Looks like another change order is coming. I hope our insurance covers this one too. Certainly, the contractors are never at fault, or at least the school board directors don't seem to think so.
Update July 31, 2013 6:54 PM I got a response today from Elaine Cappucci.
| From: | Elaine Cappucci <ECappucci@mtlsd.net> |
| To: | egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com> |
| Subject: | RE: power line break |
| Date: | Wed, Jul 31, 2013 5:26 pm |
During excavation on Horsman Drive a power line which was not indicated on the plans or by the PA One Call system was hit. Nobody was hurt and power has been restored.
For the Board,
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net
Update July 31, 2013 8:25 PM All traces of the power line break have been removed from the school district website. No explanations were given. Like it never happened.
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net
Update July 31, 2013 8:25 PM All traces of the power line break have been removed from the school district website. No explanations were given. Like it never happened.
43 comments:
Looking at site, there doesn't seem to be a lot of progress. Will the HS be ready for the first day of school?
If the new athletic wing isn't complete, how will they start work on converting the old gym to that new dining and Center Court area?
Also, what was the outcome on the flooring issues in the new gym? Is it level? Is there a warranty?
Those administrators tthat got $1,000 bonuses for riding herd over the project should be able tocprovide the answers - right?
They do work for us don't they!
The District should be cited for its violation of the municipal "No Idling" ordinance:
http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3796
How much diesel fuel is being burned every day?
Compare and contrast the generator usage with LEED Certification. Explain how each affect the environment, and how the District cares about the environment.
The district doesn't give a damn about the environment. They wouldn't be tearing down perfectly sound buildings and shipping them off to landfills if they were. Not to mention the creation and transport of new steel beams and materials for the new wings to replace them.
It's too bad Commissioner Linfante, didn't discuss the above with her son.
"commissioner’s column: Kristen Linfante
Recycling saves landfill space and eases wear and tear on the earth."
How much space do you think buildings A & C take up in a landfill? Anyone on the ESB care to take a guess?
This is a resolution, not an ordinance.
OK that makes the resolution even more rediculous!
How much pollution was created putting up those rediculous signs, that no one will pay attention to and no one will enforce.
You can bet moms on a below freezing day as sit lined up to pick up their little darlings after school are going to turn their engines off. Yeah right.
Because Fathers don't pick up their "little darlings" after school on a freezing day.
There is nothing to enforce, it was a resolution. The signs however might make one aware of the issue.
3:20, look at the number of fathers compared to mothers. Of course if you want to nit-pick and this will make you happy... mothers and fathers picking up their little darlings.
Do we really need to make people aware of the issue of turning off their vehicle engine to save the environment. It's in the owner's manual, it's been in the media, it's in every article on saving gas and cutting polution. It's right up there with -- keep your tires inflated to the proper PSI.
If these people aren"t "aware of the issue" by now, those little signs aren't going to do much.
So what did we spend putting up signs to "inform" people, just so the ESB can claim its doing something?
3:20 sit in the library and watch Mellon at afternoon pick-up and tell me how many of the "drivers" (happy) follow the directions posted on the signs.
There is a No Left Turn sign at the exit for the teachers parking lot.
That's not there to cut a little pollution, it's there to make things safer, watch how many left turns get made.
Watch how many U-turns are made.
Sorry, but you might be living in a fantasy world.
Word on the street is the HS project is about 10 weeks behind schedule. An accurate projection should be available to the public during the August board meeting. Any of the $1,000 administrators can probably give an realistic update now. Also, the PIO could help inform the community as to possible delays.
Does this mean they are going to give back their $1000 bonuses?
Elaine
IF its going to delay the start of HS, the earlier they can announce the felay would give families to extend vacactions or take advantage of off season rates.
6:43 PM, the District high school project schedule (Gantt chart 10/10/11) indicates that "Bldg H-J-K (athletic building) Owner Move-in/Occupy" is to occur in August, "Bldg G Owner Move-in/Occupy" to occur in August, and "Bldg B 5th Fl Owner Move-in" is also to occur in August...any of these likely ?
"Bldg B 6th Floor Owner Move-in" was to occur in February....did it ?
Building F (Fine Arts) Floors 2,3,4,5 and 6 were to have been completed "Owner Move-in/Occupy" in January...were they ?
Bill Lewis
Sounds like they're more than 10 weeks behind schedule.
Close enough for government and giving outbonuses to the overseers, right!
I'm sure school will start as scheduled. The important question is will the athletic facilities be ready and up to the lofty standards of the athletic supporters! Any project delays will be attributed to either weather or unforeseen conditions. As usual, reluctantly approved change orders will be awarded as a solution.
Am I missing something? What caused the break in the main electrical power line for the high school? Was anyone hurt? No information was shared with the public. No statement issued to the media by the PIO. What is the PIO doing this summer? Where is Timmy with his cell phone? Why did all his picture taking stop as soon as school ended? If he is taking pictures of water fountains and 21st century bathrooms during the school year when he could be playing superintendent, he could be wearing his hard hat all summer long and being transfixed by the construction full time.
