Goodbye, Planetarium

Mt. Lebanon High School to sell its planetarium equipment
So sad. My kids enjoyed the high school planetarium. My high school class went through all the construction mess and never had the opportunity to use it.

Used by a couple of astronomy classes, the Spitz A4 projector was listed for sale at $1,000 on the district's list of used equipment. A potential buyer has expressed interest, provided the district can safely get the equipment out of its dome in a state that's still usable. 

Contractors will make a plan and try to move the projector in the next month or two, Davis said, though he had no idea what the potential buyer planned to do with it. He declined to identify the buyer beyond saying that it was not another school district.

Letter to the Editor: HIGH SCHOOL CONTINGENCY FUND

Lebo Citizens reader and Mt. Lebanon resident, Richard Gideon has been following the change orders for quite some time now; keeping spreadsheets, corresponding with Jan Klein, and filing Right To Knows, when necessary. Below is Mr. Gideon's Letter to the Editor concerning the High School Contingency Fund.


As of the end of October, 2014, the high school reconstruction contingency fund was 90.1% depleted.  Here are the numbers:
Change Order (CO) Total:  $3,852,473.57
Change Order Average:     $15,724.38*
Median CO:                         $9,797.00
Number of CO's:  245
*Including refunds
    
Contingency fund beginning balance:  $4,276,000.00
Current Balance (October):                    $423,526.43

Change orders must be vetted and approved, then voted upon by the school board before they are paid.  Therefore, an official accounting by the Mt. Lebanon School District is not available to the public until the month following board approval.  Because the district has shifted payment of various CO's out of the contingency fund and into the Capital Projects fund I wait to request the change order listing until after the business meeting vote.  More on that in a moment.  However, based on the numbers announced by the district, here are the projected totals for November:

Projected CO's (November):         $127,994.00
Projected total:                               $3,980,467.57
Projected Contingency Balance:  $295,532.43
Projected used:  93.09%

The MLSD is currently spending its contingency fund at the rate of $132,843.92/month.  Should this rate of expense continue the district will run out of money by February, 2015.  I should point out that at the construction update on 10 November 2014, Mr. Berkebile stated that the project was "..34 months out of a 41 month project."  He also stated that the project is slated to be completed "..by the end of next year."  This throws some understandable confusion into the numbers.  My estimation, based on the rate of expenditure from confirmed October figures, is that the district will be short approximately $630,000, if the project ends by June, 2015.  However, if the project goes to the end of 2015 then all bets are off.  (If you have not heard the last construction update I highly recommend it; especially the 25 minute mark onward.)

When I requested the October, 2014 contingency fund listing and reconciled it with my own spreadsheet I found a discrepancy of $810.  After combing through the numbers I found the difference was due to a contradiction in a change order for Farfield Electric that occurred back in June, 2013.  The original figure was $28,907, but the October, 2014 CO PDF showed that figure to be $28,097.  At first I thought that the original figure must have been wrong or entered incorrectly back in 2013.  But after a couple of messages to Jan Klein it turns out the number was reported incorrectly on the October, 2014 PDF.  Ms. Klein told me the figure would be changed back to the original amount in the December report.  Therefore the numbers shown above, as of the end of October, are correct.  On this Blog the running total extends though November, and is eight cents higher than the projected figures shown above due to an original figure, early in the project, that had not been rounded.  

Richard Gideon

Change orders for May 2014

The Agenda for the May 12, 2014 School Board Meeting has been published.

Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – The following change orders are presented for Board consideration. All the change orders listed below totaling $104,477 have been reviewed by the architect, PJ Dick and the District administration.

a. GC-100-225 to Nello for $74,520 for floor, wall, structure and ceiling work,

b. PL-30-226 to Vrabel for $16,793 for drain, water and storm lines and heater repairs,

c. EL-61-227 to Farfield for $873 for cable, fire alarm, card reader and gas resets, and

d. ME-23-228 to McKamish for $12,291 for diffusers, ducts and coils.

