You may remember one of my more popular posts, Those "math professionals" can't do math UPDATED 6x
It is ironic that Ed Kubit said that he was satisfied with the way Timmy handled the TERC Investigations parents considering the anonymous comment made today at 12:29 PM,
I guess Mr. Kubit feels that getting the parents to go away and be quiet is considered a success.So the RTK request is timely. Here is the information. Right To Know response
Update September 17, 2013 6:10 PM A resident asked for the Third Day Report, which lists school enrollment by grade and building. Elaine Cappucci responded with her typical "It is on the website." Thanks to Dr. Steinhauer for taking the time to explain WHERE the report is located on the website. Third Day Report
Three of our grandchildren left Jefferson because of the math program. They are now enrolled in the Catholic school system.
ReplyDeleteThe exodus from public schools must be a problem since all three Superintendents complained about the $$$ drain charter school reimbursements were having on their bottom line at the Miller School Hearing today.
ReplyDeleteIt was funny that the politicians sitting on the dias sympathized with the Supers, but did not think to ask WHY people were turning to Charter Schools.
When your bleeding customers in private industry, the first step in stopping the hemoraging is not crying about the lost revenue. Its about uncovering why they're dissatisfied with your product!
They'll do well.
ReplyDeleteThe Pope is way cooler and down-to-earth than Steinhauer.
4:29 Perhaps we should invest more in schools.
ReplyDeletedais not dias.
you're not your.
hemorrhaging not hemoraging.
It's not its.
Or reduce taxes so I can afford to buy a full-sized laptop instead of trying to communicate from a tiny smart phone screen and keyboad.
ReplyDeleteThat is keyboard.
ReplyDeleteThat is my excuse. What one will the school district use for their errors and typing mistakes?
Do you feel better now, 5:53 PM? Did you attend Dan Miller's House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing? Care to comment on how Timmy sounded compared to the other two superintendents? Any outcomes from the hearing? What do you think about families pulling their children out of elementary schools because of the math program? Or do you just enjoy criticizing my readers?
ReplyDeleteElaine
I updated this post with a link to the Third Day Report, requested by a resident at last night's meeting.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Guilty as charged.
ReplyDeleteDeplorable grammar and spelling, I'll take the F On both counts, teacher.
No comment on the subject matter? No opinion? No critique?
I am disappointed.
The three superintendents made some very good points about charter schools and their impact on public school budgets.
ReplyDeleteAll valid problems and I hope to hear more on this topic. But, I still like to hear the superintendents comment on why their is an exodus.
It looks like the five or six families mentioned at the start of this chain had issues with the math program.
Are they justified in their dissatisfaction with the district?
Are they just plain unhappy people?
None of that answers the rise in popularity of charter schools.
Why is Hoover still open?
ReplyDeleteThe enrollment tabulation alone will not answer the blog question; but, comparing tabulations for the past few years, factoring for grade progression, will provide an indication of specific class size changes for a specific graduation class (e.g. class of 2018, for example). This would provide an indication of net family out-migration in the case of class size reductions, sans reasons.
ReplyDeleteThis exercise might be too much to expect for TERC investigations advocates however.
The Middle Schools were built to accommodate 750 students each, because the idiotic SB in 1994 claimed that total MTLSD enrollment would increase to 6,000 students by 2000 and increase from there by about 100 per tear. To "justify" sizing of Lincoln MS, they required that half of Markham students, who historically always went to Mellon, would be required to attend Lincoln to "balance" the MS enrollment and "make them equal". The result of an intensive lobbying effort by the wife of a Common Pleas judge and the Lincoln PTA. Absolute stupidity.
Take a look at enrollments : total at 5,218 (down 50 from 2012) v. roughly 7,300 by this time from SB projections when planning for what became the Middle, Elementary and High School fiasco's were being contrived by District schemers.
And Lincoln enrollment at only 587 v. a design enrollment of 750. And then the High School at only 1,657 (down 52) v. zoning testimony that it would be 1,900 +. Two elementary schools operating at less than 50% of capacity, two at/around 50% capacity and one at about 67%.
Wake up taxpayers.
4:29, actually the State Representative from Philadelphia, Margo Davidson, said that she doesn't support the vilification of the cyber and charter schools.
ReplyDeleteI just emailed Elaine my short commentary and the tape from today's meeting.
