Kids should be seeing lots of changes today, thanks to the Impressive high school renovation that cost taxpayers more than $100M. Parents can get a tour of the high school renovation here.
The School District website suggests that we follow Timmy's Tweets all day. Follow Timmy on Twitter @mtlsdsuper. He'll be visiting schools and sharing photos throughout the day. Timmy wears many hats; hard hat, super Super, and now PIO. Why do we have a Director of Communications at Mt. Lebanon? Timmy is doing a great job. I am excited.
On another note, Pittsburgh Business Times had an article last week showing that Mt. Lebanon enrollment is down 0.2%. Enrollment in 2012 was 5,275 while 2008 was slightly more at 5,287 students.
As of today, September 3, 2013, no 2013-14 Final Budget has been posted on the MTLSD website.
Update September 3, 2013 6:15 PM A 2:24 PM LeboALERT posted:
Have a peek inside the high school renovations w/Superintendent Tim Steinhauer on our video tour: http://lebomag.com/14342/learning-spaces-new-places/
****
This is how our Superintendent spent his day today.
59 comments:
Why was the superintendent's Twitter Feed removed from his page on MTLSD ? I don't Twitter or Tweet. It is too complicated.
Trisha Pittman got it right, anyone watching that story will be laughing at us. Notice the words "we hope" and "we tried"....what a selfish shame to put on the taxpayers.
McFeeley said you can't put a price tag on a quality education. You can...colleges have for years and years.
It is easy to say something is needed, when someone else is paying. Like: Yes - I would like a shot of Louis XIII. According to Wikipedia: A 750 ml bottle of Louis XIII may be priced as high as US$34,000; the average price range is $2,100 - $3,100. Of course this is nothing compared to the value of a 21st century education.
the highlight of the WPXI spot is:
"It's the $109.6 million price tag, however, that makes it controversial.
Moon Area School District paid $48.5 million for its high school/middle school conversion. Montour High School, meanwhile, was renovated for $50 million. The cost to Mt. Lebanon taxpayers was more than the combined cost of the Moon and Montour renovations."
What would Pittsburgh Dad say about all this? "No more buying snickerdoodles fer yinz, get another paper route to help pay for these gawdawful taxes 'n at".
9:32, a college may put a price tag on education, but like anything a high price does is not a guarantee of quality.
Inteteresting article on the topic:
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/a/SB10001424127887323836504578551904167354358?mg=reno64-wsj
Seems like everything else in the bubble, education is priceless. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Pretty soon instead of shopping at Target for the kids new backpack for the first day of school, there will be a rush at Rolliers on wheelbarrows so the kids will be able to carry bushels of money for all the new fees.
Student parking fee, intermural fee, book fee, lab fee, computer fee, library card fee, student newspaper subscription, athletic fee, band fee, and don't forget the soon to be opened EZ pass lane (crap... bet they hadn't thought of that one yet!) on the Horsman Bridge to the athletic center. Who wants to be the only parent that embarrasses their kid by making them waste time in the cash only lane.
Good thing the board is keeping millage rate increase down to the bare minimum so families will be able to afford all these new fees coming down the pike!
Oh, you could put a stop to new fees, just write a big, BIG donation to the PK fundraiser. $50,000 would be a good start.
Once again Elaine scoops the official PIOs to provide a timely link to mrdia stories and broadcast concerning our fine community that residents may have missed.
Nothing like a free press to keep people on top of things, eh?
If residents have missed media stories, why would it be anyone's responsibility to hold their hands and direct them to it? Not that I want to stick up for the PIO, but really?
Perhaps because they are the Public Information Officer. But you're right, why do we need to read about somebody's store opening, golf trips, rat running through neighborhoods etc.
The WPIX spot was only a tour of our $133 million high school.
Not really important to the community.
The news coverage was an interesting tour of the building. For those residents that were out of town for the Labor Day weekend might have appreciated a link to it.
If we use your logic, why was Channel 11 holding everybody's hand to show them the building. Its right up the street.
Correction, not $133 million... $113 million.
Obviously, the school district wanted to tout the progress on the new high school to the public, otherwise why would they risk putting a camera crew and newsperson in hard hat areas.