Heads up, Mark Cuban

Mr. Cuban,

It looks like you are being set up for a donation, if you haven't heard from Mt. Lebanon already. mtl Magazine did a nice piece on you, modern mogul.

Mt. Lebanon has turned into one big fundraiser, Mark. I am sure you are aware of the Taj Mahal going up, otherwise known as Mt. Lebanon High School.  I presented almost 4,000 signatures to the Mt. Lebanon School District Board of Directors, asking them to cap the renovation at $75 million. Next time you are in town, drive up Cochran Road and see how that worked out for us 4,000 residents.

Now, the School District has hired someone to head a $6 million campaign, half of it going toward capital projects, and the remaining $3 million for endowments. We haven't heard how that is coming along. Seems as though we are in "The Quiet Phase."

Rumor has it, that the School District is hammering out an unbelievable contract with the teachers' union. Our super superintendent, Dr. "Timmy" Steinhauer will get his yearly increase. I believe last year's increase was 7.5%.

While this is going on, Mark, the Commission has decided to artificially turf Middle and Wildcat Fields on Cedar Blvd. They have decided to steal $750,000 from the unassigned funds and the Municipal Budget and partner with the Sports Advisory Board, who has been charged with raising $250,000. My guess is that your phone number is on their To Call list. Here's the thing, Mark. Three commissioners have gotten together with a few people and have bullied us into paying for this project. No public hearings. No referendums. No transparency whatsoever. It is criminal how this is going down.

Things are so much different now than how it was when you lived here, Mark. Little did I know that when I was in high school, walking past your house to go to work at Thrift Drug on Bower Hill, that I would be writing to you on a blog some day. There was no Internet back then. A blog? Not even in our wildest imaginations.

I am just giving you a heads up, Mark. I enjoy watching your show. I wish our elected officials would think as carefully as "The Sharks" do when it comes to using taxpayers' money. Our commissioners and school board directors should be required to watch Shark Tank. I know I have learned quite a bit.

Elaine Gillen

Just when I wanted to give up...UPDATED 3X

Anonymous Letter # 3 surfaced on November 26, 2013. The handwriting appears to be the same as Anonymous Letter #1 and Anonymous Letter #2. As I have done in the past, I scanned it as a pdf and is available in the hyperlink above, and as a .jpg below.

Highlights:

1. Barrels are being used to catch roof leak water in the newly renovated B Building  6th floor.

2. Cheap floor tiles were replaced after the 6th day of school.

3. The bridge has cracks and major gaps.

4. Cracks throughout pool lobby and seating area.

5.Cheap flooring used in classroom is not commercial grade.

6. Wrestling mats (mega thousands of dollars) don't fit and will have to be sewn together. (I'm not doing that!)

7. Layout is so spread out that students need more than five minutes between classes.

8. Mrs. Cappucci's safety concern with Building C's  many stairwells and secluded areas are no different in the new structure.

9. Access between buildings is inconvenient and in some cases, inaccessible. 

While I am on the subject of the pool, this letter was sent out to parents.

From: Mike Chiappetta <mike@mlacswimming.com>

Date: November 19, 2013 at 10:27:06 PM EST
To:
Subject: Balcony at the Pool

Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club

Balcony at the Pool

Members Well, two nights in the new pool and I think it is safe to say we are thrilled with our new home.  There are a couple of items we want to remind everyone of. First we ask that parents do not go on deck if possible.  Obivously with the work still left to do in the new athletic building still to complete, a lot of dust and dirt will be generated.  This dirt will easily be tracked on the pool deck and by limiting access to coaches and swimmers we can help the District keep the pool clean.  We understrand this is a big change from old pool and at times parents will need to be on deck.  We just ask you limit this as much as possible. Next just a reminder to please confine yourself to the pool, balcony and locker rooms only.  We are all very curious to see the rest of the building but we need to refrain from exploring. Lastly several members have raised a concern with the height of the railing at the front of the seating balcony.  We have shared this concern with the district and they in turn have passed along our concern to their construction team. In the mean time, we ask that all be very careful around the railing and if possible refrain from sitting in the front row.  This is not to say the building or pool is unsafe, we only suggest this as a precaution to avoid any accidents. Thanks Mike Mike Chiappetta President, Board of Directors Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club.

