Someone asked me if I heard about the shake up on the PTA. Something about the president and the treasurer quitting at the same time.
What's the scoop?
Update May 25, 2017 8:06 AM Here is the scoop. Council PTA President Jodi Kubit and Council PTA Treasurer Jennie Bhojwani have resigned.
46 comments:
No news story here. The President resigned to work with her husband and his new company and the Treasurer is resigning to go back to school.
AT THE SAME TIME? Thats a news story.
No shouting, please. But I do agree with you, 5:43 PM. What is interesting to me is that a resident questioned the conflict of interest policy and the nepotism policy at the school board meeting on Monday night. I hear Mary Birks turned bright red. Timmy, of course, couldn't answer the questions.
Elaine
Or in other words 5:33, it's getting too hot in the kitchen and I'm politely stepping out for a breath of fresh air.
OK, this is getting stranger by the minute. Jodi Kubit resigned as president. I wanted to see what her husband, former MTL school board president, was up to since she was helping him with his new business. This is what I saw on Linkedin under Ed Kubit.
Board Of Directors
Outreach Teen & Family Services
March 2017 – Present (3 months)
They have not updated the Outreach website, since Ed's name is not listed.
Elaine
In response to the nepotism and conflict of interest policy inquiry, Birks responds, 'I think we have one that's a conflict of interest policy. It's separate from the anti nepotism policy.And um.'
You mean Moorhead's counsel was wrong and their was/is a conflict of interest!
Why is it the same names keep turning up time and time again in these organizations?
Is it that these people are the most talented, most dedicated or is it something else? Perhaps a good old 'person' network that locks anyone else out?
Let me get this straight:
Mary Birks is Executive Director for Outreach. So she would report to Ed Kubit as a Board member? And Jodi Kubit was the PTA Council President, who recommends and supports the contract for Outreach in the schools? And Mary Birks is the School Board President, who voted for her own contract every year on the board?
Yes, "I think we have one that's a conflict of interest policy" but the reality is we never read it or follow it.
6:34am. Exactly. Privilege seeks to maintain privilege. The system seeks to replicate itself, left unchecked. Until it collapses.
Speaking of the PTA, they are not going to like my June Behind the Bubble piece very much. The stories I am getting from work-out-of-the-home moms in MTL sheds a not so lovely light on them -- from cliquish, at minimum, to vicious at worst.
Jodi Kubit quit? Now that's the story. She never met a PTA she didn't want to run.
If Jodi Kubit quit there is a problem. She does a good job with everything she is involved with.
Her kids are not looking for a teaching job with the district!
3rd Vice President/Superintendent
Dr. Timothy Steinhauer
The Council PTA 3rd vice president, the district superintendent, shall act as an advisor and liaison between the PTA and the school district.
Is this the problem ?
Jodi only resigned because she is a mom who became overwhelmed with family commitments (which always come first for her), many volunteer leadership roles, and helping her husband get a new business venture off the ground. I know it was not an easy decision for her to step down but she did what was right for her family. She still is president of two high school fine arts booster organizations and still dedicates many hours to the kids in Lebo. She stepped down from high school PTA earlier in the year to try and free up some time. The Treasurer actually resigned three months ago. She is completing her term for the fiscal year for accounting purposes. She is just being replaced now that the fiscal year is almost over. Nothing nefarious going on. I respect her for putting her priorities in order for herself.
Or is this the problem, 8:01 AM?
Capital Campaign Liason (No, I didn't spell that incorrectly. I copied and pasted that from the PTA website.)
Katie Caste
Or this? Newsletter Coordinator
Shall serve as the PTA contact for newsletter articles and notices from the school district, community and other outside groups that are of district wide interest; and disseminate such district wide newsletter articles to each of the other school district PTA units.
Chair:
Julie Daubner (Elaine Cappucci's sister in law)
Or this? 2nd Vice President
Katie Caste
The Council PTA 1st vice president acts as an aide to the president, plans the calendar and programs, and coordinates the installation dinner. The 1st VP works closely with any committee chairperson designated by the president.
Elaine
8:01, Mrs. Kubit may not be looking for her kids to get future jobs in the district, but it is well known that the higher up you go in activities like the PTA, booster club etc., the more influence you have to get your kids into the best classes, playing time and so forth.
Anyway, so the PTA president and treasurer resigned and some assert there is nothing there... OK.