So why wouldn't the official community magazine/blog make an effort to see that everyone saw it.
It was a district PR story meant to be seen.
The magazine claims it has former Lebo residents all oger the country, maybe they'd enjoy seeing the renovation of their former school!
Did you ever think of that?
I would argue that these expenditures are not for quality education...they're for bragging rights and to suggest that we have something that others don't or that we spent more than other districts.
Either way, the end result is obscene taxes...hardly an attraction to anyone. I suggest we go back to those one-room schoolhouses.
I believe our super Super may still be confused by how many elementary schools we have here in LeboLand. One elementary school is missing from the tweets today. Did he forget about Foster Elementary or is it just not important enough to mention? Anyone know if he showed up there today?
What was sadly missing from Timmy's tweets was a statement like, "In the 2013-2014 school year things are going to change. Our Mt Lebanon teachers are going to start to work for a living. We will make them WORK for every penny on that big fat paycheck."
Instead, all that we got was more country club BS.
It would seem to me that the first day of school would be one of the most hectic in every school year. New first graders, nervous parents, new schedules, new teachers. It is after all a big day for everyone and yet the Super has time to take the principal out of the building and walk her up the street for coffee.
8:35...
As a teacher, I cannot even begin to describe the frustration, disappointment, and anger that your condescending comment caused me.
Going to "START" working for a living?
Educators in today's society are trying to educate your children, open their eyes to new ideas and concepts, spark their imagination, inspire them to work hard for what they want, and to foster a desire for life long learning in them that will grow long after they leave a classroom.
They are doing this while their administration is constantly shoving standardized testing down their throats. They are doing this while their communities villainize them as lazy loafers who are wasting public coffers. They put up with parents who don't raise their children, and then blame the teachers when they punish them for horrible behavior. They are forced to spend their own time and money preparing their lessons and prepping their classrooms all while budgets are slashed.
The first stone is thrown at the heroes that spend more time with your children than you do daily. Do not tell me that I don't earn my meager (yes I work in Mt. Lebanon and have a VERY meager paycheck and NO benefits) paycheck.
I love my job. I love my to so much that I am willing to sacrifice my own time and life for it. I went to work at 6:30am and just got home at 9:00pm. I spent my time with 47 students, making sure they had a fulfilling, happy, and memorable first day of school....and am doing a load of laundry FOR my classroom as we speak.
Don't blame administrations choices on teachers.
Don't budget issues on our "bloated" benefits.
Don't tell me I didn't earn my paycheck today.
Sincerely,
Your Dedicated Public Servant
Thank you 9:37, my daughter is getting a great education at Mellon Middle. My older kids are doing well in college. My son is majoring in Education, he decided this in 5th grade after having a teacher that he respected so much that he wanted to be like him.
Not every one is like the loudmouth at 8:35.
I'm pissed off at the School Board Directors for putting this bozo on a pedestal. Check out the Superintendent's smirk on his face during the President's report. It was like watching Lethal Weapon 2 when the villain held up his I. D. card declaring Diplomatic Immunity. Same smirk.
Thank you for sharing these twitter tweets with us, Elaine. Unbelievable.
I agree, 9:53 and 9:59 PM. I haven't seen the meeting, but I have seen that smug look before. Good one - "Diplomatic Immunity!"
I have no problems with the teachers. Timmy is making what, $170,000 now and he is TWEETING? We hadn't heard from him all summer. Now it is back to photos, tweets, and pizza lunches. Yeah, that use of technology as one of his goals only meant tweeting and taking pictures, while forgetting that we have seven elementary schools. I guess he still hasn't figured out how many there are.
We had Mt. Lebanon Magazine, Timmy tweeting, and the MTLSD PIO. Was there a traffic light up there to avoid cameras colliding?
Elaine
To the teacher at 9:37, i would imagine this was indeed a stressful day for you and every other teacher that worked hard to make today the first day of a successful year. That is what we're paying you for and apparently you've taken your task very seriously. Thank you!
People are constantly telling anonymous posters that they have nothing to fear discussing things here even if they sign their names, so may I ask you a few questions. I'll bet Elaine with allow you to answer anonymoisly.
