Those "math professionals" can't do math UPDATED 6x

The TERC Petition currently shows there is a minimum of 272 concerned parents interested in the Mt. Lebanon School District math program. I say minimum because a few signatures show two parents signing together. There are also anonymous signers which may have multiple signatures. So what do the "math professionals" do? They schedule a math presentation for the Jefferson Middle School Library.

Even though I have not been to any school board meetings in their new location, I went to Jefferson Elementary and Junior High (now called Jefferson Middle School) and know that the JMS Library is much smaller than the High School Library. I think I figured out the problem. The "math professionals" can't do math.

From the District home page,

Curriculum Presentation at School Board Meeting
Starting this month, there will be presentations at the Regular School Board meetings on curriculum and programs. This month, an overview of the K-12 mathematics curriculum will be presented.

Starting this month, there will be presentations at the Regular School Board meetings on curriculum and programs." Coincidentally," there will be an overview of the math curriculum tonight. The "math professionals" are so confident that they are providing the best education possible to each and every student, there couldn't possibly be more than the six parents who initially met with the School District attending this presentation. Since 650 parents showed up for the elementary school Math Night, wouldn't that be an indication that the venue needs to change? 272+ concerned parents signed the petition. Lebomathfacts.org is urging parents to attend so that they can to evaluate the information for themselves. Please visit their website. It is excellent.

If the room is too small to handle the number of attendents, keep in mind that parents have the right to move the meeting to another location or to reschedule the presentation.

Update January 22, 2013 12:45 PM  Presentation by Mt. Lebanon Parents for a Balanced Math Curriculum representatives
Copy of MTLSD presentation is not available.

Update January 22, 2013 3:49 PM Mt. Lebanon School District K-12 Mathematics Program has just been added to the District website.

Update January 23, 2013 2:00 PM Mt. Lebanon teachers defend math program by Nick Lewandowski, writer for The Almanac (saved in Google Docs)

Update January 23, 2013 8:54 PM Video of K-12 Mathematics Program Presentation

Update January 23, 2013 11:02 PM Some parents say elementary math system used by Mt. Lebanon neglects basic skills by Matt Santoni, staff writer, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Update January 24, 2013 8:32 AM Facet of elementary math cirriculum fractions some Mt. Lebanon parents by Harry Funk, freelance writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (saved in Google Docs)

Terc Investigations Math Petition and Website UPDATED

Updated January 1, 2013 9:25 AM 
Attention all residents of Mt. Lebanon. This affects all of us. As one wrote on the petition:  

"For all of the Mt. Lebo families - even if you don't have kids in school anymore, this is an important issue that will affect the quality education that Mt Lebanon has been known for."

If it gets out that parents are dissatisfied with their children's education, we're toast. Contrary to popular belief, it is our school system, not our fields, that bring people here. Please sign the petition and support these concerned parents. 
Elaine


A new website has been launched in Mt. Lebanon. Lebomathfacts.org "is run by a diverse group of parents, who are concerned about quality mathematics education" in Mt. Lebanon.

Lebo Citizens readers know that I have had several stories about Terc Investigations including:

 http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/11/posti-on-terc-investigations.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-terc-investigations.html

http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/12/dream-team-change-orders-and-more.html

I see that an online petition has been posted at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-to-ask-the-mt-lebanon-school-district-to/
It is sad that it had to come to this. The school board directors were amazed at the response to the Math Nights, drawing 650 people. Have they figured out that the community is deeply concerned about our TERC Investigations math program?

Please visit Lebomathfacts.org and read about the Fall 2012 meeting that concerned parents had with Dr. Steinhauer. Our Requests summarizes their requests along with recommended timelines.

Tonight's Zamagias Property meeting

Tonight, St. Bernard's hosted a public meeting about the Zamagias property located at Bower Hill Road and Washington Road. Two residents recorded tonight's meeting, so the podcast is available on Lebocitizens.com. The handout from the meeting is available here.

I did not go to the meeting, but I did sign the petition for the commissioners to enforce inspections of the property and consider exercising the buy back provision if reasonable movement isn't made by the developer.
http://www.change.org/petitions/mt-lebanon-commissioners-property-at-bower-hill-rd-washington-rd-inspections-and-consider-buy-back

Besides signing the petition, please consider the following:

1. Email commission@mtlebanon.org or call the commissioners with the following points:

• We would like to see it developed - provide ideas for use of the space       
• Enforce keeping it cleaned up - enforce inspections      
• If reasonable movement is not made by the developer, consider instituting the buyback provision for the property and do not extend the agreement   
• If Zamagias defaults on the TIF loan, ensure that they pay back Mt. Lebanon  

2. Attend the 11/13/12 Commission Discussion Session. Zamagias Properties will be making a presentation. Start time for that meeting is usually scheduled for 6:30 PM, but when the agenda is published and posted here and on lebocitizens.com, in addition to the municipal website, I will pass it on. As always, residents cannot speak at the Discussion Session, but Citizen Comments are always held at the start of the Commission Meeting at 8:00 PM.