Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania

Structure

Jefferson Hills is a borough, run by an elected seven-member council and mayor. The administrative staff run by the borough manager runs the borough to the objectives set by the council.

Local officials

Council President · Christopher W. King Council Vice President · James A. Weber Council Members · Melissa Barclay · Vickie Ielase · Tracey P. Khalil · Mary K. Reynolds · David Montgomery Mayor . Janice R. Cmar

State and federal officials

Jefferson Hills is represented by Pat Toomey and Bob Casey, Jr. in the United States Senate and Tim Murphy of the 18th District of Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives. The borough's representative in the Pennsylvania State Senate is John Pippy of the 37th District and Dr. Rick Saccone of the 39th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The District Court judge for Jefferson Hills is Pat Capolupo.

Safety

Jefferson Hills police department is in the Municipal Center. It has 17 officers and several community service staff. The police take part in programs such as Drug Abuse Resistance Education) in the West Jefferson Hills School District. The force belongs to TUPPER, in which police from nine nearby communities collaborate, sharing regional criminal information. It also takes part in the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Regional Narcotic Task Force and the South Hills DUI task force.

The borough has emergency management and volunteer firefighters. The fire department locations are: Floreffe Volunteer Fire Company, Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company, and Jefferson 885 Fire Company.

Crime

Crime in Jefferson Hills is well below state and national averages. The rates for 2005, based per 100,000 people:

Geography

Jefferson Hills is at 40°17′8″N 79°55′59″W (40.285502, −79.933160).

The United States Census Bureaun says the borough is 16.6 square miles (43 km²), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²), or 0.24%, is water.

The borough includes rolling hills and woods. The southeastern border is the Monongahela River. Three streams flow through the borough: Peters Creek, Beam Run, and Lewis Run.

The borough consists primarily of single family homes of newer construction.

Surrounding municipalities

Jefferson Hills is in the suburbs of Pittsburgh within the South Hills region. To the north, Jefferson Hills is bordered by Pleasant Hills and West Mifflin. The eastern border is Clairton, West Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth Township, and Forward Township. South of the Jefferson Hills is Washington County and Union Township. Immediately to the west is South Park Township.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,666 people, 3,781 households, and 2,688 families residing in the borough. The population density was 583.5 people per square mile (225.2/km²). There were 3,954 housing units at an average density of 238.7 per square mile (92.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.76% White, 1.31% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 3,781 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The borough is overwhelmingly Middle Class. The median income for a household in the borough was $50,615, and the median income for a family was $60,767. Males had a median income of $43,972 versus $36,052 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,006. About 2.7% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

The total area of the borough of Jefferson is 16.8 square miles or 10,752 acres. Its history dates back to January 22, 1828 when it was created as a township from the old Township of Mifflin. At that time, the community was called "Jefferson Township" in honor of Thomas Jefferson.

In 1845, Snowden Township was formed from a part of Jefferson Township. Population of the township in 1860 was 1,601 persons, in 1870 it was 2,066 persons, and it reached a total population of 3,227 persons in 1880 (about equal to the population of 1930). Jefferson Township became a First Class Township in 1914, and in 1950 Jefferson was chartered as a borough. The borough of Pleasant Hills seceded from Jefferson Township in 1947 and by so doing, drastically reduced the population and urbanized area of the township.

Jefferson Hills is located along the southern border of Allegheny County and is primarily residential in nature, with approximately one-third of its area presently being used for residential purposes. The residential use is primarily single-family dwellings with slightly over one percent being multiple-family units. Another third of the borough exists in the form of open space and or vacant ground, with the balance being made up of industrial, commercial, mining, and farming land uses.

The major portion of Jefferson Hills drains into two watersheds, the Peters Creek watershed, which ultimately drains into the Monongahela River at Clairton, and the Calamity Hollow and West Elizabeth watershed, which drains to the Monongahela River in the vicinity of West Elizabeth.

