We don't need an outside audit, why Mary? UPDATED 100117

Pursuant Ketchum Consulting Services Agreement 

Pursuant Ketchum invoices from a RTK 

Retained Counsel Fees Schedule according to PK Consulting Services Agreement totaling $184,000. (Travel and Strategic Creative Services not included.)

Missing receipts totaling $54,931. Were they paid from other funds? Was the contract terminated? Is this another example of award winning Jan Klein's creative financing?

I am not an accountant. In fact, I am terrible at numbers. So how was this approved by Maher Duessel, the outside auditing firm that MTLSD has employed for over twenty five years?

Lebo Citizens Readers, I still have time for a Flashback Friday. Please read Dear Mt. Lebanon Neighbor:

Update October 1, 2017 6:30 PM Unless there are missing receipts, the invoices for travel total $17,560.05. The cap was $21,000.

Also, unanswered emails to the school board.

From: egillen476@aol.com [mailto:egillen476@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2017 7:20 PM
To: schoolboard@mtlsd.net
Subject: Second Request

Dr. Strotmeyer,

OK, I lied. This is my first request. I was just saving myself the time to send the usual second request email.

I want to thank you, Dr. Strotmeyer, for being so prompt with your last response. Since you seem to be the only responsive school board director, i am addressing this to you.

From my blog:

Pursuant Ketchum Consulting Services Agreement 
Pursuant Ketchum invoices from a RTK 
Retained Counsel Fees Schedule according to PK Consulting Services Agreement totaling $184,000. (Travel and Strategic Creative Services not included.)

Missing receipts totaling $54,931. Were they paid from other funds? Was the contract terminated? Is this another example of award winning Jan Klein's creative financing? Would you be able to answer my questions?

Thanks in advance. 

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

***************

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: TSteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>; egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Sent: Sun, Oct 1, 2017 3:39 pm
Subject: Re: CC web page update or lack of

Tim,

The link to the exercise in futility is now working again. I watched it again. Not only were you "happy to put it on the internet," but Mary Birks told Mrs. Bongiorno that "We will put it on the Capital Campaign Website."

When?

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: TSteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>
Cc: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Sent: Sun, Oct 1, 2017 12:39 pm
Subject: CC web page update or lack of

Where is the 2 page report that I have requested? Capital Campaign Financial Report through August 31, 2017 (2 pages) It is not on the Capital Campaign web page.

Where is the list that you offered to post FOUR TIMES to Paula Bongiorno? Watch this exercise in futility. Unfortunately, the clip has been removed. Did you have something to do with that?

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

Accountable? Accountable? Are you kidding?

Unfortunately, I live in Caste, Cappucci, and Remely Country. Their loyal neighbors are displaying CCRB yard signs, as if to say, F.U. Mt. Lebanon.

It is mind-boggling how these four have the audacity to even be running for an office. They make the claim on their website that they are accountable. Accountable for what? I'm not seeing it.

The evidence is overwhelmingly against them. The Timmy Ticket is divisive. They didn't run with Riemer and Strotmeyer. Remely had a prepared statement containing personal attacks toward Riemer. Cappucci was trying to throw Strotmeyer under the bus during her five minutes of resident comments. These four are key players in the Million Dollar Heist. Then there is the $113 million high school renovation which our former superintendent AND a Allegheny County Common Pleas Court judge advised them to scale it down.

This group also hired Pursuant Ketchum TWICE (once for the Feasibility Study and then again for Counsel. Through a Right To Know, the PK proposal is here.)

Of course, there is that darn ethics issue. And the overpaid and underworked superintendent.

On the commission side, we have a guy who risks his life fighting fires, while his opponent, with so many connections, gets his day in court two days after the election for public intoxication and similar misconduct.

I don't understand how these people have the cajones to run for public office. What is even worse to me, is that Cappucci, Remely, Caste, Birks, and Grella are banking on the uninformed voters to elect them.

Meet & Greet Tailgate Event Canceled UPDATED

Normally I wouldn't give this a second thought, but in the past 24 hours, this is what I have been learning through a Right To Know.

Capital Campaign Catering Receipts

The Mt. Lebanon Alumni Association has been holding Tailgate BBQs for the past several years (2014, 2015, and 2016) and the receipts were run through the Capital Campaign.

As Lebo Citizens Readers know, I graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School. When I was looking through my Alumni Directory last night, I found this introduction.

Look who signed it.

