Collier Township resident, Jan Klein, has received the Gary E. Reeser Memorial Award from the PA Association of School Business Officials.
In honor of her recognition, a Mt. Lebanon student will receive a Gary E. Reeser Memorial scholarship for $2,500.
“Ms. Klein’s recognition is indicative of the depth of business competence she brings to her work every day,” superintendent Timothy Steinhauser said. “She has successfully integrated proven best practices into the district’s core operations and this award recognizes that achievement.”Are we talking about the same person, Timothy Steinhauser [sic]? Here are just a few Lebo Citizens posts which see things differently.
I can tell you one thing: I know for a FACT that the MTLSD business model is unsustainable.
ReplyDeleteThe idea is - boiled down - have excellent PR, kep bringing in richer and richer people who want to keep their kids away 'from those bad schools', and keep spending.
Here is where the Ponzi scheme all falls apart: MTL is not a rich community, it is on the border of middle and upper-middle class. The tax base cannot, and will never be able to, support the school district's spending habits.
They know this. This is why they started a campaign to raise $6M of private funds. The problem: No one wants to give money to a priviliged community. Foundations and donors are more likely to want to support kids 'in those bad schools'.
This is where the plan falls apart - their very image makes them unattrative to private funds, yet the public funds cannot sustain their spending habits -- spending habits that are, by the way, completely unnecessary to maintain an excellent education.
The teachers here are good, and the kids have better support at home than in most places. Give the teacher a book and a tree, and learning will occur. If not careful, MTLSD will be buried in its own bells and whistles.
And this is coming from someone whose first of 3 kids is about to enter MTLSD next year... but the way I look at it, while I want my kids to be well-educated, I do not want them to have unrealistic expectations about what the world is going to give them at other's expenses.
- Jason M.
There have always been 2 sets of books. Sable discovered so many illegal activities, that, had that come out, the school district would have been bankrupt from all of the lawsuits. Klein needs to retire and move on. She is a big part of the financial mess.
ReplyDeleteThey dropped the audit committee -- which is illegal in other states!
ReplyDeleteHow many people received the the "Century of Excellence Capital Campaign" informational packet this week? Not a cheap packet to produce and cost $2 to mail. What a waste! Your fundraiser isn't working, and in true current Mt. Lebanon fashion, you keep throwing more money at an idea that isn't showing results. My husband and I won't be attending and we won't be donating.
ReplyDelete7:51 AM, would you be willing to discuss this? If so, you must have been identified as a possible donor. Is it because you are active in the community, have children in the school district, or are perceived to have the financial means to contribute to the campaign?
ReplyDeleteI didn't receive it, so I am curious as to what was contained in this packet.
Elaine
Funny how she moved out of "her" community the minute she knew taxes would go through the roof. What a piece of work. But she's smarter than the rest of the dirtbags who forced the new high school. She isnt paying for it like the rest of 'em.
ReplyDeleteCan you be more specific 8:47PM? Two sets of books by itself is not illegal as many businesses do it to support different accounting methods. You seem to be implying though that Sable found criminal activities. What are these? A slush fund for personal expenses? Contractor kickbacks? If you have such information or if Sable did there is an obligation to the community to report these to the authorities. Has someone contacted the PA Attorney General or the US Attorney for Western PA about these illegal activities? If I personally had such information that it seems you do, I would contact the authorities. I am sure a District Attorney would take such a call. These are serious charges with penalties for the aforementioned offenses carry prison sentences upwards of 20 years.
ReplyDeleteJason M.
ReplyDeleteSo what are the solutions you offer? You are always quick to point out problems but never solutions. I find you quite annoying.
"...this is my community, this is my school district and this is where I belong,”
ReplyDeleteSorry, Ms. Klein, but this isn't your community so right off the bat... you're friggin' lying. You high-tailed it outta here as soon as the high school project started and moved.
Unless you're planning to move your residence back into Mt. Lebanon you are just an employee nothing more, nothing less so knock off the bullshit.
Was the "Century of Excellence Capital Campaign" packet marked "For Your Eyes Only."
ReplyDeleteWho produced this and how much money was spent on it? It's time for a public accounting of this fundraiser.
PK ran off with quite a bit of public money, the Campaign Chair's salary and benefits are paid by the district.
We deserve answers and their should be an audit.
9:32 AM, do you find Jason M. more annoying than Jan Klein? Trick question, 9:32 AM. This post is about Jan Klein and her solutions to problems.
ReplyDeleteElaine
9:32 tunnel vision isn't a good replacement for thinking.
