fort Couch Spanish teacher Connie Montgomery, who retired after 32 years of service.
The board was also recognized for its service to the community as part of The Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s School Director Recognition Month.
“The Upper St. Clair School District is incredibly fortunate to have a school board of nine community leaders who serve selflessly for the betterment of our district, our community and, most importantly, our students,” O’Toole said.