It seems as though that $900,000 grievance is not a one time thing. If the MLEA wins the grievance, it will be a recurring cost, until all 16+ steps are covered. The board was hoodwinked. Dan Remely, as other board members, was under the impression that the grievance was a one time cost. Mr. Peterson had to explain that the grievance includes long-term subs who started at Step 1. The District's exposure to this grievance includes 100 teachers. It could be a recurring cost for 14 or 15 years.
I am still watching the meeting, but I understand that Jennifer Kline, as well as the other students who spoke, did an excellent job. These comments can be heard towards the end of Part 2 of the podcast. I hope the school board understands how important the role of the community service coordinator is to the students.
Update March 28, 2012 1:04 P.M. Almanac article, "Mt. Lebanon eyes staff cuts" (saved in Google Docs)
A group of about a dozen students also turned out in defense of high school community service coordinator Judith Kolko, presenting a petition with more than 800 signatures.The audio clip of high school student Jennifer Kline's comments can be heard here. Yes, Jennifer, the school board priorities need to be reexamined! Bravo on getting signatures from half the student body for your petition!!!
"Her contributions to the school and all of Mt. Lebanon are immeasurable," explained high school student Jennifer Kline. "Many students were visibly confused and outraged that this option is even on the table."
16 comments:
They want to reduce legal fees by $10,000. If they passed 4 RTK Requests at $2,600 each they would save more than that. Nice to Know they are really serious about reducing legal fees! That must be for the kids.
John
John,
Where was the Administration, SB & Solicitor with the employment law expertise when they exposed taxpayers to the now grievance claim, that if imposed, will become a $900,000/yr. "recurring cost" for the next 14-15 years ? That $900,000/yr. equates to a 0.4 mill increase !
If any of the District mental midgets responsible are still around, they should be fired, forced to resign or sued...at a minimum they should be personally exposed in public.
Veblen Good
Mr. Veblen Good,
See what happens when a board president doesn't appoint a Finance Committee, a Personnel Committee, or a Program Review Committee. This is what the Board and PTA Bullies get for voting for mental midgets on the Board.
John
John and Veblen,
It looks to me like the grievance strikes at the interaction of Article 72 and 77 of the CBA, and Section 1142 of the Public School Code of 1949.
Part of the problem is the CBA was ratified in 2010, but the PSC dates back some 61 years earlier when things in education were done differently. There are other issues of interpretation that need to be hashed out.
The caselaw since 1996 is extensive. I am no attorney, but I will admit both sides have their work cut out for them.
David Huston
Gee Veblen, Do you think we can count on a subsidy from the Municipality of $900,000 per year for the next 14-15 Years?
Of course not we don't have the room to build 14-15 Brum-Fields in Mt. Lebanon.
John
Here's I topic that no one has ever discussed.
Seems to me that parents, residents and businesses donate a substantial amount of money to various school sports groups and organizations. As well as recreational activities.
Has their ever been an analysis of just how much? Seems if Pursuant Ketchum is doing a fundnraising study, it might be a good idea to get a handle on how much is being collected now.
Perhaps there is a more efficient means of collecting and distributing these donations.
Giffen Good
Mr. Good,
Gifts to the District are supposed to be recorded and voted upon by Directors. A RTK request for the latest minutes reflecting these gifts should give you your answer.
John
No Mr. Ewing, I'm talking about the variuos organizations like the band boosters, football parents, cheerleaders and so on and so forth. All these little entities that help finance special events, and contribute in some way to the success of the extracurricular activities in the school and in the municipality.
Things like the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church Youth Groups.
How much giving is going on in the community. Unscientific, but I wonder if there is a limit to what is available for giving in the community.
That is -- if the school district makes a concerted effort to increase gfts, could that marketing effort take money away from some other activities or entities, the Denis Theatre, the Library? Is there a limited amount of money available.
I don't know that may be true, only asking if it could be an unintended consequence?
Giffen Good
Giffen Good
I got the Almanac today and to see the actual newspaper article instead of reading it online was a shocker. The headlines couldn't be any bigger. MT. LEBANON EYES STAFF CUTS
Both the PG and the Trib covered Monday's meeting, but both failed to mention the recurring grievance. I am not seeing the solidarity anymore. The board seems to be crumbling down. That has to be making Josephine nervous.