The meeting was interesting, and I really appreciate Dan Miller bringing it to Mt Lebanon.
I thought that it was very rude for JoPo to leave right after she spoke. She left before she had the opportunity to engage the state representatives.
Steinhauser's presentation was probably a "B"/"B-". I wonder why he didn't establish HIS credibility early in his comments?
Another thing, did I hear Daubner correctly? Is the PTA supplying items like pens, paper and iPads to our students? Where are our hard earned tax dollars going? Into teacher union salaries??? Is a Daubner using PTA activities to subsidize teacher pay?
Mr. Kendrick I attend with doubts, but I thought it was an interesting meeting, so kudos to Mr. Miller and the Ds for putting it on.
ReplyDeleteWhy the Rs fail to engage or suggest bipartisan meetings like this baffles me.
On the charter school issue, I can understand the positions taken by the Supers of Bethel, KO and MTL. The problem is that these 3 districts are good to very good, but what of aspiring students stuck by circumstance in districts like Pittsburgh, Wilkensburg, Duquesne or Philadelphia's Chester district?
Which is probably why Davidson doesn't villify charters as our 3 local supers might.
There is an education world outside the bubble.
It is funny that Lebowitz brought up MTLSD being the first district in PA to initiate a capital campaign. Affluent MTL needing to go hat in hand and beg for money to educate kids. Then have the audacity to plead for more state funds.
There are school districts in the state on the verge of collapse.
That is why a presentation from our super Super is imperative. Not only for us but for other district parents to study and put down in front of their administration and say- this is what we want for our kids in the next 5 years!
At least one, maybe more, MTL elementary school PTA purchased iPads for the classroom and planners (historically a district cost) for the 4th and 5th graders. Sounds like the Miller meeting went as expected with the Districts complaining about the lack of funds. Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear them talk about new found ways to teach more efficiently and effectively and how they are saving the taxpayers' hard-earned money instead of ALWAYS asking for more....one can dream!!!
ReplyDeleteAt least one, maybe more, MTL elementary school PTA purchased iPads for the classroom and planners (historically a district cost) for the 4th and 5th graders.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the IPads that the teachers got? Did the PTA supply those too?
ReplyDeleteFrom FarFromBloggin http://www.mtlsd.org/technology/farfrombloggin.asp
" August 8, 2013
Day 1311: Do you have a new iPad? 9:06 PM
There are a good number of teachers at our district who received teaching iPads at the end of last school year or over the summer."
Elaine
Close Lincoln and sell the damn land. That should offset a little bit of the frivolous spending by the school whores, er, board.
ReplyDeleteLincoln? They have the largest enrollment.
ReplyDeleteElaine
We are not the first school district in PA to initiate a capital campaign. Greater Latrobe used PK too. PK has quite a racket going
ReplyDeleteElaine
Sometimes it seems like this school district is truly consumeristic. Buy this, buy that. Where is the evidence that state of the art ipads or classrooms dramatically impact the education of our children? What has started to matter the most to me is how the school staff treat me, as a parent, and my children. Honestly, I've been very disappointed with the administrative staff. The teachers, mostly, seem to be effective and compassionate. But ask the principal or superintendent to consider your idea and you will be SHUT DOWN.
ReplyDeleteWas I in error, did Lebowitz say we were the first district to run a capital fundraising campaign or not?
ReplyDeleteThat is what I thought I heard.
11:54 PM, you heard correctly. Larry is incorrect. Greater Latrobe hired them in 2011.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Isn't that an odd slip from the lead board member on the PK association?
ReplyDeleteI mean people are quick to jump all over people for typing errors here, but a board member makes or budget reports contain flaws or predictions miss their mark by millions of dollars and its... "hey, be nice, they're only volunteers."
4:09 AM, typing errors is all they have.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Hoover have two morning K classes and no afternoon K?
Elaine
What rrally astounds me Elaine, is that someone will take the time to correct typos, grammar, etc., but let the board miss an estimate by millions of dollars or Celli forgets to design in water or electric feeds that cost thousands of dollars in change orders and they don't say a word!
ReplyDeleteIt is almost like incompetence in the public sector or on public projects is expected, like it is normal.
The gym floor isn't level by several inches, delaying the project, adding cost, but someone is focused on my apostrophes.
Amazing.
