Mt. Lebanon football coach Mike Melnyk "resigns"

It appears that Brian McFeeley and John Grogan thought that Mike Melnyk should rethink his future at Mt. Lebanon High School.

Mt. Lebanon football coach Mike Melnyk resigns

At the time of this post, there were three comments, all agreeing that the parents were to blame.

If the athletic supporters had only listened. UPDATED

I don't know where to begin. I guess I will start with Mt. Lebanon's latest administrative report.

We knew that the "Crown Jewel" would be abused. Here in Mt. Lebanon, we can't keep anything nice. Sunflower seeds are a definite no-no. I warned them about the Field Turf lawsuits. Bid opening today. We told them about the garbage and the lawn chairs on Day 1. Even with the new sign at the Crown Jewel in Office Depot vinyl sheet protectors, there are sunflower seeds. After the newer -new signs, we saw this. Sunday: WITH the new signs

Today, I received this in my email.
https://www.classaction.org/news/city-of-fremont-ca-latest-to-file-class-action-against-fieldturf-usa

On FieldTurf’s overall legal troubles, the lawsuit asserts the company “specifically knew that its fields would not last for the full eight-year warranty period due to structural inadequacies,” yet still told prospective customers that its product, more specifically its “monofilament” surfaces, would last at least 10 years.

Guess what the super secret turf task force recommended?

Speaking of final specifications, the Turf Project Task Force Recommendations included these specs, "To address the multi-purpose, heavy use planned for the field, the specification recommended for the turf will be a slit film with monofilament blend."

Monofilament surfaces. Yep, these geniuses were the ones who would not permit two Mt. Lebanon residents to attend the super secret turf task force meeting held at the Rec Center.

All this and we are only in Year 2. Next on the list will be turfing the practice field at the high school. You heard it here first!

In other news,



Update September 2, 2017 6:35 PM Mt. Lebanon School District confirms 7 high school football players being treated for staph infections

Athletic Director John Grogan sent this letter to parents:

Dear Parent/Guardian:
I wanted to inform you that we have seven confirmed cases of Staph infections among members of our football team. As a precaution, we felt it was important to notify you about this. To prevent communicable disease transmission, the Mt. Lebanon School District follows the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for infectious diseases/conditions.

How can we prevent Staph?

Handwashing is the most effective method of preventing the spread of infectious disease. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with bandages to aid in healing and to prevent transmission of infection. Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, clothes or personal items. On the recommendation of the ACHD, any student or employee who has been treated for Staph and cleared to return to school, as well anyone who has been or may be referred to their family physician for Staph screening, may return to normal activities as long as all wounds are completely covered and taped on all four sides.

What is the school doing?

We will continue to encourage good hygiene practices with students and staff. Soap dispensers and sinks are available in every locker room. The custodial staff will continue their daily cleaning and sanitization procedures in the locker rooms, washrooms etc. with cleaning products that have been approved by the ACHD. Additionally, one of our UPMC team physicians met with the football team student athletes and coaching staff to review safe hygiene practices.

What can you do?

We recommend that if you have concerns about your child's health, to contact his or her private physician. If your child is immunocompromised (i.e., HIV, cancer, leukemia, organ transplant, etc.,) contact your child's physician to ask for guidance. As always, information regarding a student with a diagnosed or a suspected infectious condition should be reported to the school nurse, principal and coach (if applicable). Student athletes should take all practice clothing home to be cleaned each evening. Finally, remind your student athlete to not share any personal items such as towels, razors, clothing, etc.

I want to assure you that we are doing all that we can to provide a safe and healthy school environment for our students and staff. In addition to contacting your own physician with concerns, please feel free to contact me or the school nurse.

Speechless UPDATED

District News

John Grogan Named PSADA Athletic Director of the Year

Posted 03/13/2017 11:41PM

Mt. Lebanon High School Athletic Director John Grogan has been selected as the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Directors Association (PSADA) Region 4 Athletic Director of the Year. Region 4 includes the WPIAL and the city of Pittsburgh schools.

Mr. Grogan's selection by the PSADA is in recognition of his efforts, dedication, leadership and achievements in athletic administration. Furthermore, the award recognizes excellence in athletic administration, demonstrated by the outstanding work of Mr. Grogan, who continues to make a profound difference for student athletes and coaches in Mt. Lebanon and the region.

