Revenue-generating ideas still stand: Formerly free sporting events would now cost attendees and ticket prices for events that charge admission would increase by $1, bringing in $18,400. Mt. Lebanon High School students would be charged $50 a year for parking, collecting $10,000. And an increase in building rental fees will net $8,000.Note how there were no pay freezes for Dr. Tim or Ms. Jan. Notice how there were no concessions made by teachers. The new budget will use roughly $106,000 in reserve funds. The board made $800,000 in program and staff cuts. The millage increase would mean an extra $50 a year for a home valued at $100,000. If the district loses the grievance, it will be far worse for many years to come.
Mt. Lebanon residents, are you content with this new budget? I am not. Are you still willing to hide and not take a stand? Still post anonymously here on the blog and not take action? I was drowning two years ago with the 10.5% increase. It has only gotten worse. But we allow this to happen. Is everyone that well off here? I guess I don't belong in Mt. Lebanon.
14 comments:
Over 4,000 residents put their names to a petition asking the school board not to build a school we couldn't afford.
Residents packed school board meetings demanding an accounting of Sablegate that also fell on deaf ears.
Rules are broken, agreements ignored and procedures dismissed by both the school board and commissioners.
What's going to happen --- the AG slap their hands again then onto biz as usual ?
Yeah I'm anonymous but I voted in the last election for commissioners that I THOUGHT could think things through.
So you are content? Have you written to the school board? schoolboard@mtlsd.net
You voted last November, which is admirable, but does that mean you are done? Have you made any phone calls? Did you call the commissioner that you voted for? Contact any hotlines? Are you "A Resident?" Sorry, I am still cranky.
Elaine
I think most elected officials never feel much pressure to hold the line on taxes unless they are deluged with public opposition because IT'S SIMPLY TOO EASY TO RAISE TAXES!
Officials rationalize their actions with statements like, "Oh, but it's only another [some small amount]." Of course, there's usually more to the story; for example, this year that "small amount" is on top of the reassessment windfall.
Why do districts never emulate what is going on in the economy? Why do employees and district administrators always seem to get raises? Is it because many are friends of the directors? Why do these massive building projects always get approved even when the community objects?
The answers to those questions aren't that the school directors know what's best; they just know they can get away with it.
Maddie Miller
The voters always get what they deserve and now again they will pay more for less.
I spoke with someone recently who is a school district attorney (not LEBO) and she was knocking Governor Corbett's cuts. I told her that there is more blame to pass around, that if school boards didn't spend like drunken sailors when it comes to various financial decisions things would be much better for our students.
She seemed surprised. I guess no one ever thinks about the implications of local decision-makers' spending decisions, only that others will always pick up the tab and if it doesn't happen it's someone else's fault.
-Charlotte Stephenson
How come other districts can consider serious cuts, even when they may involve firing their own residents? See
http://chartiersvalley.patch.com/articles/chartiers-valley-might-fire-school-bus-drivers
I believe we owe our kids an education, but that doesn't mean meeting everyone's whim, fancy, or passing interest. Education is reading, writing, arithmetic and the like. It's up to parents to provide for outside interests. If you don't accept that, don't have kids.
As for the district "leaders", they're paid enough.
Maddie Miller
Maddie, Dan Remely said pretty much the same thing at Monday's school board meeting. They are there to provide an education. Period. Both he and Scott Goldman wanted to cut ice hockey and crew from the budget. Even though I am an ice hockey grandma, I don't think it is up to tax payers to.be funding sports.
Elaine
It's not just sports. It's all the other stuff, too.
If your kid has a great voice, go find him/her a singing coach. Do you have a child with dancing ability? If so, there are lots of dance studios around that are run by professional dancers? The list goes on and on.
Too many people here want ALL of the taxpayers to pay for raising THEIR kids. It's got to stop.
Maddie Miller
Maddie,
The "gimme" and entitlement crowd will just not recognize that 78 % of Lebo households do not have children in MTLSD schools !
And their traditional scare tactic of declaring that if we don't provide all of their wishes and wants, that people will move out and property values will collapse is pure & simple bunkum.
I guess I'd like a system too where if I yelled loud enough and employed scare tactics I would only have to pay less than 25% of the going prices for my wishes & wants.
Bill Lewis
I don't think it's physically or financially possible for public schools to provide for every child's individual interests and talents. I agree with Maddie---isn't that what parents are for?
My daughter loved horses from the time she was small. When she was in high school, we bought a horse. The stable bill alone was $350 a month. On top of that were tack and equipment expenses, veterinary bills, lesson fees, show costs, etc.
Did I ever ask the school board to establish an equestrian team, even though there were enough student equestrians in the district to do so? Of course not!
The very definition of a public school implies that it is for the masses. Individual interests are parents' responsibilities.
Carole Brown
I have not approved three unsigned comments. Please sign your comments, especially when you are taking shots at specific people who have the courage to use their own names.
Elaine
Really, you don't take unsigned comments? Why don't you look back at all of the comments from "giffen"? How about all of the other anon. comments. You Madam, are a hypocrite!
I am what I am. When you insult private citizens by name, you are not playing fair if you are doing it anonymously.
Elaine
Criticizing Elaine for anonymous comments thru an anonymous comment- that's rich!
6:26 pm have you criticized another blog for allowing anonymous post as well?
I'm content to allow the excellent evidence uncovered here by Elaine, Gideon and Lewis and the responses by the princiPals involved to play out.
I certainly hope the commissioners are making notes before they enter into sign management agreements with any specific parties.
Accountability, checks and penalties should be spelled out.
Giffen Good
Looking ahead to tighter budget years in Mt. Lebanon:
Here are excerpts from a news article in the “Reading Eagle.”
By DAVID MEKEEL
Updated: 05/19/2012
Full Article here:
http://www.ydr.com/state/ci_20662924/state-advise-reading-school-budget
In the midst of a budget crisis, the Reading School District will receive some financial guidance from the state.
The district is facing a deficit that, between the current year and the 2012-13 budget, totals almost $50 million.
District administrators working on the new budget have expressed concerns over the accuracy of projections for the budget for the current school year, which according to the latest calculations will end up $9.5 million in the red
[Pa. Education Secretary] Tomalis closed his letter by
reminding Stroman [the board President] that, despite the assistance being offered, it is still the school board's job to pass a balanced budget by the end of June. "Also, as we discussed in our meeting, it remains the sole responsibility of the Reading School Board to develop a balanced budget for each fiscal year," the letter reads. " . . . it is ultimately the board's obligation to decide the spending priorities for the school district and ensure that expenditures do not exceed revenues.”
John Ewing
Post a Comment