That still leaves us with the issue of rumored parent and teacher dissatisfaction with young Cappucci's hire and performance.
Will the Jefferson PTA take up the issue and find out if there was an ethics violation involved with his employment and whether he's a good teacher or not?
Seems to me this is a prime responsibility of the PTA since hundreds of young students will be forced to take classes over the years from someone that got hired not because they're the best teacher but instead because of his last name.
I guess in Lebo, it may be true that it's not what you know but who you know.
Wait...are you really attacking parent volunteers? seriously?
Jason, I'm a work from home Mom, and I was not at interviewed for your piece; so hope that your piece does not include all Work from home parents. Another question I have for you is are you willing to volunteer to help them? Have you actually helped or are you just criticizing from the sidelines? I'm grateful they do things for our kids, I may not agree with it all, but everyone agreeing is not reality.
Do the candidates that this board supports loathe or aren't in support of the PTA as well? I would assume they must from this post. I hope that they would not make it challenging for the district employees to work with the PTA.
WOW. just WOW.
12:26pm - who said you couldn't be interviewed/surveyed? Did you volunteer and then I said no? I am including everyone who wants to be included - unlike, from what I am hearing, much of Mt. Lebanon.
Pay close attention to the second bullet point, 8:88. The PTA is dedicated to children's educational success. One would think examining whether MTLSD is buying the BEST teachers our money can buy would be part of that mission.
PTA Value
• Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
• Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
• Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
• Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
• Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.
Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.
Hey 12:26pm - why don't you wait and read what Jason has to say in his next article before you resort to hyperbole! I didn't read anything in Jason's post about attacking parent volunteers. He only said the PTA will probably not like his June Behind the Bubble piece very much, and gave an example why. OK, so be it. Any organization that is criticized does not like it, but sometimes it's necessary; and on a few occasions even the organization being criticized will admit that the criticism was warranted. I've lived here for 42 years, and when Jason says he's hearing that the PTA is cliquish, at minimum, to vicious at worst, he's being kind! - just my opinion, of course.
Publis
I agree Publis!
Correction for comment at 1:29.
It should be 12:26, not 8:88.
Regardless, another question for 12:26.
Are the board of directors and the district administration so fragile in their operations that they can't stand up to a little scrutiny?
We know there was an ethics violation when a board member voted on a budget item that could affect their personal income. It's a proven violation and the board member admits it by saying they won't do it any more.
Does it warrant a slap on the wrist? Expulsion or should we just ignore it like it never happened?
If we choose the latter then let's just erase the ethics rules altogether, right?
Some people, like you 12:26, I guess believe we should have blind faith and accept that volunteers are doing the right thing by our children and with our hard-earned tax dollars.
I'll remind you 12:26, some of these people you're defending had no problem crucifying two SB directors. One for being late with his financial disclosure form and the other for celebrating a little heavy. (something that happens to many at the Beerfest and First Fridays by the way)
I guess things only matter when it is someone that has views contrary to yours or the club's.
Imagine trying to make a difference, like the Kubits do, and being criticized by the likes of you people. Sheesh. Nothing is sacred.
More fake news conspiracy bullshit published by a Trump voter.
7:01, knock it off! There are lots of people that try to make a difference in this community, one being trying to keep things on the up and up. There are ethics rules for a reason, if you believe volunteerism trumps transparency and ethics I suppose we can do away Codes of Conduct and Oaths of Office.
No one has accused the Kubits of doing anything wrong. The issue at hand is are families in the Jefferson MS area disappointed with a new hire that may have come by the position thru nepotism.
Don't make it out to be more than that.
What does Trump have to do with what might be an ethics violation in a local school district?
Guess we're seeing some of that home grown unity, eh 7:01!
7:01 Amen
Maybe all of the Jefferson families should be asked instead of only the clique here. Many families like him as well.
You win the record for submitting your comment and variations of your comment eleven different times. I'm sorry that I wasn't sitting by my computer waiting for you.
Elaine
The pressure is getting to Mama Cappucci. This Blog posting is about PTA with some references to Ms. Birks. 7:24 posed the question "are families in the Jefferson MS area disappointed with a new hire that may have come by the position thru nepotism."
oops sorry--I didn't realize they went through--My computer kept going back to the homepage after I hit submit.