1. Why don't you have benefits?
2. You say you make a meager salary. Does it tick you off that the capital campaign coordinator makes a pretty damn nice salary and recieves very good benefits?
3. Do you agree or not that the superintendent could've spent his time more productively not traveling school to school and tweeting? Do parents, many of whom aren't even allowed to use their smartphones for personal use during office hours really need these tweets?
9:37 teacher. Just one suggestion and I'm sure people will bash me for it.
I too consider myself s professional in the work I do. There has been many a time where I put in 24 hour days, under stress to get the job done. Many times when things were tough for the company took a cut in salary, or accepted longer hours until things got back on track. Like you, I love my job but I can honestly say I never used the word sacrifice in describing my work.
Actually, and maybe I'm a rare bird, the harder the project the more I love it. There were times I sit back after a particularly fulfilling project completion and think, "I can't believe I get paid to do this!"
There are many good comments that get posted on this website, comments an unbiased perspective would consider valid and insightful. Unfortunately there's so much senseless diatribe that has to be waded through to get to the "good stuff". Diatribe like "...things are going to change. Our Mt. Lebanon teachers are going to start working for a living". There are definitely things that definitely should change such as, teacher performance ratings need a dose of realism (more teachers need improvement than the ratings reflect, yes there's grade inflation among the teachers), their contract should reflect the economic reality, and retaining enrichment programs should be more important than retaining teaching positions. All that said, most of our teachers reflect the general population, they are committed hard working employees. The personal attacks and senseless diatribe detract from the many reasonable voices that speak here with things that need to be heard.
I get upset when people attack the teachers. Sorry. I can't believe someone with a PhD gets away with this crap. I am sure the superintendents from other districts who read this blog can't believe it either. Timmy sure has it easy, doesn't he, Superintendents?
Elaine
10:52 agreed, unfortunately this blog isn't the only source in Mt.Lebanon for senseless diatribe.
We've read or heard it in political mailings,gov't. Meetings and thru other blogs.
It is my opinion that the lack of transparency and flagarant disregard for the rules and common sense provokes some of tbe diatribe.
I'm still curious why a teacher doesn't have benefits or being a part-timer the opportunity to buy into the district health Insurance. Hope we're not looking at another grievance!
I cannot believe we have a community that let's the School Board get away with this crap. The School Board is ultimately responsible to the community and they seem to operate with immunity from the community. Ask almost any parent or taxpayer how are our schools doing and all you will get are anecdotes and PSSA results because that's all the School Board provides or discuss. I honestly don't think the School Board is hiding things, I think they don't have anything better to offer, they honestly don't know. I totally understand the frustration at the high school project, it's a financial waste. But more heinous is the School Board members are standing by while the children's education opportunity is silently slipping away. The 9:37 teacher exposes the tip of the iceberg when he/she said "while their administration is constantly shoving standardized testing down their throats". We are transitioning from a District that valued a diverse enriching education to one that is developing robots who do well on standardized tests. We have a simple minded School Board and a simple standardized test score is all they seem capable of understanding; our School Board is a silent killer of quality education and the community is standing by, drinking the kool aid, and letting it happen while chanting "we're number 4 on State PSSAs"...or whatever the current ranking is...yes, what a pile of crap!!!.
PSSA results? What PSSA results?
Our kids took them in April 2013, but no results yet.
9:10 proves the point... the reader knows the PSSA scores are not yet available but isn't questioning a significant increase in the number of parents who feel disenfranchised by the schools, more children who are experiencing anxiety related absences, a decline in the problem solving skill of our high school graduates...and why isn't this reader questioning the results of these other crucial items...BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE, NO ONE KNOWS!!! PSSA scores generally come out in late September but really there are MUCH more important things we should be looking for...don't drink the kool aid...demand a smarter and more transparent School Board.
8:01, I agree with much of what you write, but I do not believe the venonmous attitude does much to advance the conversation.
The teacher that chimed in wrote: "They are forced to spend their own time and money preparing their lessons and prepping their classrooms all while budgets are slashed."
These are things we should be questioning! Why in a district that takes in over $82 million dollars supposedily to "educate our children" should a teacher have to spend their own money on supplies and materials and continually have their budgets "slashed?"
