Original publication date: 3/15/17 2:09 PM
Mt. Lebanon Democrats endorse School Board Directors
Last Wednesday, March 8, the Mt. Lebanon Democratic Committee endorsed the slate of Mike Riemer, Stephen Strotmeyer and Aviva Diamond for Mt. Lebanon School Directors.
We believe our candidates to be well educated, successful volunteers with a strong history of service to Mt. Lebanon, as well as, a desire to serve our District's students. This slate is composed of fresh thinkers who respect tradition, embrace accountability and innovation.
You can learn more about our endorsed candidates at
www.friendsofmtlebanoneducation.com
39 comments:
Glad to see we have options other than Birks, Remely and Cappucci.
Admittedly this resident haven't been paying attention to the SB meetings as I probably should, but I get the impression that Riemer been reasonable and not just a rubber stamp for the administration.
Is that impression correct? Love to hear others impressions on the candidates.
Hasta la vista Timmy Ticket.
Oh 4:23 if that were only guaranteed!
The people that put them on the board in the first place aren't going to give up easily and we need to be sure of where their replacements stand on things like bonuses, newcomer taxes, artificial turf, etc.
It sure did get quiet all of a sudden, 4:23 PM. ;)
The Dem's want no part of the other slate. Is it because there is a RINO on the ticket? Or is it because they want no part of Cappucci and her baggage? Mary Birks? Who knows? I'm glad that there is a movement for more transparency. Are Timmy's days numbered? We'll see. Since everyone cross filed, R's and D's can vote for Riemer, Strotmeyer, and Diamond. Twice. YAY!
Elaine
4:32 PM, please read their bios. Riemer and Strotmeyer are on the school board now. They aren't running with Birks, Remely, or Cappucci. They are not on the Timmy ticket. That says something, doesn't it?
Elaine
Yes, I read the bios for Riemer, Strotmyer, Diamond ticket and an aware the two are incumbents.
I was referring to the Timmy Ticket not going away easily.
I think Riemer has been fiscally conservative but haven't paid close attention to Strotmeyer.
I hope to read more about each candidate and others impressions of them.
Pretty good bet, any info along those lines will appear here before anything appears from the official Mt. Lebanon magazine.
There's no way 4:32 will be voting for any of the Timmy Ticket candidates!
I wonder if anyone remembers the battle over the zoning requirements for parking spaces at the HS project.
Timmy, Cappucci and Remely led that fight with municipality and here we are how many years later and the lack of parking for students and events is a big problem.
Mike Riemer worked in the schools for years as the School Resource Officer fighting bullying, drug/alcohol abuse, etc. He probably understands the kids and what they must face on many fronts. I guess he must also know many teachers and administrators so he has some idea as to who is effective. I don't really know his positions but he certainly must care about the District. I suspect they are lucky to have him.
The other ticket did not seek the democratic endorsement, so it doesn't speak "volumes".
Oh, OK. Gotcha. ;)
Elaine
They did not seek it because they knew they would not get it!!
Don't get into their heads unless you are one of the candidates that did not seek the endorsement by the Dems. If you are, please sign your name.
Sylvia
10:31, I'm also a big supporter of Mike Riemer. I met him a few years back before his retirement when he was involved in the Citizens Police Academy, which BTW I recommend that everyone attend. Mike is a stand up person who talked quite a bit about his daughters who played volleyball at the high school. He's the kind of person who treats other kids like his own. Like you stated in your post, he was heavily involved in education and prevention of alcohol/drugs to the students of Mt. Lebanon, something to be admired for.
Nick M.
I'm still waiting for someone, anyone, to explain their infatuation with the Timmy Team.
What have they done that makes them your choice for re-election?
The high school project is over budget if you include everything they managed to move off budget. It's unfinished, the practice field is still a mud mountain, there are no tennis courts, the rifle range is gone and parking is lacking.
The $6 million, 5 year Capital Campaign is STILL in a quiet phase with no accounting of the expenditures or revenues from it and finally and most important it looks like tax hikes are getting bigger every year now yet student achievement while very good is where it has always been.
Back to Riemer. He goes to my church. The guy's a saint. He's always volunteering. He sits on the Finance Committee and keeps track of every dime. Always pleasant and positive. Great family.
I see why he didn't want to run with Cappucci, Remely, and Birks.
Elaine
8:06, I'm perfectly okay with not having a SHOOTING RANGE in a high school.
Fine for you 9:13, but the kids interested in the sport might be disappointed. Plus one would think a $113 million high school project would offer more not less than we had before. At least that's how the Timmy Team sold the project to the community.
Mils up.
Salaries up.
Achievement down!
Thanks to Timmy and the board who picked him. Cappucci, Birks, Remly. Bringing more taxes and facilities and less education to MTL!!!!
I had coffee with Aviva Diamond a couple of weeks ago. We talked about many issues facing the district in the coming years, including the teacher contract in 2018. I found her to be intelligent and level-headed. She was also very interested in hearing my thoughts since I have a child in the district. I got the feeling that she would be willing to listen before making a decision.
I had approved this anonymous comment under an earlier thread. Pretty defensive, wouldn't you say?
Elaine
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Was: The nonsense is NOT stopping. Now: The Timmy ...":
"Why is a RTK your solution for everything? What, you're going to get a hold of young adults' resumes for a social studies position and then decide if Cappucci was the most qualified? I'm sure the LC readers will be able to do that objectively after reading these comments. Also, you can't submit a RTK for in person interviews, which i'm sure are a big part of applying for a teaching job. Maybe if you all are so interesting in checking out applications, you should just become a superintendent. I'm sure it is an easy job to obtain especially in such a failing school like Mt. Lebo.
