Sunday, December 18, 2011
It's crunch time.
It is Sunday, December 18. Tomorrow, the Board awards the bids and discusses the bid alternates. Continuing with the anonymous comments policy temporarily lifted, the Board claims they want community input. Now, we have an opportunity to tell the Board anonymously our thoughts. What is important to you?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
Mt. Lebanon is important to me. You are making a big mistake. Where was the referendum?
Let's build it and get it done! Maybe then this community will stop attacking each other.
What is important to me is Building C, built in 1972. I was a student during its construction. I wish the SB would revisit keeping Building C.
Elaine
Build it and they'll come together, right!
No, in my opinion, when this fiasco gets started and the change orders and such start rolling in the sh*t will really hit the fan.
The proponents that said it'll be only $18 more a month will disappear as they always do and the opponents will be screaming - we told you so.
We'll see who gets it right anon 8:18 am.
This is where MTLSD is headed I believe so they can build their sports oriented HS. Whether their solution is consolidation or curtailment of programs taxpayers, teachers and students lose long term.
The other solution is to tax, tax and tax some more!
Pa. teacher layoffs: Pa. teacher layoffs - Morning Call
http://articles.mcall.com/2011-06-07/opinion/mc-teacher-layoffs-explainit-20110607_1_teacher-layoffs-teachers-union-senior-teachers
A bipartisan bill being floated by Republicans and Democrats as so-called "mandate relief" to public education would allow layoffs for economic reasons. But this bill may not be needed because school districts already lay off for economic reasons by following the vagueness of the language in the 1949 provisions and court decisions from the 1970s.
For 62 years, teachers could only be laid off legally for the following reasons: a substantial decrease in pupil enrollment; consolidation of schools or districts; and curtailment or alteration to educational programs, which need local and state approval.
Section 11-1125, also written in 1949, protects teachers from being laid off for seniority purposes because the most senior teachers typically are the highest paid teachers.
Mark W. Fitzgerald, a lawyer from Blue Bell, said the 1949 rules were challenged in court during the 1970s, when the economy was hit with a recession and a period of high inflation and high interest rates. Courts upheld the 1949 rules, but allowed for economics to be a secondary reason. "With any furlough or demotion that could be going on, there is going to be some level of an economic issue to it," said Fitzgerald.
In other words, teacher layoffs become a chicken-and-egg debate. What came first, program changes and enrollment drops or the need for money?
It is about the lack of money
The Auditor General’s office prepared a recommendation dated December 14, 2006 (below) relative to the elementary school renovation cost overruns due to improper change order procedures. So, what measures has the Board currently taken to follow the recommendation and institute a written policy in an effort to avoid cost overruns? (With multiple prime contractors overrun avoidance is pie in the sky, but hey a policy can't hurt.)
“The Board should adopt a written policy that it is acceptable for designated district officials to approve change orders during the course of a construction project. The policy should include, at a minimum, which district official or officials are assigned the authority, the dollar limit that each official is authorized to approve, how change orders must be reported to the Board, and the process for submitting change orders for payment. This policy should be revisited with each new project, and new members of the Board should be fully informed of the process. By implementing this recommendation, all such transactions would be more transparent to the entire district community. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the policy after it has been adopted by the Board.”
-Charlotte Stephenson
Charlotte, perhaps you could email the Board President and ask about the Auditor General's recommendation. I know she reads this blog, but just in case she misses your comment, you have covered your bases. I would email her, but she ignores me. She shouldn't ignore you.
Elaine
These bids should have been solicited with the understanding that the contracts are "at risk" - meaning that any cost overruns are the responsibility of the contractor, not the taxpayer. That is how it is done in Texas. I wrote to the members of the Board, asking if this could be done here, but never received a reply.
Richard Gideon
Let program cuts, increased class size, and teacher layoffs finance the change orders.
Yep, Anon 8:54 you nailed it... we must get our priorities straight.
Programs, experienced teachers and class sizes aren't what matters. Consolidating the gyms and pool in one building does.
To Anon 8:18 am, that wrote: "Let's build it and get it done! Maybe then this community will stop attacking each other."
When the building starts and the board is forced to close a school will you cheerfully sacrifice your neighborhood school to "get 'er done"?
Before you answer you may want to reread the PA Dept. of Ed's document that touted the benefits of Mt. Lebanon's neighborhood schools.
From the report:
"Mount Lebanon Achieves Academic Excellence, Retains Character With Renovated Neighborhood Schools
The Mount Lebanon School District, serving 33,000 residents in a pre-war suburb of Pittsburgh, ranks among Pennsylvania’s top performing districts. According to a recent analysis by Standard & Poor’s, Mount Lebanon is one of 29 Pennsylvania districts whose students consistently exceed statistical expectations in reading and math tests.
The district has not needed new schools to attain educational excellence. Instead, it has carefully maintained and systematically renovated its 10 schools, most Elementary of which date from the 1920s and 1930s. Two years ago, the district finished renovating the last of its seven elementary schools."
Keep this thought in mind: "carefully maintained and systematically renovated". The high school was neglected for years, the new design uses cheap materials to stay under budget.
Think about it, one of the rebidding points discussed when the board chose eliminate the top floor off building G, was can we add it back if needed in the future.
Amazing logic in my opinion. Build a new smaller design under the rational that it will attract new families. Then worry if you can add costly new space that you eliminated to meet a building budget.
Mary Birks said this: "I would caution this board against making any long-term decision (that would impact programming)," she said. "Remember this impact's not only the value of our children's education but also of our homes."
She's right about the programming! That's what built the district's reputation.
I wonder if they proceed with this HS project and the only alternative is say closing Howe what impact would that have on the value of HER home?
Remember according to the PDE one of the enduring charms and character of Mt. Lebanon is its neighborhood schools!
You can keep six neighborhood schools.
So Anon 1:33 which neighborhood sacrifices? Yours?
Our community leaders had better get it through their heads that ML is no longer a growing and developing community. That calls for a different mindset.
We are at a turning point where we will either sink or swim. Look around at the neighboring towns that are older than we are and see what happened to them. LEARN FROM THEM!
It seems like our leaders, particularly the school board members, think they have all the answers. They don't.
However, this community is packed with individuals with expertise in all fields. They should be included and made to feel welcome. And, guess what---they would most likely contribute their ideas for free because this is their home, too!
Of course, it goes without saying that this project should have been put to a referendum vote. That was mistake #1. It's been all downhill since then.
You may not realize this but there are a couple staff who have been around as school boards come and go. Deb Allen and Jan Klein: these two people call the shots. They have been doing so for more than 20 years. Dr. Sable wanted to fire them and see where that got her. It's not the board members who are in charge, it's Deb Allen and Jan Klein.
Post a Comment