The board on top of raising millage once again and year after year increasing expenditures by an average of $2 million annually found it necessary to 'tax' students $5,000 in parking fees. Did that $5,000 go to books? No! Did it go to sheet music, paper, art supplies, software, lab equipment, energy star light bulbs... No!
It went into bonuses for five well paid administrators. Plus that bonus will add tothe pension obligation for those people in an obligation that deeply underwater.
On top of that they add an employee for $82,500+ that does nothing to directly educate students.
The teacher is justified in being angry about the "start working" comment. On the other hand they better realize that there are people angry that they take home less and less of their paycheck to pay for the school district.
There's a disconnect here.
The teacher complains of no benefits, no supplies. The parent/taxpayer complains of higher taxes and stagnant results. Seems like something is askew!
Don't blame it on Corbett either, directors. The only way he can send you money is by taxing the same people you do.
9:37 Careful about using the word hero. You're a teacher. You do it voluntarily. You're not saving lives, stopping crime or putting your own life on the line so that others may live.
In Lebo, you get paid better than the average salary and the union looks out for you. You don't put up with gangbangers or the threat of being pyshically assaulted every day. While residents do value the public (meaning subsidized) education system in which we are forced to participate, the constant bemoaning of working conditios and living a threadbare existence are stale. We pay for the schools and supplies and your salary and benefits (and yes, you do get benefits). That means (and stop me if I'm going too fast) we are allowed to have an opinion on how our money is spent.
While I would agree the previous commenter was harsh in that I realize most teachers actually do work, your response was rather self-serving and borderline laughable. Other people work all day, too. Have you been to Ruby's lately? How about Giant Eagle? They work hard and they do so for a lot less than you make.
But I think we can all agree the problem is the school board. There are nine individuals who really operate as if they are royalty and we are their subjects. I think collectively we should direct our angst and complaints toward them. And really, we have a superintendent that Tweets all the BS? He's making what, 160k a year and he's Tweeting???? We're paying for it, Lebo. Wake up.
Funny, we have two assistant superintedents making approximately $140,000/year when in years when the district with enrollments of 8,000 students had only one.
(Todays enrollment is around 5,230 students)
But, our Superintendent has time to drive from school to school, taking photos, tweeting and visiting coffee shops.
This guys not an educator, sounds like he's a Carnival Cruise social director. I know that's a harsh evaluation, but with the hefty property tax hike the district habded me, i feel entitled to be pissed over a highly compensated tweeter.
Send the less expensive PIO out, its her damn job. Or let the principals of the individual buildings tweet during their lunch break. Hell, if they have time to leave the building on the first school day for coffee, they can spare a minute or two to send a tweet.
It may be a teacher but he or she isn't full time if they don't get benefits.
Teachers are compensated generously with salary, health insurance, and pensions...not to mention a year off for having a child (it used to be TWO years off prior to the last contract), EDR pay, etc.
We do have some great teachers and most work very hard during the school year as well as a few weeks during the Summer.
Teachers everywhere (not just in Mt. Lebanon) get paid quite well. This person that commented will have nothing to complain about if he/she is hired as a full-timer.
10:28 just for accuracies sake. Not ALL teachers are highly compensated or enjoy generous benefits.
Private school teachers, nuns, tutors, preschool teachers don't in general make nearly what public school teachers do or enjoy comparable health plans or pensions.
The dact that tey don't makes them no less dedicated, skilled or proficient at educating and caring for students.
It wouldn't be half as bad, I wrote half, had the Super at the end of the day sat down and reflecting on the day shared his photos and thoughts.
Lets take a close look at this. How money hours were spent just traveling, finding a parking space, taking photos and then writing those tweets? For what purpose?
This guy spends hours looking out his window watching a building goes up, but shows no emotion over change oder bills for rerouting elevator shaft duct work, geofoam, leveling floors, missing sump pumps, undiscovered lack of theater lobby tile etc., etc.
Whats he watching for?
If he is going to tweet - cant he control who gets on to his tweets - look at the tweeter that joined at the bottom of the markam tweets
In the Super's defense, he is the face of the school district. In that capacity I am sure he thought it wise to visit as many schools as possible on opening day to be visible. I don't fault him for this approach. It's not like he does this every day.