Board of Directors

Update September 28, 2017 10:50 PM I wonder who is paying the bill for the 2017 Mt. Lebanon Alumni Tailgate BBQ. 

Anonymous letter from an unhappy Ward 4 Democrat

This was in yesterday's mail, but I just got to it now. It was in a plain white envelope with no return address.

Saved in Google Docs


In separate, unrelated emails, were these photos.

*******

I'm really surprised. I had no idea that there are Dems in Ward 4 who feel this way about their endorsed candidate. 

Remember this? Is this the same T. Michael Brown? I got crucified over that one. He still trash talks me on Facebook, calling me crazy. Well, he ended up resigning before the election and John Bendel ran unopposed. So yeah. The Republicans have their share too.

Still thinking about voting for Cappucci, Caste, Remely, and Birks?

This makes my blood boil! Through a Right To Know, Pursuant Ketchum invoices for the Capital Campaign totaling $152,506.55.

Watch Timmy pronounce "Pursuant Ketchum."

Where are the Third Day Enrollment Numbers? Superintendent Reports to the Board?

Another oversight? An omission? Poor management?

The School District still has its 2016 numbers up. Is this what we get for our hard earned taxpayer dollars?

How about Timmy's reports to the school board? All have been removed, with only the August 2017 report available on the website.

Timmy must still think it is 2016 since his 2016-2017 Superintendent Goals have not been updated to 2017-2018.

No September Board President report.

Are there ANY MTLSD reports reported accurately, completely and timely?

Finally! Page 2

From another Right To Know.

The request: “I would like to request a comprehensive/complete and accurate financial report for the Century of Excellence Campaign covering from the inception date through August 31, 2017.”

Capital Campaign Financial Report through August 31, 2017 (2 pages)

This is what I had asked for, but never heard back from "Mary Birks, For the Board." This is what should be on the MLSD website, not the one page summary. Do you think it will be changed?

From 7/31 to 8/31 (one month), revenues equaled $1456.31. Expenditures equaled $6731.30, not including disbursements that totaled $19,843.94. Not good. Now we know why Jan Klein avoided posting page 2.

Statements from The Pittsburgh Foundation

 Right To Know Request:

I would like to request all reports (financial or other) received from the Pittsburgh Foundation regarding the investments from the Century of Excellence Campaign from periods January 1, 2017-August 31, 2017.

The request was granted and is available here.

List of funds are from here:
https://pittsburghfoundation.org/funds-master-list?page=6

Keep the information coming!

So much has come in today. I am not complaining. Keep it coming!

Through a Right To know, here are Astorino's engagement letters for her full time and now part time position as Director of Advancement for the upside down Century of Excellence Capital Campaign.

Even though Mt. Lebanon taxpayers are paying her salary for her job with the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education and her position with the capital campaign, we do not have access to anything related to the MLFE. It is a private not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.  We can't attend their meetings either. They are not subject to any Right To Knows either. Nothing shady there!

It really sucks UPDATED 092617

It really sucks that someone like Bob Fischer is running against someone whose hearing for public drunkenness and similar misconduct is two days after the election.

It really sucks that Bob Fischer's next door neighbor is not Blaise Larotonda.

It really sucks that Bob Fischer does not have the local magistrate on his campaign committee.

It really sucks that Bob Fischer has been

• a life long resident of Mt. Lebanon
• a 2016 honoree for Mt. Lebanon's inaugural Volunteer Service Award
• 1995 "This Town Would Be Different Without..." honoree
• Chairman of the Mt. Lebanon Public Safety Building campaign, raising $1.2 million
• Mt. Lebanon Volunteer Firefighter for 15 years, volunteering thousands of of hours per year
• Past President of Mt. Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department
• Past President of Dormont/Mt. Lebanon/Castle Shannon Rotary
• Past member of the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board
• An active member of his church for 45 years

and has to run against someone whose hearing will be two days after the election.

It really sucks if Ward 4 residents don't vote for Bob Fischer on November 7, two days before his opponent's hearing.

Update September 26, 2017 6:23 PM Another one from a Democrat. I get the feeling that there are some Dems who don't like Craig. I don't know why I think that.

