Monday, September 23, 2013

This just in UPDATED

I had emailed the school board on Friday asking about Timmy's 2014-2019 contract. This just in from Elaine Cappucci.

From:Elaine Cappucci <ECappucci@mtlsd.net>
To:egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; School Board Email list <SchoolBoardEmaillist@mtlsd.net>
Subject:RE: Contract
Date:Mon, Sep 23, 2013 9:44 am



The contract is signed and will be posted on the District website this week.


For the Board,
Elaine Cappucci
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net


Of course, Timmy's 2012-2013 goals are still posted on the school district website. http://www.mtlsd.org/superintendent/goals.asp (Saved in Google Docs) I am amazed how the board has a year's notice, yet never seems to get the Superintendent Goals worked out.  The good news is that the board has a contract approved for six years from now.

Update September 23, 2013 3:01 PM To have everything in one place, here is the link to The Almanac's Lebo superintendent gets new 5-year contract (Saved in Google Docs)

35 comments:

Lebo Citizens said...

Before anyone comments about the word "week" in Cappucci's email, it did not appear that way in the original email. I copied and pasted it to Blogger and that is how it is showing up on the blog.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Nice that the stakeholders and therefore the people footing the bills get to review the actual terms of the contract AFTER it is signed.
So much for wanting input from taxpayers.

Lebo Citizens said...

There is plenty of input out there. The school board chooses not to consider any when making decisions.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

That is certainly true, but it is nearly impossible to comment on a contract if you can only review the contract one week after it is signed.

Anonymous said...

That's a clear violation of the Sunshine law. If a group wants to chip in to hire an attorney, I'd be happy to contribute.

Anonymous said...

2:35, they'll say it falls under the predecisional exception:
(i) A record that reflects:
(A) The internal, predecisional deliberations of an agency, its members, employees or officials or predecisional deliberations between agency members, employees or officials and members, employees or officials of another agency, including predecisional deliberations relating to a budget recommendation, legislative proposal, legislative amendment, contemplated or proposed policy or course of action or any research, memos or other documents used in the predecisional deliberations.

Lebo Citizens said...

2:35 PM, how about organizing something and I will spread the word. I really can't handle one more thing.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Q: whith all the news about cuts in teaching staffs and administrators what what so compelling that we need a 5 or 6 year contract?
The Attorney General recommended short term contracts, while ignore their advice.
Did Steinhauerr threaten to bolt if he didn't get a long term contract? Why not go with the AGs recommendation, we got burned on anotherongterm contract a while back.
With the state universities cutting people it appears some pretty heady people will be looking for $150K jobs.

Anonymous said...

250...they have to state the exception at the outset. They did not. If challenged they also have to defend that decision. Good luck considering the lack of caselaw.

Elaine, to put it togther, simply pull the minutes from when they first said anything about a new contract and any subsequent minutes , agendas or notes. Since they decided against evendiscussing the contract in general terms, should be pretty basic for an attorney to file against them.

Lebo Citizens said...

Oh, that is all I have to do, 4:43 PM?
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Since you know all the procedures 4:43 wouldn't it easier for you thsn Elaine?

Lebo Citizens said...

According to the 2010 Census information, http://mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8801 page 4 of 5, there are 14,196 households in Mt. Lebanon. Of those 14,196 households, how many are attorneys? And that is all I have to do? Maybe someone else can step up to the plate and do something for a change.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

And what would be the point of such a lawsuit? What you you like to be the outcome? Of course the taxpayers would have to pay the defense.

Anonymous said...

726:the point would be to highlight the issue of accountability, something the electorate and both political parties have refused to do.
And the school board is intent on bankrupting the district and the community. So I would rather see the money diverted toward a principled argument regarding the school board'sresponsibility to the community than another bond, more raises or luxuries tacked on to the high school rebuild (renovation is dishonest).

Anonymous said...

The superintendent doesn't have meaningful goals posted, his posted goals amount to no more than "do a good job". However, in keeping with the school board's management style, such vague goals lend themselves perfectly to lack of accountability to the public. They lend themselves perfectly to pay increases without meaningful factual support.

Anonymous said...

All this is for naught because two of the four school candidates are incumbents and they will probably be re-elected.
Its been claimed that there are hundreds of parents upset with the TERC math program, hundreds more upset with the escalating district taxes and expenditures,
Well if these people do exist, coming up very quickly is their one and only chance to do something about the those things.
Conplaining on Elaine's blog or looking for legal beagle to change things isn't going to do it.

Anonymous said...

Been thinking about this and think I've found a solution to two local problems.
Why dobn't we open the school board seats to the Williamsburg Park dogs.
It'll give them a place to go and 70% of the electorate won't notice anyway.
It's a joke folks!

