A teacher in Louisiana was hauled off in handcuffs at a school board meeting for protesting the superintendent's pay increase. Teacher’s Arrest For Criticizing Boss’ Pay Raises ‘Serious Constitutional Concerns,’ ACLU Says Here in Mt. Lebanon, teachers may be more subtle.
Watching Monday's school board meeting, I don't know how our superintendent can sit at a school board meeting and not be uncomfortable. Finance director, Jan Klein was talking about the "preliminary budget," once referred to as the "fake budget." She said that she has salaries at 3% (39:25 time stamp). She also emphasized that everything is an unknown at this point, especially with the teachers' contract.
Why should the teachers settle for a 3% increase, when Timmy is sitting there pulling in a 6% increase this July? We have the old school board to thank for that brilliant contract.
We don't have teachers being arrested over our super's pay increases, but it should be interesting to see what the new teachers' contract will cost Mt. Lebanon. Thanks to Timmy and his supporters for putting us in this position. A special thanks to Elaine Cappucci who played a major part in that decision and will be voting to accept the teachers' contract for her son.
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The fact that Cappucci will be allowed to participate in meetings (let alone vote!) on matters that involve her son's compensation, work environment and benefits makes it clear that outright corruption (or the appearance of corruption) don't matter any more. That's more than unfortunate, it's frightening. Cappucci effectively bought her son a job with the last contract for Dr. Steinhauer, so the only question going forward is who will benefit the most, her co-conspirator or her progeny? One thing is certain, it won't be the students or tax payers.
The following paragraph from an ABC story concerning this event is telling: "Neither the board president nor Superintendent Jerome Puyau returned phone calls or emails seeking comment. Puyau told media in southwest Louisiana that the school system would not seek to have Hargrave prosecuted." Public school districts no longer fear bad publicity, unless it involves sex between school officials and students, and even then some districts seem to get away with downplaying such events.
The Reason Foundation has a literal "catalog" of public school outrages, from districts suing parents to refusal to follow the laws of their various states! (Here's one of the latest: "CPS employees stole gift cards meant for students, watchdog says") Why do public school districts seem to get away with all sorts of outrages? Because parents - the very people in a position to demand change - are reluctant to do so, fearing their children will bear the brunt of the district's wrath. That may not actually be the case, but the perception is there nonetheless.
A step in the right direction would be for states to fund students instead of districts, and allow parents to choose the kind of school that best serves the needs of their kids. Direct student funding and public sector pension reform would be good for Pennsylvania; but I'm not holding my breath for either.
Isn’t this funny?! They have plenty of money for 6% super raises and bonuses and Larry and friends are quick to recommending spending almost $1.5 million to turf and expand a “practice” field yet following is the headline in the Almanac.
“'Too many unknowns' ahead for Mt. Lebanon School Board
Board to vote Jan. 15 to apply for Act 1 tax exceptions”
“The Act 1 Index for the school district is 2.4 percent, which is 0.57 of a mill, meaning the board will have to receive from the state to go above that threshold. If the board chooses not to exceed the index when it decides its budget at the end of the school year, the board could raise taxes 0.57 of a mill from 23.93 to 24.5 mills, representing a $57 increase for every $100,000 of assessed property value.
The school board did not raise taxes last year, but three times in the last eight years – 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2014-15 – it went above the Act 1 Index.”
Think it’s too much to ask the Superintendent and Board to stick to the Act 1 index?
Klein and long term board members are being disingenuous if they are proclaiming that there are too many unknowns!
Back when James Fraasch ran his Audit & Finance meeting he foresaw the unknowns when he asked Jan if the HS project and pension crisis would affect the district’s ability to budget within the Act 1 limits. Jan was also aware since she responded that thedistrict always had exemptions and exclusions that would allow them to exceed the Act 1 index knowing full well that the state rarely, if ever, denied a district to exceed the budget index.
Don’t forget that many of these same people that can’t figure out the unknowns are the same ones that imagined they could raise $6 million in five years through a fundraiser that has essentially lost money rather raised any.
A good place to find money to balance the budget before raising taxes would be get the nearly $1 million seed money dropped in the Century of Excellence Campaign Fund!
Headline THE ALMANAC 1/10/18
'Too many unknowns' ahead for Mt. Lebanon School Board
Board to vote Jan. 15 to apply for Act 1 tax exceptions”
POST GAZETTE 11/16/17
“Mt. Lebanon hires new principal, discusses athletic field”
“He pegged a rough estimate for a regulation-size, turfed field at about $1.3 million.
Several members said they would support converting the field to turf to address the constant need for more athletic fields.
“I think this is a unique opportunity,” director Larry Lebowitz said.”
Opportunity? To spend money you don’t have Mr. Lebowitz.
Plus, shouldn’t one of the Supers primary goals be meeting the Act 1 Index. How is funding a district fundraiser with district money contributing to that goal?
http://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/13187248-74/trib-editorial-school-district-audit-shows-why-taxpayers-need-more-say
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