Rosslyn Farms Looking to Move Into Chartiers Valley

Rosslyn Farms residents recently circulated a petition in an effort to transfer the borough’s students from Carlynton School District to Chartiers Valley.

But are merely taking a wait-and-see approach as the petition lumbers through the legal system.

“Right now, we’re on the sidelines,” Chartiers Valley Superintendent Brian White said. “It’s interesting.”

An initial hearing was held last Friday between lawyers representing the Rosslyn Farms residents and Carlynton school officials. The courts must decide whether the petition to move Rosslyn Farms out of Carlynton has any merit before all sides–including school officials from Chartiers Valley–can provide testimony on how it will impact the students of both districts.

If the court deems their reasons for merging acceptable, the petition will move to the state Department of Education where Secretary Ron Tomalis will make the final decision. White said the district has not been involved in the situation because most of the decisions are out of its control and the process could take years.

“At this point, we’re just watching and starting to study it,” White said. “If it gets to that point, eventually the secretary will send us a questionnaire for an impact statement. But we really haven’t had any reason to get heavily involved.”

White said he has never been involved in such a situation. However, Tim Eller, spokesman for the state Department of Education, said merging a municipality into a new district is not totally unusual.

“It’s not uncommon, but it doesn’t happen frequently,” Eller said.

The addition of Rosslyn Farms could be a lucrative move for Chartiers Valley with very little impact on education. According to the Post-Gazette, only half of the 70 school-age children in the tiny borough go to Carlynton.

The loss of Rosslyn Farms could be devastating to Crafton and Carnegie, which are the other two towns which make up Carlynton. Meanwhile, the addition of Rosslyn Farms could infuse more than a quarter-million dollars of annual property tax revenue. Carlynton’s property tax rate is set at 24.18 mills, while Chartiers Valley property owners currently pay 19.88 mills.

, Keystone Oaks and Montour about a possible school merger.