Just so you know, Pay As You Throw

To be fair, I wanted to inform Lebo Citizens readers that there is a big push to urge commissioners to consider Pay As You Throw. For those not sure what PAYT is, read Pay As You Throw and A new fee for everyone.

From Lebogreen.org Waste Contract Renewal, 

If you are interested in making a change from traditional trash removal to a program that will save money, increase recycling, decrease waste going to a landfill, and have the greatest positive environmental impact to our community, we ask that you contact ALL of our Commissioners individually to let them know! This is not a Ward issue, but a township issue. Mt. Lebanon’s waste removal contract is up for bid and now is the time to contact our Commissioners:
Matt Kluck – mkluck@mtlebanon.org
Kristin Linfante – klinfante@mtlebanon.org
Dave Brumfield – dbrumfield@mtlebanon.org
Kelly Fraasch – kfraasch@mtlebanon.org
John Bendel – jbendel@mtlebanon.org

This program was considered in 2008 by a former commission and found through SHACOG, that it was not a good idea for the community. Kristen Linfante and Kelly Fraasch are behind this "new idea" since they lived in communities where it worked. Dave Brumfield also lived in a community that had PAYT, and it didn't work.

The program will save money since the cost is being removed from the Municipality and into your wallets. This is another fee that is being taken out of our taxes and charged separately. I don't understand the need to contact all of the commissioners separately. Send one email to commission@mtlebanon.org and let them know how you feel.

[6.9%] 7.46% increase for Timmy

Picture this: a school board sitting in executive session making very, very difficult decisions.

Where do we cut? We've already trimmed the fat; now we're cutting muscle. How do we pay for the remainder of the high school renovation? Do we wait for a green light from Pursuant Ketchum? Should we cut librarians? Guidance counselors? Custodians?  Do we eliminate the community service coordinator? Should we charge students to park? What about increasing student parking fees? Oh, this is so hard! Shall we charge an activity fee? We need to make cuts as far away from the student as possible. How about a $30 million fundraising campaign? No...a $15 million campaign! Uh...$6 million fundraising campaign? Yes! That's it! But we still have to figure out how we are going to pay for the rest of the project. We can't have a referendum. Let's float a bond! We'll wrap it. Use capitalized interest. Don't use any money from the General Fund. It will only be $18 a month more. No, that's not right. We'll say that it is like no increase at all. No...We'll say it will be like two large pizzas. Wait a minute. There is a grievance that we need to address. If we ignore that, maybe it will go away. For sure, we won't budget for it. Uh oh, there is something else. PSERS. Darn that Corbett! It is all his fault. What to do, what to do? Let's come up with an early bird contract for our superintendent! Let's give him the same lame goals as he had in 2012-13 and 2013-14! Even better - let's give him a 6.9% 7.46% increase to kick off the 2014 contract. Perfect! But we have to do this quietly, because it will never fly if it gets out. Now what about the rifle range, the weight room, tennis courts, and Mellon Field? It should add up. We have TERC Investigations.

Here it is, Folks. Dr. Timothy J. Steinhauer's 2014-2019 Contract

While we're waiting...

I sent a second email to Elaine Cappucci asking where the superintendent's contract will be posted on the MTLSD website yesterday and have not received a reply. Per her email sent to me on Monday, This just in UPDATED, the contract was going to be posted this week. Likewise, the Superintendent Goals for the new school year have yet to be seen. I don't understand why things take so long with the school district. The Board meeting reports from the President and the Superintendent stop in August. Meanwhile, the Municipality seems to have a less than 24 hour turnaround time.

While we're waiting, a Lebo Citizens reader sent me a local government management guide published by the New York State Comptroller's Office, Local Government and School Accountability Division,
Financial Condition Analysis.

Another Lebo Citizens reader sent me this information, which is disappointing.

You may remember all the hype about the property tax relief homeowners were going to get from legalized gambling in Pennsylvania.  Well, here are the actual dollars saved per each home in Mt. Lebanon after the politicians finished carving out their slice of the pie for their department in Harrisburg. These are the folks the school board keeps begging for money.

