To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Sent: Mon, Jan 29, 2018 5:02 pm
Subject: Re: Capital Campaign spreadsheet
Ms. Gillen,
I have spoken with Dr. Steinhauer concerning this matter and moving forward all pieces of the Capital Campaign financial documents will be posted to the website.
Thank you,
Mike Riemer
For the Board
On Thu, Jan 25, 2018 at 7:56 PM, 'egillen476@aol.com' via SchoolBoard <schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net> wrote:
School board directors,
Every month, my friend Nick Meduho would file a Right To Know for the two page Century of Excellence Capital Campaign spreadsheet. I would like to request the two pages for YTD 12/31/17 by emailing the Board, and moving forward, I am requesting that both pages are put on the Capital Campaign website instead of just the one page every month.
Thanks.
Elaine Gillen
23 comments:
These guys did a lot of talking during the campaign. This is the least they could do.
Ouch! They have been in office, for what, two months? I would say that is pretty good. Next month will bring more changes, I'm sure.
Elaine
One hopes the Riemer led board continues to step in the right direction.
A good step would be to explain to taxpayers why when the board believes it needs to keep its Act 1 option to raise taxes above the cap still thinks spending over $1,000,000 on a practice field that has been out of service for 5 years is a good idea.
Ask yourself, did I miss the Rock Pile practice field during the HS construction? If your answer is no, do we really want to spend a million on artificial turf and at the same time exceed the PDE’s Act 1 cap on district tax increases?
10:51,
I think the student-athletes at the high school, together with their parents and coaches would answer your question in the affirmative. In addition, the more than 150 students in the high school marching band, together with their parents and instructors would probably answer the question the same way. As we saw from the various meetings at the end of 2017, there is very strong support for upgrading the rock pile across all student groups at the high school. I think you can throw in the hundreds of pre-HS athletes, as well as their families who participate in the many youth sports in our community, all of whom have traditionally benefited from use of the rock pile for both practice and youth games. The truth of the matter is, the marching band, interscholastic and youth athletics and recreation activities generally continue to grow in our community, but the field space inventory is relatively slim. Any opportunity that we have to upgrade an existing field space is certainly something that we should take advantage of, in my opinion. It would appear that the support of the community echoes this opinion. Further, to renovate the rock pile with natural grass instead of turf would only serve to improve the field inventory on a limited basis. As we heard from the marching band, it is virtually impossible for them to practice on a wet muddy surface, given their significant numbers, as well as their impressive array of instruments and other equipment. As we heard from their instructors, they simply lose too many days having to figure out ways to practice on muddy fields. Once again, this is the marching band speaking, and not the so called “crazy sports guys.”
10:51, ask yourself, do I still have children in the district? If not, then you may not be best suited to gauge whether there is adequate field space. If you do, have you seen the state of the elementary school fields? Byrd Park? I'm guessing not or, just as likely, you don't care because it doesn't fit your narrative.
The tennis courts were out of service for a number of years as well. So was the gun range. Those are back or coming back. But again, you have a predetermined agenda that will not be swayed by firsthand experience or facts, so let the echo chamber do its work.
12:40, watched the marching band practice for years and years on the HS parking lot and thousands of alumni seemed to not only survive but to excel.
Somehow this district seemed to provide all the facilities and practice space for decades. Even when the student population hovered around 9,000 and when the HS accommodated HS and Jr High classes.
Plus why can’t the marching band practice on natural grass and then if the Rock Pile is wet move to the parking lot for a day or two? That seems to make more sense than putting a district that believes it may have to exceed the Act 1 another $1,000,000+ in debt.
If you’re so assured that support is there for turfing put it to a community vote!
Oh, of course 12:49 only you have eyes that see and everyone else is blind.
Yes, I’ve seen Byrd Park, experienced conditions of the fields at the elementary schools as well as the conditions of the municipal fields. I’ve also lived here long enough to know what those facilities were like when we had enrollments with several thousand more students than we do now.