This is from a parent.

"They [are} also majorly cheap out in the restrooms. [One would think that] for all of that money that they would have the kind of sinks where the water turned on automatically due to motion. Or the kind of paper towel [hand waving] containers that would spit out paper towels due to motion.... Or those super powered turbo hand dryers. [There] are also only five showers in the girls locker room. The girls were even complaining about that on the first day."

Instead of cutting corners, the board should have scaled back the project as almost 4,000 residents had asked.  How do you ruin a $133.3 million project? Just ask your "illustrious" school board.

Update: November 30, 2013 2:45 PM Here is the anonymous letter in an easier to read version.
Dear concerned tax payer-
1. 6th floor - new renovated B Building. Water barrell to catch roof leak water - several months.
2. Had to purchase 1500 desk and chair tabs & have custodians install because the cheap tile floors were being ruined & tile replaced after 6th day of school.
3. The $750,000.00 bridge connecting to athletic facility has cracks in concrete. They filled one major gap with caulking. Floor finish is polished concrete.
4. Pool lobby & upper seating area - cracks all through concrete.
5. The cheap tile used in the classrooms is not commercial grade - 1/8" thick, made from recycled products.
6. Mats in new wrestling room do not fit (mega thousands of $) Will need to sew in pieces.
7.The entire structure is so spread out - students will have great difficulty getting to classes with current schedule. 5 min. between classes.
8. Mrs. Cappucci didn't want to reuse C-building because she was concerned about the many stairwells & the rape incident at USC. There are just as many staircases & areas to hide in the new structures.
9. Board did not like no access from B - building floors 6-5-4 to get to fine arts everone had to go via floor 3 past the South gym - Now the S-gym will be a commons area & cafeteria & everyone will still need to go through that same area - what was accomplished?

                                   the above just scratches the surface of issues -

Update: November 30, 2013 11:02 PM Pool railing

Update: December 2, 2013 11:42 AM Here is the railing that Bethel used.

Notice the glass rail in the spectator area.

October Change Orders

From Monday's School Board Meeting Agenda

Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – The following change orders are presented for Board consideration. All the change orders listed below (totaling $197,914) have been reviewed by the architect, PJ Dick and the District administration. 

a. GC-82-172 to Nello for $9,142 for stairwell reconstruction in F Building,

 
b. GC-83-173 to Nello for $29,827 for fireproofing due to unforeseen conditions, 

 
c. GC-84-174 to Nello for $12,915 to address door, window and floor site conditions, 

 
d. ME-14-175 to McKamish for $10,854 for duct and grille modifications, 

 
e. ME-15-176 to McKamish for $21,978 for changes to pipes and ducts in B and J Buildings, 

f. PL-23-177 to Vrabel for $15,171 for gas turrets, house traps and hose bibs due to unforeseen    conditions, 

g. EL-47-178 to Farfield for $33,174 for elevator power modifications,

 
h. EL-48-179 to Farfield for $30,835 for additional security cameras in Athletic Building, 

 
i. EL-49-180 to Farfield for $25,970 for power access changes, and 

 
j. CA-01-181 to Reed for $8,048 for additional gas turrets and concession stand changes.