Year
Dollars Saved

2008-2009
$194 

 

2009-2010 

$192 

2010-2011 

$188 

2011-2012 

$185 

2012-2013 

$184 

2013-2014 

$183 

 The $1,000,000 home and the $100,000 home each receive the same dollar amount. 

 Source: Allegheny Institute Report #13-05 September 2013

S.A.F.E. Lebo (Stop Addiction for Everyone)

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch and School Board Director Josephine Posti, co-chairs of S.A.F.E. Lebo.

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch and School Board Director Josephine Posti, co-chairs of S.A.F.E. Lebo.

September 26, 2013

S.A.F.E (Stop Addiction for Everyone) Lebo task force is a coalition of Pittsburgh-area organizations dedicated to educating people in Mt. Lebanon and nearby communities about the dangers of prescription drug abuse; sharing resources for help, and providing a year-round opportunity to safely dispose of un-used or expired prescription medications.

In early 2013, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Kelly Fraasch and Mt. Lebanon School Director Josephine Posti organized the first meeting of what would become the S.A.F.E (Stop Addiction for Everyone) Lebo task force. Over the past year, six Mt Lebanon residents ranging in age from 20 to 50 had died of opiod overdoses, prompting an urgency to raise community awareness of a national problem that was hitting home. The group of professionals that convened expressed specific concern about the increasing abuse of prescription medication—often the gateway to heroin addiction—by teenagers and adults.

Please take advantage of the 24-hour, free unused and expired medication drop-off sponsored by PA American Water at the Mt. Lebanon Public Safety Center, 555 Washington Road.

Learn more about S.A.F.E. Lebo

Click here to watch the S.A.F.E. Lebo News Conference

http://mtlsd.org/district/HeadlineArticle.asp?HLP_ID=1342&HL_ID=1474#1474

Upper St. Clair doesn't fool around

Torrente project to get under way in Upper St. Clair

The apartment boom is now reaching what might be one of the last places you’d expect in the region — Upper St. Clair, your suburb’s suburb. 

One of the region’s wealthiest communities with one of the strongest school districts, Upper St. Clair is set for a new apartment complex called Torrente, a 220-unit project consisting of nine buildings and a clubhouse on 25 acres of land at the end of Boyce Plaza Road.

Meanwhile, it's been almost a year to the day since there was an informational meeting about the Zamagias property across the street from St. Bernard's Church. Informational Meeting about Zamagias Property How many years have they been fooling around?

A topic that takes everything out of me UPDATED 3X

Last night, the first topic on the agenda for the Discussion Session was deer.  A conference call with White Buffalo's wildlife biologist, Anthony DeNicola was scheduled. Unfortunately, that call did not take place since "Tony" was on an island thirty miles off of Virginia and could not get a signal from the cell phone that was flown to him. He did send a report to the commission which Tom Kelley shared at the meeting.

Since this is my blog, I will point out what I believe are his most significant findings. Mt. Lebanon can biologically support many more deer. Socially, it is up to the community what it will support. I liked how Tom Kelley made the point of saying "dead deer" reports vs. Kristen's "deer incident" report, which included sightings of deer in yards.

To reduce the deer population, it would be in two phases:

• Phase 1 Reduce the population through culling and sterilization
• Phase 2 Reduce the population through culling and sterilization

Their cost for sterilization would be $1000 per deer. Cost for culling would be between $200 to $400 plus a $75 processing fee per deer. Sterilization would be more cost effective in the long run since unsterilized deer could produce 2-3 fawns per year.

Kristen reported that Tony felt that there were many more deer than what the aerial survey showed. I am not sure how that is.

Matt Kluck said that the report shows in black and white that Mt. Lebanon could support many more deer.

Kelly Fraasch asked when the commission could have a conference call with Maryland. http://www.deerfriendly.com/deer-population-control Maryland has had a successful nonlethal program using surgical sterilization.

Dave Brumfield prefers sterilization because it is safer. I would think Kristen would too, since she felt that dogs on leashes in Williamsburg was unsafe.

