It has been seven years since the Quaker Valley School Board announced their decision to acquire the hilltop site for the construction of a fantasy High School. As of February 2026, PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) & Federal permits have NOT been secured. 

The December 12, 2025, QVSD press release stated in The Sewickley Herald that “New Quaker Valley High School opening pushed back 2 years” is inaccurate, and cited the following reasons for the delays:

  1. A prolonged and atypical zoning process.

  2. Legal appeals and persistent efforts to impeded progress filed by a small group of individuals.

  3. Multi-Agency permitting reviews.

The reasons for the delays that QVSD did not list:

  1. The decision to build the school on a very difficult and expensive site that QVSD’s first consultant, Michael Baker, Inc. warned them against building on a high-risk site. QVSD still pushed on.

  2. QVSD chose a site that was Zoned R-1 that local residents had serious and valid concerns about their safety during and after construction. The “small group of individuals” QVSD cites included the Leet Zoning Board that denied QVSD request to build on that site, which was followed by a court case to resolve the matter which residents had a right to bring.

  3. The delay in getting permitting is due to QVSD’s submitting incomplete documentation to the permitting bodies. Application deficiencies (most recent letter December 24, 2025 - 223 items, 37 pages long, 9 MB in size) resulted in permitting bodies (PADEP & ACCD) giving QVSD extensions on multiple occasions. 

  4. QVSD Board by their actions has delayed the project repeatedly. Hiring and firing of project managers, multiple deficient applications, etc.

Quaker Valley needs a new high school. However, ACCD has asked for an explanation of why the new school is not placed on the current site. The QV Community needs to rally around the new high school being built on a site that will have:

1. Minimal Environmental Impact.

2. Easy access for students, staff and visitors from 2 major roads. Accessible for walkers and public transportation and easy access to Sewickley Village.

3. All high school facilities in one location.

4. Less expenses to build and maintain.

It is "Time to Build..." on the existing site - 625 Beaver Street, Leetsdale!

Please share this critical information with your neighbors.

Fantasy High School