Anonymous said...

8:46, voting won't do any good.
Four candidates for four seats.
Quit complaining and pay your taxes.
Try again in two more years.

Anonymous said...

But 9:10, it'll send one helluva of message if the two incumbents didn't get but a handful of votes.
Plus, even if you managed to get four write-ins elected, we'd still have to pay our taxes.
Well most of us. Some don't have to and other don't have to pay parking fines.

Lebo Citizens said...

8:46 AM, so what do you suggest? Keep in mind that these people lurk on Lebo Citizens. Is it a write in campaign? Been there, done that, and got Jo's t-shirt.

We have a customer service issue. Wait. Didn't Jo say that at a meeting long before she was elected? The board and administration need an attitude adjustment. They need to start listening to parents instead of telling them, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." They need to manage their superintendent and strive for excellence, not just "maintain" as listed in one of his goals, or sneak in another early bird contract when no one is looking. They need to be transparent, not just say they are.

8:46 AM, sadly 9:10 AM is correct. As hard as I work for change, it ain't gonna change. We're governed by bullies and there is nothing we can do about it. We're beating our heads against the wall. Welcome to my world.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Everything you say is true Elaine and you've worked your tail off trying to get things back on track.
What I'm suggesting is no more than what approximately 70% of MTL voters are doing anyway... Not Voting.
So I'm suggesting the 30% that at least have the energy to get off their duffs and vote stay home.
4 candidates for 4 spots, why does anyone need to go to the polls?
So the only option left if you have a problem with school district operations or the 4 individual candidates is to not vote at all.
What do you think the press would do with an election in which nobody voted?
Do you think the state parties R&D parties might take notice?
So, i'm suggesting a no show is acfually a very big vote.
I hope voters realize you don't have to pull a lever on every race.
Take for instance Ward 4. Brumfield is unopposed. Even if you vote straight republican, you've actually done what I'm suggesting. There is no R candidate for Ward 4 commissioner.
I'm just suggesting making our dissatisfaction official by not voting.
The 4 SB candidates win regardless, why be an unwilling participant in the charade.

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't the Tribune-Review or Post-Gazette do an article on voter apathy in Mt. Lebanon? Four candidates for four seats should be of interest.

Anonymous said...

11:29 you're looking for someone to hold your hand again.
Do you subscribe to the Trib or PG? Call them and ask them. Elaine and her bloggers don't control the paper.
Hell we don't even hace a say in our own community magazine.

Anonymous said...

11:54 Not quite, the papers read this blog.

Anonymous said...

I would imagine they do.
So what investigations or in-depth analyst of things Lebo have you seen the papers tackle.
Sablegate?
The HS renovation bids?
The pool bid? (if someone hadn't filed suit they'd probably be breaking ground now)

Anonymous said...

We haven't had four candidates for four board seats since Mike McKee ran for director.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to the MLEA and the school directors. Lincoln Elementary a Blue Ribbon School!

Lebo Citizens said...

Here is the article that ran in the PG. http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/5-in-western-pa-named-national-blue-ribbon-schools-704688/

Really, 10:02 PM? Congratulations should go to the students, parents, principal, and Lincoln faculty.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Exactly right, Elaine!!!
If the Blue Ribbon is due to the MLEA and directors was didn't every elementary school get a Blue Ribbon?

Anonymous said...

10:02 I guarantee that if you swapped out the kids, Lincoln would not be a blue ribbon school. The principal has been there 1 year. She had nothing to do with it becoming a blue ribbon school. Lincoln has great kids and smart parents. But some of those parents are going to be moving soon b/c of how the district treats them. Squelching the voice of children and parents in their school is a perfect way to say "Get out of here!".

Anonymous said...

Are you claiming the parents and students in the other elementary buildings are dumber than Lincoln's, 2:14?

Anonymous said...

2:14 - I am saying the kids deserve loads of credit for performing on the tests. Wasn't comparing to the other schools - I am sure the kids there are also extremely bright and probably deserve blue ribbons as well. Too many tests, too little care administered by the school board/administration. Seems to be too much of an emphasis on test scores in my humble opinion.

Anonymous said...

Too much Federal interference is not healthy for a quality school district.

Anonymous said...

We have a comparison problem in 6-7-8 grade on last year's test scores in Mt. Lebanon. Overall the district ranks number 2 but on the middle school test scores we ranked number 5 last year.
Is Ms. Posti suggesting we remodel the building to increase the test scores? Shouldn't we restaff the middle schools to raise the level of instruction?

Anonymous said...

Great idea,10:45. We could reduce the payroll and pension expense and pay our debt faster.