I have uploaded the podcast from last night's discussion session. It is available here. The podcast begins with deer.

Update September 24, 2013 11:42 PM Please click on the link I have provided in the blog post. Scroll down a bit and you will see Kelly's four page document on "Deer in Mt. Lebanon." It is linked to my Google Docs.

Mt. Lebanon hiring firm to count deer February 7, 2013 Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
... [Commisioner] Mrs. Fraasch has composed and posted online a four-page document, "Deer in Mt. Lebanon [PDF]," ... she expresses her opposition to hunting by rifle or bow, instead favoring sterilization by removal of does' ovaries as a viable option. She cites a significant cost savings over the long term and mitigation of some hazards associated with culling...

Update September 24, 2013 1:33 PM Here is a copy of the White Tailed Deer Population Control Options presented by Tom Kelley at last night's meeting.

Update September 26, 2013 9:15 AM Speaking of Bibles (see 10:43 PM), there is this.

Swimming pool bids

I don't have any details, except there was a very long executive session tonight before the meeting. A topic was added to the agenda tonight at the beginning of the commission meeting.

The swimming pool work will be rebid. I have to listen to the meeting again for any other details. As you might recall, a lawsuit resulted from the first bid opening.

This just in UPDATED

I had emailed the school board on Friday asking about Timmy's 2014-2019 contract. This just in from Elaine Cappucci.

From:	Elaine Cappucci <ECappucci@mtlsd.net>
To:	egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>; School Board Email list <SchoolBoardEmaillist@mtlsd.net>
Subject:	RE: Contract
Date:	Mon, Sep 23, 2013 9:44 am

---

The contract is signed and will be posted on the District website this week.


For the Board,
Elaine Cappucci
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net

Of course, Timmy's 2012-2013 goals are still posted on the school district website. http://www.mtlsd.org/superintendent/goals.asp (Saved in Google Docs) I am amazed how the board has a year's notice, yet never seems to get the Superintendent Goals worked out.  The good news is that the board has a contract approved for six years from now.

Update September 23, 2013 3:01 PM To have everything in one place, here is the link to The Almanac's Lebo superintendent gets new 5-year contract (Saved in Google Docs)

TERC Investigations continues

In the earlier post Are families leaving Lebo? UPDATED, a comment was made which was absolutely offensive to me. No, not the one using the word "whores," but the one stated at 1:12 PM on September 18, 2013.

Hundreds of parents in Mt Lebo are unhappy with the state of math in our schools.

Hundreds.  In fact, people are still signing the math petition, PETITION TO ASK THE MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REVIEW K-5 MATH CURRICULUM THE USE OF TERC INVESTIGATIONS

From what I understand, the math parents met with Dr. Steinhauer and Dr. Irvin (from Lincoln) in early summer. This was after the school board told the parents to sit down and be quiet. The math family most outspoken at the school board meeting, pulled their children out of Mt. Lebanon Schools. I cannot get any solid numbers (ironic, huh?) on how many children were pulled out of the school system due to the math program, but at least five families left one elementary school because of TERC Investigations.

Nothing has changed. Children are not taught how to stack and carry and borrow. Fourth graders are still reviewing addition!

Which brings me to the following question. What is the status of Deb Allen's contract? She was supposed to be gone three years ago.

Tone it down, guys

A comment was made on September 17, 2013 at 10:10 PM which is not sitting well with the Democratic Committee in Mt. Lebanon. In a personal email:

I know we have only met a couple of times but I consider you a friend. It was brought to my attention that our school directors were referred to as "whores" on a post that you permitted to appear on your blog. Several of these directors are my friends. How can I continue to be your friend if you allow this awful term to be used in relation to other friends?

I replied with:

Thank you for your email. I do appreciate your concern, however many of the comments published on my blog do not reflect my opinion. I do know that some of your friends have not been kind on my blog and elsewhere, so I hesitate to start editing comments. Freedom of speech is one of our constitutional rights. 

To which I received:

Please inform me in the future if any elected official from the Democratic Party addresses you w/such vulgarity.

