What are their answers?

October 3, 2012

7-8:30 a.m. at Uptown Coffee on Washington Road

Coffee with 

Josephine Posti, Mary Birks and Larry Lebowitz 

October 4, 2012

7-8:30 p.m. at Orbis Caffe on Washington Road 

Coffee with 

Elaine Cappucci, Dale Ostergaard, Mary Birks and Bill Cooper

Posti too busy for Commission

At last week's Commission discussion meeting, Joint Discussion Meetings was an agenda item. Evidently, the Commission has been trying to set up another meeting between the School Board and the Commission to discuss, among other things, the Joint Maintenance Agreement. Remember that fateful night when Josephine Posti said that I have hate in my heart, so she was praying for me? Apology to Josephine Posti That meeting included Dave Brumfield, Kristen Linfante, Steve Feller, Elaine Cappucci, and Josephine Posti.  There has not been another meeting since February 28.

In Citizens' Comments, I expressed my feelings and thanked Dave and Kristen for all the abuse they were getting from Josephine Posti. It was revealed during the Discussion Session that Josephine wanted to see an agenda before she would commit to another meeting. I had said that if the Commission felt that they should have another meeting, then they should have a meeting. This time, the Commission wanted to have a public meeting with as many Commissioners and School Board Directors present, as possible.

In so many words, Josephine blew off the Commission. So I filed a Right To Know on September 13, 2012, asking for all communication between the Commission and School Board Directors concerning joint meetings between Municipal and School Board representatives. 

Here it is. Not only is she much too busy for any meetings, but Josephine also encouraged the Commissioners to attend the School Board coffees along with the rest of us.
Joint Discussion Communication

Board President's Effort to Reinsert Coffees Into Platform

According to Josephine Posti's Center Court blog, Community Coffees, there are three opportunities to meet with school board directors.  Here is the schedule:

September 18
7-8:30 pm
Coffee Tree

October 3
7-8:30 am
Uptown Coffee

October 4
7-8:30 pm
Orbis Caffe

This round of coffees is a little different.  This year, in order to handle the crowds of residents flocking to speak with the SB, there will be four directors at each meeting, instead of three. There is no indication as to which directors will be present. Last year's coffee with Josephine attracted two residents. Their concerns were the Grievance, the Feasibility Study, and cuts to staff.

Take advantage of this opportunity to share the latest rumors, discover Steinhauer's sentence, discuss student parking, ask about Pursuant Ketchum, and to show your thanks for the YSA's generosity. You may get an answer besides, "File a Right To Know."

A Cappuccino with Cappucci

First, it was a cuppa Jo. Now you can meet with Elaine Cappucci, Bill Cooper, and Mary Birks this Wednesday morning, from 7 am to 9 am at Orbis Coffee on Washington Road.  Have a cappuccino with the school board directors and talk about school issues important to you. 

Getting ready for the first coffee?

Tomorrow morning, the first community coffee will be from 9-11 a.m. at the Uptown Coffee on Washington Road. Residents will be able to sit down with Josephine Posti, Dale Ostergaard and Scott Goldman in an informal setting. Ask questions.  Share your concerns.
From Josephine Posti's Center Court blog,

Finally, a grievance filed by the Mt. Lebanon Education Association could cost our community an additional $900,000. While we do not agree with their position, we must reduce costs to account for that potential liability. Hopefully, this issue can be resolved prior to arbitration but a hearing and award may not be known until after the 2012-13 budget is adopted.

Why isn't it being disclosed that the grievance is a recurring cost? I know I heard the solicitor say that it is recurring, but I have yet to see that anywhere in print. Not on the "unofficial blog of Mt. Lebanon School Director Josephine Posti" or in any newspaper. That might be a question for tomorrow's coffee.

Also from her blog,

We've gotten some great feedback about those reductions from members of the community, including students. We hope to hear more between now and May when we adopt a final budget.

Here is my contribution:

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From: egillen476@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:16 AM
To: School Board Email list
Subject: parking fees

Board directors,

I am still watching the special budget meeting, but I do have a suggestion for charging student parking fees fairly. When a child is on the free or reduced lunch program, the guidance department is able to waive SAT and ACT testing fees, as well as some application fees for colleges. If you are concerned about some students' families going through hard times, perhaps you would consider waiving the parking fees for those financially disadvantaged students. It can be done quietly and without embarrassment to those families.

Elaine Gillen

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I never got a response from Josephine. She might be praying for me, but she is not emailing me.  Thankfully, I did get a response from one board director, Bill Cooper.  Thanks, Bill.

RE: parking fees

From: William Cooper <WCooper@mtlsd.net>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 27, 2012 12:16 pm

Dear Ms. Gillen,

I agree and suggested at the meeting that there be an Angel Fund for that purpose.

Bill Cooper

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Seriously, why do we have Cissy?

Why do we have Cissy?  How much does she make?  It never stops.  The coffees are NOT being held at Coffee Tree on Washington Road.  There is no Coffee Tree on Washington Road.  The announcement is shown here (original version before correction found here) and here. Note: The coffee house locations will both be on Washington Road at Uptown Coffee and Orbis (formerly Aldo's Coffee.)
Why can't the District get with the program?  No budget posted along with the agenda tonight. It was posted that the special budget meeting was going to be held in the Jefferson Middle School Library, when in fact it had been moved to the Jefferson Middle School Auditorium.  The Superintendent and Board President Reports are not posted unless I mention them here.  They can't spell Markham for the Odyssey of the Mind teams. The board is voting on the OM trip which is in Philadelphia, but according to a parent here on the blog, it is in the Poconos.
Seriously, folks.  I do this FOR FREE!!!  And they want to eliminate the community service coordinator??