Lebo Gives

Our commissioners may be raising the commission stipend to $5,000, while school board directors, who receive no compensation, will have to support the revamped Century of Excellence Campaign now known as Lebo Gives.

At the April 9, 2018 school board meeting, a presentation was made by Noelle Conover and Bill Moorhead* announcing the new fundraising campaign "reset."

Noelle gave some background as to why the capital campaign was started. Unfortunately, she is incorrect.

The original intent was to avoid issuing a second bond for the high school renovation. Mt. Lebanon School District to ramp up fundraising campaign.

The $6 million fundraising campaign originally was planned in 2012 to offset the second round of bonds issued for the project.

In that August 12, 2015 article, the Trib reported that the Mt. Lebanon School District fundraising campaign had received $1.1 million in pledges.  Compare that amount to the latest Capital Campaign Financial Report. (Saved in Google Docs)

As with every other project in Mt. Lebanon, we are told that this will raise property values.

I'm still waiting to see the value of my house increase because of the artificial turf on Cedar Blvd. Meanwhile, the school board directors will be approving the 2018-2019 Proposed Budget tonight.

2018-2019 Proposed Budget: RESOLVED, That the Board approves the 2018-2019 Proposed Budget in the amount of $98,958,314 setting the millage rate at 24.33 mills, a .40 mill increase in the form presented. The Board directs that the budget be placed on the District’s website until final approval with such changes as may be directed on May 21, 2018.

*Schoolboard President and Outreach SECOND REQUEST April 11, 2017

Vote regarding a landlord of a board member's employer?

On Sat, Jul 22, 2017 at 10:16 AM, 'egillen476@aol.com' via SchoolBoard <schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net> wrote:

A question has come up on my blog, Lebo Citizens. With Mary Birks being executive director of Outreach, should she be voting on any issues that involves Outreach's landlord?
Elaine Gillen

VP Moorhead's reply

Schoolboard President and Outreach SECOND REQUEST

Well, there you have it.

From: William Moorhead wmoorhead@mtlsd.net

To: egillen476 

Cc: schoolboard ; Timothy Steinhauer ; jcrompton 

Subject: Re: School board president and Outreach SECOND REQUEST 

Date: Tue, Apr 11, 2017 8:32 pm

Ms. Gillen:

In response to your question, and after after consultation with counsel,our position is that it is permissible for Mrs.Birks to serve as President of the School Board, and as Executive Director of Outreach.

William J. Moorhead

Vice President of the School Board 

On Tue, Apr 11, 2017 at 8:19 AM, 'egillen476@aol.com' via SchoolBoard <schoolboardemaillist@mtlsd.net> wrote:

School board directors,

Since there are nine of you and I haven't heard back from any of you, perhaps this email got "lost in the mail." I hope it isn't the case that you are afraid to break protocol. 

I have not heard from the superintendent either. This is a serious matter and should not be ignored.

Elaine Gillen

-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>
Cc: TSteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>; egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; jcrompton <jcrompton@post-gazette.com>
Sent: Sun, Apr 9, 2017 5:48 pm
Subject: School board president and Outreach

School board directors,

I approved the following comment for my blog, Lebo Citizens. 

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Interesting connections, observations, and more ma...": 

The parent who sent the Outreach letter is correct. The Teen Screen program should be placed out for bid. If Outreach wins the bid then state law dictates that Mrs. Birks cannot have any supervisory or administrative involvement. That's just not possible given Mrs. Birks is the Outreach Executive Director. She can sit on School Board OR run Outreach. Not both. Next, it could be a director pushing their tutoring service or rehab facility or SAT prep service or whatever. The rules exist for a reason. 

Posted by Anonymous to Lebo Citizens at April 9, 2017 at 3:38 PM

I am quite concerned about this comment as well as the anonymous letter which was sent to my home. I would like a response from the school board. What is your position with Mary Birks being School Board President while being the Outreach Executive Director at the same time.. 

This should be interesting since you tend to have the school board president answer all emails and sign all emails, "For the Board." 

Elaine Gillen