With this award, the PSADA Foundation will provide a $1000 scholarship to a soon to be selected Mt. Lebanon High School student-athlete.

Mr. Grogan will receive this recognition at the State Athletic Directors Association conference next week.

Congratulations to Athletic Director John Grogan on this well deserved award.

Grogan case filed 022717 

Defendants Mt. Lebanon School District and Grogan have refused to answer an interrogatory or produce documents in response to requests for production that seek communications within their control on these very subjects. Defendants’ tactical refusal to respond to Plaintiffs’ discovery requests violates the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and prevents Plaintiffs from being able to effectively litigate their claims.

Begor 030717
Begor 031317

Update March 22, 2017 10:22 PM Shaking my head.

Begor, Grogan, and MTLSD case continues

Begor's Defense

Grogan and MTLSD Defense

Lawsuit information is available in an earlier Lebo Citizens post.

Hooray for the "Pay for Participation" fee UPDATED

Hooray for the "Pay for Participation" fee this year! MTLSD is excited! YAY! 

From: Mt. Lebanon School District Athletics <noreply@mtlsd.net>

Date: Wed, Oct 1, 2014 at 9:42 AM

Subject: Winter Sports

To: Mt. Lebanon Parent/Guardian

Dear Parent/Guardian and Student Athlete,

We are excited to announce that we are continuing to offer the convenience of online registration for our athletic programs through partner company, FamilyID (www.familyid.com).

FamilyID is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to register for our programs, and helps us to be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible.  When you register through FamilyID, you enter your information once for multiple uses, multiple kids and multiple programs.

All district athletic forms will now be entered electronically with the exception of the physical and health history form.  Those forms will still need to be filled out by the parent and signed by a physician.  Please remember that the physical form needs to be signed after May 31, 2014 to be eligible to participate in athletics during the 2014-15 school year.  These forms can be found on the district web site at www.mtlsd.net.  Click on athletics and then forms on the left hand side of the page.  When completed, the forms should be turned in to the nurse’s office at the school your son or daughter attends.

As you are aware, the district has instituted a new Pay for Participation fee this year.  You will also be able to pay this fee through this site as well.

Please be aware that there are sections of the registration form that require both a parent/guardian and student athlete to respond so please plan accordingly when doing the registration.

Many of our families have already used this system.  I hope that your experience was a good one and the feedback we have received in the office has been positive!!  The on-line registration process for Winter Sports will be available on October 7, 2014! You can begin your registration by clicking on this link https://www.familyid.com/mt-lebanon-high-school and following these steps:

1. Click on the link for the season’s registration form.  Scroll to bottom of page and click on Sign up as a Family or Individual.  If you are a returning user, you can just put in your email and password at the top of the page.

2. Sign up for your secure FamilyID account by entering your family name, email address and password.  You will receive an email with a link to confirm your new account.  (If you don’t see the email, check your spam or junk folders)

3. Click on the link in your email confirmation and then fill out the information requested on the registration form.

You can always find the school landing page by clicking “Find Programs” in the top blue banner, searching Mt. Lebanon, and clicking on the school link.

If you need assistance, call FamilyID at 888-800-5583 X1 from 8:00 AM to 9 PM.  Support is available 7 days a week and messages will be returned promptly.

It is our hope that this new system will make it easier on our families to register for our athletic programs.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the athletic office at 412-344-2008.

Sincerely,

John Grogan

Athletic Director

Update October 3, 2014 12:14 PM At a recent Coaches' meeting, Athletic Director John Grogan informed coaches that the High School "Rock Pile" will be artificially turfed and ready to use in 2017. 

Players participating in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 have filed this lawsuit.

There are some new studies cited in sections 29, 30, 31, and 32. Interesting reading.

Just add a handful of dirt and grass seed...

Did you know that our high school turf is being maintained properly? That is what President Elaine Cappucci said on May 2, 2014. Remember this from Bridge sinking three inches?

From: Elaine Cappucci [mailto:ECappucci@mtlsd.net]
Sent: Friday, May 2, 2014 1:16 PM
Subject: RE: high school turf
The high school turf is properly groomed/maintained regularly (at least once per month). The loft in the turf will vary depending on when it was groomed and how much activity has occurred on the turf.
Elaine Cappucci

According to Athletic Director John Grogan, the turf has recently been groomed.