I’ve also been to surrounding communities and experienced their sports venues and fields which causes me to wonder with what we’re paying in taxes why are things like they are.
Like I wrote, of course you are the only one with eyes and the wisdom to decide how much spending is appropriate. Anyone that disagrees with you is, what do you call them, boneheads.
Got it!
Perhaps we should rename Mt. Lebanon. Something like (your name here)ville.
Yea, we’re #6 in Allegheny County!!!
None of the top six are contemplating spending over $1 million artificially turfing a practice field I’d imagine.
Gotta get your priorities in order doncha know.
See which schools' 2017 graduates had the highest SAT scores | TribLIVE
http://triblive.com/news/education/classroom/13246483-74/see-which-schools-2017-graduates-had-the-highest-sat-scores
There is a lot of private and public green space in Mt. Lebanon. The sports jocks and marching band could practice just about anywhere. That is, if they don’t mind dodging bullets during our seven-month huntin’ season.
To 12:49
Where has the marching band practice for all these years?
Especially during the time when the high school project turned the Rock Pile into a mountain of dirt?
12:49, you mentioned that the tennis courts were gone during the construction and you are correct. But, essentially they are pretty much very similar to the tennis courts that were demolished. Same surface, basic tennis court dimensions that existed prior to construct.
So put back the Rock Pile surface as it existed before.
12:45, I’m amazed you have internet access. The postal service and the antenna on your TV have worked just fine for years.
Brilliant 2:37.
I guess according to that logic, the marching band will play faster and more songs all at the same time. Hahahahahaha
Oops sorry 2:37.
Also, you omitted answer where the marching band practice for decades and especially during the time the Rock Pile was unavailable.
Why?
Funny thing about my having internet service 2:37.
I didn’t force anyone to pay more taxes so I could enjoy that service. Plus, last I looked the postal service and the TV still work very well.
Still waiting to read where the marching band has been practicing for the past several decades.
I guess my attempt at humor was lost on you. I was surprised you had internet because you seem to want to live in the past with no upgrades.
As for the band practice, it’s no state secret that they’ve practiced in the parking lot, a sloppy Mellon and the HS Stadium. I for one think they are entitled to an upgrade on campus. Not how you want to spend the money, I get it. I’m just hoping that 5 School Board members see it differently.
2:37, I can easily demonstrate how the internet enhances and speeds up my communications, research and access to a great many things that the postal service and aired TV do not.
I’d thoroughly enjoy reading how artificial turfing of the Rock Pile will enhance the marching bands performance. Will they play better? Faster? March in straighter lines? Play Louder? Be more in tune?
For me, I always thought our Blue Devil marching bands over the years were all very good. I’m having trouble though understanding how plastic grass will make them better.
“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupery, writer and aviator
The important question for Lebo taxpayers... do we need yet another sports cathedral or just a recovery of the original Rock Pile practice field.
8:50 spending over a million dollars on anything is not a humorous matter in my opinion, especially if you’re asking other people to foot the bill.
First you respond to a commenter that, how did you put it... “
10:51, ask yourself, do I still have children in the district? If not, then you may not be best suited to gauge whether there is adequate field space. If you do, have you seen the state of the elementary school fields? Byrd Park? I'm guessing not or, just as likely, you don't care because it doesn't fit your narrative.”
Nice! Of course people that have a different opinion from yours are uncaring, myopic louts. Got it, you are Mt. Lebanon’s chosen one! Thanks for making that clear.
If you please, oh exalted one, please tell us why the band members are “entitled?”
“en·ti·tled
inˈtīdld,enˈtīdld/Submit
adjective
believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.
"his pompous, entitled a“
Keep in mind your highness that this school district is the same one that is fearful that thery won’t be able to stay within the PDE Act 1 budget limits.
8:50’s comment is hilariously funny, when you think about it. They wrote: “I was surprised you had internet because you seem to want to live in the past with no upgrades.”
They were “surprised” that someone they’re are engaged in debate with on an internet blog has internet and assume they live in the past.
Wow! There’s some real heavy thinking going on there.
