In an article written by Deana Carpenter For The Almanac, there were only two community members who met with Josephine Posti, Scott Goldman, and Dale Ostergaard. Mt. Lebanon seeks community input (Updated copy to include priceless comments saved in Google Docs) I received zero feedback for this blog about the first meeting where Posti and company made an attempt to reach out to the community. I thought people were just being shy, but it was a situation where the board members outnumbered the community members. Two mothers of children who attend Lincoln Elementary School, attended the coffee and raised the same concerns that were raised here on Lebo Citizens. As discussed in the article, one of their concerns included the MLEA grievance, a subject that the Board refuses to include in next year's budget and could be an issue for the next twenty years. That fact is only brought up by Dale Ostergaard, time and time again. Posti always seems to forget that part.
Another topic for discussion was the unanimous vote for the feasibility study. Funny thing about the feasibility study. The money was taken out of this year's budget because it was available. But in "The List" versions 1.0 and 2.0, $40,000 is listed Above The Line (ATL) to reduce consulting fees. Were consulting fees ever listed in the budget previously? And again, no mention of our secret admirer willing to pay for 25% of that study. Sounds to me like they backed out, don't you?
Finally, the community members were concerned about cuts that were on the table affecting the elementary schools, specifically Lincoln. Is this when 4,000 people, including former school board directors, say, "I told you" to the school board?
The kicker was this quote in The Almanac:
Posti said that in a short period of time she has heard a lot of positive feedback from members of the community. "There are a lot of exciting things happening in the district that we see people are enthusiastic about."Enthusiastic? Where were your supporters, Josephine? A commissioner was booked solid at her coffee at Orbis Café. Are you getting the message that we are pretty disgusted with the Board's actions?
18 comments:
Posti said: "Posti said that in a short period of time she has heard a lot of positive feedback from members of the community. "There are a lot of exciting things happening in the district that we see people are enthusiastic about."
Seems that should be a simple claim to substantiate.
Unfornately, like the previous school board president they see no need to back up their assertions.
Its funny, if a student were to turn in a paper with just their answers, the first thing a good teacher would say to the student is: "show me the work, were are your calculations, how did you arrive at this answer?"
For some reason though, our board leaders find they don't have to show the facts or calculations.
I give both Presidents - Kubit and Posti a failing grade.
And Jo, apparently even your ardent supporters aren't enthused about enjoying a "cup of Jo!".
Dick Saunders
Here's a question regarding consultant fees.
Let's say PK comes back with a "green light" on fundraising.
How do they or whomever does the actual fundraising get paid if the district cuts consultant fee budgets.
Will PK operate strictly on a cut from the revenue generated thru fundraising or will there be a consultant fee involved?
Giffen Good
Dick Saunders, loved your cup of Jo comment. I pulled a Posti and used it as my own thought. Wait! Now that I cited my source I can't say I pulled a Posti. Oh well.
Elaine
Go right ahead Elaine, glad you enjoyed it.
ALl I can say is that you don't have the same proclivity to inflate numbers like certain board members do when it suits them. If you say you have 4,000 signatures you show evidence of 4,000 signatures.
Unlike Ed Kubit who spoke to or got emails from 4,000 residents supporting the HS projct.
Or Jo proclaiming hundreds turned out for the groundbreaking ceremony. At least half I'd imagine were there to see their kids perform.
I'd really enjoy Posti, showing evidence of what in her mind is "a lot" of positive feedback.
Dick Saunders
Does Jo want to know if residents feel the District should annually budget for the grievance?
David Huston
Maybe Posti didn't forget the $900,000. Remember Mr. Fraasch found the Salary Line in the District Budget was inflated by $1,000,000. He found this budget padding when he was Finance Chair.
Maybe Josephine plans to use the $1,00,000 budget padding to cover the cost of the Grievance if the Board doesn't win the arbitration.
If we don't win it is too bad we can't put that $1,000,000 toward Pension contributions for the BIG KIDS.
John
Hahaha...oh, yet ANOTHER PR failure for Jo and Co. And yet, she isn't ashamed to put that dumb "APR" label after her name? Eh. I'm sure Jack Kevorkian still had "MD" on his business card.
Josephine is a liar. Flat out. There is no other way to label it. And there are cracks showing in her foundation of immature tyranny. She's told so many lies she can't keep them straight. Exciting things going on in the community? Like what, Jo? Care to enumerate? And what "many people"? Wake up, Lebo--this lying liitle girl is slowly bleeding out he community like the whiny leech she is. I would hope we can start ginning up interest in the Politburo, I mean, school board meetings so people can challenge her. And it's about time SOMEONE with a public platform at least wrote a story. Where is the PG? The Trib? Half the broadcast media (they live here!)? Susan morgans? No, we have to read about the school board in the Washington-county based Almanac?
Samuel Adams,
You don't expect mtl Magazine to say anything, now do you? When we have articles like what is on page 22 of this issue of mtl Magazine?
http://ebooks.mtlebanon.org/mtl/mtl-032010/
"A forum for discussion of topics light and heavy."