This comment was made under another post: "AnonymousMay 23, 2017 at 12:36 PM
I hear Andrew Cappucci is not LIKED at all by other teachers or administration at Jefferson. Further I heard he is an awful teacher??"
To which was asked, if the Jefferson PTA would be getting involved in validating 12:26's claim.
Next thing we read is there are two resignations in the PTA. The coincidence and close associations raise some concern, but neither prove or disprove 12:36's rumor.
Only a community with their talons deep in the cookie jar could be so defensive all the time! I've never seen anything like it! Anything questioning MTL's Shangri-La veneer, on this blog, the comments on PG articles, on MTL Nextdoor, is always sought to be shut down by the same oligarchical 50-75 with the cookie crumbs dripping down their chins. So ridiculous!
Jason, I never cease to find your shamelessness shocking. Some people in this community value discretion and privacy; I am one of those people. Your empty (and ham-handed) analogy of talons in a cookie jar impugns the honest work of volunteers who work to better this community. My neighbors and I will fiercely defend those who sacrifice their anonymity in exchange for decent public service.
The quality of the things you write in public is good evidence that you place no value on anonymity. And I'm sure that you are suspicious of those who are guarded. Perhaps you feel it is your right to know neighbor's business? However, I would estimate that this community in general does not share that sensibility. I would further estimate that your shitbird conspiracies dissuade good people from entering into public service, for fear that busybodies on this site, and sites like it, would call into question their motivations.
I trust my volunteer neighbors. I pity you because you seem incapable of doing the same.
This site is increasingly a sewer of nasty people saying nasty things about good people. I am gobsmacked that this audience feels that our community treasures (like Outreach) are fair game for petty and unproven criticism. The author of this blog wrote that "I am vindicated!" after years of bad behavior, only to find an empty claim in her own right-to-know. Election after election after election provides proof that this blog is an echo chamber, consisting of a sniping collective of a dozen people who will never be happy under any circumstances, who feel victimized by their own lack of influence or money or power or whatever.
Who are this site's heroes? Kelly Fraasch, was once one, I guess, before she got tired of this site's bullshit. The deer gardener lady? The ASPCA lady?
In contrast, I can sure as hell rattle off this site's enemies. Is there ANYONE in Mt Lebanon government not hated here? Every commissioner is despised, the PIO, the solicitor, the police chief, the manager. Hell, this site has criticized the junior commissioner! And kids of the commissioners! Now you hate the PTA! And the school board! And hired consultants! And volunteer boards and authorities, like the sports advisory board or the historic preservation board. It's an endless litany of petty hate. Nothing is ever good enough, while you all gawk from the sidelines.
My pleasure to continuously shock you! If the things I write publicly about transparency and ethics are such a "shock," you might want to do some volunteering outside your immediate neighborhood and get a look at the world for some perspective! (something I have done, and continuously do, by the way--your "pity" notwithstanding).
And if this site is such a sewer, why are you wading so deep in the dirty water?
Your 400-word post only validates this blog's relevance.
Meanwhile on Nextdoor:
Barb Coyne, Mt. Lebanon Sunset Hills 22h ago
The blog is run by a hateful, Spiteful women who specializes in innuendo and personal destruction.
Josephine Posti, Lincoln Mt. Lebo 27m ago
I agree, Barb. That blog has done more to shame Mt. Lebanon's community volunteers than any working mom has ever done to her stay-at-home counterparts or vice versa. Real dialogue about how we can all better support each other is important. It isn't happening there.
Elaine
10:03am, you've been given a public forum (on this blog) to make your points...and your points have been published, anonymously, by the very person you criticize for running a "sewer of nasty people." You also banter the word "hate" about with abandon. Please define hate for me (it sounds to me like you have plenty of it yourself!). Your comments about "Election after election..." is very interesting. Because you categorize this site's participants as "..a sniping collective of a dozen people...who feel victimized by their own lack of influence or money or power or whatever" I take it your are one of the upper crust that does have influence or money or power or whatever. I'll tell you what election after election proves; it proves that only 20% of Mt. Lebanon voters actually care about what goes on in the community. It just so happens that 2/3 of that 20% end up voting the way you like, but compared to the 24,000+ registered voters in this community it's still a pretty small number.
Somebody on this blog once wrote about the so-called good people of this community doing not so good things because they had the permission of their own consciences to do so. Criticizing a person's actions is not the same as criticizing a person simply for being who they are. It is you, 10:03am, and your ilk who can't seem to make that distinction.