From Timmy's association

A Lebo Citizens reader sent me this very important tool kit that comes from the School Superintendents Association, AASA. Instead of taking pictures of bathrooms and water fountains, providing this toolkit for cost-effective financing for school construction and renovation might have been a better use of his time. No worries, Timmy will get his raise and probably a bonus for his valuable contributions to the high school project. http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=12676

But superintendents aren't the only ones who receive sound, financial advice from their organizations. The American School Board Journal cautions its members when making district investments. Collateral Damage, written by Charles K. Trainor, an ASBJ contributing editor, is a certified fraud examiner and certified internal auditor. His article makes me curious as to how MTLSD's available funds are invested. According to Jan Klein's July 1 document to the school board, there is

• $1.7 million in the Asbestos Fund
• $6.35 million in the General Capital Project Fund
• $3.24 million in Excess General Funds remaining form 2011, 2012, and 2013 (estimated) 

I wonder if Charles K. Trainor, president of Management Audit Consultants, Inc., would come to Mt. Lebanon since we have been using the same auditors for twenty five years. Jan Klein has quite a bit of money stashed away. I hope it has been invested wisely. For some reason, the school board directors don't want to touch it.

Please note:
It is August and the 2013-14 Final Budget has not been posted.
No word on level funding on the district website.
Next school board meeting is August 12, 2013.

Generators at the high school...again UPDATED 2x

According to the District website, there was another break in the main electrical power line for the high school on Friday, July 26, 2013. Generators have been brought in again to provide power to the building.

Looks like another change order is coming. I hope our insurance covers this one too. Certainly, the contractors are never at fault, or at least the school board directors don't seem to think so.

Update July 31, 2013 6:54 PM I got a response today from Elaine Cappucci.

From:	Elaine Cappucci <ECappucci@mtlsd.net>
To:	egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Subject:	RE: power line break
Date:	Wed, Jul 31, 2013 5:26 pm

Elaine,

During excavation on Horsman Drive a power line which was not indicated on the plans or by the PA One Call system was hit. Nobody was hurt and power has been restored.

For the Board,

Elaine Cappucci

President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net

Update July 31, 2013 8:25 PM All traces of the power line break have been removed from the school district website. No explanations were given. Like it never happened.

Anonymous letter number two

Another anonymous letter has surfaced and made its way here on Lebo Citizens. As before, I scanned it as a pdf and is available in the hyperlink above, and as a .jpg below.

Prison hallway or New High School hallway?

The School District has a monthly Construction Update.  The next Construction Update is June 10, 2013. I decided that I know as much about construction as our super Super, so I decided to have my own Construction Update. Will it be a monthly feature? I dunno.

This month, it is all about hallways.  Below are two photos. One is the new high school hallway and the other one is a prison. Can you guess which is which?



Why do I bring this up? On July 28, 2009, Dirk A. Taylor, P.E., reviewed the MT. LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS Schematic Plans Dated June 1, 2009. Read his comments on the inefficiencies of one-sided corridors. 

Maybe I will call this series of posts, "We told you so!" or "Dirk knows his stuff!"

Dear concerned resident & taxpayer UPDATED

An anonymous letter found its way to this blog. I have scanned it and is available as a pdf in the hyperlink above and as jpgs below.

Anyone care to comment? I am curious about the roof warranty. The author claims that the project is behind schedule. Was the FAT to be ready late January 2013? What about the 6th floor?

Update 9:55 PM  Perfect timing! The District has uploaded this 4:21 minute video illustrating the items mentioned in this anonymous letter.  The 2 small white boards are at the end of the video, not smart boards, but white boards. The large white board is at 4:01. Is that a 21st century classroom?  High School Project Photos

Presenting PlanCon F, H, and I

This should have been posted on the school District website, Mt. Lebanon High School Project Documents. The PlanCon documents stop at PlanCon Part E on their website.  In fact, it hasn't been touched since September 12, 2011.

Through Right To Knows with the State, here are the rest of them.

