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?
I turned on comments. I will be very selective as to which comments are approved.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Jan Klein claims the "loan" to the Capital Campaign is really an "investment."
ReplyDeleteI'd like her to tell us "investors" what we invested in and why we should continue in investing in a money losing investment.
We'd probably have done better taking the $900,000 down to the Rivers Casino and "investing" it there.
At least we'd have cut out all those middlemen and women that were taking money to run the "investment."
When, indeed!
ReplyDeleteIf it's any solace to Blog readers, try this out for size:
"Legacy Stadium seats more than 12,000 people in two decks of bleachers that wrap around the side of a gridiron. An HD video board for replays of the action cost $2 million by itself. The final price tag for the whole project was more than $70 million. The most surprising thing of all, perhaps, is that it's not a professional stadium. It's not a college stadium either.
It's the most expensive high school football field in the nation, and it was paid for—every last dime—by the taxpayers of the Katy Independent School District, who approved the stadium as part of a bond package in 2014." (story by Eric Boehm of Reason.com) Keep in mind, this is $70 million for just a stadium - not a complete high school complex!
At least the Katy Independent School District put the cost up for taxpayer approval. Try that here!
Of course the MLSD will shout that they already focus on education! But perhaps Lebo will "up its game" (pun intended) and adopt the Chicago public school system's Marxist approach to high school graduation:
"Chicago Schools to Students: Submit to Our Choices for Your Futures or No Diploma" - Seniors must choose from a list of acceptable post-school plans, or they won’t graduate. (story by Scott Shackford, Reason.com)
Naturally! - it's for the children!
Before we cave in to new additional turf, perhaps we should ask for the financials on how much of the money promised by the sports people has been set aside for the crown jewel turf replacement!
ReplyDeleteBet the cupboard is bare.
The quality of education in the Katy, TX school district is under par. I guess they need something to help them stand out. Try buying a house in Katy for less than $750,000. They don't exist.
ReplyDeleteS.
You do know, Elaine, that your Bob the Builder/Timmy photo comparison is my very favorite. That and Mr. Asparagus. And, "Do the Math"
ReplyDeleteS.
There are some troubling signs... From a parent perspective, I can tell you that the class sizes at Lincoln are getting into the critical zone. Once you start hitting the mid-20s, particularly with kids that age (6, 7, 8 years old), it can start having deleterious effects on educational quality. The parents and the teachers there are rightfully worried.
ReplyDeleteFrom a journalistic perspective, I learned a lot about questionable practices related to kids on the educational margins from writing the recent BtB.
As a teacher, and a former high school English teacher, I worry more broadly about the kids. In many ways, they are being sold a false bill of goods and being lied to by many of the adults in this community (and this goes well beyond any foibles of the school district--in fact, I find the municipality and their oligarchy way more problematic than the school district). However, there may be hope. Watch out when the high school kids start waking up and realizing that they have been lied to, when they start digging deeper on their own, questioning practices and structures that don't quite seem right... that's when changes often begin: when the high school kids start waking up.
Hi Jason...one needs to ask, if $923,000 was readily available to throw away in a robbing peter to pay paul elaborate thieving scheme otherwise known as the "Century of Excellence Campaign" at the same time they're having a tough time adding a few teachers and purchasing pencils, what are the priorities?
ReplyDeleteAs far as which is worse, the municipality or the school district? I'm going to lean towards the school district. Monday's meeting was an eye opener.
As one example, the Seymour's invested $65,000 with the municipality. They got a field named after their family without a campaign and all of the misc costs. The Conover's invest $175,000 with the school district and all their money goes towards administrative fees and other expenditures (as Sloane is thanking the Conover's). Were the Conover's given the opportunity to invest directly with the school district without going through a failing campaign? Probably not. Heck for $175,000 and a little negotiation they probably could have had one of the buildings named after them. Seems to be a lot more corruption (or stupidity) at the school district level.
Nick M.
Actually Nick, there was nothing more stupid than watching you, Elaine and Dave Houston text each other like a couple of fifth graders during the school board meeting. Elaine doesn't even have the decency (or the guts) to show up.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know who Nick and "Dave Houston" were texting with? If I wasn't there, how do you know I was texting? I have been told lots of things, but even Remely told me that I sure have guts. Remember that, Dan? It was at Carbonara's.
ReplyDeleteElaine
One more thing, I want to thank Nick for recording the meeting for me. I would have attended, but being that thing with the PA Ethics Commission, I thought it would be best if I didn't show up.
ReplyDeleteElaine
11:46 PM, I think you have bigger problems than watching what Nick and David are doing.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Did someone (11:46pm) really just try to defend the school board by putting people down by comparing them TO A BUNCH OF 5TH GRADERS???? INFERRING THAT 5TH GRADERS ARE INFERIOR HUMAN BEINGS???????
ReplyDeleteDO YOU REALIZE THIS IS ABOUT KIDS, NOT YOUR ADULT EGOS??????????
"Actually Nick, there was nothing more stupid than watching you, Elaine and Dave Houston text each other like a couple of fifth graders during the school board meeting."
ReplyDeleteElaine, 11:46's comment is hilarious! They are absolutely correct that there is nothing "more stupid" than watching people in the audience texting instead of paying attention to the numbers and action of the board that is burning through our tax dollars.
Thank God they've come to their senses and admit how stupid they are. What's that famous line from Forest Gump? "Stupid is as stupid does."
One would think there is enough smoke in this fundraiser and the district's involvement with it that alarm bells should be ringing in Harrisburg to put out the fire.
ReplyDelete11:46 - Your ship is sinking and your watching Bloggers from the crow's nest ?
ReplyDeleteWhy aren't the parents demanding more special ed and smaller classrooms up in arms about the $4000,000-$500,000 that lined people's pockets and the $900,000+ loan that could've been used for their wants and needs.
ReplyDeleteNo they'll sit with their thumbs up you know where watching another $2 million spent on sports.
Go figure?
Spot on, 7:31 AM! Mary is out of control.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Anybody who now contributes to the Capital Campaign is a complete fool. Or does not know any better. The District should require Sloane to disclose that spreadsheet to any and all future donors.
ReplyDeleteIt’s funny you mention how it’s all about the construction. Listen to the junior commissioner from last night, she talked about the renovation/construction, not about the education she and others will receive from all that renovation/construction.
ReplyDeleteWe’re sending the wrong message and it shows.
Jason, a Mt Lebanon fifth grader actuall ran a fundraiser that made money.
ReplyDeleteSomething this group of jackals that try to insult people couldn't do.
I'll take 11:26's comment as a compliment.
I'd rather be compared to a smart fifth grader that a dumb school board member that can't run a profitable charity.
Mary, don't miss the link in my 9:46 AM comment.
ReplyDeleteElaine
A bit off topic, but could someone please explain why Birks was made chief executive at Outreach?
ReplyDeleteWas it her business acumen in overseeing the Capital Campaign?