"At the Board meeting on March 18, 2013, the Board discussed direction for the administration to prepare a proposed budget for the 2013-14 school year. The budget currently being developed considers a potential .55 mill increase which is the average increase since Act 1 of 2006 was passed limiting millage increases to an inflationary index. This is a 2% increase in the real estate tax millage rate. In order to provide a budget of this amount, over $600,000 of program reductions are necessary. Proposals to get to a .55 mill increase include some staffing reductions in various areas, taking advantage of retirements when possible. Also being considered are reductions in contracted services, travel reimbursements and supply funding.
A special meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:30 pm in the Jefferson Middle School Library to discuss reductions that would be needed to further reduce the millage rate. Note that millage calculations at this time use 2002 assessment levels since there continue to be a large number of outstanding appeals on the new 2013 assessments in the community.
As more reassessment information is known, the millage will be translated into new, lower millage rates so that the total tax dollars for District programs in 2013-14 do not exceed the allowable Index plus exceptions increase limits mandated by law. A proposed budget is expected to be approved by the Board at the April 15 meeting with approval of a final budget on May 20, 2013."
As was sent to me, there is some confusion concerning the meeting notice.
"It does not indicate which assessment numbers the 0.55 mill increase pertains to. It would be beneficial for the District to indicate, in today's U.S. Dollars, the actual amount of the budget the District is proposing, regardless of millage rate or assessment. This would eliminate confusion among the taxpayers regarding the amount of the budget increase. It would also be helpful for the District to include the amount of the grievance, with additional legal fees, as well as all fundraising costs and income in the budget total.Finally, from the Commonwealth Foundation, this might explain the PSERS contributions predicament:
The state is increasing its Basic Education Funding to Mt. Lebanon by 3.4%, see below:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/education_budget/8699/basic_education_funding/539259
This is an increase of $189,967 from last year. Why isn't the District passing the savings on to the local taxpayers? Does the 2% millage increase quoted above take this into account?
There are many unanswered questions, and it is impossible for the Public to assist the board with budget decisions while the District keeps important information away from public view."
Update March 20, 2013 2:57 PM Lebo board hopes fundraising will ease budget woes (Saved in Google Docs)
56 comments:
Hasn't the board been preaching that ever since Corbett was elected governor Harrisburg has been cutting Basic Education Funding?
“Pension contributions will comprise a rapidly increasing share of the (PA.) General Fund expenditures: 4.2 percent for FY 2011-2012 growing to 11.6 percent for FY 2016-2017.”
http://www.ifo.state.pa.us/Resources/PDF/IFO%20-%20Economic%20and%20Budget%20Outlook%20-%20January%202012.pdf
Page 2
Yes, and progressive PA liberals will be screaming their heads off claiming that right wing whacko's are denying the greater citizenry's basic rights and economic entitlements.
I wonder if any school board member or administrator has seen this bar chart and truly understands what it means and implies for the future ?
Of course they will claim that it is not of their doing and not their fault, and it will very likely be back to business as usual. So sad !
The taxpayers are paying the entire pension bill through state and district taxes.
The school district better start worrying who will pay when the taxpayers have been bled dry!
12:09 AM, we both know that will never happen. The taxpayers will be forced to move and new suckers will move in. This will never be a concern for the district.
Elaine
I forgot to add that Jan Klein moved out of Lebo before the massive tax increase of 2010.
Elaine
If you want to see exactly how we could save money in the district read this article.
"Non-Teaching School Staff Costing Taxpayers Money"
http://blog.heritage.org/2013/03/04/non-teaching-school-staff-costing-taxpayers-money/
and visit the accompanying link:
http://www.edchoice.org/Research/Reports/The-School-Staffing-Surge--Decades-of-Employment-Growth-in-Americas-Public-Schools--Part-2.aspx
Click on Pennsylvania and see the interactive charts and graphs - the numbers are astounding! It's incredible how much money is not going towards actually educating the kids!
While the board is pondering cutting a librarian or cutting hours for all of them, why don't they consider cutting an assistant superintendent and cutting over $130,000 from the budget in one move.
It was only a couple of years ago that we added a second assistant superintendents position!
With continually declining enrollment why do we now need two assistants?
9:18, the reason was because our assistant superintendent at the time was not qualified to be a superintendent if need be.
Dr. Davis is qualified.
So that is the reason for two assistants? If the first assistant wasn't qualified to be a superintent and you appoint a new assistant, you get rid of the unqualified one!
