PG's Molly Born did a story today about the feasibility study and Pursuant Ketchum.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/district-awaits-word-on-campaign-for-mt-lebanon-high-school-renovations-644282/
Ms. Bowman said this feasibility study wasn't about identifying donors but about soliciting advice and feedback.
Then what good is it?
The interviews are based on the idea that the district would try a $15 million capital campaign, though other sums have been considered.
Say what? $15 million? What happened to the $30 million? We were told that a feasibility study costing $41,000 plus travel expenses was for a $30 million fundraising campaign.
The school board chose the people to be interviewed, "a cross section of the community" Hmm, I didn't seem to get a call. Probably all the people on MLFE got a call.
Capital campaigns of this size usually occur at universities or civic organizations, but school directors have said that Mt. Lebanon's alumni network and residents could be ideal future donors.Excuse me? Residents? Aren't we "donating" already?
Also note that the District has now changed the possible outcome of the study. It used to be for the High School project. Now they are saying it could instead be for a program endowment. Problem is, the MLFE only funds NEW programs. It doesn't pay teacher salaries and the like.
52 comments:
You're right Elaine and Bloglebo heard it the same way.
"Trib: Mt. Lebanon school officials might have to spend to save
POSTED BY JOE POLK AT 9:14 AM / 0 COMMENTS
The Mt. Lebanon School District is considering a $41,000 study to see if it can raise up to $30 million in donations toward its $110 million high school renovation, but some school board members have doubts about hiring professional fundraisers when budget deficits loom."
So what do we have a public information officer that makes things up as she goes along, or is this more of the lying, opaque juke and jive by the the directors we entrusted our kids education with?
How many lies are we going to accept by these incompetent liars?
Now there's some real investigative reporting!
Just a few short months ago the reporters byline appeared on this PG article on the fundraising.
"Mt. Lebanon school board pondering use of fundraising consultant
By Molly Born / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Some Mt. Lebanon school directors want more information about a proposed $41,000 study to determine if a large fundraising campaign for the high school renovation project would be successful.
Directors present voted unanimously Monday night to table the motion until next month, when the Texas-based fundraising consultants Pursuant Ketchum could hold a presentation for the board. Bill Cooper was absent.
The goal is to raise $30 million and avoid a second bond issue, which would include additional interest costs. Fundraising campaigns of this scope usually occur at universities and large organizations, said superintendent Tim Steinhauer, but a commitment from Mt. Lebanon residents and dedicated alumni could make it a viable option.
But saddled with a $2 million gap in the 2012-13 budget -- and a potential near $1 million from a teachers union grievance -- some members weren't quick to pass the motion that would approve entering into the contract with the consulting company.
"I am really on the fence, and the wire that I'm sitting on is very thin," Director Daniel Remely said.
At a Feb. 12 meeting, school directors discussed how to best balance the budget, which could include increasing property taxes, drawing from reserve funds or cutting programs and staff -- or a combination of those options. Member Elaine Cappucci said it was her most difficult budget discussion since joining the board five years ago.
"The $41,000, to me, is a significant investment in a troubling economic time," board member Edward Kubit said.
The study would look at how much money the school district could expect to raise, suggest a length for the project, identify potential donors and reveal strengths and weaknesses.
In addition to the $41,000, the district would be responsible for Pursuant Ketchum's travel costs. The company is based in Dallas but has an office in Pittsburgh.
Board President Josephine Posti said the study is an important first step in understanding the school district's fundraising capabilities, reminding members there is cash in the current general fund but imminent cuts may not allow for a later study.
"We need to remember that is money we have available in this year's budget," she said.
Board member Scott Goldman asked why the funds couldn't be raised internally by volunteers within Mt. Lebanon who could identify donors. Director Lawrence Lebowitz said the process is too large and couldn't be completed by a volunteer staff. Ms. Cappucci suggested that some details -- such as the cost for naming rights for a classroom, which the board is discussing -- require the work of a professional.
Ms. Posti also announced Monday that Ms. Cappucci has been named liaison to the municipality. The two will meet with Mt. Lebanon commission President David Brumfield and school board liaison Commissioner Kristen Linfante, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in conference room D of the municipal building. It is open to the public.
Topics to be discussed include the high school renovation, comprehensive plan, parking at Mellon Middle School and Washington Elementary, use of high school project permit fees, and recreation and fields maintenance and development."
She couldn't ask Cissy for an explanationmof why the different goal amounts?
Hey Timmy, somebody's making you look like a fool!
From the PG article in February(?).
