Westinghouse moving to Cranberry (Pittsburgh, Butler: relocation, salary, jobs)

[AngC]

We're closely watching how Westinghouse will affect Cranberry in the next few yrs. We've lived here since 2004 and love it. The fact that WH will bring so many high income wage earners will add lots of money to the SVSD coffers, even if only 1/4 live in the area. Also, with North Catholic High moving to Cranberry in 2010/2011 and St.Killian opening an elementary school in the new few years, it will take alot of pressure off the public school system.
I do know I'd never live north of 79 off of 228. it's already a traffic nightmare. We're hoping to see an increase in property values over the next few years and then maybe moving to an area with a better jr/high school that isn't a 35 min commute.

[kpoeppel]

Originally Posted by gswpa

My family is actually considering leaving cranberry twp. With this strike and the upcoming development, our taxes will go sky high. We have already started looking north of here.

Is it a teacher's strike? I suppose that's not suprising, given that PA is number one in the nation for teacher's strikes.

[gswpa]

Yes, a teacher's strike. They want a 6% salary increase each year for the next 5 years. They also want their health care paid for. There are over 600 teachers in the district. The average wage is currently $54,900. The tax burden is not worth it. Not to mention with all the new growth in this area, more taxes will be needed for infrastructure and services. We will soon be paying as much as Allegheny county. We are moving.

[danwxman]

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone who choose to live or work in Cranberry township, with the culture, amenities and architecture of all the towns and cities in Western PA. What is wrong with people these days?

[kpoeppel]

Originally Posted by gswpa

Yes, a teacher's strike. They want a 6% salary increase each year for the next 5 years. They also want their health care paid for. There are over 600 teachers in the district. The average wage is currently $54,900. The tax burden is not worth it. Not to mention with all the new growth in this area, more taxes will be needed for infrastructure and services. We will soon be paying as much as Allegheny county. We are moving.

Why is it that we don't tolerate price fixing and monopolies by businesses, but we tolerate price fixing and monopolies by schools? It's absurd. $54,900?? I won't make that much as a mechanical engineer! No wonder people are moving to "right to work" states...

[fleetiebelle]

$54,900??

But that's an average salary. I doubt the average teacher is making over $50K. Administrators and superintendents can make up to $100K, but most teachers I know don't make much more than the $30-$40K range.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

But that's an average salary. I doubt the average teacher is making over $50K. Administrators and superintendents can make up to $100K, but most teachers I know don't make much more than the $30-$40K range.

You might be surprised. The admins and sups are not part of the union. Their salaries are not averaged in. See this link for Pine-Richland schools where my niece went in Wexford, near Cranberry.

Pine Richland

The average increase in salary is $3,192 annually with the average teacher salary being $54,299, which is below the average of $55,863 across Pennsylvania.

[gswpa]

I have co-workers who say that North Allegheny's average pay is over $65,000. If you have a masters, then you make more.

[RockLobster]

Pine Richland SD alone is forecasting 300 additional students over the next 18 months as people start to move to the northern burbs as the Westinghouse development gears up.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by danwxman

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone who choose to live or work in Cranberry township, with the culture, amenities and architecture of all the towns and cities in Western PA. What is wrong with people these days?

I'm not sure of your meaning pro or con (missed words can spin your statement one way or the other) -- but I can say this. My mom lives there now, and has lived there since moving there in 1964 -- it's where I was raised. I don't particulary like what's happened to Cranberry, but she's used to it and it's home and she doesn't want to move. And if we choose to move back -- I will look again for a suburban rural feel.

Cranberry didn't spring up overnight, it has a long history. I'll link the history site , but please keep in mind it's written for smaller school aged children.

Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania: History


My parents and I went to Dutihl Methodist Church -- the second oldest in Cranberry. The oldest is Plains Presbyterian Church. My father is buried there.

I could go on and on about how there is no development planning, growth needs to be controlled (and the other people on this board could tell you the many times I have!!) but the plain and simple truth is I miss the old feel of the place. I miss Mrs Breckenridge selling fudge. I miss the guy that owned the antique store that looked like Colonel Sanders. I miss Mr Meeder selling corn in the summer and apple cider and pumpkins in the fall. (That was some good cider!)

These things are gone, and gone forever, and people call it progress.

So to you it may be a souless McMansion covered over developed bedroom community filled with consumer driven zombies, but where there is history, there is a soul. You just have to look a little harder.