The following letter to the Mt. Lebanon School Board was sent by blog reader and write in school board candidate, Joe Wertheim. It is being reprinted with his permission.
To: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Sent: Wed, Mar 21, 2012 7:12 pm
Subject: SNAFU
"K-12 education foundations like MLFE are independent, nonprofit organizations..." (MLFE website)
"Regardless of whether or not we get a green light for a campaign we will gain a wealth of information," said board president Jo Posti. "This would be valuable for the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education's annual fundraising efforts." (front page, The Almanac 3-21-12)
So you are willing to roll the dice with $41,000 because "regardless of whether or not we get a green light for a campaign" (highly unlikely) "this would be valuable for the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education" which is an independent, nonprofit organization, says board president Jo Posti.
You were not elected to benefit independent organizations! You were elected to represent the taxpayers of Mt. Lebanon. Of course, you have completely abandonedthe latter, so why would anyone think that you would have second thoughts about the former?
Just when it appears that this board could not be any more out of touch with reality you again prove us wrong. While USC is considering cutting classes and activities, and asking teachers for concessions, you continue to spend money like you actually have it.
Joe Wertheim
http://alleghenyinstitute.org/component/content/article/916-school-district-seeks-answers-.html
What will it take to make you understand reality?
8 comments:
This comment was emailed to me and the person would like to remain anonymous.
So, now we are paying $41K to give the MLFE assistance with their fundraising efforts? Where is all the data they will collect about residents going to be stored? What about privacy? It's criminal if you ask me to have the taxpayers funding a project that will benefit a private foundation. Will we ever see these arrogant power mongers get their due??
Joe, want to know how to get Jo how to understand reality. Send her the $41,000 invoice for the PK feasibility study.
Now, that will be a valuable lesson.
Giffen Good
Take a close look at who is on the board of the MLFE and connect the dots. It's really very simple.
Veblen Good
Veblen, thanks for pointing that out. Here is the link to the MLFE board.
http://www.mtlsd.org/mlfe/mlfeboard.asp
Elaine
Another comment emailed to me:
Aren't the lines between the MTLSD and MLFE becoming blurry? Does the School Board plan to utilize the MLFE to solicit donations and provide staff to them? Is it even appropriate that the MLFE website is currently housed and maintained on the MTLSD one given that it is a separate 501©3 entity?
Is potential commingling of resources between the school district and the MLFE (as shown by Posti's comment that the MLFE will benefit from the $41K feasibility study funded by the district's taxpayers) permitted?
There are three school board directors on MLFE. Years ago, a conflict of interest arose when the school board president served on the MLFE. The MLFE was to be a separate entity gifting funds based on discerning and impartial criteria to "expand and enhance learning opportunities for students" (according to their mission statement). This conflict of interest issue was raised to protect donors by allowing them to donate money and trust that fair decisions would be made about putting their money to the best possible use, and the conflict issue was eliminated.
There are rules about how grant decisions are to be made by foundations that solicit donations.
On the MLFE webpage, Jackie Foor is named as the Executive Director, but her online resume states "Most recently, she worked as the Director of the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education...She volunteers her time as a Board member for the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education..." So, is the MLFE a legitimate private foundation having a paid responsible staff member(s)? The listed treasurer has experience in the PTA, but is she qualified to truly “mind the money store contributions from the public at large”? If not, is there contracted oversight in the form of an annual audit? So many questions…If Posti plans to share resources with the MLFE, my guess is that is a no-no.
If the district launches its own foundation, which may be more acceptable practice than joining forces with the MLFE, they will need to add resources to oversee that and where will that money come from? According to Posti, it takes money to make money. Remember, it’s for the kids. One has to wonder who will foot the bill for the necessary legal research that must be done on this "vision" to ensure no improprieties occur. Oh wait, I think I know that answer.
The board member commonality between the MTLSD & MLFE is referred to in certain regulatory matters as an "interlocking directorate"....it can be a very slippery slope.
Veblen Good
The PG reports this comment by Elaine Cappucci in an article about staff cuts in our schools.
"I'm still a little bit on the fence because it's a significant amount of money to be spending," she said. "I think the only way to find out is to do the study."
I love this sort of cognitive thinking.
Ms. Cappucci, when the contractors finish the pool area, a significant expenditure, I would like you to "find out" if it's a good investment or not. Now no cheating please and this has to be done immediately, if not sooner.
You can ask Tom Celli if its a good pool, but you can not turn the lights on, visually look into it, ask if anyone has actually put water in the pool, nor ask whom will rescue you if you get hurt. Just go in and jump!
Since it probably doesn't have a fence, you may use the railing or highest seats in the spectator area. I'm not really worried that you may or... may not... actually reach the pool. After all that is the part of the reason for the study!
I mean really, you said the only way to know if something is good or not is to try it, right?
And please, after you've completed the task should you still be able to walk and talk, report back to us all.
I'm sure Mr. Libowitz will be excited by the findings.
Andy Bradford
Andy, Larry Lebowitz is always excited.
Elaine
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