ReplyDeleteIf you've been following Jason's comments on this blog you'd know he lights problems offers solutions.
If you think endless spending, throwing mountains of money for poorly planned projects and salaries is going to make this community prosperous, you are deluding yourself.
Let's take Klein for instance, because she is the topic of this post.
She states this is her community. Hmmm, interesting.
When she retires on her generous public pension, will she be supporting "her community" by paying school district property taxes? Will she be donating to the Capital Campaign, paying for turf, sewer fees, MTL magazine, the Library, etc., etc.?
It is amazing that our teachers union, the administration would have you believe that the pension crisis we now face is because Harrisburg underfunded it. Unfortunately, they will not recognize that the generous pay increases that exceeded the cost of living index year after year after year had a far greater impact on those legacy costs.
They'll keep giving them even though as Jason points out the spending on all fronts... salaries... construction... athletics... is unsustainable.
You're all over Jason, 9:32, but make sure you ask the school board candidates the same question you're asking him.
Promises of property, a chicken in every pot, milk and honey aren't plans, they are just empty campaign rhetoric.
Just as empty as Klein's statement that this is her community is.
Correction @12:12.
ReplyDeletePromises of prosperity, a chicken in every pot, milk and honey aren't plans, they are just empty campaign rhetoric.
Just as empty as Klein's statement that this is her community.
Remember when a certain Lebo mom and California transplant admonished the school board during the high school renovation planning that we should be more like California?
ReplyDeleteWell she got her wish!
"Last June Mr. Brown signed legislation that will require school districts to increase funding for teachers’ pensions from less than $1 billion this year in school year 2014-15, which started in September, to $3.7 billion by 2021, gobbling up much of the new tax money. With the state’s general government pension fund, Calpers, also demanding more money, California taxpayer advocate Joel Fox recently observed that no matter what local politicians tell voters, when you see tax increases, “think pensions.”
Read Full Article »"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2015/01/13/pension_sink_gulping_billions_in_tax_raises_349160.html
Ask Klein if it is not true that our pension costs isn't a huge sink that will gulp billions of PA taxpayers money.
It's all good - if I am annoying you, it's probably because you know I am right but are in denial because it would shake up your precious little world.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which - Here is my simple solution: (a) Millage freeze for 3 years; (b) Cost-of-living increases paid for by CUTS to unnecessary spending that benefits the few and already-privilged.
In other words, cut the spending on the precious and stop raising local property taxes to unsustainable levels. You will still have a 'great school district' - but one that can actually last.
- Jason M.
- Jason M.
I like it Jason!
ReplyDeleteNow 9:32, time for your rebuttal, you have the soapbox.
I don't think the current administration and school board is capable of making the appropriate changes required to promote the positive school/community/alumni relationships that are necessary to foster a climate of investment in the schools.
ReplyDeleteThe current board and administration would not be in this delicate situation if they knew what they were doing. Many people view them as incompetent, ignorant and yet, entitled.
Two articles from The Wall Street Journal...
ReplyDelete#1.
"ECONOMY
Slowing Job Growth Tests Economy
Timing of Fed rate increases called into question as weak hiring punctuates recent hiccups
A sharp deceleration in hiring last month ended a yearlong stretch of heady job creation, stirring concern about broader economic growth amid mounting evidence of a slowdown.
Closely watched gauges of consumer spending, capital investment and manufacturing output have all slumped in recent months."
#2.
"Wage Growth Remains Largely in Check
Annual pace stays around 2%, even as some big employers plan pay raises
Workers’ wages picked up in March, but signs of the long-awaited acceleration in American paychecks remain elusive."
But you can bet the teachers union will be threatening strike if they don't get their 3.5 to 4% annual raise and Ms. Klein will be pushing for an increase in millage.
Has the school board or Jan Klein provided a listing of cost savings and/or spending reductions for the 2015-2016 budget compared to the current year ?
ReplyDeleteHas Jan Klein provided an estimate of probable revenues & expenditures for the current 2014-2015 year vs. budget ? The school year is 70% complete, and the budget was set about 11 months ago.
10:08 pm When does Jan Klein or the school board usually provide those numbers and forecasts?
ReplyDeleteJason, what would you cut? I'm not asking that in an adversarial way, but as a parent of two in the schools I'd like to know what you propose to cut. We can all say "make cuts to keep taxes low" but the devil (and the really hard work) is in the details.
ReplyDeleteDave Franklin
Does it seem that everytime a big tax increase is looming Klein gets some big award or recognition for stellar accounting practices.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that old ditty - "a little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down."