An email from School Board Director Strotmeyer

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response, Dr. Strotmeyer. As the Board is now high on transparency, I know that your colleagues would have no issue with me sharing your email with Lebo Citizens readers.
Elaine

Ms. Gillen,

Thank you for your inquiry. I will request that the Director of Advancement (Sloane Astorino) provide Dr. Steinhaurer with the documents as required for review and posting to the website (http://www.mtlsd.org/uploaded/District/images/2017-2018/COE_YTD_8_17.pdf). This would include the Fiscal Year summary from 6.30.2013 to the current date. The second page would include Revenues, Expenditures, etc. Additionally, I will be requesting an itemized list of the use of the capital funds. Generic categories such as Fine Arts, Tech Ed, Makerspace, etc. should be broken out into what was purchased with itemized costs listed for residents and the board to see.

One thing I should make clear is that my liaison role in the past was to report on "Revenue Generation/MLFE". I was assigned to the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education as Ms. Cappucci's replacement by then President Lebowitz. I was not directed to serve in any capacity on the Capital Campaign, as she and other board members sit on the Cabinet and Advisory committee. Occasionally, I did provide a few bulleted updates on the Capital Campaign, such as "cultivation events are planned; continue to make community outreach." Mr. Riemer began to ask for board updates in the early spring on the financial status of the campaign, but, it wasn't until May 6th when I emailed a specific request for the revenue/expenditure summary that newer board members, including myself, became aware that the campaign costs were exceeding revenues. That action ultimately led to a public discussion and the resulting transparency and accountability we have moving forward. 

Thank you for your time,

Stephen

On Sun, Sep 24, 2017, 08:50 'egillen476@aol.com' via SchoolBoard <schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net> wrote:

Dr. Strotmeyer,

Since you are on this committee, would you be able to request the two page document for August and future reports using the two page template?

Thank you.

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Cc: TSteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>
Sent: Tue, Sep 19, 2017 9:04 am
Subject: Page 2?

School board directors,

Thank you for additional information that has been posted on the District website concerning the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign.

I would like some consistency in your reporting, however. Please include the second page in the monthly reports as was shown in a recent RTK document.

Capital Campaign Financial Report for 7-17 

Capital Campaign Financial Report for 8-17 

Elaine Gillen

www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

saved in Google Docs

Hearing is tomorrow UPDATED September 25, 2017 2X

I received this "yard sign" from a Democrat, along with a reminder that the hearing is tomorrow. No comments will be accepted on this one.

Update September 25, 2017 12:20 PM Well, he dodged that bullet. Hearing has been scheduled for two days after the Election.

Update September 25, 2017 2:58 PM On second thought, I will accept comments for this thread. Two days after the Election is pretty sneaky!

What a fire drill!

What taxpayers go through to request information. Watch this exercise in futility. Timmy and Mary Birks would be happy to put the taxpayer's request on the school district Capital Campaign website. I don't see it. Do you?

At the 8:13 time stamp, Mary admits that it was an inner fund transfer.

I never heard back from the school district. It is just another exercise in futility.

School board directors,
Thank you for additional information that has been posted on the District website concerning the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign.
I would like some consistency in your reporting, however. Please include the second page in the monthly reports as was shown in a recent RTK document.
Capital Campaign Financial Report for 7-17 Capital Campaign Financial Report for 8-17 
Elaine Gillen
www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com

I doubt that Paula will hear anything either.

Thank you, Nick M., for providing this clip. It had been requested by a commenter in the previous post, without filing a Right To Know, Timmy!

Add it up

The yard signs for November's election are starting to pop up. In my opinion, the school board race is the most critical.

 

Consider who is asking for more transparency in the Post-Gazette's Debate continues over Mt. Lebanon schools' capital campaign. Mike Riemer and Stephen Strotmeyer

Who have been to known to make personal attacks, roll their eyes, and be disrespectful toward their colleagues and inquiring residents? Birks, Cappucci, and Remely

Who is under investigation with the PA Ethics Commission? Birks

Who had to resign because of the nepotism policy and for the hiring of her son, a Mt. Lebanon School District teacher? Cappucci

Who is running to replace herself on the school board? Cappucci

Who hired Timmy? Cappucci and Remely

Who was part of the team that negotiated the current Act 93 agreement for our District administrators (Jan Klein)?  Cappucci

Who is a Century of Excellence Capital Campaign chair who originally claimed that $1.5 million were raised, but then back peddled when we learned that the campaign had more expenditures than revenue and pledges combined. Her bio now claims that "the Campaign has raised nearly $1 million." Caste

Which candidates are endorsed by their political committees? Riemer, Strotmeyer, Diamond

Which incumbents were excluded from the Timmy Ticket? Mike Riemer and Stephen Strotmeyer

Whose yard sign is going in my yard?