Elaine
Mr. Good,
I don't anticipate all the gifts coming from our community as they have from the groups you mentioned. I believe PK has a wider reach than just Mt. Lebanon and if that is correct, and no other competing major fund raising is happening in our community, then I would anticipate the unintended consequences would be minimal.
I think the bigger risk comes from the chance that the Board may need to cut Department budgets in order to fund academics rather than extra-curricular activities if the fund raising is not successful.
I also believe the Board has ignored so many residents that the fund raising will be more difficult to raise within Mt. Lebanon than the Library funding. If this is true there will be more District cost cutting if the fund raising is not successful. You may want to consider that if you are solicited for funds.
Another factor to consider is the wider we cast our fundraising net, the more likely we are to be asked how many folks donated to the Campaign. This is another reason to do your best to support the fund raising to the degree we are able.
John
Mr. Ewing, I not sure I can follow your convoluted logic. It seems that you suspect that there will be limited contributions in MTL, because the board has ignored their constituents.
I can see the logic there. Why wold someone want to give money to someone that ignored their advice and got themselves into a financial pickle.
Then you say the wider we can cast our fundraising net, the more likely we are to be asked how many folks donated to the campaign. Hun?
Are you suggesting that people with deep pockets are lemmings? If I give a $100, Bill Gates, or Mark Cuban are going to pony up $1,000,000? Really.
Furthermore, why would some Lebo ex-patriot pledge a huge sum to their old school. If they had such affinity for the place why'd they leave? Or when they hit the big time why didn't they come back and share their wealth with friends and schoolmates thru new jobs etc.
For someone on the West Coast that has more than its share of school districts in financial distress, that has no connection whatsoever with MTLSD why would they care at all?
I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get a handle on your expectations.
Hey, if PK can generate the income great. If they are so self-assured let them do the fund-raising and take an extra $60,000 from whatever they bring in.
Giffen Good
One other point I think you may have missed Mr. Ewing.
I wasn't suggesting the "all the gifts coming from our community as they have from the groups you mentioned."
I was asking if the school district's would cut into those groups efforts to raise funds. Churches, United Way, Salvation Army charities are all down in revenues as areGirl Scout cookie sales from what I've read. Colleges and universities are seeing drops in donations also.
The school district will be just one more competitor.
Giffen Good
Mr. Good,
I think we are going to have to wait to see how the fund raising process continues.
First, we need to complete the Study and hear how that process proceeds. Then we will know more about the structure and goals of the fund raising. We are not far enough into the process to know the answers to all your question just yet. However, if it can be done I'm glad we have PK and their senior leader on our side. We are in very competent company and I like the Board trying to assert a leadership role in public school fund raising. Mt. Lebanon has been a leader in so many areas in our history and I'm looking forward to our success here. If we are not successful we can hold up our heads and say we tried and that is better than not trying.
I think a lot of the questions raised will be answered by a successful fund raising and at the conclusion we will all have a better understanding of the process. Sorry I can't answer your questions right now.
John
I probably receive 2 to 3 requests for donations most days from organizations throughout the U.S.A. and I have noticed the volume has increased over the past two years. Yesterday, I received a fairly detailed request for operating funds at the National Aviary (Pittsburgh Aviary). That is a first for them so my guess is they are “thinking outside the box” on fundraising.
There are limited dollars for charitable donations, every economic system has limited and not infinite resources. The question is, will potential donors living outside Mt. Lebanon have motivation to give money to the school district?
One thing that doesn’t make sense is the P-G article on 3/20 stated “Board president Josephine Posti also announced that a donor pledges $10,000 toward the study's cost once tax and legal issues get worked out this week. She said the donor should be revealed in the next few days.”
So, what happened over these 10 days? If there is a donor and their donation is tax deductible it would be smart to get the word out as promised so that anyone else feeling inclined to jump in would do so to offset the 41K feasibility study expense as soon as possible.
-Charlotte Stephenson
John, PK called. They want you to call Marty Griffin. ;>)
Elaine
Oh my, Charlotte. It has been ten days. Perhaps they can't claim it as a tax deduction after all.
Elaine
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