Here's what bothers me about this award, especially during this Easter season.
ReplyDeleteKlein gets an award and some cake-eating Lebo student will get a $2,500 scholarship while somewhere in Pennsylvania there is a school district financial officer struggling to find ways just to keep the lights on and buy books.
Many graduates of that district will struggle also to even find the money to go to a community college.
In Mt. Lebanon, one branch of government thinks nothing of going to court and spending thousands over four parking spaces while the other district works to offer breakfast to kids that come to school hungry.
Is this a great community or what?
Mr. Franklin, how about the $85,000/year plus bennies Capital Campaign Director?
ReplyDeleteThis is a newly created position which didn't exist in the district for nearly 100 years and does nothing to educate the kids.
How's that for starters??
In private industry when faced with budget shortage they often consolidate position and layoff staff.
There is over $100,000 in savings with that one position. It wasn't too many years ago the directors were going to dismiss a student resource person.
How about cutting out the Supers pizza lunches? If he an the people that support the lunches have the time to lunch with 7-10 kids each month, maybe we can cut the PR staffer to part time.
I've always been curious to hear the specifics of what wondering information comes out of these lunches that couldn't be conveyed to him by the building staff.
Mr. Franklin, thought your primary concerns were with turfing more fields.
ReplyDeleteUnder the Toxic Turf Update you mentioned you couldn't wait to get to work on Mellon Field.
How about a moratorium on expecting the school district to participate in another million dollar turf project?
You still haven't addressed Tashman's comments about kids and sports under that topic.
Mr. Franklin, how about cutting an assistant superintendent? When MTLSD had an enrollment of over 8,000 students we had a Super and an Assistant Super. Now with just over 5,200 students we have three people in Superintendent positions and one of them is getting additional vacation time and has time to have pizza lunches with a bunch of kids.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is making crucial decision concerning the management of our school district based on conversations with a bunch of kids. Give me break!
Really, Mr. Franklin, you have to ask where we can make cuts. I wonder also what do barristas make these days?
We have to pay someone to make all those mocha lattes.
Mr. Franklin, a few years back the USC top administrators froze their own salaries and they didn't find it "hard work" to do.
ReplyDeleteMr. Franklin--
ReplyDeletehttp://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/03/saving-money-usc-style.html?m=1
"While our school board was debating about eliminating towels at the athletic facility at the stadium (#29), Upper St. Clair was exploring increased class sizes.
The USC School District is researching what—if any—classrooms it can increase in size to save money on staffing.
Administrators presented information to the school board Monday night.
"We're not talking about increasing class size because we want to, but because we might need to," said Rebecca Stern, school board president.
In addition, the USC superintendent and finance director were receptive to pay freezes. I didn't hear what number Steinhauer's and Klein's pay freeze was on "the list." Maybe they were number 39 and 40. It is a shame that the rest of the list is confidential.
Another hot topic in USC was athletics. Superintendent O'Toole said there has been no decrease in athletic participation since the pay-to-play fees were introduced at the beginning of the school year. The district received $60,000 in fees."
Salary freeze and Pay-to-Play... doesn't seem too hard considering Lebo students can afford $3.00 lattes every day.
Here's something to consider. Over at the USX facility in West Mifflin they're laying off 167 workers due to a falling demand for their steel.
So why is it impossible for MTLSD to shutter a school and cut staff? Lease the building to a charter school, make it a senior center. We have the same number of buildings in use today as we did in the seventies.
Why is it in the private sector staffing shrinks and grows with demand, but in education that is like the plague.
I know, I know... "it's for the children!" Yeah, and so is that furloughed steel workers paycheck! Who doesn't get tenure and pays ever larger contributions to their health insurance.
10:31 am "just an employee"? Nothing could be further from the truth! She has been the district's leader for many years.
ReplyDelete1:45, you obviously missed the point.
ReplyDeleteYes she is a manager and in charge of making big decisions that affect the operations and expenditures of the district.
BUT, this not her community, she doesn't live here and pay property taxes any longer. She does not have a vote in who runs the community so her BS that this is her community is disingenuous.
She is just an employee that serves at our discretion and she and the other administrators need to learn that.
Ask her or any teacher to accept a pay freeze or layoffs (something private sector employees endure from time to time) and you'll see real fast if this is "their community."
ReplyDeleteBeing what I consider a fast learner, I took a cue from the school distruct's PR office and approach my boss at work and said "this is my community, I belong here, now how about giving me some more money!"
ReplyDeleteHe hasn't stopped laughing yet.