From: John Grogan [mailto:JGrogan@mtlsd.net]
Sent: Friday, May 9, 2014 11:52 AM
Subject: RE: high school turf
Our turf is being maintained as per manufacturer’s suggestion. There was some time this spring that maintenance was not able to get on because of weather but it has been recently groomed. The district does have a company come in every summer to do a “deep cleaning” and complete maintenance program (add rubber, look at seams, etc.) which we will continue to do again this year.

As you are probably aware, our turf is used constantly by numerous teams, groups and community members. It is extremely important to our programs and I know that our facility department works hard to keep it maintained. Thanks for your interest.
John

Remember the standing water? That is the reflection of the blue sky in that water. Yuck!

A Right To Know was filed for documents pertaining to the latest installation of the artificial turf at Mt. Lebanon High School football stadium pertaining to all costs associated with, maintenance agreements, warranty, contractor/installer contracts. The request was granted. Here are the documents.

The Lebo Citizens "Turf Photographer" reported back today with this goodie.

A hole in the turf

Where the infill and plastic grass is missing, is the plastic backing that we would be getting down on Middle and Wildcat Field. John Grogan can throw a handful of dirt and some grass seed to fill the hole. Elaine Cappucci can spray paint the grass white when it grows, and no one will know the difference. Another option would be to open a Putt Putt Golf down at the stadium.

Please sign this petition if you want to halt public funds for use of artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields.

I cannot catch a break

On March 1, 2014 at 10:40 AM, I wrote this comment:

Someone did share a horror story with me concerning a sweet deal with Underarmour which John Grogan blew over this turf fundraising. It appears that UA wanted to work with the high school and supply much needed equipment to the weight room, etc., but Grogan insisted that they also make a $2,500 donation toward the nonmunicipal share for the turf project. UA went elsewhere.
Elaine

I filed a Right To Know with the School District on March 1, 2014 at 1:44 PM for all communication between John Grogan and Under Armour. It was received by Mrs. Szalinski on March 3, 2014.
Here is the response to my RTK. Grogan Under Armour emails Notice how Under Armour reached out again on March 2, 2014 with John Grogan responding on March 3, the day of my RTK. So do I have to file ANOTHER RTK for the rest of the story? I cannot catch a break.

Municipality and (MTLSD?) raising non-municipal funds in corporate deal UPDATED

According to Minutes of the November 25, 2013 Adjourned Meeting of the Mt. Lebanon Commission, the Commission allocated $750,000 in municipal funds for the turf project, including $637,400 by action at the November 25, 2013 meeting. The remaining $112,600 will be considered in a separate motion at a future Commission meeting. In this month's issue of our municipal mtl Magazine, there is a three page article about field fundraising. The Public Information Office writes that the field sports organizations are to raise an additional $250,000 or 25% of the project. Volunteers are to contact Dave Franklin at his office, dfranklin@eckertseamans.com according to the municipal magazine article. But look who is doing the heavy lifting raising non-municipal funds.

As revealed in my January 24, 2014 Right To Know, the Sports Advisory Board (SAB) or field sports associations, isn't doing the lion's share of raising non-municipal funds. It is the Municipality!  Gateway, our municipal engineer has donated $4,000 in 2013, with promises of more in 2014. Gateway is also doing the engineering on the project and any traffic studies required; however, a major portion of the dollars required will have to come elsewhere. What I discovered is a sweetheart deal with...drum roll please...Dick's Sporting Goods. Orchestrating what should be something entirely by the private sector are Mt. Lebanon Commissioners, the Director of Recreation, MTLSD Athletic Director, and the Municipal Engineer creating the pathway for the SAB and the Turf Project Task Force (TPTF). 

Keep in mind that the RTK information requested was from November 1, 2013 to January 24, 2014. 

Steve Silverman, elected but not yet sworn in as Commissioner, started communicating with Tony Lombardo, V.P. of Dick's Sporting Goods (DSG) on December 5, 2013. Steve indicates, "I am hopeful Dick's will help Mt. Lebanon with our new Turf Field." 