Present development has occurred almost exclusively in the flat upland areas. These developments are scattered and separated by large open tracts and or hills and valleys.

The area was the geographic base of the Peters Creek Rangers during the Revolutionary War.

West Jefferson Hills School District

The West Jefferson Hills School District is a midsized, suburban, public school system for residents of Jefferson Hills, West Elizabeth, and Pleasant Hills. Each of these South Hills communities are suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. West Jefferson Hills School District encompasses approximately 20 square miles. Per the 2015 local census data, it serves a resident population of 20,500. School district officials reported, in school year 2015–16, that the West Jefferson Hills School District provided basic educational services to 2,863 pupils through the employment of 205 teachers, 122 full-time and part-time support personnel, and 17 administrators.

The West Jefferson School Board is constituted of volunteer members who serve four-year terms after being elected to office. The school board works to set policy and long range plans for the district. The current members of the board are Brian Fernandes, Board President; Suzanne Downer, Board Vice President; David Dominick, Board Vice President; Jill Bertini; Carolyn Bourgeois; Kerri Gonot; John Hosmer; Anna Louise Lilley; and Darlene Schreiber. The school district solicitor is Robert McTiernan of Tucker Arensberg.

Students are the primary focus of the West Jefferson Hills School District where, in partnership with families and community, the mission is to educate and prepare all students to become active, contributing members of society by providing a challenging, innovative educational program guided by an exceptional staff in a safe, positive, caring environment, all of which to promote.

Academic achievement

West Jefferson Hills School District was ranked 50th out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts for student academic achievement, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2014. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and science.The PSSAs are given to all children in grades 3rd through 8th and the 11th grade in high school. Adapted examinations are given to children in the special education programs.

2013: 51st

2012: 49th.

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Business Times also reported an Overachievers Ranking for 500 Pennsylvania school districts. West Jefferson Hills School District ranked 309th. In 2013, the District ranked 318. In 2012, the District was ranked 299th. [10] The editor describes the ranking as: "a ranking answers the question - which school districts do better than expectations based upon economics? This rank takes the Honor Roll rank and adds the percentage of students in the district eligible for free and reduced-price lunch into the formula. A district finishing high on this rank is smashing expectations, and any district above the median point is exceeding expectations."

The West Jefferson Hills School District was ranked 17th out of 105 Western Pennsylvania School Districts in 2015, by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on the last three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and science. (Includes 105 districts in: Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Beaver County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County and Westmoreland County. Excludes Duquesne City School District & Midland Borough School District due to the lack of high schools.)

Graduation rate

In 2012, West Jefferson Hills School District’s graduation rate was 96%. In 2011, the District's graduation rate was 93.6%.

In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a new, 4-year cohort graduation rate. West Jefferson Hills School District's rate was 93% for 2010.

According to traditional graduation rate calculations:

Thomas Jefferson High School

Thomas Jefferson High School serves grades nine through twelve with a current enrollment of approximately 883 students in a community of approximately 20,500 residents, comprising West Elizabeth, Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills Borough. There are 74 full-time faculty and staff working at the school to support a strong core academic focus with a variety of elective experiences. The building and facilities have been updated through various renovations. The most recent project was the reconstruction of the stadium. This included the field and track area as well as the stands and press box. A field house was also added at this time.Thomas Jefferson High School is well known for high academic standards and competitive athletic programs. Approximately seventy percent of graduating seniors go on to four-year college programs. Construction of a new high school building is currently underway with an anticipated opening for the 2018 – 19 school year.

Accreditation

Pennsylvania Department of Education, Membership on College Entrance Examination Board, Member of the Association of College Admissions Counselors and Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors

Curriculum

Thomas Jefferson High School offers a comprehensive college preparation program of studies. Business and Technical courses are provided at the Steel Center Vocational/Technical School.

Advanced Placement courses of the College Board are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Language, English Literature, European History, Calculus, Physics, Studio Art and US History.