I'd rather see him tweet these photos than photos of the silly glorified gymnasium sitting across from his office.
You can see who Timmy's 295 followers are on Twitter. Why WAS the Twitter feed removed from his blog? Is it to see who is reading his Tweets? Full disclosure - I am one of his 295 followers. That is how I was able to read Timmy's Tweeting Travels. It should be available to everyone, not just those who follow him. What an ego this guy has.
Elaine
You're right 11:41, he doesn't do this every day. On many of the days he's not watching the erection of the gymnasium, he traveling to school to have lunch with the kiddies.
I went through my entire K-12 education never once seeing our very highly regarded Superintendent, except at extracurricular after school events, school board meeting and graduation. He didn't need a highly paid PR PIO to keep parents and students informed and I'd like to think I got a pretty good education from a bunch of highly dedicated and proficient not highly paid teachers.
The central offices might on occasion send out snail mail about the eonderful things the district was doing, or student achievements or teacher accolades, but the focus was not on the Super. He didn't have to try and prove his woth, everyone knew it.
I'm curious now, what did the Markham tweet say?
Plus, this guy spent 5 hours, travelled 13 miles(oh the unnecessary CO2 polution) to tweet to just 295 MTL residents.
Why wouldn't it just be on his blog for everyone to see?
Perhaps the system should change here for preschool. Children should go to public preschools. In Texas u start school at 4. U go to specific 4year old schools.
Teachers r paid very well here. Starting salary in Texas is in the 20k's. if u have 2 kids in daycare as a Texas teacher u can no longer afford to work.
My kid's K teacher makes about 20k more than the average principal in Texas.
I had no idea there were 2 assistant superintendents! What a crime. Our schools could use assistant teachers in most k-3 classrooms. Now I know why they don't have them. Nobody, not the best teacher in the world can individualize each student's needs.
I think the super indented should visit the schools. Was the his first and only time? Tweeting as he went was stupid. Kids can't tweet from school can they? Having a PhD doesn't ensure common sense.
I resent having to follow Timmy to find out what is going on. My blog and my website do not require subscriptions. Anyone can read it. It is open to lurkers and to commenters alike. Timmy can lurk and no one is the wiser. I don't need to know that there are 295 people out there following my antics. Take it or leave it. If you want to read it, go for it. You don't have to let anyone know.
Elaine
Who's on the list besides you ?
OK 11:41, I'll bite or in the 21st Century would it be more appropriate to write... I'll byte?
You wrote: " In that capacity I am sure he thought it wise to visit as many schools as possible on opening day to be visible." why is it essential that he be "visible" on opening day?
You can watch him at least twice a week on cable, you can read his blog so what is so important that he be visible on opening day? If he had the flu yesterday or emergency surgery would the school system collapsed? Would hundreds of studemts and parents wandered the streets lookimg for their school? Would the Lincoln principal gone into caffeine withdrawal?
Teacher at 9:37: please answer the questions. I am cuirious as well.
I come from a family of teachers but was discouraged as I found out how difficult it was to get a job without Bering part of the generational teachers. Not here, necessarily, but where I came from. Being a teacher was not considered for anyone who was the breadwinner. In some ways if pay isn't a factor, you're only going to teach if u love to teach.
12:30 nobody said the Super shouldn't visit schools. Quit the contrary, IMO he should... observe classes, interview teachers to find out their needs, problems that need rectified etc.
Why his travels and beverage choices are not essential infomation.
An assistant super's pay would buy teachers a lot of supplies and its about the one year goal of the PK fund raising campaign when added up over 6 years.
Too many to list, but many are from the media including Pop City, The Almanac, Pittsburgh Business Times, The Trib, the PG, KDKA, The Upper St. Clair Patch, Dormont Patch, Fake Lebo, mtl magazine, some from the Central Office, principals or superintendents from other districts, Dan Miller, Matt Smith. I wouldn't say a whole lot of parents.
Timmy follows 11.