PlanCon Part F

PlanCon Part H

PlanCon Part I

May Change Orders

The list of change orders for May has been published on the agenda for Monday, May 13, 2013.  They are as follows:

Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – The following change orders are presented for Board consideration. All the change orders listed below have been reviewed by the architect, PJ Dick and the District administration.

a. EL-26-84 to Farfield for $3,038 to replace LED fixtures on Bldg F 5th floor Lobby,
b. GC-35-85 to Nello for $2,857 for closure plate on H-4 stairs,
c. GC-36-86 to Nello for $7,039 to remove diagonal bracing in F Building,
d. GC-37-87 to Nello for $37,404 to finish stairwells and drywall in F Building on a time and materials basis (April work),
e. GC-38-88 to Nello for $6,023 for bent plate modification at G Building where it meets F Building – unforeseen condition,
f. GC-39-89 to Nello for $7,406 for south parking lot concrete wall height increase,
g. GC-40-90 to Nello credit for ($550) for entry mat changes in all buildings,
h. GC-41-91 to Nello for $1,749 to change swimming pool bulkhead in seating area,
i. GC-42-92 to Nello for $2,003 for removal of steel from roofing,
j. GC-44-94 to Nello not to exceed $26,911 for joist modification in the athletic facility on a time and materials basis,
k. GC-45-95 to Nello for $12,563 for temporary grading and asphalt to reopen Horsman Drive related to rework of loading dock,
l. GC-46-96 to Nello for $6,676 to shore roof in G Building at F Building for missed steel beam,
m. GC-47-97 to Nello for $847 for door and door hardware modifications and addition of four Knox boxes for fire department,
n. GC-48-98 to Nello for $16,275 for additional fire extinguishers added by Municipality,
o. EL-27-99 to Farfield for $5,318 for concrete around conduit instead of stone,
p. EL-28-100 to Farfield $3,231 to re-pull and terminate voice and video feeds in the Little Theatre, and
q. GC-49-101 to Nello for $75,000 for winterization costs.

The total amount for May is $213,790.00.

More change orders totaling $67,225

It's that time of the month.  Not that time of the month. Change orders, which are equally a pain.

Still no running total on the school district website. My grand total amounts to $1,238,943,65. 

Tomorrow's agenda lists these change orders:

a. GC-31-58 to Nello for $8,419 for 6th floor B Building pitch pockets to fix clearance between roof and ductwork,

b. GC-32-59 to Nello for $6,000 for shotblasting in 6th floor B Building for areas of unforeseen asbestos,

c. EL-14-60 to Farfield for $11,045 to furnish and install emergency transfer electrical cabinets,

d. EL-15-61 to Farfield for $3,038 to provide LED fixtures in lobbies of F Building,

e. PL-05-62 to Vrabel for $4,412 to add ball valves to all trap primers that did not have valves indicated,

f. PL-06-63 to Vrabel for $3,098 to add piping under physics room in G Building not on drawings,

g. PL-07-64 to Vrabel for $2,338 for floor drains, trap primers and piping in the pool storage area,

h. PL-08-65 to Vrabel for $1,167 for air gaps as required,

i. PL-09-66 to Vrabel for $8,264 for roof drains and associated piping in G Building,

j. PL-10-67 to Vrabel for $2,224 for added floor drains in fine arts restrooms,

k. PL-11-68 to Vrabel for $1,757 for waste piping to added toilet room in G Building,

l. PL-12-69 to Vrabel for $10,544 to furnish and install water feeds to boilers and chillers, and

m. ME-04-70 to McKamish for $4,919 for 6th floor B Building changes in patching, ductwork and crawl space demolition.

This month's total is $67,225. We can't even get that from the math wizards.

The Book of Klein

The following photos were taken of the financial book that is left on the table at School Board meetings. This book is never to leave the library. Is this where we get the expression, "Getting everything out on the table?" The point to this post is that the numbers are available, just not shared openly.

I don't really understand budgets since I am not a numbers person, so these are the two take aways for me.

Contrary to Elaine Cappucci's response to Dan Remely, there is an itemized list of change orders. Why it isn't on the District website is beyond me. The community must rely on "the blogs" for this information.

Another little bit of information that I found interesting is that Terrance Kushner, the Owner's Liaison, earned $3185. I wonder what happened to him. High School Renovation Summary

The following Google Docs are for the "pundits whose analysis of anything is so tedious that eyes glaze over." God bless the pundits who explain everything to the school board directors.