Four years of study are offered in each of two languages: French and Spanish. A well-rounded program of electives is available for students in all curricular areas. Students are encouraged to carefully review course offerings available and make selections based on their post-secondary goals.

College matriculation

A survey completed by the senior class of 2015 yielded the following results:

Pleasant Hills Middle School

Pleasant Hills Middle School is located in the Pleasant Hills Borough at 404 Old Clairton Road. The school serves students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The school was constructed in 1965 and recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary. A major renovation was completed in 2004 providing an upgrade to classrooms, facilities and additional learning spaces. According to the PA Department of Education’s School Performance Profile, the school’s enrollment in 2014 was 684 students. Twenty three percent of those students receive a federal free or reduced price lunch due to family poverty. The school employs forty seven teachers. One hundred percent are “Highly Qualified”. Pleasant Hills Middle School’s School Performance Profile score in 2013-14 was 90.2 earning recognition from the PA Department of Education for exceptional performance as a Title I school. In 2015, the school was recognized as a “School to Watch” by the PA Association of Middle Level Education (PAMLE) and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Pleasant Hills Middle School is one of only thirty three schools in the state and 370 nationally to earn this recognition.

Jefferson Elementary School

Jefferson Elementary School currently has an enrollment of approximately 550 students in grades K-5 and implements a half day Kindergarten program. Each of the grade levels has four sections, which the exception of Kindergarten which is split into 5 sections (3 A.M. and 2 P.M.). In addition to the core academic areas, students attend art, music, physical education, and library on a weekly rotation. Additionally, students also will have the opportunity to participate in an instrumental band and choral program beginning in fourth grade.

Jefferson Elementary's educational team remains committed to ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary 21st century learning skills that will allow them to function in today’s global society. The school offers our educators and their students multiple classroom computers, several static computer labs, multiple mobile laptop and iPad carts, an interactive Kindle cart, multiple document and GoPro cameras, and interactive white boards throughout all classrooms. Additionally, the students, staff, and faculty have access to a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) lab and multi-media production studio. These dedicated spaces offer students and teachers state of the art, innovative, and technologically rich learning environments that provide meaningful and applicable technological resources for our students and teachers. Our focused vision of developing and sustaining 21st century learning skills and numerous technological resources allow our educators to supplement and enrich the curriculum in a meaningful and engaging manner, consistent with student interest and familiarity.

Gifted Support, Learning Support, Speech and Language, Title I Reading, Social Development, and access to multiple paraprofessionals are also offered for students who may be in need of additional supports. The West Jefferson Hills School District also contracts with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) to provide additional services (Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), English as a Second Language (ESL), Vision Therapy, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support) in order to meet the needs of each and every student that we are fortunate to have in our district. Mr. Very is the principal of Jefferson elementary.

Gill Hall Elementary[edit]

Gill Hall Elementary is one of three K-5 elementary schools in the West Jefferson Hills School District. Gill Hall was originally built in 1955 with only 8 classrooms, and was renovated in 1962, 1992, and 2002.

Mrs. Mayer has been the principal of Gill Hall since 2007. Staffing consists of 11 regular education teachers, 1 Special Education teacher, 1 Reading Specialist, 1 itinerant gifted support teacher, and 1 itinerant speech teacher. Itinerant music, art, physical Education, and library teachers are also staffed. There are two classrooms at each grade level, with class size ranging from 20-26.

In 2015, Gill Hall was ranked as the 4th leading elementary school in Allegheny County.

McClellan Elementary School

The doors to McClellan Elementary opened on January 3, 1956, when there were only 165 students in grades 1-6. As the population continued to increase, McClellan has undergone three renovations (in 1958, 1981 and 2002). McClellan Elementary currently has a population of approximately 433 students in grades Kindergarten through fifth, with a staff of 38 educators. This includes 18 classroom teachers, 2 tutorial reading teachers, 2 special education teachers, 4 para-professionals, 2 PCAs, and 1 physical education teacher. We also share the following staff with other schools in the district: our librarian, art teacher, music teacher, an additional PE teacher, 2 instrumental lessons teachers, gifted teacher, speech therapist and social work. Mr. Justin Liberatore has been the principal since August 2011. He has worked closely with the parents and teachers to make McClellan feel like a family, and a place where everyone feels that they belong. The school uses the OLWEUS Anti-Bullying program to help the students understand the different forms of bullying, and that they can “be a hero” and take a stand against bullying. Mr. Liberatore and his staff also use a variety of positive behavior incentives, and regularly recognize students for their achievements.