On December 11, 2013, Steve followed up with Tony and brought Commissioner John Bendel, and Director of Recreation David Donnellan into the conversation. Steve suggested that Tony meets with the three of them.

A question arises as to what Dick's might do for the turf project and how Dick's would benefit is addressed in the December 19, 2013 email from David Donnellan to several SAB members, including Municipal Engineer Dan Deiseroth of Gateway, and MTLSD Athletic Director John Grogan. Click here --->THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT EMAIL. <----- Is the School District aware of Grogan's involvement with this partnership? Does it conflict with Policy KGD Partnerships and Sponsorships? Why is Mr. Grogan involved with any fundraising project of this magnitude while MTLSD is trying to raise $6 million?

The December 20, 2013 emails indicated that Chip Dalesandro, representing Football, didn't like the deal. Donnellan thanked Silverman for reassuring Chip that no such commitment had been made. [Yet.] Silverman, using his mtlebanon.org address, is now aware and involved.

Donnellan copies Commissioner John Bendel on his December 19, 2013 message about Dick's, so Bendel is involved.

Mr. Lombardo indicated on December 20, 2013 his looking forward "to helping in any way.." and a meeting with his V.P. of Community Marketing on January 6, 2014  in a reply to a Donnellan message of December 19, 2013. 

The holidays slowed things down for a while until we find that another Dick's executive, Jim Famularo is contacted by Commissioner Silverman, and cc's Bendel and Donnellan about a meeting scheduled for January 30th when all will be present.

January 17th and 18th emails describe meetings and the very revealing Tim White message of January 18 at 9:48 AM sent to John Bendel, which states that "While they (Dick's) can stroke a check for a huge position on this, my understanding was they wanted some type of access to our constituency (defined as sports groups grant them access to email lists) and they want a contract for blanket procurement for sports products" found here. The "blanket procurement for sports products is still on after all. Bendel and Silverman are parties to this as well. 

So here we have it. The Municipality is doing the major "private fundraising" and a Municipal part time employee, Katherine Heart, doing fundraising for the "private" funding as well, as I revealed in Big enough for its own post UPDATED. Why isn't the Municipality working toward raising its balance of $112,600?

This stinks. It has been kept entirely out of the public knowledge. 

Meanwhile, this appeared in Pittsburgh Business Times on March 7, 2014. Dick's Sporting Goods launches campaign to fund youth sports "Every year we’re seeing more and more cutbacks in sports,” said Gruden in a prepared statement. “Budgets are being decreased, coaches are being eliminated, and fewer players are going out for youth sports. We have to do something about it!”

Update March 9, 2014 3:13 PM I scanned turf vendor correspondence and wish that my RTK was later than January 24, 2014. The responses to the turf vendor questions were either sent after the cut off date or they are MIA. I have also scanned the Field Analysis completed by Jordan Halter in May 2012.

A weight room without weights is just a room

An email sent by Athletic Director John Grogan made its way to me this morning. It appears that there is no money available to equip the state-of-the-art weight room that is going in the high school. Here is his letter:

Hi everyone, 

I am writing with a favor to ask. As many of you know, we will be getting a terrific new weight room in our new facility. However, the equipment for the new facility was not part of the project. Therefore, we have had to privately raise funds to pay for the equipment. Our goal is to put the best equipment in the space to meet the needs of our student athletes! Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, our fund raising efforts have fallen short and we still have to raise a significant amount of money. 

The good news is that we received a terrific lead gift from a gentleman named Preston McMurry from the class of 1955. Preston donated $50,000 dollars toward the weight room!! However, we still have a ways to go. 

Please find attached a letter that I put together that I would ask that you send to your parents, alumni, or any other groups that support us to help raise the money we need to equip the room properly for our student athletes. Feel free to change the letter as you see fit – just wanted to provide an example. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. 

As you will see in the letter, donations can be sent to the Blue Devil Club and we would ask that they fill out the donation card or make sure that they write weight room in the memo line. I have worked with the Blue Devil Club to ensure that all donations for the weight room are put into a separate account to be specifically used for the equipment to go into the room. 

Again, I know this is unusual but as you have seen in the past we have a good plan for that room and I’m hopeful that we can raise the money to provide the equipment our teams need to succeed. 

In advance, thanks for any help that you provide!!

John

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