Capital Projects Accounts
High School Renovation Project Costs
High School Renovation Summary
Estimated Fund Balance, Revenues, and Other Financing Sources Available for Appropriation
2013-2014 Preliminary General Fund Budget (Proposed Version)

Grab your hard hat

Here is the video that lebomag.com put together with Dr. Steinhauer.







"Mt. Lebanon School District Superintendent Tim Steinhauer gave mtl — Mt. Lebanon Magazine a tour of the high school project to show us the work that has been completed in the first year of construction. While much of the work involved lots of Earth movement, digging and foundation work, we still can see the outlines of Building G, the new science wing, the athletic complex and the sixth floor of Building B — the historic building that fronts Cochran Road.

Come along with Dr. Steinhauer as he shows you what’s been done and tells you what’s next."

Improved sight lines

What does that mean? "Improved sight lines." On Jo Posti's Center Court blog, Supporting students, staff and families, Josephine writes about the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut and takes the opportunity to throw in a plug for the high school renovation.

While I'm confident in the work our staff will be doing to reassure our students and staff and make any necessary improvements to our security measures, I'm also grateful for the work being done to improve the physical security of the high school. While construction is an inconvenience, the end result will be a reduced number of building entrances, the elimination of blind vestibules in B Building, improved sight lines by the elimination of C Building as well as many other security measures that could not have been anticipated when the building was originally built in the 1930s and subsequently renovated in the 1970s.

First, and foremost, I am deeply saddened by what happened on Friday. When I see children in stores or walking to school, I am reminded and burst into tears. I am thankful that the School District is offering support to our children and families. I cannot, however, comprehend that this is the time to justify the elimination of Building C.  What does "improved sight lines" even mean?  All I have ever heard from school board directors is that they will not revisit Building C. Now you decide to talk about it, Josephine?

What else should a superintendent be doing?



Mt. Lebanon School District Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer shows the construction that is going on at the school on Monday, October 22, 2012. Justin Merriman | Tribune-Review

 Matt Santoni, from the Trib, reported that we will be reimbursed for nearly $400,000 in repairs because of the electrical line that was hit by a contractor. That is great news.  What is even better news is that Tim Steinhauer is working hard on meeting his goals. Goal number 2 is:

2. High School Project – The Superintendent will continue the District’s efforts to build/renovate the High School.

Insurer to reimburse Mt. Lebanon after contractor hit electrical line

Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 8:57 p.m.

The Mt. Lebanon School District is waiting for its insurer to reimburse it for nearly $400,000 worth of repairs necessitated when a contractor on the high school renovation project struck an underground electrical line in August.

Finance director Jan Klein said the total bill should come to slightly over $390,000, and the district’s insurance policy should reimburse it for all but a $5,000 deductible. That should eventually be reimbursed by the subcontractor that had been doing the digging, Superintendent Tim Steinhauer said. Although that agreement has yet to be finalized, the contractor has given no indication it would challenge the district, he said.

The board last week approved a final $5,866 payment to Fairfield Electric for its work, bringing its total to about $279,000.

A few other bills, like money to Verizon for the phone system repair, may go before the board later, Steinhauer said.

The district’s cash-flow for the ongoing $109 million renovation should not be affected, since the repair money can be temporarily taken from the project’s contingency fund, officials said.

The electric problems occurred when subcontractors digging near the school’s loading dock along Cochran Road hit the buried 5-kilovolt line on Aug. 13, causing sparks, smoke and damage to the building’s phone systems and more. Three trailer-sized portable generators powered most of the school for the first three weeks of classes until the electrical line could be repaired

In a tour of the construction site on Monday, Steinhauer showed off progress on the athletic wing, which is going up between the main high school building and the stadium. Concrete supports are beginning to define the swimming pool, while masonry walls have gone up for the locker rooms and athletic offices along the building’s lower floors.

Steel girders have risen for the academic wing, and a canopy is taking shape where a new entrance will eventually pass through where the main gym is now. Steinhauer said that space will become into a central space for students once new gyms are completed.