More coverage from the P-G

Debate continues over Mt. Lebanon schools' capital campaign

We hit pay dirt!

The discussion of the loan for the capital campaign was on March 11, 2013. The podcast is available on my website, March 11, 2013 School Board Discussion Meeting Podcast
If that link doesn't work, here is the podcast to download. Agenda is posted here and saved in Google Docs here.

Capital Campaign Counsel – The Board will discuss the engagement of Campaign Counsel for a potential Capital Campaign.

Who is Capital Campaign Counsel? Why it is Pursuant Ketchum with lead consultant being Elliott Oshry for the low, low price of $184,000 paid over two years. Where does it say all that in the meeting minutes from the following week?  Another Right To Know for the Consulting Services Agreement with Pursuant Ketchum, I guess.

God Bless Scott Goldman. He asked the important questions twenty seven minutes into the meeting. Jan Klein said that $200,000 may be used as seed money for the campaign. It would be done via a transfer of assets, something she does frequently. It would be listed as a loan to be paid to the General Fund. It would not be included in the base budget. No problem, because this campaign will be self sufficient and it would be paid off. Jan said that it isn't permitted unless it is a loan to be paid off! It was not voted on because Jan said they do that all the time. It would be in a separate fund. Yikes!

So the loan/investment seed money was never approved by the school board!!!

Did Jan Klein "invest" illegally?

Brief rest over.

Authorized Types of Investments for Pennsylvania School Districts:

Section 440.1(c) of the School Code authorizes the types of investments school districts may have:

• United States Treasury bills.
• Short-term obligations of the United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.
  Short-term obligations usually refer to investments of less than 13 months.
• Deposits in savings accounts or time deposits or share accounts of institutions insured by The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), or The Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, or The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund to the extent that such accounts are so insured, and for any amounts above maximum, provided that approved collateral as provided by law therefore shall be pledged by the depository.
• Obligations of the United States of America or any of its agencies or instrumentalities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. Full faith and credit means the obligation is backed by the government’s ability to levy taxes to repay debt. These investments include any bonds issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any municipality or school district carrying the backing of the taxation powers of the governmental unit issuing the debt. Some investments of the federal government do not have full faith and credit backing. Fannie-Mae (FNMA) and Freddy-Mach (FNMC) bonds do not. Ginnie-Mae (GNMA) bonds do have full faith and credit backing.
   • Shares of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 whose shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 provided that the following are met:
  o Only investments of that company are in the authorized investments for school district funds listed in the categories above, and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by such investments.

  o The investment company is managed so as to maintain its shares as a constant net asset value in accordance with 17 CFR 270 2a-7 (relating to money market funds).

  o The investment company is rated in the highest category by a nationally recognized rating agency.

  This classification includes pooled investments such as the Pennsylvania School District Liquid Asset Fund, Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust and the Pennsylvania State Treasurer’s Invest Program.

  Any purchase or sale of investments shall be made by the treasurer of the school district on a resolution adopted by the board of school directors.

  
  

  
  http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Teachers-Administrators/School%20Finances/Comptrollers%20Office/Manual%20of%20Accounting.pdf

"A brief rest"

I am getting a few unapproved comments/complaints about my constant pounding of the school board. Give it a brief rest, I'm told. Well, this is for you, my friend.

September 18, 2017 School Board meeting

http://multimedia.mtlsd.org/Play.asp?11986118317905212!5

Watch the color of the cheerleader's face turn red. It is not your TV.

The most under appreciated holiday

Ahoy! Today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Who knew that an injury from a racquetball game would result in an international holiday? Arrrr!



Until recently, the school board has been saying "Aye" to everything. They have been speaking (and acting) like pirates for years. Same with the commission!

Entire Feasibility Study posted - hopefully MTLSD got it right this time! UPDATED 092017

The entire feasibility study has now been posted.

http://www.mtlsd.org/uploaded/District/Century_of_Excllence/Pursuant_Ketchum_Feasibility_Study_0812.pdf

Updated September 20, 2017 12:02 PM The podcast to the Sept. 17, 2012 meeting for the Special Pursuant Ketchum Feasibility Study Report is available here.

Good catch!

The following email was sent to the school board directors this evening.