"The goal is to raise $30 million and avoid a second bond issue, which would include additional interest costs. Fundraising campaigns of this scope usually occur at universities and large organizations, said superintendent Tim Steinhauer, but a commitment from Mt. Lebanon residents and dedicated alumni could make it a viable option."
Hey, $15 million... $30 million... Not a big deal in the public school world right, Tim. Close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.
Is the board informing the public the $30,000,000 campaign for a building program has been red-lighted in favor of an endowment to pay bloated staffing costs?
6:36 if so then the $41,000+ feasibility study was the total failure the hateful people warned it would be and Dr. Steinhauer is an idiot for trying to fund $30 million in donations to avoid a second bond.
If he believed that he has no concept of economics, business or finance. At the end of his contract he should be shown the door.
One because of this fiasco and two for leading the charge on a renovation the district can't afford.
I wonder what fence Remely's sitting on now?
"Ms. Bowman said this feasibility study wasn't about identifying donors but about soliciting advice and feedback."
Hey Cissy hate to break this to you, but people told you $30 million wasn't feasible and they gave you that advice and feedback for nothing!
Send PK packing!
Who cares about the PK results, it's just other people's money!
Jojo will continue to complain about Corbett and charter schools while Pursuing Ketchup flashes the "Suckers" light to the Board.
Here is what Josephine wrote in March.
http://jposti.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-meetings.html
Elaine
It just gets more and more amusing. But now we have the PG, the same former shell of an actual newspaper (and employer of Mrs. Posti's spouse) failing miserably at their sole function. The same reporter who typed "30" million several months ago just typed "15" million and didn't bother to ask why the discrepancy? Oh, the hateful bloggers and their hateful and prophetic insight...does it know no bounds? Where are the critics lambasting this site as a parody? Where is what's his name who had the audacity to insultingly label everyone here as tin-foil hat conspiracy nuts? Where are you, rude people? Oh, that's right. You were wrong. Well, apology accepted, if you had enough class and integrity to offer one.
See, Elaine, this is EXACTLY why you have this blog. Don't stop. These criminals and crooks who are spending our money with no forethought need to be watched.
More confidence inspiring speculation from our board president several months ago.
"Board President Josephine Posti said the study is an important first step in understanding the school district's fundraising capabilities, reminding members there is cash in the current general fund but imminent cuts may not allow for a later study.
"We need to remember that is money we have available in this year's budget," she said."
Well Jo- happy? You blew thru $23,000 dollars of this years money as well as $20,000 from donors to find out that at best (and there is no guarantee) your fundraising capabilities are half of what you were hoping for.
Don't ya just hate it when people say "told you so!"
Posti writes:
"Monday night's Discussion Meeting was preceded by a presentation by Elliot Oshry from Persuant Ketchum as well as a construction update. Mr. Oshray gave an overview of the proposal he's offered the Board for a feasibility study for a capital campaign. The idea of conducting a fundraising campaign to help offset additional borrowing for the high school project or for an endowment is one that the Board has discussed in the past and the Revenue Generating Review Team offered as a recommendation. Campaigns of large magnitude are most successful when a feasibility study is first conducted in order to identify how much money an organization can reasonably raise, how long it should take to do it, and what costs would be involved in managing the campaign. It can also identify potential campaign leaders and donors, strengths and weaknesses of the campaign's case for support, and include recommendations on how the campaign should be conducted if the organization decides to proceed."
Elaine
Here's a suggestion for the board and it's free. Rather than let PK take a big cut of (ha, ha, ha) donations from wealthy local residents... you tell Dr. Tim while he's sipping coffee at Panera's this summer, to take his laptop and starts writing down the addresses of the UNDERassessed properties in Moertel's expose!
Josephine posted this comment on March 14.
"We also recognize that proceeding with a capital campaign would mean committing to staff support that currently do not fully exist today within the District or MLFE."
So we have to add staff to raise money.
The salary of a competent fund raiser would cost about the same as a superintendent in salary, benefits and pension.
“Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive”
Sir Walter Scott
Don't forget the 117 page document Charlotte Stephenson received from her feasibility study RTK.
Elaine
Lotta people in that RTK can say I told you so !
Gideon, Cohen, Reese, Edwards
7:52 PM,
Here are some of the biggest under-assessments in Mount Lebanon. I will list the 2012 assessments then the 2013 assessments along with the address of the properties.