Regarding the typographical errors of 4:29 and subsequent SNARKY correction from 5:53, 4:29's initial errors did not change the meaning of the thoughts expressed. What if the original communication had been a mathematical problem (e.g. calculating a budget, estimating enrollment, pouring cement to level a floor unevenness) and instead of misspelled words they were incorrect numbers or calculations--the "answer" and conclusions would be in error. Such is the state of math education in Mt Lebo. Spell check and calculators are aids but not the ultimate solution--you need to understand basic math (time tables, long division, fractions etc.) in order to progress in math education and practice. Hundreds of parents in Mt Lebo are unhappy with the state of math in our schools.
ReplyDeleteApparently a lot of parents nationwide with the state of education today.
ReplyDeleteIf not, how does anyone explain the popularity of charter schools?
8:31 are you confusing Lincoln Elementary with Jefferson Middle School?
ReplyDeleteOur Owner's Representative and construction manager were supposed to catch those errors in design.
ReplyDeleteRemember when PJ Dick said, "We don't need no stinking owner's representative"?
And so the Board hired a Owner's Liasion who has been hardly noticeable and surely unable to review the design documents for accuracy.
Remember, Remely thought he could handle these duties as well since he has such vast knowledge of construction practices because he worked for a....uh...property management company. Yeah, he said that.
But don't worry, despite the millions he was off on his project cost promise, despite the millions in change orders since the shovels went in the ground, he and the other incumbents will be re-elected in November.
Remely's partners fired him, and a few of his former properties are in foreclosure, including Cool Springs which also happens to have been on fire this morning.
ReplyDeleteRemely was going to bring the high school in under $75 million. And he thought the athletic supporters were going to contribute $8 million. Yeah, a real dependable expert he is NOT !
But he and the other incumbent wll be reelected.
ReplyDeleteThere are many unhappy families in this town.
ReplyDeleteI know the school board will find this hard to believe, but not everyone is mesmerized by the prospect of Olympic-style sports facilities. Many people believe in good old-fashioned education for their kids and they are ready to pick up and move when they don't get it.
Also, this town is strangling with traffic and parking issues and many people want some relief. We are getting closer and closer to becoming part of the city.
Mme. Moderator: It often sounds as if the SB is elected merely to provide the funding for whatever budget the staff desire. The comments that refer to the apparent lack of connection between SB planning and actual enrollment and enrollment trends are particularly insightful. One point to be made in this regard is that taxing to the maximum allowable limit creates a housing affordability issue for many young families, which in turn means that we are pushing away the very student population for which we say the tax revenues are necessary. Perhaps the SB would consider first making this community as affordable as possible for young families, and then utilize the capacity we already have, without additional capital expense, to the best effect.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that we currently have policies that fight each other, and are inconsistent with developing the student population for which we say we are preparing.
Our SB directors are educated people, why is connecting the cause and effect implications of their policies so difficult for them? It is time for the SB directors to address how to create a successful education system, not merely an overbuilt one that the taxpayers cannot afford.
Consider the possibilities.
The Swamp Fox # 2
Here are the enrollment changes by building from the 2012 Third Day Enrollments to the 2013 Third Day Enrollments.
ReplyDeleteWashington 369 to 387
Lincoln 428 to 437
Markham 338 to 324 down
Howe 348 to 356
Foster 273 to 261 down
Jefferson 304 to 319
Hoover 222 to 221 down
Total increase over 7 buildings up 23 students
Mellon 661 to 669
Jefferson 616 to 587 down
Total middle school decrease -12 students
High School 1,709 to 1657 down -52 students
Total District Decline 5268 to 5218 - 50 students
What is not evident in those numbers is that some residents still live here but have chosen to withdraw their elementary age children from the public schools. It is interesting that you can withdraw your children and not even be asked why. No survey or way to capture some data around the reason for withdrawing. In response to the question of the post... Families are not leaving Lebo, they are leaving their schools.
ReplyDeleteMme. Moderator: I appears that 9:49PM (9/21) is trying to refute my last post by saying that the enrollment is only down by some 50 pupils. The problem with such figures is that they reveal that the SB estimates of school population are quite in error. The SB told us to expect continuing increases, by significant numbers. As 9:49 points out, that is simply not the case.
ReplyDeleteIt puts me in mind of the SD's long term estimates (or those it claimed to rely upon from a PA state source) which were published as, and I do forget exactly, either 10 or 20 year projections when it turned out that such estimates do not in fact exist.