From: Nicholas Meduho Jr

To: Bill Cooper ; Bill Moorhead ; Dan Remely ; Hugh Beal ; Larry Lebowitz ; Mary Birks ; Mike Riemer ; Sarah Olbrich ; Stephen Strotmeyer 

Cc: Tim Steinhauer 

Date: Sun, Sep 17, 2017 8:09 pm

Subject: feasibility study 

For as much as I appreciate the Pursuant Ketchum feasibility study (saved in Google Docs) being posted online for the public to view, there seems to be quite a few pages missing.

It appears that only odd number pages were supplied, quite a few of the recommendation steps are missing and there are references to information that is not being shown.

Can we please get the entire feasibility study posted?

Thank you,

Nicholas Meduho
Mt. Lebanon, PA


Subsequent email:

I wanted to mention too, some of the appendices are missing as well.

Thanks again.

November 2014...the district prepares to move out of the “quiet phase”

http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/7148417-74/district-campaign-foundation

One task wrapping up includes organizing committees to work with different groups of potential donors, like alumni or faculty; the campaign also is gathering volunteers to host “awareness” events at their homes, said Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer. 

“You try to get the majority of contributors before you make a big public splash, so you can say, ‘We have this much of our $6 million campaign done, now we need your help,'” he said. He declined to say how much had been pledged so far.

So far, nobody has pointed the finger at Timmy, so  I will. I have all of Timmy's goals listed below. Where are his 2017-2018 goals?

Steinhauer's goals 2009-2010
Steinhauer's goals 2010-2011
Steinhauer's goals 2011-2012
Steinhauer's goals 2012-2013
Steinhauer's goals 2013-2014
Steinhauer's goals 2014-2015
Steinhauer's goals 2015-2016
Steinhauer's goals 2016-2017
Steinhauer's goals 2017-2018

School board meeting is set for tomorrow, September 17, 2017 at 7:30. Here is the agenda.

Bookmark this link for school board meeting videos

http://multimedia.mtlsd.org/channel/SchoolBoard/

Mt. Lebanon capital campaign fundraising program questioned

Mt. Lebanon capital campaign fundraising program questioned

But the campaign has fallen far short of its original goal to raise $6 million and instead has been operating in the red in the past several years, board members learned during a heated meeting Monday.

 Mt. Lebanon residents have been questioning Jan Klein's creative financing for years. Nick Meduho has been following up by questioning:

Please explain the following…

Item below is from the website that was posted on Wednesday:

Item below is from a right to know that I received on Tuesday:

Fiscal year ending 6/30/2015 disbursements went from ZERO on Tuesday to $3790.00 on Wednesday.

Fiscal year ending 6/30/2017 disbursements went from $112,081.42 on Tuesday to $132,331.42 on Wednesday.

How can you go from one set of numbers to another in less than 1 day and why is wrong information being given to the taxpayers who are funding this thing?

Is it ok to change these numbers years after an audit?

So what are the correct numbers?

“Oh what a tangled web we weave”

Item below is from the website that was posted on Wednesday:

Item below is from a right to know that I received on Tuesday:

Fiscal year ending 6/30/2014 fundraising expenditures went from $234,969.57 on Tuesday to $233,569.57 on Wednesday.

Fiscal year ending 6/30/2015 fundraising expenditures went from $159,552.14 on Tuesday to $155,202.14 on Wednesday.

Fiscal year ending 6/30/2016 fundraising expenditures went from $131,241.32 on Tuesday to $130,121.32 on Wednesday.

Fiscal year ending 6/30/2017 fundraising expenditures went from $181,032.97 on Tuesday to $159,102.97 on Wednesday.

How can this be????? How can numbers change so much in 1 day? Again, what are the true numbers?

Are you folks teaching creative financing at the high school?

Thank you,

Nicholas Meduho

Mt. Lebanon, PA

They forgot to turn it on. UPDATED 091717

Remember how I asked about the airing of the school board meeting on Tuesday? When is the focus going to be about education? I checked this morning too. Nothing on TV.

It wasn't until this afternoon, when a resident called and complained that Monday's meeting was not being televised. The answer, "We forgot to turn it on." WE. FORGOT. TO. TURN. IT. ON.

Who is to blame? Guess. (it's Timmy. shhh)

Turn to channel 33 (on FIOS) and you can catch the discussion about the turf. Don't wait because it is only aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Update September 17, 2017 9:30 PM Click here to view http://multimedia.mtlsd.org/Play.asp?11982118278419844!5

Lies in 2015

By 2015, they only took in about $300,000.