650 Washington Road 1st property Cyclops Building
2012 assessment $6.193,900
2013 assessment $4.483,500
Lost assessed value - $1,710,400
650 Washington Road 2nd property Cyclops Building
2012 assessment $350,000
2013 assessment $9,300
Lost assessed value - $340,700
106 McConnells Mill Road
2012 assessment $800,000
2013 assessment $486,300
Lost assessed value - $313,700
1121 Bower Hill Road
2012 assessment $4,971,000
2013 assessment $2,494,500
Lost assessed value - $2,476,500
410 Castle Shannon Blvd
2012 assessment $5,555,000
2013 assessment $2,288,900
Lost assessed value - $3,266,100
1500 Washington Rd Galleria
2012 assessed value $1,600,000
2012 Assessed Value $345,800
Lost Assessed Value - $1,254,200
Total lost assessed value on these 6 properties
- $10,615,800
Total lost tax revenue to District at 27.13 mills
- $288,006.65
if you read the article carefully, it states:
The interviews are based on the idea that the district would try a $15 million capital campaign, though other sums have been considered. Those interviewed -- "a cross section of the community" -- are told funds raised could go toward a program endowment or bricks-and-mortar development at the high school, Ms. Bowman said.
That's what they call the "bait and switch", or in this case "baits and switches".
I was called by someone posing as a feasibilty study representative. They asked: "the school needs $30 million for the high school, can we put you down for $30 million?" I said: "noooo!"
They asked: " can we put you down for $25 million?"
Again: "no!" "how about $20 million? "18?" "16?" "15?"
That"s when I hung up. Bet they figure I went to grab my checkbook!
11:12
You just reinforced the thought process behind Moertel's research and Fraasch's letter to Judge Wettick. It's insane to think that we will go out of our way to spend taxpayer money to fight someone who is appealing their $200,000 assessement on a recently purchased $140,000 home while completely ignoring homes that are underassessed by literally $100,000 to $200,000.
The Posti's of world world keep saying that they want to fight these appeals to keep the process fair....fair for whom?
Sorry for the off-topic post but this is the crazy place in which we live.
I'd happily contribute to a fund to take posti to court since her house is underassessed. Whoops, not supposed to apply the same standard to her as everyone else.
James Fraasch was right again. How much are our taxes going up when we float that $30 million bond? What James didn't predict is the potential annual $900,000 grievance. We could float a bond for that. It is comforting to know that it has never been a better time to float a bond. We could float a bond to pay for salaries and fees for Steinhauer, Klein, Bowman, Tucker Arensberg, Dominick Gambino, the full time fundraiser position... Larry, I am excited!
Elaine
8:33 AM, we have to wait another year for that. Maybe the school board will float a bond for that too. It has never been a better time for bonds. It's for the kids. It is only $18 a month. Just dig it. I'm excited.
Elaine
Perhaps the municipal liaison could suggest to the school board liaison the idea to float a bond for no designated purpose.
Elaine
6:14 AM
Underassessment's happen when board members and commissioners don't do their homework.
Remember Dominic Gambino has been employed by the district for a very long time. The resolution to hire him was passed many years ago. Did Dominic show up for the under-assessed property hearings? Did we get our monies worth from Gambino?
So now we are protecting overassessed properties to make up for Gambino not doing his job on under-assessed properties and we can't raise $30,000,000. Here come taxes and a second bond issue.
Di I really want to contribute to a school budget that puts sports ahead of academics?
9:26 am, If i want to give money to a school that thinks athletics are more important than academics, I can donate to Penn State.
"Perhaps the municipal liaison could suggest to the school board liaison the idea to float a bond for no designated purpose.
Elaine"
Wasn't the muni liason evaluate with the high school renovation process? Guess that means she'll be voting for a "feasibilty study" to see if they can collar donors for the "astro turf."
Just so everybody understands, the school district fighting the underassessed properties won't reward them with more money!
It will though spread the huge tax increase that is coming more equitably through the community.
Hey Kristen, Look who issued too many bonds.
The City of San Bernardino, California decided July 10 to seek court protection from its creditors, just weeks after Stockton became the biggest U.S. city to enter bankruptcy. Mammoth Lakes, California, also sought the shelter this month.
Here come municipal bankruptcies. Keep on fiddling, Kristen.
11:12 pm wait, wait that can't be. You lie, your numbers are screwed, somethings just gotta be wrong!
Properties values in Leboland don't go down!!!! Especially when the board burning through a boatload of money erecting a Taj Mahal athletic facility and crustaline bridge over Horsman Drive.
There's no way a Lebo property is worth less in 2013 than what it was in 2012! That defies the laws of Posti's Universe.
You keep this up and Dan Remely's going to fall off his fence and break his tuffet. Larry LEBOvitz won't get aroused any more, 50% of Kubit's friends are going to quit talking to him and Cappucci, well good old Kupie doesn't care she never revisits anything so what last years numbers were doesn't mean a thing.