The true issue is that we are not attracting a student population anywhere within the projections made or relied upon to justify the school budget and building program. Perhaps someone on the SB should begin to look at the actualities, rather than the fantasies promulgated by an "insider" group that appears to have no clue as to what they are doing.
Any review of the SB's brochures and public meetings will quickly reveal the level of deceit and "irrational exuberance" they practice in pursuit of the pharaonic delusions they have of crystal palaces and monuments they intend to leave behind (do you really think they will dub the new glass bridge the "Steinhauer Bridge"?).
The Swamp Fox #2
9:49 points out some interesting numbers on student enrollment.
ReplyDeleteThe net loss is 50 students.
Let's take a quick look at what that represents. Somewhere in the budget you'll find the cost per student (it's late and I'm not going to search for the exact number right this moment) but I'll a rough $15,000 per student for my example..
50 x $15,000 = $750,000. So one would simply imagine that the budget expenditures would be going down a number, maybe not the whole $750Gs, but some reduction.
But as Steinhauer pointed out in the Miller hearing, he can't shutter a classroom or layoff a teacher because of a student loss here, a student loss there.
But what he won't admit is that over a period of time, with regular losses you can and should be.
Ask 9:49 to total up the loss in student population over the last 10, 20, 30 years. Then ask them for the total number of staff increases or losses for the same period.
The school district just hired a fund raising coordinator for $82,500 per year plus benefits. That adds over $100,000 to the expenditure column. Over the 6 year life span of the PK campaign they've added $600,000+ (remember they hinted this may be come a permanent position) so on top of the salary they've heaped another future pensioner onto the burning unfunded pension issue.
So think about it very simply as enrollments are going down but staffing and it's cost are rising. No "business" can ignore those numbers forever. Although the state, the board and the administration are trying their damnest too!
Enrollment History and Projections of Mt. Lebanon Schools K-12
ReplyDelete2007 5429
2008 5423
2009 5287
2010 5300
2011 5259
2012 5276
2013 est 5275 5218 actual
2014 est 5144
2015 est 5102
2016 est 5054
2017 est 5045
2018 est 4992
2019 est 4934
2020 est 4836
2021 est 4753
(est)imates from Pa Dept of Education and School District Administrative Officials.
We used to have a consultant estimate, a district estimate, and a PDE estimate. When the public figured out the consultant was the most accurate estimator he was discontinued and the PDE and District estimates were combined into one number even they were the two least reliable estimates.
The cost of the reliable consultant was really small but the District could not stand the truth being given to the public. Unfortunately nothing has changed.
So from 20707 to 2013 the fistfight has lost 211 "customers".
ReplyDeleteA lot of us run or own businesses, what would the loss of 211 customers mean to you and your bottom line?
Would you double up on vice presidents? MtLSD did, by creating two Asst. Super positions!
Would you be handing out bonuses for a job well done to the staff or would you be warning of cutting staffers.
I know in the businesses I worked out, the first thing we ALWAYS did was start charging customers even higher prices. Yeah right!
Oh and the owner always started taking more vacation time.
"fistfight" how in the world did auto correct make fistfight out of 'district'?
ReplyDeleteDr Steinhauer could cut program offerings and reduce staff but he is a 25-year veteran of the teacher union system so we are now offering a second semester college course to seniors called Lineal Algebra to seven students. Why are Mt. Lebanon residents paying for college credits for seven kids? Would it be to keep union employment as high as possible?
ReplyDeleteThat decision was irresponsible but you won't get rid of it until the theater wimps are off the board and out of the corner office.
Yep 11:24, is the district obligated to provide ala carte, free K-12 education?
ReplyDelete12:14, I'd use teacher union proponents, but you fo have a point.
ReplyDeleteOne of the school board directors touts his expeience as an employee of the PA state university system.
Do a search for articles on what is happening at the 14 state run universities. All are drowning in a sea of red ink. California being one of the worst.
Don't roll your eyes at me, sir... You know it is the truth.
Before you come out of your corner looking for a fight Mr. Cooper, I'd suggest taking it up with the PG first.
ReplyDelete"Spending cuts loom at Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities
August 18, 2013 12:13 am
By Bill Schackner / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
In what occupation is one protected by tenure after a very short time of employment?
ReplyDelete