You don't eliminate librarians, counselors, custodians so that someone can hang on. Plus if that first assistant wasn't qualified then how did they get a raise for meeting expectations?
9:38 AM Welcome to the world where everyone feeding in the privileged section of the public trough is rated "meets or exceeds expectations" by their peers - they're untouchable with a SB that caters to their every desire.
Ms. Allen has been a survivor at the District for far too long. It's well known that in her last contract she promised the board and former super that she would retire by the end of the contract. Otherwise it is likely that more than 3 people would have voted against it. At least Posti/Kubit/Remely were part of those discussions. Of course, I think they upped her contract again since then.
I agree that Dr. Davis is well qualified to be a super. Maybe we will get lucky and Davis will supplant Dr. Tim. If we are unlucky we will lose him to another District.
9:38 AM, word on the street is that Deb Allen has been "set for retirement" for several years now. But she never leaves. She did not get the usual exceeds expectations raise, but a meeting expectations raise. Only in Mt. Lebanon is there such a thing as a "meeting expectations raise." In the private sector, that is called earning your salary.
I got an email from Elaine Cappucci.
"Elaine,
We did receive your email. Thank you for your input to the budget discussion.
For the Board,
Elaine Cappucci
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net
Also, the resident who had questions which I listed in the original post, also heard from Elaine Cappucci.
"The information you have requested has been disclosed at our publicly televised board meetings except for the cost of the grievance which is unknown since it is still in litigation.
All residents are welcome to attend our meetings, including the upcoming budget meeting, to have their specific questions answered.
For the Board,
Elaine Cappucci
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net"
Thank you, President Cappucci, for responding to our emails. Your predecessor chose to ignore us.
Elaine
9:26, 10:21, 10:29- yes Dr. Davis seems competent.
So what we have here is a prime example of the Peter Principal.
"The principle holds that in a hierarchy, members are promoted so long as they work competently. Eventually they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent (their "level of incompetence"), and there they remain, being unable to earn further promotions. Peter's Corollary states that "[i]n time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out its duties"[2] and adds that "work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence." "Managing upward" is the concept of a subordinate finding ways to subtly manipulate his or her superiors in order to prevent them from interfering with the subordinate's productive activity or to generally limit the damage done by the superiors' incompetence."
But there is one suggested solution for it.
"One way that organizations can avoid this effect is by having an "up or out" policy that requires termination of an employee who fails to attain a promotion after a certain amount of time. For example: A manager is able to handle the vast majority of his or her current job responsibilities, but does not reveal the skill set necessary for promotion. The manager possesses the potential to cause harm within the company, by way of preventing those beneath them with higher potential from moving up, as well as lowering morale once such employees become aware of this fact."
10:58 AM Thanks for the Peter Principle post. Problem is, it doesn't really apply or work for PA public sector employees, even non-union. Even though non bargaining public sector employees are legally at will employees, you can't dismiss or fire them without going through a series of very specific steps with landmines all about. A formidable history of case law prevails to make it a nightmare, thanks to our legal system. Of course, felony, even serious misdemeanor issues make it a little more simple, even with bargaining employees.
Take a look at the District employment contract for the Super and agreements with the Asst.'s & Supervisors.
Here is my solution, for what it is worth. Get rid of Tim and Deb. Promote Dr. Ron to super. Hire a new assistant super. Of course, the district would lose a photographer and tour guide, but in the end, I think it will be worth.
Unfortunately, another brilliant move by the school board was when they extended Timmy's contract prematurely.
Elaine
12:28, Deb Allen has a verbal contract.
Try reading it!
Wait, did Cappucci just say that they addressed the question in a public meeting and since that person wasn't there they are not entitled to an answer unless they come to a public meeting and ask it in person?
It's funny to hear the board members complain about right to know costs. When you get an answer like this from the President of the board, you are just begging for more right to know requests.
If the information exists (and Cappucci admits it does) then it should be subject to right to know but it is not subject to a straightforward answer in a simple email from the president?
What world are we living in here?
Wellll, 2:10 PM, that person WAS at the meeting. We only had two residents attend the meeting. There were no citizen comments because the meeting was running very late. I think the resident was looking for clarification.
Elaine
What planet is this school board living on?
Another cost saving idea by the board (was it Ostergaard?)was to eliminate camera coverage of the meetings and only go with audio. Boy, that will save millions! How will we see the eye rolling or read body language, Dale? Why don't we eliminate all coverage of meetings and pay David Huston to record the audios?
