Quaker Valley Residents Bring Leetsdale Property Concerns to School Board

A crowd of about 150 people attended the Quaker Valley School Board work session meeting, prompting a move to the gym to accomodate the group.

Tom Weber challenged the Quaker Valley School Board Tuesday night to take up a vote reversing its intention to purchase homes adjacent to the high school.  “I ask that you put the properties that you’ve already purchased back on the market for resale and return the proceeds from those sales back to the capital reserve fund,” the Quaker Heights resident said. Weber was one of the Concerned Taxpayers of Quaker Valley group members who spoke at the board meeting regarding the ongoing issues pertaining to the high school. About 150 people attended Tuesday night at Edgeworth Elementary School, where the meeting was relocated inside the gymnasium to accommodate the larger-than-usual crowd. Residents say they are worried that plans to raze three …

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Larissa Dudkiewicz

11:52 pm on Sunday, October 21, 2012

Hi -- I know everyone feels passionate about their opinions, but this is a reminder to please refrain from personal attacks. Thanks!   more ›

Photo Gallery: Classic Car Cruise Revs into Action in Leetsdale

The family event featured vintage vehicles along with police and emergency vehicles.

The Leetsdale Police Car Cruise took place Saturday at the high school's Chuck Knox stadium.  The event included police cruisers, fire trucks, vehicles on display that included the West Hills Task Force and Pittsburgh Bomb Squad, and of course, antique cars.   Saturday's event was sponsored by the Leetsdale Police and Neighborhood Watch program.  Did you attend the car cruise? Share your photos on Patch by clicking "Upload photos or video." 

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QV Superintendent Seeks to Clarify District's Position on Leetsdale Property Purchases

Superintendent Joseph Clapper said it's imperative that the district work together in partnership with community officials to create and maintain a safe student environment.

Superintendent Joseph Clapper recently wrote a statement to Quaker Valley citizens responding to the purchase of residential properties in Leetsdale. The letter appeared as an advertorial in May 10 edition the Sewickley Herald.  Martha Smith, Quaker Valley spokeswoman, explained that the letter exceeded the newspaper's 500-word limit for editorials. The district opted to pay for an advertorial rather than lose the tone of the superintendent's message, she said. The letter in its entirety is attached to this article. 

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QV Authorizes Traffic Study, Approves Second Property Purchase

The traffic study and home purchase are part of district plans to improve student safety at the high school.

Sandra Ford asked the Quaker Valley School Board Tuesday night why the board would approve a real estate purchase without having the results of a traffic study in hand. The question was posed after school directors authorized a traffic study last night along with the purchase of a second Leetsdale residential property at 706 Beaver St. "Why would you vote on that now before the traffic study is complete?" Ford of Leetsdale asked the school board.  The votes passed 7-0 with board members Danielle Burnette and Debbie Miller absent. School board member Kay Wijekumar participated over the phone. Board President Jack Norris said the board's actions and discussions have been clear that there has been some interest from the three adjacent …

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Quaker Valley Looks at Purchasing Second House, New Traffic Study

The $150,000 home purchase and $24,000 traffic study would be the latest in a plan to develop a student drop off area and parking lot at the high school.

Quaker Valley School Board plans to vote next week on whether to move forward on a $150,000 property purchase near the high school as well as a new traffic study. The home at 706 Beaver St. would be the second to go under agreement with the district in recent months following the February purchase of 704 Beaver St. for $250,000.  As part of the district's plan, three houses closest to the school are being sought to construct a separate student pick-up and drop-off area and a 64-space parking lot, according to architectural renderings. Property closest to the school, the largest and most key of the three, remains in negotiations. School officials have said the property purchases are part of plans to alleviate growing traffic and student …

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Panelists to Discuss Benefits of 'Gap Year' Tonight

Youth Connect and Sewickley Academy have partnered to present “The Gap Year: How A Year ‘Off’ can be a Life-Changer” at 7 p.m. tonight.

The public is invited to attend a presentation tonight titled “The Gap Year: How A Year ‘Off’ can be a Life-Changer." The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Sewickley Academy Senior School on Academy Drive at Beaver Street in Edgeworth. Youth Connect and Sewickley Academy have partnered on the event, which will feature a panel of experts, including: A question and answer session will follow the speakers' presentation. The event is slated to last approximately one hour and is free and open to the public. The target audience is high school juniors and seniors and their parents. Youth Connect is a group of concerned adults and students from schools and organizations in the Sewickley area working to provide the information, resources, and …

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Practice, Practice, Practice

Winning. It ain't easy. Quaker Valley cross country runners take laps on the snow-covered track Tuesday.

Whoever said "winning ain't easy" was right.  Despite the cold weather and snow squalls on Tuesday, members of Quaker Valley's cross country squad spent the afternoon practicing on the high school track.  In November, the team traveled to the 2011 PIAA state cross country championships in Hershey and dominated. The Quaker girls emerged with a third-place team finish while the boys claimed the PIAA state championship. 

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Cornell High School Disbands Football Program

Cornell students can choose to play football for Quaker Valley under a cooperative agreement.

Quaker Valley Students Give Back to Leetsdale Senior Citizens

Special needs students spent Monday stuffing holiday gift bags for seniors who live in the borough's high rise.

  Instead of being on the receiving end, a group of special needs students from Quaker Valley High School spent Monday afternoon giving back to the local community. Ten students sat around the tables in the community room at the Leetsdale borough building, working to stuff 70 gift bags with goodies, crafts and other special treats. One of the main gifts dropped inside each of the bags was the decked-out Hershey candy bars the students spent time designing at school. The candy bars are dressed as snowmen, penguins or reindeer and sport scarves, hats and red noses to make them especially festive and fun. Leetsdale Parks and Recreation board members delivered the gift bags Monday night to residents living in the borough high rise, an idea …

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QVSD Students to Raise Spirits with Holiday Performances

Performances include the choir at the county courthouse at 11 a.m. Tuesday and the QVMS production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr."

  Continuing a tradition started many years ago, the Quaker Valley High School concert choir plans to kick off the holiday season at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 in the Allegheny County Courthouse, Pittsburgh. For those who work in the city and have never attended the noontime holiday concert series, it is an event not to be missed. The acoustics enhance the sound of choral music as it resounds throughout the building. Quaker Valley will continue the festivities Friday Dec. 2, at Sewickley’s Light-Up Night, which features QV music. Santa will arrive on Saturday, Dec. 3 during the holiday parade featuring the QVHS marching band. The QVMS Drama Club will perform “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr." on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the high school…

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