Mary's too busy sitting by the PSBA's door for instructions, while Dale is stillmpulling petals off a dandelion. And Tim, well Tim doesn't care at all. He's too busy play with his calculator trying to figure his share of the 2008 YSA payment.
Now make sure you don't ever come around here again spreading blasphemy. Property values in the bubble do not fall!!!!!!!
Gambino's getting $150/appeal to see that they don't!
Haw, haw, haw, haw.
2:51PM, You don't understand.
The School District won't appeal underassessed properties until after the 2012/2013 assessment process and appeals are over.
This way, millage rates will have already been adjusted for the anti-windfall provision before the underassessed properties are appealed by the School District. Because the District's appeals of underassessed properties will not occur during an assessment year, millage rates will only be subject to the Act 1 limits, or exemptions granted by the PDE.
Anonymous
Thank you I didn't consider that and I'm betting lots of others didn't either.
So the real shocker doesn't hit in 2013, it come in 2014.
Is that why the mad rush to float bonds and turf now over at the muni side, get 'er done before the bottom falls out?
3:58 pm, Check these falling assessments.
434 Washington Rd. We gave this property a TIF.
2012 assessment $609,100
2013 assessment $428,000
- $$181,100
16 Nakoma
2012 assessment $$495,000
2013 assessment $309,700
- $185,300
820 Osage
2012 assessment $$755,800
2013 assessment $551,000
- $204,800
Look at the assessments on Hoodridge Dr. just for fun.
Even if that's the case, you're stil dealing with an artificial sense of security in the market. Things right now are shaky at best and these dolts want to incur debt?? On purpose? This is insane. I really think there shopuld be mandatory economics training for commissioners. They still might make bad decisions but least they'd understand them.
What our elected officials need to understand is there were enough assessment reductions in Mount Lebanon between 2012 and 2013 to cost the District over $750,000 in lost taxes based on a 27.13 mill tax rate.
$750,000 would almost cover the $900,000 grievance.
$750,000 is 3/4th of the $1,000,000 tax increase the Board voted for the 2012-2013 school year.
The municipality lost about 1/5th of $750,000 or approximately $150,000 in taxes for this year.
$750,000 would have covered most of the $850,000 in cost reductions the District made this year.
But 5:39 Posti, Proud Mary and Keewpi are products of the world's best public school!
Did they cut economics class?
And rather than approach Judge Wettick or confront Representative Smith about the property assessment situation as now independent citizen James Fraasch did, President Posti will tow the democratic party line and blame Governor Corbett for the fistrict's problems!
Same with Mary, like one of those little pull toys that qwackes when you pull them along she buys into the PSEA/PSBA dogma... feed me!
Considering that the administration/board is willing to sell any and every flat space that an advertiser can hang their name on... perhaps we should consider changing the name from Mt. Lebanon School District to The Little Shop of Whores!
(read the synopsis of The Little Sop of Horrors on wiki)
Check this falling assessment.
300 Morrison Purchased in 2011 for $127,000, Current market value $48,000. Re- assessment $0.
Just out of curiosity how many of these "discounted" properties are owned by the high school renovation and artificial turf proponents?
Is there any correlation?
You mean my portfolio of Spanish, Italian and Greek sovereign bonds and California and Mt Lebanon Municipal bonds wasn't a good idea?
Who knew?
Maybe we could get the commissioners and school board members to wear uniforms with advertising on them like NASCAR drivers. Hey PK, that's my idea. Please give credit if you decided to use it.
According to the RTK emails Mrs. Stephenson received it appears easier for the government leaders of Europe to attend an international meeting than to gather the Mount Lebanon School Board, the MLFE and the MLCE leadership at the Galleria.
I just can't wait to hear about the meeting to plan the fundraising campaign.
Not a bad idea, Jack.
To carry it further, those BIG proponents of artificial turf... Let 'em put advertising signs on their homes, but with one condition- all of the income goes towards the artificial turf!
If they want to contribute more they can do that too.
11:22 there's a good reason for that.
At the Galleria restaurants somebody has to pick up the check and all these people are only comfortable if somebody else does it!
Yes, we know the MLFE paid a good bit of the tab for the PK study.
Why, because they were promised to be reimbursed and the some out the $30 - ooops scratch that - $15 million in donations.
And speaking of the school board --
28:"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower (high school), does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29: “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30: "saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’" -
St. Luke 14:28 - 30
I can't ebleive you would quote the Bible. We can't have any kind of moral compass guiding our school board. Get with the program. They know better than you, me and even good old Saint Luke.
What God do think Posti was going to pray to when she said Elaine has hate in her heart?
Mazuma?
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