The school board is considering spending $400,000 for better cell phone coverage at the high school. The spent quite a bit of time at the school board meeting on Monday night justifying this expense under Capital Projects. The question was posed at the 20:34 minute mark of the discussion session.
It seems as though there are land line telephones in every classroom, but cell phone coverage is poor inside the high school. While construction is being done at the high school, the school board feels that this is the time to install cell phone repeaters. Since we rely on our cell phones in emergency situations, the school board directors consider this as a safety issue.
The $400,000 cost is item number 43 on the capital projects list totaling $1.6 million, not totaled on the agenda. The Almanac covers the capital projects list in more detail here, Lebo schools to use $1.6 million for capital projects.
Ye Old Trophy Case is on this list. Dan Remely reminded the board that budget cuts are getting more and more difficult every year. Why is $75,000 being considered since it serves no safety, general maintenance, or educational purposes? The answer is that the capital fund is over $5.6 million. The school board is still considering how the trophy case will be paid.
If anyone is looking to file a Right To Know, the list of Capital Projects, including the top 67 items, would be a good start. This year's list is $500,000 more than usual.
The repeater devices do not cost $400,000:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newegg.com/Signal-Boosters/SubCategory/ID-615
The taxpayers are being sold a bill of goods.
Yup, that's right. Another pedestrian was hit last night crossing Washington Road -- just over the border in Dormont. But our walking school district's district's safety concern is about the dangers of teaching without good cell phone reception.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, 9:27 AM, wouldn't that be a municipal issue, rather than a school district issue? I am not trying to minimize your comment, so I am interested in hearing more about the pedestrian. I didn't see anything in the PG online. Would you mind emailing me privately more details?
ReplyDeleteElaine
School board president Elaine Cappucci stressed that although high school-related expenditures appear on the list, these were always intended to be done as capital projects. They include line items such as curtains and a sound system for the auditorium, as well as cafeteria tables. “This was not done to avoid any debt limit or referendum,” she said.
ReplyDeleteI won't say that's a lie but I won't say that's the truth.
What ever happened to the $900,000.00 expense for the cafeteria elements that was being added? Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteThe "capital project" shell game for all these extras to sneak under the renovation referendum game continues....
I'll be interested to see if the pedestrian or driver on West Liberty Ave (not Washington Road) was texting on their cell phone at the time of the accident.
ReplyDelete10:15, 10:18. Do you remember that 21st century model classroom the board constructed in the HS library to sell the HS renovation.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone think that the new modular desks, computer carts and networking, cell phone access wasn't included in the renovation specifications let out to bid?
Lets start counting...
• we built a luxurious weight training room without any allowance for the cost of weight training equipment
• we're building a beautiful cafeteria/public area with balconies, but tables and seating weren't included
• we still don't know where or when the HS tennis courts will be built
• there is no 21st century multi-media planetarium
• there probably won't be a rifle team range
On top of all that, building C has yet to be torn down. Why is that important?
Because in the boards efforts to avoid a referendum, they assume all financial responsibilty for costs overruns uncovered after the removal of building C.
Is this board the same board that whined and cried in their beer that it was difficult to fund educating our kids because Gov. Corbett cut education funding?
ReplyDeleteIs this board that sees nothing wrong with buying a $73,000 trophy case, the same one begging for contributions to fund the district? While paying a capital campaign manager $100,000 in salary/perks.
Yes, the same district where I was criticized for asking for Cyber Days during snow days. Look what Char Val is doing for their students. They're providing affordable Internet and low cost computers. www.cvsd.net
ReplyDeleteBut I bet we will have the crown jewel of trophy cases!
Elaine
There are laws related to pedestrian safety that school districts in PA are required to follow when students walk to school. They aren't followed though or examined.
ReplyDeleteSo pedestrian safety is not an either/or question (muni vs school district).. it's a shared responsibility.
West Liberty or Washington Road... the name changes after Scott Road, right? Accident in the 3200 block before 7 pm last night reported by Allegheny Co.
My understanding of the school district on pedestrian safety is that they support the use of crossing guards but that's it. At my kid's school, juvenile protection has a budget of $25. I am not sure what that covers.
How about a Pinocchio award to the Board, in the spirit of news organizations which give such an award to politicians for questionable statements, such as when a member states the Renovation project was not deliberately kept off a Referendum by moving tasks to the Capital Budget. After all, is the money not the taxpayers?
ReplyDeleteOh yes, our school district is so 21st century, buying $73,000 trophy cases and $400,000 on being able to use a cell phone in the building.
ReplyDeleteBut, here's what the rest of the country is focusing on. From the NY Times:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/nyregion/snow-day-thats-great-now-log-in-get-to-class.html?_r=0&referrer=
All these smug, we're so much better than thou Mt. Lebanonites better wake up an smell the roses.
ReplyDeleteIn the BizTimes Wealthiest School District Rankings - MTL comes in at #11, just ahead of #12 Penn-Trafford and behind #10 Seneca Valley.
USC is #2 and #1 is Pine-Richland.
Even Peters makes #3.
So, those Dormont Castle Shannon digs ring rather hollow. What are we, a big special Top Ten no show #11. Big deal!
All these smug, we're so much better than thou Mt. Lebanonites better wake up an smell the roses.
In the BizTimes Wealthiest School District Rankings - MTL comes in at #11, just ahead of #12 Penn-Trafford and behind #10 Seneca Valley.
USC is #2 and #1 is Pine-Richland.
Even Peters makes #3.
Big flippin' deal! We're #11, we're #11!!!! wow.
Why are these rankings important.?
Since MTLSD has been ranked #1 and #2 over the past few years, it seems to oint that land and new homes attract more big money than the school district.
Apparently the wealthy aren't looking for expensive condos at the corner of Washington and Bower Hill and probably won't want yo live next to a T station.
Bet they aren't looking for artificial turf either.
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2014/02/10/south-north-hills-boast-wealthiest.html
ReplyDeleteBut our super has a private potty. How many can beat that?
Wonder how many of the Top 10 Wealthiest Districts have a $84,000/year Campaign Chairman-ooops Chairperson- leading their beggin' effort?
ReplyDeleteThe board and construction manager keep proclaiming that the project is on course with spending related to completion.
ReplyDeleteHow can this be when building C and A have yet to be demolished.
In building B they've only remodeled down to the 5th floor.
Fine Arts, building F, they're still removing asbestos
Building D - the existing gym has yet to convert to the cafeteria/commons area
The science wing is only just about open for classes
The pool and main gym are functional, but the aux. gyms aren't open and I'm pretty sure the administration hasn't transferred to their new offices.
So how do they determine the building is 50% complete?
My teenager texts me from inside the building ALL DAY LONG. I am pretty sure the cell coverage is just fine.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember something about cell coverage varies from carrier to carrier. You must have the good one. Wink wink.
ReplyDeleteElaine