The North Hills school board took action Monday that will cap any millage increase the board might consider for the 2009-10 school year.

The board approved a resolution that would require any increase to fall within the inflationary index set by the state Department of Education. The index for 2009-10 is 4.1 percent, allowing North Hills a potential increase of up to 0.8036 mills. At 19.6 mills, North Hills has the eighth lowest tax rate among Allegheny County's 42 suburban school districts.

By agreeing now to limit next year's increase to the index, the district is spared budgeting requirements of Act 1, which would have required the district to approve a proposed preliminary budget by Feb. 18.

The inaugural performance of the Sewickley Series will feature the Mata String Quartet led by Sewickley Academy strings teacher Jhonnatan Mata for a performance of holiday music at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in the academy's Rea Auditorium.

The quartet came together in 2001 in the chamber music program at Duquesne University. It performs and conducts master classes in the Pine-Richland School District and teaches in the district's summer orchestra program.

This is the first season for the Sewickley Series that is designed to bring authors, speakers, performers, artists and musicians to Sewickley Academy. All programs are free and open to the public.

More information about the series can be found at www.sewickley.org.

The Pine-Richland High School Cheerleading Competition Team earned first place Saturday in the Pennsylvania State Championships at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown.

Coach Danielle DeRenzo said the team was named champion in the small varsity division and was named Best Overall Team, topping other Quad A teams such as Shaler and North Allegheny.

The team, coached by Ms. Danielle DeRenzo, Danielle Hitson and Marc Bombich, consists of senior captains Emma Holmes and Jordan Sender; juniors Danielle Dzvonick, Brielle McAliney, Chelsey Patricca and Rachelle Roberts; sophomores Natalie Cunningham, Brittany Edwards, Ashley Henley, Stephanie Kamenicky and Erin Wise, and freshman squad members Taylor Bittle, Anna Carlson and Kierstyn Hughes.

So we can spend time around the Thanksgiving dinner table with family and friends, we're moving up publication of next week's North. So look for us a day early next week -- Wednesday instead of Thursday.

Three football teams representing schools in the PG North circulation area carried perfect records into the WPIAL semifinals last weekend ... and all three lost. But for Highlands, Shady Side Academy and Avonworth, the 2008 season will go down as a memorable experience for the players, their fans and the student bodies.

This week's North Bulletin Board can be found online at www.post-gazette.com/north.