Still undecided on how they will close a nearly $2 million gap, Mt. Lebanon school board directors will hold further talks on the 2012-13 budget later this month.Later in the PG article, the feasibility study is mentioned.
The board has to decide whether it will vote to increase the property tax rate, dip into reserve funds or cut programs -- and staff -- by its April 16 voting meeting. Most members have called for a combination of two or more of those avenues.
Campaigns of this size usually occur at universities and large organizations, Mr. Steinhauer said last month, but a network of wealthy alumni and engaged residents could be key donors.Look out, Mark Cuban and Andrew Mason. Something tells me that you will be getting a call.
Mt. Lebanon school board continues to wrestle with $2 million budget gap
9 comments:
For those school directors and administrators waiting for a $30 million windfall from PK fundraising. It may be a long wait!
From the Georgetown Patch:
"National Cathedral $18 Million Short for Earthquake Repairs
While a local philanthropist kicked in $7.5 million of his own money to help fund repairs on the Washington Monument in the wake of last August's earthquake, the National Cathedral is still some $18 million short in its own fundraising efforts for needed repairs.
Via the Post, the AP reported yesterday that the cathedral has only brought in $2 million for repairs expected to cost $20 million. The earthquake caused damage to one of the building's pinnacles -- it was removed last year -- and other slender pieces that stand stop the Gothic structure. In October, Mayor Vince Gray requested federal funds for the repairs.
According to Georgetown Patch the repairs could take the better part of a decade to complete.
For those that don't know, Pursuant Ketchum was hired last August to lead the fundraising campaign."
Dick Bachman
Based on P-K's prior experience, they may predict a red light.
P-K still gets paid the same.
I think it should be a sliding scale to reward their preliminary work if they predict a green light, and cut the District's losses if they predict a red light.
Sort of like the guaranteed energy savings plan the Municipality is considering.
David Huston
It's the No Other Choice Mentality.
Please, read this and tell me if it is not our school board:
"Having no other choice" is a social fractal. Why do families persist in taking on $100,000 student loans for mostly mediocre educations with mostly mediocre "benefits" in the job market? Because they feel they have no other choice.
Why do people persist in mortgaging their future and accepting the yoke of debt-serfdom to own a house? Because they feel they have no other choice, and owning a house has become integral to the "American dream."
Why do local state, county and city politicos continue playing absurd budget games, shuffling funds, borrowing from their employees' pension plans to make this year's pension plan contribution and similar threadbare tricks? You guessed it: they have no other choice, lest someone somewhere feel some pain.
Why do our Federal "leaders" borrow $1.5 trillion each and every year now, fully 10% of the nation's total output, knowing full well that this level of borrowing will bankrupt the nation? (Don't forget to add in the "supplemental" off-budget borrowing.) You know: they have no other choice, lest someone somewhere feel some pain.
So instead they keep the accelerating vehicle pointed straight for the cliff. There are only two end-states to this level of borrowing: hyper-inflation or default. Any other "choice" is mere fantasy.
As noted above, what's possible is what you perceive, and what's impossible is what happens later whether you thought it possible or not. The Status Quo of a fraudulent financial system and a borrow-trillions-every-year-til-Doomsday Central State will implode, regardless of how many people think it "impossible."
If you take a star of sufficient heft such that it burns through its fuel at a rapid clip, then it will implode in a supernova whether you thought it possible or not.
"We have no other choice" is partly "deer in the headlights," partly fear of consequence and partly intellectual laziness, i.e. a continuing failure of imagination.
So basically it boils down to our leaders being lazy and unimaginative.
Yep, just about right.
Albert Brennaman
Mr. B, I think you're on the right track, except it has become increasingly obvious that some administrators and directors are in dire need of psychriatic help.
Evidenced by Dr. Steinhauer presents a list of cost cutting ideas. One being reducing - get ready for this - consultant fees. Gee, that sounds like a fairly easy cut to make, far away from the classroom as Ms. Birks like to defend.
But lo and behold, not 15 minutes earlier what did the board have a lengthy discussion about.
Yep... Spending $41,000+ on a fundraising consultant. And not only hiring yet another consultant, but adding staff at a later point to spearhead the fundraising campaign.
These people are completely out of their minds.
Giffen Good
More evidence of bipolar disorders.
Cappucci and Papke (Comish Linfante's campaign chairman) lobby intensely for LEED certification to save the environment and reduce district energy cost.
So what do Posti and Cappucci lobby their compatriots (Brumfield & Linfante) to do over in the municipality. Why certainly - turf and light a ballfield adding to energy cost... nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! Was it the Three Stooges or were there really four?
Ms. Birks advises taxpayers to write their representatives to nott to support charter schools.
But, Dr. Steinhauer says: "right you are Spanky, we could charter a charter school!" I just love these reruns of "Our Gang."
Dr. S. suggest possibly closing a school and cutting staff. Maybe even freezing salaries. But wait in a clOud of dust and a hearty "hi hoy Silver" Larry L rides up to the mike and voices his support for future fund raising staff.
I love Channel 19, it beats classic television hands down. Never laughed so hard in my life.
Giffen Good
Suppose we hire P-K for $41,000.
They give the District the green light.
Our District spends 5% of $30,000,000 on fundraising -> $1,500,000.
The 5% figure was the low figure quoted by P-K.
Suppose all 50 folks approached by P-K balk on their donations.
The District would be out $1,541,000 with nothing to show for it.
Should the school directors then be responsible for making up that money, since it is their decision to spend it? What is the plan?
David Huston
In defense of PK proposal, I don't think the district pays up front, I could be wrong though.
My understanding in these types of deals is that PK bases their fee on the total estimated return. $30 million - they'll take a 5% cut of what ever comes in.
If their feasibility study uncovers the district can only hope for say $2 million, I'm sure PK's cut will be much higher.
Of course, as the PK front man said, they've never done this for a school district so, to get a successful MTL campaign in their portfolio, they may be reducing their rate a smidgen.
Just speculation on my part.
Giffen Good
For all those starry-eyed, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy believers out there.
Do not be fooled. PK is not some benevolent uncle here to guide and bail out a relative through some financial hard times.
PK is a business, nothing more, nothing less.
They are a good company granted, with good, well-paid professional people. And like any good company they are in business to MAKE MONEY plain and simple.
If they weren't, they would be advising the district whether its fund-raising dreams were feasible or not.. for free.
Not saying they can't generate donations, just advising us not not to be lured closer to the van by a kindly gentleman waving lollipops.
Don Smith
Having worked as a consultant for what was known at the time as one of the “Big 8”, (time sure marches on), I never saw an engagement phase out potential future ones.
If money or other benefits could potentially result for the firm, additional work would be marketed to the clients. Having work was always better than not having it and sometimes projects were more cultivation for new prospects than profitable.
Additionally, decision-makers usually evaluated proposals from consultants in terms of their experience doing what they proposed to do. If fundraising for an expensive high school construction project has been done with consulting expertise it would make sense to look for a group with a proven track record doing it.
If there aren’t examples of similar engagements, the Board should seriously investigate why there aren’t before spending $41K. Think, what firm wouldn’t want to add the Mt. Lebanon School District to their client list and could such a connection possibly lead to consulting opportunities with other regional institutions?
Hmmm….
-Charlotte Stephenson
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