“As for the band practice, it’s no state secret that they’ve practiced in the parking lot, a sloppy Mellon and the HS Stadium. I for one think they are entitled to an upgrade on campus. Not how you want to spend the money, I get it. I’m just hoping that 5 School Board members see it differently.” - 8:50
I’ll try to state my position as accurately as possible so that you and ALL the school board members can understand rationale.
Yes, as you claim it’s no secret that “they’ve [the band] practiced in the parking lot, a sloppy Mellon and the HS Stadium.
It is also no secret that these are quite possibly conditions they may be asked to perform in throughout their school band career. They’ll perform in parades on pavement, on turfed fields and on sloppy grass fields in rain and possibly snow. They might also perform at times in air conditioned enclosed interiors.
Prior MTL bands in my experience have performed exceptionally well regardless of the venue. Possibly due to their experience with uncomfortable conditions.
Money does have a lot to do with it as well. The board has, by Jan Klein’s own admission exceeded the Act 1 budget cap 3 times in the last 9 years. This year they’ve also preserved their right to exceed the Act 1 cap this year should they need it.
So there is my rational for not spending another million plus dollars on another turfed field. I’m not a skin flint, or financial Neanderthal or blind as you like to portray me. When the district needs to spend money wisely, I’ll be right in line defending their position.
Furthermore 8:50, turf for the marching band is not an entitlement!
Please do not forget that this board that you want to spend $1,000,000+ turfing another field (a practice field) is the same that just a few years ago insisted that they needed to panhandle to maintain our district’s education standards.
“The Century of Excellence Campaign is a forward-thinking initiative to help our school district, through philanthropy, continue to meet the high standards of educational excellence that Mt. Lebanon is known for, our students require for future success, and the community expects.
Raising private money to support public education is a new reality of school funding. Through private support, we have additional resources to invest in academic, fine arts and athletic programming that would otherwise not be possible. The funding also provides exciting opportunities in technology and innovation to help better prepare our students for the future.”
I’d suggest 8:50 that you might be the one actually living in the past.
Wonder if we’ll be seeing a change in attitude toward spending for more turfed fields for sports by Lebo Democrats like in Maryland.
Notice the next to last paragraph that reads: “They also have experimented with broad changes such as fewer players and smaller fields.”
Here in Lebo they want to make a practice field bigger!
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-football-safety-legislation-20180206-story.html
“Maryland bill would bar tackle football for kids on public fields until high school”
“Proposed legislation in the Maryland General Assembly would prohibit children from playing tackle football on public fields until they reach high school, a move one of its sponsors says would improve public health.
The measure would prohibit football and other contact sports for elementary and middle-school kids if they are played on public fields or facilities maintained with public funds.
“This is about a vulnerable population and developing brains,” Del. Terri Hill, a physician and Howard County Democrat, said Tuesday. “It’s a public health issue.”
Hill said younger children can’t always recognize or report the symptoms of head injuries and that research shows it’s not just concussions that cause long-term damage. She said the accumulated damage from lesser hits – “sub-concussive” ones – also can cause damage later in life.
“Little kids don’t know what to look for,” Hill said.
The legislation, filed in the Senate by Sen. William C. Smith Jr., a Montgomery County Democrat, adds Maryland to a growing list of states debating measures seeking to safeguard youths from football risks as research into head trauma injuries from the sport grows. A number of professional players have been posthumously diagnosed with a degenerative disease following repeated blows to the head.
Youth football leagues, responding to declines in participation, have moved to limit contact in practice and emphasize proper tackling techniques. They also have experimented with broad changes such as fewer players and smaller fields.
It’s uncertain what sort of reception Smith’s and Hill’s legislation will receive in the General Assembly and around the state.”
And from EDUCATION WEEK magazine-
“'Concussion' Doctor Says Youths Should Not Play High-Impact Contact Sports” By Bryan Toporek Dec. 8, 2015
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/schooled_in_sports/2015/12/concussion_doctor_says_youths_should_not_play_high-impact_contact_sports.html
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