Posted by Anonymous to Lebo Citizens at March 18, 2017 at 3:57 PM"
Resumes are not needed, just an HONEST and accurate count of whether any candidate interviews were conducted.
It is entirely possible that young Cappucci was the best candidate. You'd think jeans the Super would be glad to confirm that and put all the suspicion of nepotism to rest.
No investigation is needed. Some ethics, however, were needed from Capucci. Cappucci should simply have told her son that applying for the job just could not happen and said the following: "I'm sorry son but I'm a longtime school director and former president of the Board. I hired the previous and current superintendent and many others involved in the hiring process and those who would manage you. I've known and worked with them all for years. The Administration can't be placed in the impossible position of potentially rejecting you and fear the implications. It would give the strong appearance of impropriety. Please apply for vacancies at one of the many districts in the area."
As a parent of a 2nd grader we became aware of recently illicit materials in the Markham library. The school board and administration are not over sighting gender toxic materials in an elementary school. After finding the crude book the principal agreed the book should be removed. I strongly support new candidates for school board...people need to go into the schools and observe teachers and principals. Vote for the independent republican candidate.
8:02 PM, I have yet to learn the independent R's name. It makes it tough to vote for him or her without a name OR their bio.
Elainw
I have heard different names...probably best to wait for the certification, BOE should list candidates this week. I suspect the candidate will be solid and good for a school board that is mired in personal controversies. The issue of illicit materials in elementary schools should trouble all of us...
The RCML is mired in controversy with Remely filing with democrats...talk is Remely should be removed from RCML, per bylaws.
What is the crude book and what does the librarian say about it?
I have an idea...Why doesn't Capucci's son just apply for Timmy's Job.. I bet he would be cheaper with Mama Elaine on the board he is a shoe in! Then Ms. Capucci can get her entire family working for MTLSD!!
Remely never delivered on his original campaign promise to keep the high school project UNDER $100 million. He also rubber stamped, along with the rest of the board, numerous change orders that some people believe were omitted from the original design to keep the project below the cap.
The crude book was an illicit picture book of Arianna Grande (Very immodestly dressed)... I was told boys would take the book and whisper and giggle at the pictures. In the era of protecting our daughters and building up self-esteem we have books in our elementary school depicting women as illicit objects, rather than strong independent women. The librarian claimed she didn't know the book was in the library..hence my serious concern. In fact the Principal was unaware of the procedure for screening books that come into the library. Who knows what other disgusting things are in the library.
While I can't critique the book in question, are pictures of Ariadne Grande immodestly dressed the issue. Seriously?! I can wonder why such a book is a necessary addition in an elementary school library though.
Watch any Grande, Beyonce, Madonna, Britney Spears or other popular singers today and they're all about sensuality and tittilation. Take a look at a photo or two on Lebomag. This is the society we live in.
Boys have been snickering and giggling at pictures of scantily clad women forever.
National Geographic magazines were a great source of titilating photos for young boys decades. Should we throw those out too! How about art books? Certainly we must make sure no young girls are exposed to Michelangelo's statue of David so that they aren't stigmatized for life.
Perhaps 8:49 you're barking up the wrong tree and should be attacking the pop music industry rather than the school library for promoting indecent dress and morales.
Your analogies are misguided and assessing blame is not the original point of concern. Rather, the inclusive answer is to realize that some children were bothered by what images they saw in the book. As an inclusive community we must respect all opinions.
And how does this have anything to do with the Dems endorsing Riemer, Strotmeyer, and Diamond?
Elaine
3:41 maybe you should remind the Timmy Team that they should respect all opinions.
They, if you remember, were disrespectful towards Elaine when she presented over 4,000 signatures against the $113 million HS plan. A lot of us were offended by that attitude, but it didn't seem to matter.
Cappucci also refused to consider the CAC's (comprised of 12 construction industry pros) advice on the project.
It appears this community is inclusive only when it suits the agenda.
3:41 if children are bothered by images in a book, maybe they should learn that they always have the option to - close the book.
That's not all that hard to do.
As to what this has to do with the candidates for school board, they're going to have to deal with nonsense like this. My opinion Riemer may be better equipped to put it in perspective than some of the others.
Of course I wasn't there, but a Democrat informed me that there was a question raised at the MLDC meeting about Elaine Cappucci running again. I don't know, Elaine. I think this is going to be embarrassing for you.
Elaine
Because she's in complete violation of the nepotism policy! The MLDC does not support her!!
"Senate GOP readies for another shot at the pension problem"
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/03/senate-gop-readies-for-another-assault-on-the-pension-problem.php
"Kocher said the main goal of the Senate's plan is to lower the state's $70 billion unfunded pension liability, and shift risk away from taxpayers and onto the state workers receiving the pensions."
A good question for all our school board candidates is... where do they stand on pension reform.
Cappucci's response will be enlightening since her son will be affected by the changes.
Keep in mind the MTLSD board belongs to the PSBA (PA School Board Association) and that organization packs some influence in Harrisburg.
Both the R and D parties should be doing something to let voters know where the candidates stand on the issues! Or are they just around to collect campaign contributions for undefined candidates solely to carry on their meaningless brands.
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