The McClellan PTA is very active in making McClellan the best school it can be. They help provide monthly assemblies and after school events such as Bingo Night, Game Night, and Lego Night. They have also partnered with the Pittsburgh Aviary to be one of the first schools in the area to be a host site for the Aviary’s Neighborhood Nestwatch Program.

School athletics

Thomas Jefferson High School has a long history of sports excellence. The school's football team won the state title in 1980, 2004, 2007, and 2008. The Jaguars won the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association boys soccer championship in 2002.

On the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) level Thomas Jefferson has also achieved significant success. Thomas Jefferson's WPIAL team championships include:

Mon Valley School

The Mon Valley School provides its student with a range of options and opportunities based upon their needs and interests. Mon Valley provides vocational opportunities for exceptional students to enhance learning and to ensure that all students are equipped to function effectively in the workplace. The Mon Valley School provides students with training in a wide variety of fields from clerical and technical skills to auto service training.

Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School

The Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School provides career and technical training to 11 high schools in southern Allegheny County. They offer a half-day curriculum for students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. While at the Steel Center Area School students are offered a wide curriculum of training opportunities including fields such as auto mechanics, advertising and design, and computer information systems. The Steel Center Area School also offers adult education programs for local residents in the fields of auto mechanics, nursing assistants, facility maintenance, and manicurist technician/esthetic skin care.

Jefferson Hills Public Library

Jefferson Borough Library was founded in 1959 by the joint efforts of the Jefferson Borough Lions' Club and a group of private citizens. Library shelving was initially placed in the Council Chambers and later moved to the renovated basement of the Municipal Building at 3008 Old Clairton Road.

Under the leadership of Charlotte Hill and Madeline Conklin, volunteers were organized to staff the library. The library was financed by a yearly donation from the Borough Council, donations from the Lions' Club, local businesses and citizens. Legislative grants were also received over the years.

Volunteers staffed the library until 1963 when Joyce Schmidt was hired as a librarian. Joyce and her volunteers worked to help the library grow for the next 30 plus years.

In October 1992, the library moved into the newly erected Municipal Center at 925 Old Clairton Road.

Today under the leadership and direction of an appointed Library Board and Library Director, the library is growing rapidly into the 21st century.

The library is now open 50 hours per week. With the addition of computers connected to the World Wide Web and WiFi, as well as a collection of approximately 32,000 books, audio tapes, DVD's and file materials the library is entering yet another exciting time in its development.

Municipal parks

Jefferson Hills offers many recreational opportunities for its residents. The municipality operates five parks including Gill Hall Park, Andrew Reilly Memorial Park, Lobb's Park, Beedle Park, and Tepe Park spread throughout the community. These parks offer a variety of amenities from various sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and playground equipment. Additionally, the borough has several pavilions and the Gill Hall Community Center available to rent to borough residents.

Great Allegheny Passage

The Great Allegheny Passage is a system of biking and hiking trails spanning 150 miles (240 km). These trails run from Cumberland, Maryland to Pittsburgh. In 2006, the Great Allegheny Passage connected with the C & O Canal Trail to create a 318-mile-long (512 km) journey from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. This effort was coordinated by the Allegheny Trail Alliance, an organization of the seven-member trails stretching from Pennsylvania to Maryland.

Jefferson Hills is uniquely positioned with two members of that Alliance, the Montour Trail and Steel Valley Trail system, intersecting in nearby Clairton. Local trailheads include Triphammer Road, Jefferson Hills (Gill Hall Road), Route 51 - Large, and Clairton trailheads.

