The West Mifflin Area School District took another step toward a possible lawsuit against the state Department of Education and the Duquesne City School District when the board voted unanimously Thursday to hire attorney Michael I. Levin and the Levin Legal Group of Huntingdon Valley as special counsel for the lawsuit at a rate of $170-190 per hour.
In July, the board approved a motion to direct the district’s solicitor to file the lawsuit asking for the full cost of what it takes to educate a student in West Mifflin, which is about $15,000. This year, the state is paying the district $10,655 in tuition for each of the 248 Duquesne students who attend West Mifflin.
Duquesne students were assigned to either the West Mifflin district or East Allegheny and many are choosing to go to West Mifflin.
Prior to the vote, resident Deborah Castalnik asked, “Can you tell us where we're at with this Duquesne situation and what is happening with my checkbook?”
Board member Phil Shar, who has championed the lawsuit for years, said the district is hiring Mr. Levin and he is “going to research it for us.”
School directors have threatened a lawsuit against the state for several years over inadequate funding for the Duquesne students who were assigned to West Mifflin in 2007 when the high school there closed.
Mr. Shar said Mr. Levin will look at all of the information gathered and see whether the district has a case.
In June, the West Mifflin district approved a $50 million budget that increased taxes from 20.346 mills to 24.4965, or an increase of about $285 for a homeowner with a house valued at $68,800, the average house value in the borough. Taxpayers in Duquesne have a millage rate of about 17 mills.
“I think this is a good move for us,” Mr. Shar said after the meeting.
School Board President Judy Andzelik said the board hopes to hear Mr. Levin’s recommendation in six to eight weeks, although no time limit has been set.
Mr. Shar said he is hopeful that Mr. Levin’s recommendation will be to go forward with the lawsuit.
“It will really relieve some tax burden off the community,” Mr. Shar said.
First Published: September 26, 2014, 1:27 a.m.