The Fine Arts theater has been gutted for refurbishment, while the sixth floor of the old B Building, which fronts Cochran Road, has had many of its interior walls knocked down, opening up vast spaces that will be re-divided into larger classrooms.*

The project is scheduled to wrap up in 2015.

This week, subcontractors again had to dig for an electric line, but the work proceeded without incident.

* Old B Building has been gutted for refurbishment, but the 1972 C Building couldn't. Our school board is a train wreck. They are spending millions on the high school project. The superintendent is seen more times in photos wearing a hard hat than with students in a learning environment. We are paying him to be a project manager.

But where is the school board's priorities? Photo ops for Timmy, the high school renovation, turf and grinding.  As someone wrote on another blog about Lebo's grinding,

Teens have died from excessive drinking.
Nobody's ever died from grinding.

Shame on all of you, School Board. Your priorities are all wrong.
I almost forgot. While you gave Timmy his raise and charged students for parking, Number 26 on your cost reduction list:

Reduce use of contracted security at District events $ 5,000

No answers, but a nice pay increase

The Almanac has an article in this week, ML superintendent gets increase in pay. (Saved in Google Docs.)

Mt. Lebanon School Board voted 8-1 to grant superintendent Dr. Tim Steinhauer a 4 percent pay raise on Oct. 15, bringing the superintendent's 2012-2013 salary to $157,477.

Board vice-president Elaine Cappucci said, "Dr. Steinhauer sets the bar high and is always looking for continuous improvement."

She summarized the board's goals for the superintendent over the coming year, which include operating the district in a fiscally responsible manner, continuing to manage the district's high school renovation and advancing learning through technology. Cappucci also highlighted the superintendent's key role in the district's upcoming capital campaign, through which the board hopes to raise $6 million.

Yes, Dr. Steinhauer is always looking for continuous improvement. His thought provoking Post It Note in a previous thread, What is his sentence? inspired a resident to seek the answers to Tim's two questions twice in separate meetings. Dr. Steinhauer has yet to answer those questions.  Here is his latest response.

From: TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net
Subject: Question
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:42:05 +0000

Dear Mr. Huston – Last night you seemed to be referencing a posting on the Superintendent’s blog (August 31, 2012). As I noted below the posting the idea came from author Daniel Pink. Below are links to a couple of videos posted on his blog that may give you more insight into this idea. If you want a more detailed understanding, I would suggest that you read one of his books – Drive and/or A Whole New Mind.

http://www.danpink.com/2011/01/whats-your-sentence-the-video

http://www.danpink.com/2010/03/9th-graders-ask-themselves-whats-my-sentence

Best wishes -

Timothy J. Steinhauer

Superintendent of Schools

Mt. Lebanon School District

7 Horsman Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15228

412-344-2076

What did you do today to improve the life of a child?

The Almanac article continues to summarize Dr. Steinhauer's goals, which have finally been posted on the District website. I don't see how Dr. Steinhauer is very deserving.

Here are Steinhauer's goals since he has been with Mt. Lebanon.
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012

Posti, by phone said that Steinhauer is currently managing the second largest construction project in Allegheny County. What a scary thought. What happened to Terrence Kushner? http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/a-newsmaker-you-should-know-educator-will-manage-logistics-of-high-school-project-292399/

http://www.mtlsd.org/district/HeadlineArticle.asp?HLP_ID=1342&HL_ID=866

http://jposti.blogspot.com/2011/03/owners-liaison-hired.html

Is this the reason why we are not hearing about  him anymore?
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/fans-back-upper-st-clair-principal-in-courtside-conduct-controversy-468455/?print=1
Did Joe put his foot down? Why aren't we seeing Timmy's USC buddy in any RTKs?

No answers, but he is very deserving.

Right To Know granted for inspection reports

On September 6, 2012, I filed a Right To Know for all daily inspection reports from the project’s testing and inspection firm concerning site work for the high school construction project. My request was granted today. There are forty files which I have uploaded into this folder on Google Docs.
Inspection reports