Elaine
I've been told by two superintendents that they only work about 20 hours during the summer weeks. Tim might not have time for pictures on a 20-hour schedule.
10:01 AM, the word, "work", is used rather loosely in the Mt Lebanon School District.
Have you ever met anyone up there who knows the meaning of the word, "work", or has ever, "worked", a full day in their life?
11:16 Yes I have. The teachers work, they take work home, grade papers, many put in more than eight hours a day.
Yes 12:04, some do after over 90% promptly leave school property enmass at 3:30 pm after only a 7 hour and 15 minute workday during only a 9.5 month work year during which they also enjoy all holidays, are entitled to accruable sick day allowances and a long laundry list of overly generous fringe benefits private sector professional employees would die for. They must be a sickly sort as the absentee rate is a steady 10% on average daily with higher bursts tending to occur on Fridays and Mondays (long weekends). Those who do stay after regular hours are usually EDR (Extra Duty Requirement) compensated.
Most substitutes are not certified to teach all the courses they must cover.
But of course, "it's for the children" isn't it ?
Interesting point of view,
I think the author is spot on in the paragrah below, especially regarding our No Idling signs.
http://www.newurbanroswell.com/blog/2012/10/2/the-pollution-we-dont-see.html
"They are there for our safety. To protect us from others and ourselves. They inform us and guide us. But, until you sit back and look at all of them in their glory, you don’t realize that they suffocate us, degrade our environment and tell us just how stupid others think we are."
This is a foolhearty discussion, I think. Of course there are teachers that work damn hard and I'm fairly certain I couldn't fill their shoes no matter how hard I tried. On the other hand there are teachers that sometimes you wonder if they could find their classroom if the number wasn't on the door.
But, this could be said of any occupation in any industry.
Why the animosity towards the teaching profession in my opinion is that performance isn't a factor in teacher pay, where it is in private industry.
Outstanding teachers are worth their weight in gold. Unfoortunately, we have too many mediocre teachers and administrators that just go through the basics.
In the private sector these people get passed over on moving up the ladder, get minimal raises. If their not ambitious they do their job and collect a paycheck day in an day out. Or, they get angry and eventually quit in search of greener pastures.
In teaching, the hard working, passionate teachers get the same rewards as those just going thru the motions.
Qnd don't tell me this isn't true. Watch the parents get in the principals faces when the kids are being placed with teachers.
From USAToday--
"4 in 5 in USA face near-poverty, no work
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream."
http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2594203
So as the trolls run around Elaine's blog making smarmy-assed statements with no substance like "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" may be they should start doing some reading, study some history, learn a little accounting. Or at least listen to people that have some expertise in the topic at hand (like Bill Matthews, Bill Lewis, Dirk Taylor, Dan Rothschild, James Fraasch) before whisking them away with a "wingnut" slur.
Do you really believe Elaine and any of her bloggers are here to destroy Mt. Lebanon? Was the "What the Kluck" town hall a subversive scheme to overthrow the municipal government?
Yes, 4 out of 5 in Lebo are near poverty or out of work, give me a break. As for your wingnut group, no thanks.
The Lebo voters have spoken and will continue to speak.
4:36 PM, It said "Four out of 5 U.S. adults," not Lebo. Everyone is rich here in Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine
Oh and Lebo voter 4:36 PM, can you find out why the voters' choice isn't telling us what happened to the main electrical power line for the high school?
Thanks.
Elaine
4:36 You just proven your ignorance, and slef-centered myopic view. If you had read the article it said 4 out of 5 struggle with joblessness, near poverty or welfare for part of their lives. Young college grads, with massive debt forced to move home, executives downsized, families sruggling to get by and getting state aid.
It didn't say all of their lives, or that Mt. Lebanon is a center for welfare families.
It was more of piece I thought onthe changing American Dream. Hell, i didn't write it, USAToday did. Hardly a conservative newspaper.
You can't even discuss an article in a main stream paper intelligently.
By the way, Mt. Lebanon voters haven't spoken! about 70% of voters didn't vote. Your group managed to get out the vote granted, Why the rest didn't for whatever reason, disinfranchisement, apathy, stupidity is a topic for another day.
But your statement that Mt. Lebanon voters have dpoken is an out snd out lie.
5:13 PM, unless you live in Ward 2, there is no reason to vote in November. Wards 1,3, and 5 are not up for two more years. Ward 4 has only Brumfield running.
The school board directors can vote for themselves and win. With four seats opening up and five candidates (2 being incumbents) there really is no reason to vote. They will blow away Hill because he has a brain. It is a done deal. Just like the turf. Just like the high school renovation. Just like the deer culling. It really isn't much of a democracy here. But we ARE all rich and can spend like there is no tomorrow.