"So far, Mt. Lebanon’s capital campaign has raised about $1.1 million in pledges, gifts, goods and services, according to Maggie Schmidt, the district’s campaign counsel and veteran of dozens of such efforts on behalf of nonprofit organizations."

Carol Walton and Jo Posti, Co-Chairs

http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20150821/NEWS/150829990

"Let the sunshine in." UPDATED 2X

Well, what do you know. The Capital Campaign website has been updated with the Feasibility Study, a fund breakdown 08-31-17, and a gift update. The brochure is gone.

Thank you to all who requested this during Monday's meeting.

Update September 13, 2017 5:54 PM Why did it take FIVE years for the Feasibility Study to show up? This should be called The Million Dollar Cover Up!

Feasibility Study
This study was conducted by Pursuant Ketchum to assess the feasibility of a capital fundraising campaign by the Mt. Lebanon School District. The study was conducted in May and June of 2012.
A Special Study and Report on the Fundraising Potential of the Mt. Lebanon School District.

Update September 13, 2017 6:45 PM How things changed drastically since Monday's meeting.

Capital Campaign Financial Report for 7-17 Loan from General Fund $910,930.02

Capital Campaign Financial Report for 8-17 Reserve from General Fund $910,930.02

Where is the paper trail? The school board directors never approved the loan or the "reserve." Finance Director Jan Klein calls this an investment, not a loan!

There was no paper trail as to why Andrew Cappucci's job posting was "altered" nine months after he was hired either. There is never a paper trail.

Mary Birks is under investigation with the PA Ethics Commission for a conflict of interest.

Elaine Cappucci is on the Capital Campaign and is running to replace herself on the school board.

Dan Remely fired off a personal attack toward Mike Riemer. Mike was asking too many questions on Monday night. Both are running for re-election.

Katie Caste is on the Capital Campaign and just changed her "About Me" reference to the Capital Campaign to now say "Nearly a million dollars has been raised." The claim originally was $1.2 million dollars has been raised. Katie Caste is running for school board on the Timmy Ticket with Mary Birks, Elaine Cappucci, and Dan Remely.

When is the focus going to be about education?

I started following the School District in late 2009, after my last child graduated from MTL. It seems as it has always been about construction. It was about turfing the high school stadium. "Staff spent almost two months establishing what our true school blue is," Jo Posti wrote in her Center Court post, "Go Blue!" In fact, read her post Board Approves Retaining Stadium Turf Consultant, and you will see names of folks who were brought back last night to speak about the new turf project.

After the color of the turf was carefully selected, then it was on to the high school renovation. Year after year, school board meetings were all about change orders, construction updates, pics of Timmy in his hard hat looking like Bob the Builder, shiny water fountains...

Here is a link to last night's school board meeting. Is it on TV yet? I can't seem to find it.



Last night's school board meeting was well attended by former school board presidents, band members and parents, sports parents and kids, all supporting the "Century of Excellence Capital Campaign." They heard that the turf at the stadium is at the end of its life and needs to be replaced. They heard about turfing the Rockpile. They heard about turfing Mellon and Jefferson fields. Four turf projects that need to be repeated every eight years or so.

We all heard about $70,000 trophy cases in the past. Currently, Timmy tweets about cool t-shirts.

Timmy's Tweets about focus are comical. What was he waiting to see on August 30th? His following Tweet was about focus. Hilarious and tragic at the same time.

What has happened to our school district? Smaller classes? Gifted program? Special needs program?

It is all about construction.  How about bringing school board meetings back to education?

Scoop on Sloane

Sloane Astorino, the Director of Advancement for the "Century of Excellence Capital Campaign," is pulling in $85,305 in salary and $51,279.21 in benefits,  according to the Capital Campaign Financial Records. Fear not. Jan Klein, Director of Finance, said those numbers include Sloane's salary for her Executive Director's position with the Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education.

According to the MLFE website, Mt. Lebanon Foundation for Education is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is an "independent, nonprofit organization(s) dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for children in their communities."

On to Guidestar for MLFE's 990s.

2011 990
2012 990
2013 990

That's it. So where are the most current ones? According to the IRS, they haven’t filed the 990-N postcard either.

Also, Jan Klein says that the loan to the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign isn't a "loan," but an "investment." I see it as a scam with the executive director being the sole benefactor.