Elaine
Note to school leaders:
The days when Mt. Lebanon was top dog are gone. No one is going to move here for the privilege of paying more taxes and figuring out how to get your kids to school safely.
We have become a joke, and it's no laughing matter.
12:28 I only submitted the Peter to highlight the claim earlier that one of our asst. supers wasn't up to being super.
Of course they all have contracts though I don't know what the current term is for each. Hopefully we're in the second year of a three year contract.
Which if true, the board has some leverage as: Dr. S, Dr. A and Dr. D, agree to lead by example and accept roll baomen some pay and benefits such as extra vacation pay. If you don't come next renewal you contract won't be renewed!
That is the only way to send a message that the board is serious about reining in expenditures.
This board cannot continue to spend money
'We' don't have!
Did I read this right?
Critically, however, this will not be a cash expenditure. Jan Klein, director of fiscal services, explained the initial expense will be funded as a loan from the district’s general fund. This will then be repaid with campaign proceeds at a later date. The outlay for the campaign would therefore not impact the district’s operating budget for the 2013-2014 school year.
Sounds like another fine ponzi scheme.
The same heavy hand should be applied to the teachers union. Agree to similar terms as the USC teachers accepted or we will start cutting curriculum, increase class sizes and close a school.
Those new hires that are suing for $900,000 in extra pay will probably be first on the list of cuts.
There is nothing in the teachers contract that forces the district to raise millage I believe.
Since the board has to present a balanced budget the only alternative is to cut classes oand/or close a school.
It is time to play hard ball and find out who is really in it "for the kids."
Yes Elaine, I thought Ostergard's suggestion of eliminating camera coverage was a joke!
Pinching pennies in a $1.8 million budget deficit is like spitting in the ocean. It's a weenie suggestion to make it look like they're doing something. Sure hire a $200,000 staffer to search for more money to spend, but cut video of the board meetings.
Here's a suggestion, but I bet those dedicated teachers and staffers that are in it only for the children will scream bloody murder at the mere suggestion of it.
Charge the teachers and staffers $50/year for parking that the board found so easy to dump on the students!
That $20,000 will cover the cost of televising the board meetings.
Oh wait that's not fair... Is it staff! Sorry, but I was taught as a child that 'turn about' is fair play. That "what is good for the goose, is good for the gander!"
5:41 Then put a gate on the parking lot and charge everyone,parents who go to the theater productions,open house etc..as you say its only fair
"Board member Bill Cooper echoed her statements. “Here in Mt. Lebanon our business is education. People don’t move here for big houses on lots of land. They move here for the schools.”" - The Almanac
Apparently Mr. Cooper must be right, because many of the people that live in the big houses on lots of land (therefore very expensive homes) saw the value of their homes drop in the 2013 reassessment compared to their 2002 assessed values.
I'm not sure how that works since a great school system is touted as keeping our home values high.
6:32 why didn't you make that argument when they instituted the parking fee for the students? Are you a teacher or staffer perhaps?
7:33 I work downtown, I'm neither a "staffer " nor teacher. I made the argument to your statement, not anything else.
Then 6:32 I'll ask the question once again that you didn't answer. Why didn't you make that suggestion when they started charging the students?
I'll accept your suggestion, it's OK with me if you gate the lot and charge everyone. Though charge everyone the same rate!
The student rate of $50 works out to about 27 cents a day if the school year is 182 days. So charge the teachers 27 cents a day too. Since parents, theatre goers etc., only park for 1/2 day at most they'll pay say 20 cents each time they use the school lots.
Or we could go to a flat rate of say $1 to get in the gate. Maybe we can install an EZPass lane.
9:35 how about this. We charge everyone that uses school parking lots from 7 to 5, $50 a year for a permit. Get caught parking on school grounds without a permit between those hours you get a $10 fine.
After 5 the lots become free like the parking meters do on Washington and Beverly.
There we just raise approximately $20,000 in new revenue for the district and it very few dollars to print the permits and tickets. We already have someone administering the student parking fee program and enforcement... don't we?
So can we move on to finding more budget solutions?
9:35 great idea. We should run the District like the turnpike, with the same outcome for administrators.