I couldn't get them to link to www.lebocitizens.com to announce our page for reducing taxes such as filing for a homestead exclusion. Susan Morgans told me very politely that she doesn't promote political websites. There was never a word mentioned of this blog when I was nominated for CBS Pittsburgh's Most Valuable Blogger Award of 2011. I am just not associated with the right people in this community. Actually, you and most of the people who read this blog don't run with the big dogs. Why would you expect mtl to say anything negative about Josephine Posti?
Elaine
Doesn't promote political websites, what BS!
What the hell was Reallebo, run by now commissioner Linfante and her left wing green agenda accomplice Labalme.
These people couldn't be straight forward and honest, if their lives depended on it.
Godfrey Hardy
David, I don't think anyone cares what we think about annually budgeting for a grievance. As John pointed out, we have an excellent finance director who will pad the budget. This might be why we use the same auditor for 25 years.
Samuel, the media may not be telling it like it is, but the truth is only 2 people showed up at the coffee. As you requested:
The hotline number to call is 412-894-7515 to report suspected abuse of public education funds. You will reach the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Elaine
I don’t know why everyone’s getting worked up over the claim that, “There are a lot of exciting things happening in the district that we see people are enthusiastic about.”
It’s just PR puffery. It fills the air, sounds positive, and means nothing. It’s always true, regardless of the circumstances, and thus can always be tossed out when a positive note is required. But, like a test that always gets graded A+, it reveals nothing about what’s really going on.
Cheers,
Tom
Why get up set Tom about the claim. Because it is exactly what you say it is "PR puffery."
Smae as claims that there were an equal unmber of proponents for the HS project as there were petition signers. Except there never were an equal number.
Same as saying your going to hold an Act 34 hearing to listen to stakeholder comments, yet announcing your pre-hearing decision.
PR puffery - claiming a survey was authored by a cross-section of the community. Really, what is the board's cross-section. Is it too much to ask in light of everything that has transpired over the past few years. Just look at the PR announcement that an individual complained about traffic.
If it were one incident it could casually be passed off as innocent PR puffery.
When it becomes daily BS, it goes far beyond innocent behavior.
Giffen Good
Again, why get all worked up? Are you actually shocked to discover that political players play politics?
Tom, who's getting worked up. We're simply calling a spade a spade and asking the PR maven to show us where we're wrong.
Just curious as to why you're so worked up that the "PR puffery" is being exposed for what it is - meaningless puffery.
One would think the smart most transparent course would be not to engage in PR puffery if things are - what they are.
Giffen Good
Help me out. I'm perplexed about why it needs to be "exposed" that there's politics in politics. When someone playing politics says something that's meaningless but sounds good, it's not shocking; it's expected. That's what people playing politics do.
Tom,
You said PR or politics is, " like a test that always gets graded A+, it reveals nothing about what’s really going on."
What you are talking about is grade inflation - UNEARNED, DISHONEST GRADES.
When we were kids we used to call it cheating; now we justify it by saying we don't want to hurt someone's self-esteem by telling them the truth.
It looks like Colonial Jessup was right, "You Can't Handle the Truth!"
John
OK, Tom I will try with a little help from the Government Accountability Office.
Here's is a document from them entitled: "NOTICE REGARDING PROHIBITION AGAINST USING APPROPRIATED FUNDS TO HIRE PUBLICITY EXPERTS". Now then do not forget that President Posti is what some would call a 'publicity expert'.
Here's the link to the document: http://www.gsa.gov/graphics/fas/AIMS_Ordering_Guide.doc
So what do they say about PR puffery.
"5 U.S.C. 3107 prohibits the use of appropriated funds to hire publicity experts. [Why would Posti have to hire one, she is one?] Appropriations law “publicity and propaganda” clauses restrict the use of funds for puffery of an agency, purely partisan communications, and covert propaganda.
Did you get that, Tom. "Restricts funds for puffery of an agency, purely partisa communications and covert propaganda." So, is it OK for Posti to engage in those activities because she doesn't have to hire someone?
Futher in the document it says:
"Generally speaking, GAO has narrowly defined these terms. It has held that the “publicity and propaganda” prohibition in appropriations laws forbid any public relations activity that:
• Involves “self-aggrandizement” or “puffery” of the agency, its personnel, or activities;
• Is “purely partisan in nature” (i.e., it is “designed to aid a political party or candidate”}
So, while I'm sure you're going to come back and argue that the GAO is commenting on hired guns.
To which I'll ask in advance, why should "OUR" elected officials engage in PR Puffery. Aren't they on the board to represent our interest?
Why do we need a con job?
Dick Saunders
Thank you Mr. Saunders for the information.
Perhaps we need some new policies on board member conduct.
Question: would Cissy Bowmen be considered a "hired publicity expert?" That is after all her primary function, besides taking blurry photographs.
That would be my first cut in the budget. Sending out notices to parents etc. could certainly be handle by secretarial staff, couldn't it?
Giffen Good
Post a Comment