Elaine
I agree Elaine, and I'm thinking a lot of other eligible voters don't vote because they feel their is no reason too.
Certainly in Ward 4 with Brumfield the only candidate there is no reason to show up, unless you have a write in candidate in mind.
Does that mean Brumfield is that good or does it indicate something else...I dunno.
Ward 2 voters have a choice I suppose.
As for the school board its the same thing. With the incumbents and the current sitting members, even voting for Hill won't have much impact.
I'm going to vote for him in hopes that he'll stay true to himself and be honest as he was in the primary.
Commissioners have spent over nine million dollars of your money in the last year and a half. There is another $800,000 of unassigned funds of which over $700,000 is designated toward turfing a school district property. If you do not vote in the next election to rid the commission and the community of spend thrifts then the problems will only escalate to the destruction of the once vibrant town we knew as Mt. Lebanon.
Connie
Connie,
The only ward that has any kind of chance for change would be in Kluck's ward. Brumfield has no competition. Dave is it.
One fifth of Mt. Lebanon can vote for change on the commission. I can't vote outside of Ward 3 and everyone knows I didn't vote for Linfante. I didn't vote for Joe either. So no one can blame me for what is going on, on the Commission side.
As far as the school board, nothing is going to change there either. If for some chance Hill gets in, Durwood and Scott can't do it alone. So we have another two years of the same old crap.
Mt. Lebanon is not what it once was, the vibrant town you speak of. We're now a joke.
Elaine
If the participants on this website are "wing-nuts" then why does anyone bother to "tune in and listen to the conversation"?
Why should anyone take these comments seriously?
Why would a municipal employee troll here?
Why would the Mt Lebanon PIO, Megaphone Morgans sit on Elaine's tape recorded at public meetings?
Never underestimate the power of truth and free speech!
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elaine,
Like anything else in government, it takes awhile for voters to realize that they are taken for granted and then the revolt will start. Educated minds should know the situation from the start, then the masses get the hint and show up. Hopefully it is not too late to change direction.
Connie
Connie,
The vast silent majority supports our beliefs and stands with us.
That is why the machine fears this site and the transparency that Elaine communicates to the public.
Be patient. Things will change abruptly and sooner than many recognize.
Connie, there is not a vast silent majority that stands with you. You are being deceived.
Again, how about some facts, 7:30 AM? Even Kubit said it was evenly divided.
Still waiting for some info on the generator situation, 7:30 AM. How about throwing me a crumb? I emailed the school board directors, but they are ignoring me.
Elaine
And you think I have info on the generator, why? I saw a Duquesne Light truck there yesterday as I was driving to the pool. Does that help?
You seem quite knowledgeable, an expert on things. I never see facts, but a couple of you have all the answers.
Elaine
Does anyone know if it is true that a group of Lebo administrators went to Germany for 2 weeks for a "conference'?
Are you referring to this or something associated with it?
Mt. Lebanon Administrators Join U.S. Delegation to Germany
December 7, 2012
High school principal Brian McFeeley and World Languages Supervisor Nancy Campbell with German Parliament Member Harald Leibrecht in Berlin.
High school principal Brian McFeeley and World Languages Supervisor Nancy Campbell met with German Parliament Member Harald Leibrecht in Berlin, Germany last week to discuss U.S. and German educational and student exchange programs. Mr. McFeeley and Mrs. Campbell were both part of a North American delegation of school administrators visiting Germany sponsored by the Goethe Institute.
They visited various German schools and met with officials to discuss the inclusion of German as a foreign language around the world. Also, it provided participants an opportunity to exchange ideas about their school systems in the United States, Canada, and Germany.
The above is from the district website under District News.
Wow! If true 11:38am the news woukd be horrific!
Folks, keep listening to 7:30am, the big public service union leaders and Megaphone Morgans and you WILL literally watch your home, your savings, your job and everything else that you worked for in your life vaporize before your eyes!
These people are bad news! Don't let them lead you straight into hell!
Why Germany?
wiki:
"The Brothers Grimm (German: Brüder Grimm or Die Gebrüder Grimm), Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, lexicographers and authors who together collected and published folklore. They are among the most well-known storytellers of German folk tales, popularizing stories such as "Cinderella" (Aschenputtel), "The Frog Prince" (Der Froschkönig), "Hansel and Gretel" (Hänsel und Gretel), "Rapunzel", "Rumpelstiltskin" (Rumpelstilzchen), and "Snow White" (Schneewittchen)."
Oh now I get it! :-)
I hope McFeeley and Campbell aren't considering "tracking" our students like the Germans do. If they are, the kids that get off to a slow start never have a chance to prove themselves because they have been "tracked."
PARENTS BEWARE!!!!!
What were they excavating for at this point on Horsman?
Surely they're not just installing water, power of HVAC between the athletic wing and the main building.
Since the line wasn't uncover by PA One Call, is it possible they hit one of their own recently installed lines?
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