Shaun Tomaszewski @LeboScience
Science Educator PhD Student (School Leadership) MEd 2010 (Science Education) BPhil 2009 (Microbiology and Neuroscience) Words are mine, not the District's
MtLebanon Sports @MtLebanonSports
This is the official twitter page for the Mt. Lebanon Athletics.
Mr. Hladio @MrHladio
8th Grade Language Arts at Jefferson Middle School. What are we learning? Come find out! Our tweets do not officially represent MTLSD.
Khan Academy Verified account @khanacademy
Working to make a free, world-class education available for anyone, anywhere.
ASCD @ASCD
The international education association dedicated to providing programs, products, and services that empower educators to support the success of each learner.
AASA @AASAHQ
American Association of School Administrators supports and develops effective school system leaders dedicated to high-quality public education for all children.
Sir Ken Robinson @SirKenRobinson
U
MtLebanon SD @MTLSD
The official twitter channel for the Mt. Lebanon School District
Daniel Pink Verified account @DanielPink
Author of: To Sell is Human, Drive, A Whole New Mind, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko & Free Agent Nation.
Chris Stengel @CRStengel
Public K12 Tech Director with great interest in using technology to increase and enhance student learning. Words are my own, not the district's.
TED News Verified account @TEDNews
ALL the news from #TED: TEDTalks, TED Conferences, the TED Prize and more.
Elaine: Do you think the media cared to receive 23 Tweets from Mr. Steinhauer yesterday?
If there are very few parents Just what purpose does the tweeting serve?
Think Daniel Pink or the Khan Academy gives a hoot about photos of the Mellon cafeteria, front of Markhan School or book bags lined up against a brick wall?
Nearly fell out of my chair over what I believe is the funniest FakeLebo post yet.
Now that picture of the parking lot on the first day of school is hilarious. I thought it might be a shot of administrators' row.
9:10 AM,
From Mellon principal:
"4. We just received individual test reports for last year's PSSA and Keystone Exams. They are a little later than usual from the PA Dept. of Education. We are working to put together the mailing and are planning on mailing those reports out on 9/10/13. 6th graders will be receiving their 5th grade scores from their elementary schools and will be mailed out on the same date."
Elaine
Ask the superintendent how much he cares about safe routes to schools. That will get him really excited. In fact, tweet the idea to him. Even better!
To the educator who posted here,
You referred to yourself as a teacher but you receive no benefits and are doing laundry for your students. I’m thinking you are likely a personal care assistant being paid for working 7.0 hours per day for an hourly wage of perhaps $13.00 per hour.
Next year looks better, because you work over 30 hours per week, you will be eligible to receive healthcare benefits under Mr. Obama’s Affordable Care Act. If you receive the same healthcare benefits as other district employees you will be participating in approximately one-half of the total benefit dollars paid to our employees.
Check with Mr. Scheurer’s office for details.
FYI Dr. Steinhauer,
"The Definitive Do's and Don'ts of Social Media Marketing"
Do: Listen to-And Engage With-Your Audience
"Steve Goldner, a digital and social marketing executive consultant, feels it's important to "[k]now your target audience well and have deep empathy for them." He adds, "Listen to them on social channels-not just your own. Engage with them where the conversation is happening. Understand the type of information they value, as opposed to what you want to push. Be a valued source for your target audience.""
http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/Editorial/Feature/The-Definitive-Dos-and-Donts-of-Social-Media-Marketing-91638.htm
Thank you, Dr. Steinhauer for keeping up with the Kahn Academy. Here is a really interesting interview with Mr. Kahn the Academy's founder who has received over $30,000,000 from the Bill Gates Foundation. It is really worth reading this 60 Minutes interview. Education just took a big step forward for kids who struggle with a class. Think Flipped Classroom with extra help.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57600323/khan-academy-the-future-of-education/?pageNum=5
Corrected link to Kahn Academy from 10:36 post
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57600323/khan-academy-the-future-of-education/
Such a whirlwind: 59 schools in 59 minutes...very impressive, but a mile wide and only an inch deep, don't you think? It seems our super Super is jack of all trades, master of none---no tweets on academic excellence or substantive programming? Well, it would be good for the top manager not to get mired in the minutiae of the school day, right? Am I confused or is the super Super spinning like a top?
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