“Most of these cuts impact programming,” said board member Mary Birks. “I don’t feel comfortable with programming cuts. That means furloughs.” She said she would prefer the budget rely more on a millage increase than cuts to make up the budget shortfall
I don't get it. What if there is an actual programming cut that makes sense. Does it make sense to teach Elementary Students a foreign language? Why not start in the 6th grade instead? That move would save roughly $2 million a year based on what it cost to implement almost 10 years ago. That program (FLES or FLEX) was implemented around the same time the elementary school bonds were issues and there was not a terrible amount of focus on it. But it was done at a tremendous cost. 10 years is a long time but now there is not a single member of the board left that made that decision. Rose/Walton and others have long been replaced after budget failures and super secret superintendent shenanigans.
This board (R's and D's alike) are following in those footsteps. Their non-transparent and free-spending ways will result in unsustainable tax rates here in the bubble.
One piece of advice for Ms. Birks. When you say that you don't want to cut programs due to the idea that said cuts will result in furloughs, you make it sound as if you are not concerned about the students, but for the teachers well-being instead. If a program should be cut for the betterment of focusing on the remaining core education of the students (like math, reading, writing), shouldn't you at least be open to the idea?
7:24 it'll never happen.. Mr. Lebowitz is all for not raising taxes (hee, hee, ha, ha) but instead raising and adding on more fees and spending money on staffers that will run a charity to bring in even more money for the district to burn through. No mention of searching for efficiencies, downsizing in line with drop in student enrollments. No suggestion of sacrifices from the people that are making money in this business of eduction, right Mr. Lebowitz? No, his answer is find more and more money.
I guess he gets excited by dollar signs!
The other funny (well not really funny) statement of Monday evening was when Remely mentioned the change order agenda item and reminded the board we're not here tonight to discuss the how's or why's of the change orders but that there just there to vote to approve them or not.
Great, don't determine if the districts pocket is being picked, just sign a check for it. Great way to run a railroad.
Any word from the owner's rep....er, I mean owner's liaison at the meeting regarding the change order?
You know, come to think of it, maybe we need a right to know filed to figure out if the owner liaison is, you know, liaisoning with the board?
At 8:59 I made a mistake, Mr. Remely didn't say to approve the change orders or not, he just said approve.
9:14 does it matter if we hear from the owners liaison. The how's or why's aren't that important. Niether is Celli's admission that not providing water lines to the boilers and chillers was an "oversight.""
Considering that this one of many oversights, I.e., a spacer problem in the main gym that will probably mean a change order in the flooring, the need for geofoam, the elevation ductwork, the theatre carpeting, dry wall, sump pumps and so on and so forth, one has to begin to wonder if this building will last 20 years without a major overhaul!
But don't worry, the How's and Why's aren't important.
The lack of parking spaces weren't important either, that little oversight cost us collectively about $50,000 in legal fees!!!!
8:56 AM, I sent a copy of your excellent comment to Mary Birks. Here is the email exchange I had with her:
Dear Elaine:
Perhaps this anonymous commenter can attend the April 2 budget meeting so that we can discuss the FLES program publicly.
Mary
Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless
-----Original message-----
From: "egillen476@aol.com"
To: School Board Email list
Sent: Thu, Mar 21, 2013 13:10:05 GMT+00:00
Subject: Fwd: [Lebo Citizens] New comment on Budget Update March 19, 2013 [UPDATED].
Mary and all,
I just approved this comment. Mary, I am forwarding this comment to you since you indicated when you called my home, that since you work full time and do not have time to get involved with reading my blog. I
thought the commenter made an excellent point when he or she addressed you, Mary.
Elaine Gillen
Eliane
Shouldn't they discuss it publicly whether that person attends or not ? Not only are they asking for feedback, we must attend the meeting and propose the idea for feedback to be considered ?
10:44 AM,
Yes, I believe that is how it works, according to Mary Birks. You would be denying certain school board members the opportunity to roll their eyes at you and try to humiliate you publicly,if you don't.
"Queen" Elaine, the title bestowed upon me by Mary Birks
10:44, when will Kubit's friends and neighbors who wanted the renovation show up at a meeting to testify?
He did say the community was evenly split, right?
At least the petition signers presented their case publicly.
10:55 that is funny!
Now conveniently for one to be heard, it is now necessary to be present at board meetings.
Well folks, you fell for these people, hook, line and especially... sinker.
I fully expect to see Birks and Remely to be re-elected.
12:04, as do I. Chalk up another one for the bullies. We don't stand a chance.
