Shame on Remely

I can't believe I read this. Dan Remely is putting down our police and fire department in the Trib article,  Renovation change orders could cost Mt. Lebanon School District $200 K

“Our illustrious police department and fire department are spending a heck of a lot of our money,” he said, noting that their reviews required more safety measures."

The PG caught that comment too. Mt. Lebanon school board nears decision on rifle range

Board member Dan Remely expressed concerns about the possibility of representatives from Mt. Lebanon's police, fire and inspection offices determining if additional safety features are needed.

 THAT HE QUESTIONS? This isn't the first time Dan Remely has questioned our fire department. I am sorry, but I would NEVER question our police and fire department when it comes to our schools - or any time!!! We're talking about our children's safety.

This is what you get when we have four seats and four candidates running for school board. They can do and say anything they want, because they're in!

On a side note, the Trib picked up on Ostergaard's comment.

Board member Dale Ostergaard said he's worried because the district approved changes costing more than $300,000 last month.
“If we continue at this pace, we're going to run out of contingency (money) in eight months,” he said.

Someone asked me where I find the change orders on the school district website. That is a good question. They aren't listed in any particular section. You have to go to mtlsd.org. On the left hand side of the home page, click on "School Board." At the top of that page, click on "Agendas." In order to find the change orders, click on every agenda listed and the change orders for that month will be there. There is no running total available on the District website. To get that, file a Right To Know. Or look on the right hand side of this blog.

Jan and School Board up to their old tricks again

Monday's School Board meeting agenda has been posted. The budget motion is on the agenda. Jan says that the budget will be discussed and that she is recommending passing a budget to "preserve the ability" to tax us up to the Act 1 limits. The preliminary budget will be posted after the meeting on Monday.

6. Preliminary Budget – According to Act 1 of 2006, the Board must present a budget for public view in January for Board approval in February. If the Board would like to maintain the option of applying for exceptions to the Index, the approved budget in February must be high enough to reflect the need for the exceptions. Due to the lack of information concerning staffing, student course selections, retirements, healthcare cost increases and State funding proposals, I recommend the Board consider approving a budget so that we preserve the ability to apply for exceptions if we need them. Such a budget has been prepared and will be reviewed with the Board before it is placed on the website for public inspection. Note that if the Board desires, it has the right to pass a resolution to ‘not exceed the Index’ by the end of January which would eliminate the need to approve a budget in February.

C. Other


6. Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – This month’s list of change orders proposes 10 changes for Board consideration. They are as follows:

a. GC-16-29 to Nello for $4,900 for carpet for the upper Little Theatre Lobby which was not scheduled for replacement,

b. EL-08-34 to Farfield to reconnect parking lot lighting due to voltage change $5,240,

c. GC-17-35 to Nello to eliminate dry wall ceiling in G Building and replace with sound proof spray ($7,516),
d. EL-09-36 to Farfield to add power to elevator sump pumps in Buildings H and G $7,718,

e. PL-04-37 to Vrabel to add sump pumps in elevator shafts in Buildings H and G $7,892
f. GC-18-38 to Nello to patch existing walls on 5th floor for safety reasons $4,620,

g. GC-19-39 to Nello to change provider of spray foam insulation for fire proofing $5,652,

h. AB-03-40 to Precision to change provider of spray foam insulation for fire proofing ($5,652),
i. GC-20-41 to Nello to add additional duct supports at G Building roof for flashing on duct rails $6,090, and

j. GC-21-42 to Nello to add epoxy rebar for reinforcement of loading dock wall $5,750.

Will Dan Remely "reluctantly" approve these change orders on January 21?

Up for discussion:

High School Rifle Range – The Board will consider the renovation of the rifle range.

So...what about that rifle range?

Since I know absolutely nothing about the rifle range, the team, etc., I started a new poll about the School Board's decision to nix the rifle range. Based on two requests from a previous post to start a new thread on the rifle range, I am leaving it up to you folks to comment.