As long as public officials and their non-profit allies are getting paid with tax dollars their actions are fair game for scrutiny. If you don't like it; to bad!
Publis
Funny thing, when I see the word "sewer," I see sew-er. I guess it is all depends on perspective.
I am always amused at the magic number of twelve. There are twelve people who read this blog. There are twelve people who are against killing deer or anything in Mt. Lebanon. There are twelve people who__________. Fill in the blank. I can come up with twelve people who love to criticize this blog, but won't stop reading it.
Also, I have noticed this. When I make a neutral statement like "Council PTA President Jodi Kubit and Council PTA Treasurer Jennie Bhojwani have resigned," it usually turns into a personal attack toward me or the blog.
The subject is resignations from PTA Council, Folks.
Elaine
Ah yes, at 10:03 there's a big heaping bowl of that Lebo "Love Conquers Hate" we've been bombarded with lately.
10:03, are you seriously going to argue that people can not question anything regarding how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent?
Perhaps you should reexamine your opinion of ethical behavior. Rules exist for a reason and when someone violates those rules, volunteer or not, they are fair game for examination.
Color me confused.
If the discussion is about PTA resignations, they volunteered and now they aren't.
Is there more?
When I make a neutral statement like "Council PTA President Jodi Kubit and Council PTA Treasurer Jennie Bhojwani have resigned," it usually turns into a personal attack toward me or the blog.
You select which comments are approved and which are not. There are comments on this page that are vile conjecture about volunteers. You don't object to that nastiness, but readily object to anything that runs counter to the curated groupthink. You'll do anything to bolster your vainglorious victimhood.
Again, who are this site's local heroes?
The self-serving "volunteers" are desperately trying to lump themselves in with the true volunteers. Nobody benefited more from Cappucci's service then Cappucci. Nobody.
Hey 1:12pm - why don't you create a better, more balanced blog then?
If you do, YOU will be my hero.
Until then, Elaine is my hero.
1:12, two of my local heroes were Mark Hart, James Fraasch and Alan Silhol.
They too were volunteers but they were (IMO) viciously attacked by a number of PTA members and if memories serves the RealLebo blog.
I don't recall anyone really coming to their defense that they should be left alone because they were volunteers.
I considered Elaine Gillen to be a hero. She takes quite a bit of abuse for sticking to her ideals and allowing even you 1:12 to voice your opinion freely. You may be new to the community, I don't know, but I suggest you view a tape of the night Elaine present 4,000 signatures from taxpayers that opposed the expense HS renovation plan.
In it you will hear catcall, snickers and rather abusive comments directed at Elaine for just performing her duty as a concerned citizen. Furthermore, Board President Kibit sat quietly and let the catcalling go on even though it defied the meetings rules of order.
Don't preach about respect, order and civility unless you're going to defend it equally across the board!
Correction @ 2:50. That's three local heroes that volunteered their time just like Birks, Cappucci and Kubit.
Four it we included this blog's creator. There countless others that donate time and money to make this a great community. Unfortunately, a great many resident are so myopic that it is inconceivable that someone may have a legitimate point of view differing from their own.
Just so you all know Barb Coyne is Elaine Cappucci's sister!! Big shocker she would run this blog down. The fact of the mater is you can't go to the school board meetings and speak out because if you do your child will feel it. You cant ask school board members questions anonymously..As one other commenter said "Cappucci is in it for Cappucci."
Oh my goodness, 3:19 PM. You're right! I checked my MTL High School Alumni Directory and see that Barbara J. Daubner (Coyne) graduated in 1977 and Elaine Daubner (Cappucci) graduated in 1979.
Elaine
1:12, cat got your tongue?
No more of the "love conquers hate" BS as you bully and abuse your neighbors because they don't see eye to eye with you and your supposed volunteers.
Just remember 1:12 the definition of a volunteer is:
"noun. 1. a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking. 2. a person who performs a service willingly and without pay."
If anyone meets that definition, it's Elaine Gillen. She's not voting on budgets for her blog, influencing family hiring or promoting her kids sports endeavors.
What she does, she does for what she believes is the right thing for this community.
Want to unify this community, treat everyone that steps forward with respect and connect with them in a fair and open mind.
Right or wrong, every resident deserves to be treated with respect!
On this Memorial Day, millions of named and unnamed volunteered to preserve that world.
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