Elaine
Elaine, you're right we don't stand a chance. At least we can go down laughing at them.
I'd like to offer an observation and opinion for what it's worth on the PK fundraising initiative and discussion.
First off Posti and Lebowitz are full of basically--- well you know what.
Posti claims that if the board doesn't go ahead with this the alternative is "zero" [no contributions is the inference I presume]. Mr. Lebowitz follows up with "we need to create a culture of giving."
I'm betting all the parents and residents that have been donating considerable time, sweat and money thru the Band Boosters, PTA, Blue Devil Club, various athletic groups, MLFE etc., etc., for years and years will appreciate that all their donations haven't been in the spirit of philanthropy.
Contrary to what Posti claims there are ways to start a fundraising campaign without spending $200,000 to get it started. Which then could be used to finance the $6 million drive.
To sum up my observation I think Mr. Remely's incorrect quote from Oddball (Donald Sutherland) in "Kelly's Heroes is unbelievably appropriate.
Dan's says: "in the words of Donald Sutherland in Kelly's Heros what is with the negative vibes?" (the actual quote Dan-- "Oddball: Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
Moriarty: Crap!"
Why is Dan's quote appropriate... for those unfamiliar with the movie - "Kelly's Heroes is a 1970 war comedy filmdirected by Brian G. Hutton, about a group of World War II soldiers [misfits and renegades] who go AWOL to [ROB] a bank behind enemy lines."
In my opinion our board of directors are our Kelly's Heroes with Dan playing the role of Oddball, intent on figuratively robbing the Bank of Mt. Lebanon.
No Ms. Birks should only respond to a public comment, not an anon blog post. I will strongly support Ms. Birks in her reelection campaign. There is no way that she should engage the nasty folks on this blog.
It would have meant so much more, had you signed your name.
Elaine
2:43 ah yes the name calling starts once again... "the nasty folks on this blog."
Good for you 2:43 for getting out and voting.
Does the $63 fee to employers under Obamacare for each employee and their dependents cover by the employer mandate apply to the school districts?
Is that accounted for in the budget?
Hey directors, don't bet the Lebonfarm on PK bringing in $5 million (PK gets their cut of the $6 million don't forget) anytime soon.
This from today's Wall Street Journal: "Heavier debt loads could make it harder for seniors to finance their retirement — especially since they’re already struggling with nest eggs cracked by the recession. "
You said it, 5:11 PM: this community is tapped out with increasing taxes and fees.
Factor in the school board's we-know-it-all attitude and you can hear the wallets and checkbooks closing.
Why Elaine, should I sign my name? That YOUR rule. Had I had to sign my name to comment, I would have. Don't deride me for following your rules.
Thanks, Mary.
Elaine
8:19 you don't have very good reading comprehension skills do you?
Elaine, never said you had to sign your name!
She just advised that "your comment would've meant so much more had you signed your name."
Its there in black and white, so is your comment about us "nasty" bloggers.
You keep "engaging" with us nasties though, your drive-bys are very entertaining.
Believe it or not, there is one small insert in PL111-148 (Obamacare) that is a modest stepping stone towards a more transparent, fairer, and more economically efficient tax system.
Transparency. Section 9002, Title IX of the law mandates that starting this year large employers must list the cost of health care coverage on each W-2 form, the year-end statement which employees use to file their income taxes. At this point, section 9002 is a purely informational requirement. But it will open the eyes of millions of workers to how much money their health insurance is costing their employers.
One consequence of this increased transparency is that it will make some workers ask their employers for more cash and less healthcare coverage (for example, in the form of higher co-pays and deductibles), even if the additional cash will be taxable income. This behavior will reduce, in some small way, the nation's healthcare costs.
It will also mean a modest increase in funding for the Social Security system, since both employee and employer will now pay Social Security taxes on the additional cash.
More importantly, it prepares the public at large for a major reform of the tax code next year in which all employer-paid health coverage could be considered taxable income. PL 111 hinted at this by calling for a 40% excise tax on "Cadillac" plans beginning in 2018, but it seems unlikely that that provision will remain intact between now and its effective date.
Fairness. Taxing employer-paid health insurance will mean a much fairer tax system: the millions of citizens, such as the self-employed, who buy their own insurance will no longer be penalized by higher taxes relative to neighbors who enjoy employer-paid coverage. Let's see if this information changes the union negotiating tactics when the teachers' Contract comes up for an early-bird settlement.
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