The letter is below with a scanned copy to follow.
Thank you for contacting me. I share the same concerns. I don't know what else could be done. I have contacted the school board and they think it is perfectly fine to have Mary Birks, Executive Director of Outreach, serve as a school board director at the same time. Keep your eyes open for Fake Information Officer Susan Morgans to come back with another article about Outreach. Both local governments have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
I have written about the conflict with Elaine Cappucci coming back on to the school board, but her arrogance has gotten in the way of common sense.
The only way to stop these two women is by voting them out. Dan Remely has to go too. The Timmy ticket of Cappucci, Birks, Remely and Caste is what is keeping Timmy employed. His raises are outrageous. His amended contract is appalling. His methods of hiring are scandalous and reek of collusion. His arrogance falls in line with Birks and Cappucci.
To the relatively new family who wrote to me, it has been like this for a very long time. I started following Mt. Lebanon closely in 2010. Up until then, I had two jobs, was caring for a sick loved one, and was raising a family. I was just trying to survive, as many of you are doing today. I am thrilled to see that my efforts are starting to get people talking.
The Primary is May 16, 2017. Please get out and vote. Stop the corruption and let's get our community back.
Update April 20, 2017 9:33 AM Watch for these yard signs. They are getting my vote.
Update April 21, 2017 6:53 PM More information, as promised from a RTK.
34 comments:
Doesn't anyone find it old that Reimer's wife works for the district too?
The most important job of a school director is to evaluate the superintendent. How can Cappucci objectively evaluate Steinhauer after he gave her own son a dream job and coaching assignment? And Remember, what Steinhauer giveth, Steinhauer can taketh away. A poor review of Steinhauer by Cappucci could endanger her own son's job. The idea Cappucci can be an effective school director at this point is just not reasonable. Her time is passed.
5:21 are you for real? are you comparing the position of a teacher to that of an aid? I for one do not believe we need to be concerned with a teachers aid. Officer Reimer is a fair and objective member of the school board. Cappucci and Birks are corrupt to the core.
I wish Reimer could throw them in JAIL!
I didn't know that Ms. Birks works for Outreach. Thanks for posting this. They do so much good and I'll definitely vote for her now. It really says a lot about her.
I can't wrap my head around this one. When I went on Outreach'a website to find out who is on the board, I read that Outreach is hosting a fundraiser, Night at the Speakeasy. Isn't that sending the wrong message?
http://www.outreachteen.org
Elaine
This situation is freaky. Cappucci pushed for Timmy's raise and extended contract with fixed raises. Then, Andrew Cappucci gets hired in 4 days for a position never posted but announced in February that it was a resignation in June. Hmm. She resigns and suddenly, Katie Caste, Mary's bestie is the front runner for the vacancy. But they picked another guy!!! So now, Cappucci, Birks & Caste are a team ripe with controversy and running for what? Completely selfish reasons. To control the board? To cater to the administration? We're on course to be the next Plum, Baldwin Whitehall or Bethel Park...Headlines will read about the corruption, nepotism, conflict, and when people ask for the best schools, they will go elsewhere.
It seems clear from the PA Ethics Commission what the areas of concern are. Birks can wear both hats, as long as the proper protocol is followed. The district is stonewalling anyone who wants info on if the rules were followed. If there was nothing to hide, why wouldn't the district play their hand by now to settle the matter? They won't answer emails. Would they answer residents asking directly at the April 18 Board meeting (7:30 pm high school room D205) or would they throw us out?
http://www.ethics.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
§ 1103. RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES
(a) Conflict of interest.--No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest.
(f) Contract.--No public official or public employee or his spouse or child or any business in which the person or his spouse or child is associated shall enter into any contract valued at $500 or more with the governmental body with which the public official or public employee is associated or any subcontract valued at $500 or more with any person who has been awarded a contract with the governmental body with which the public official or public employee is associated, unless the contract has been awarded through an open and public process, including prior public notice and subsequent public disclosure of all proposals considered and contracts awarded. In such a case, the public official or public employee shall not have any supervisory or overall responsibility for the implementation or administration of the contract. Any contract or subcontract made in violation of this subsection shall be voidable by a court of competent jurisdiction if the suit is commenced within 90 days of the making of the contract or subcontract.
That's tomorrow, 8:49 PM. Thanks for the heads up. I hope that someone brings this up during the comments portion of the meeting.
Elaine
I agree with Elaine at 7:27.
Rather than A Night at the Speakeasy why don't they call it A Little Bit of the Hair of the Dog That Bit Ya!
Elaine is spot on.
Why in the world would a group like Outreach want to do anything that is associated with an illegal activity.
speakeasy
[speek-ee-zee]
noun, plural speak·eas·ies.
a saloon or nightclub selling alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during Prohibition.
What a ridiculous irony!
What's next - A Night in a Hong Kong Opium Den?
Wait 6:47! I didn't know that you are the authority, will you please post the rules as to which job is ok for family and which isn't
Let me explain 8:14PM. Officer Riemer's wife worked for the district for years before he was elected to the school board. She works as a personal care assistant. It is a grueling and low paid job that the district has great difficulty filling. The Cappucci boy was hired by Dr. Steinhauer right after Mrs. Cappacci supported his reworked contract and bonus. He works as a social studies teacher. It is a great job. The district receives dozens of applications for every vacancy. I wonder if the other applicants even had a chance. Cappucci is hopelessly in Steinhauer's debt so she cannot be expected to objectively evaluate him. She also cannot be involved in the teacher's labor contract negotiations which is a key responsibility of a director. She is profoundly compromised and should not serve on the board.
Seems to me that in this wild hypothetical, if she raised his contract for her sons job they'd be even now, and she wouldn't be in his debt.