Montour Trail

The Montour Trail is a multipurpose trail extending 40 miles (60 km) from Coraopolis to Clairton. The trail is made of crushed limestone, making it ideal for biking, walking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The Montour Trail also connects with the Panhandle Trail, a trail of 29 miles (47 km) trail between Carnegie, Pennsylvania and Weirton, West Virginia.

Steel Valley Trail

The Steel Valley Trail runs 14 miles (23 km) from Clairton through McKeesport to West Homestead. The Mckessport-West Homestead section is part of the GAP trail which connects Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh solely on bike trails. At the Clairton Trailhead 40°18′19.44″N 79°52′59.14″W it connects to the Montour Trail which is a 40 miles (64 km) loop south of Pittsburgh.

Major roads

Two major roads run through Jefferson Hills, PA Route 51 and PA Route 43. Route 51 runs from Uniontown to the Pennsylvania/Ohio border. In Jefferson Hills Route 51 serves as the terminus for Route 43, otherwise known as the Mon–Fayette Expressway. Route 43 is a toll road and part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike system.

Public transportation

The Port Authority of Allegheny County offers bus services in and around Jefferson Hills. There are several buses that directly pass through the borough, including:

Airports

Jefferson Hills is located 45 minutes to the southeast of Pittsburgh International Airport, which handles most air travel in the Pittsburgh metro area. Additionally, the borough is a short drive away from the Allegheny County Airport, located in the neighboring South Hills community of West Mifflin. The Allegheny County Airport serves as the primary FAA-designated reliever airport for Pittsburgh International Airport. In this role the airport supports a high volume of business and corporate-related activity.

Utilities

Electricity generation in Jefferson Hills is supplied by both Allegheny Power and Duquesne Light. Natural gas service for the borough is supplied by Equitable Gas Company. Republic Services handles the trash removal and recycling for Jefferson Hills.

Healthcare

Jefferson Hills is home to the Jefferson Regional Medical Center, a 373-bed hospital $30 million hospital that opened in the spring of 1977. It serves the South Hills region of Pittsburgh. Jefferson Regional Medical Center has won numerous awards in recent years, especially in the areas of stroke and cardiac care. These awards include:

Newspaper

Jefferson Hills is covered by a handful of newspapers. As with all communities in the Pittsburgh area Jefferson Hills receives the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and the Pittsburgh City Paper. The borough has two local papers, the South Hills Record and the Union-Finley Messenger.

Television

Jefferson Hills as a member of the Pittsburgh metro area is served by a variety of local television and radio stations. The major network television affiliates are KDKA-TV 2 (CBS), WTAE-TV 4 (ABC), WPXI 11 (NBC), WQED 13 (PBS), WPGH-TV 53 (Fox), WPCW 19 (CW), WINP-TV 16 (Ion), WPNT 22 (MyNetworkTV), and WPCB 40 (Cornerstone). WEPA-CD 16 is an independent station owned and operated by the Bruno-Goodworth Network.

Radio

There are a wide variety of radio stations serving the Pittsburgh market. The first was KDKA 1020 AM, which is also the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, receiving its license on October 27, 1920. Other popular stations include KQV 1410 AM (news), WPGP 1250 AM (conservative talk), WKST-FM 96.1 FM (pop and hip-hop), WBZZ 100.7 FM (adult contemporary), WDVE 102.5 FM (album rock), WPGB 104.7 FM (talk), WXDX 105.9 FM (modern rock), and WAMO 106.7 (hip-hop, rap). There are also three public radio stations in the area; including WESA 90.5 FM (National Public Radio affiliate operated by Duquesne University), WQED 89.3 FM (classical), and WYEP 91.3 FM (adult alternative). Three non-commercial stations are run by Carnegie Mellon University (WRCT 88.3 FM), the University of Pittsburgh (WPTS 92.1 FM), and Point Park University (WPPJ 670 AM).