So then Elaine Cappucci and Timmy can both go to jail for collusion. Is that what you are saying, 4:48 PM? If they are "even now," they don't deserve to be associated with Mt. Lebanon School District.
Elaine
4:48 what you are describing is a quid pro quo. Are you OK with our officials operating that way?
"The term quid pro quo is also used in the contexts of politics and Sexual Harassment. In politics quid quo pro can refer to the use of political office for personal benefit. For instance, an elected official might promise favorable governmental treatment to a person in exchange for something of value. This form of quid pro quo would be a violation of the law. On the federal level, the Hobbs Act (18 U.S.C.A. § 1951 [1994]) makes it a felony for a public official to extort property under color of office. Trading campaign contributions for promises of official actions or inactions are also prohibited under the act."
Late to the game here--
Anyone done the research on when the job held by Cappucci's son was originally posted as open, how many and when applications were submitted, when the open job was deemed filled and pulled off the district site, when Cappucci resigned, and when the job offer extended/Board approved the hire?
I know that Elaine Cappucci resigned on July 18, 2016. https://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2016/07/elaine-cappucci-resigns.html
As I said in my original post, it's up to the voters now. Saw my first yellow and black, very tiny yard sign for Caste, Cappucci, Birks, and Remely. On Roycroft. Of course.
Elaine
There was never a posted opening. He was not interviewed. He was hired July 25 and the board approved August 4. He resigned from Trinity August 18 retroactive to August 4. Normally, as a teacher (I'm a 2nd grade teacher here). It took me subbing, as long term sub and finally I was hired. I'm also a graduate of Mt. Lebo. I had an interview with my principal, the assistant superintendent and the superintendent. I was one of 40+ applicant. Other teachers in the district know he was hired because his mom and the superintendent are friends. They hang out at Houlihan's almost every week with Mary Birks among others. Talk about in cahoots!
8:45 PM, you mean that Cappucci's son was hired seven days after she resigned from the school board? That is horrible! So are people spreading the word?
Elaine
Now I understand the comment left by 7:47 PM on April 17. Mary Birks wouldn't vote for Strotmeyer because he was a guy.
Mt. Lebanon school board names new member
Elaine
Has someone put in an official request for the information from the district regarding the hire? I'm guessing most is public-original post date, posting, date Cappucci's son submitted his application (I assume it's stamped via on-line submission), when and with whom interviews took place), when the post was taken down (assumed to be due to position being filled or scrapped),etc.
Ironic isn't it? Mt. Lebanon has gone to great lengths to turn a blind eye towards ones gender, going so far as voting to make the Home Rule Charter gender neutral.
We hold Unity Rallies supporting the idea that no one should be judged based on their sex, color, religion or sexual identity, yet School Board and Outreach Director Mary Birks bases her choice for a replacement SB member on - ta da, gender! Citing that there aren't enough females on the board.
Elaine, I know this is creating more work for you, but since a lot of people rely on your blog for information on Lebo would it be possible to post the SB and Commission candidates and their party affiliation?
School Board elections affect everyone, since it is district wide. Also, school board candidates cross file, so it doesn't really matter as far as party affiliation, but here it goes:
Mike Riemer (D)
Aviva Diamond (D)
Stephen Strotmeyer (D)
Mary Birks (D)
Elaine Cappucci (D)
Katie Caste (D)
Dan Remely (R)
And the mystery (R) from Ward 2, which I never got the name.
Ward 2 commission candidates
Charlotte Stephenson (R)
Steve Silverman (D)
Bob Lee (D)
Ward 4 commission candidates
Bob Fischer (R)
Craig Grella (D)
I should have more information to post within the next few days, since I filed a RTK and should be granted without any issues.
Elaine
At some point, do we start questioning Timmy's ethics? Or is he the Teflon superintendent?
Elaine
#TeflonTimmy
That's interesting. Someone ask for some info and 25 minutes later it appears on the unofficial community blog.
No smarmy answer, no need to file an RTK, no expensive NYC trips, no taxpayer paid cell phone or iPad, no high salary and the info is as is pretty much complete as possible!
Thank you Elaine! I want to know anything about what's happening in the bubble I'll check Lebocitizens first.
I would argue that party affiliation is irrelevant in local politics more broadly, and increasingly, in the nation.
Although I do plan to ask both Bob and Craig why they are affiliated with the parties that they have chosen.
I agree, Jason. Party affiliation means nothing in Mt. Lebanon.
I would disagree Jason and 12:31 especially when it comes to school directors.
Take a look at whom the teachers union supports, locally and at the state and federal levels then tell me party affiliation doesn't matter.
Now if you're talking about the voting records of say Remely (R) and Cappucci, Birks, Lebowitz (Ds) then yeah there isn't much difference.
https://www.applitrack.com/mtlsd/OnlineApp/JobPostings/view.asp?Category=Teacher/&AppliTrackJobId=471&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1
The position was posted for less than a day! So within a day the applications were closed and miraculously, 3 days later, ELAINE CAPPACCI RESIGNS.
Middle School Social Studies Teacher - 8th Grade US History-Contract 2016-2017
JobID: 471 Apply
Position Type: Teacher - Middle School/Social Studies
Date Posted: 7/13/2016
Location: Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Date Available: 8/22/16
Closing Date: 07/13/2016
You are saying teacher Cappucci got the job while his mother was still on the board?
I think MLPD should be investigating this crime
Ya think, 6:07 PM? Cappucci's been pulling this crap for years. She even hit up the poor framing store owner for a "School Board Director discount" while the Lebanon Shops shop was going out of business.
I am still trying to find her campaign group photo where she was snarling at the camera.
Elaine
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