So I am asking Lebo Citizens readers a favor. Could you please tone it down when referring to our school board? Even though these elected officials have hired a campaign manager to solicit funds to cover their extravagant spending habits, that doesn't make them...well, you know, that word. They can roll their eyes at us, treat us with disrespect, display open contempt, break the law during elections, submit hurtful anonymous posts to this blog, and cause us financial hardship, they are volunteers.

Thanks for your help.

Timmy and Susan, PBT is looking for you!

Attention all Tweeters

The Pittsburgh Business Times is hosting another social media contest. This time, they are looking for effective Twitter users. Now is the time to make our superintendent shine as brightly as our new water fountains at the high school. Feeling bad that mtl Magazine didn't win the last social madness contest? Nominate our public information officer. Remember, this time it is individuals, not companies.

I don't tweet, so please do not nominate me.

Who are the most influential tweeters in the Pittsburgh business community?

The Pittsburgh Business Times is looking for the region's most influential, entertaining and most effective Twitter users in the business community. We are asking you, our readers and our social media followers, who do you follow and why?

Here is what we're looking for:

• Individuals, not companies
• Pittsburgh-area individuals who are influential on Twitter, whether it's because of their impact in the community, because they have a large following, because they engage with their followers, or because they are just entertaining.

Nominations are open through Friday, Nov. 29. Feel free to nominate as many people as you want. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Pravlik at mpravlik@bizjournals.com, @PBT_Melissaor 412-208-3831.

Follow the Pittsburgh Business Times onTwitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+.

Melissa Pravlik is the social engagement manager at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Contact her at mpravlik@bizjournals.com or 412-208-3831.

Letter to the Editor

Lebo Citizens reader and frequent commenter John David Kendrick volunteered to record State Representative Dan Miller's Democratic Policy Committee Hearing on Schools: The Role of the State, Parents, and the Community. John submitted the following letter to the editor.

Earlier this afternoon State Representative Dan Miller facilitated a meeting of the PA House Democratic Policy Committee at the Mt Lebanon Municipal Building. Representative Miller graciously permitted us to place our tape recorder right in front of him so that we could capture the entire meeting. The dialog of the entire meeting is posted here: State Rep. Dan Miller's Public Hearing

I want to personally thank Representative Miller for having this public meeting in our municipal building this afternoon. Whether or not you agree with the political positions of the participants, it is a great lesson in civics to watch how our government works. Everyone should make a reasonable effort to attend when these meetings are available. Finally, I’ll leave it to all of you to listen to the conversation and judge for yourselves and comment below; but I will offer some of my impressions from the meeting and a few questions to mull over as you listen to today’s presentation:

 
1. The comments from the three superintendents were largely gripes about charter and cyber schools. The first problem facing the districts is the loss of pupil revenue as students exit for cyber or charter schools. The second problem facing the districts is the lack of financial agility so that they can scale their resources in proportion to the loss of students who exercise their choice to leave. 

a. Has anyone thought about why these rigid, high fixed costs are in place?
b. Has anyone thought about who put these high fixed costs in place?
c. Would a district based cyber school be an effective alternative as the superintendents suggested, or would there be an agency problem where the fox (the teachers union) is watching the hen house? 

 
2. The comments concerning children with autism were interesting and heartfelt – particularly the commentary by Ward Three Commissioner Kristen Linfante. 

 
3. The final comments concerning drug related programs were largely related to stories about those who were impacted by drug abuse and the programs in place to assist victims of the drug epidemic.

There were a few moments that captured my curiosity: 

 
1. PA State Representative Margo Davidson said that she didn’t support the vilification of the cyber and charter schools. Why is it that an urban district representative from a major union city would value cyber or charter schools as an effective alternative to traditional classroom based instruction?

 
2. PA State Representative Erin Molchany asked the three superintendents for the career profile of their graduating classes – none were really able to provide a clear answer. 

a. Are our school districts executing an education process with a silo mentality?
b. Shouldn’t the schools be thinking about specific objectives and directing resources in a targeted manner to maximize the economic benefit from our expenditures in education? - and shouldn’t the school superintendents be tracking the successful assimilation of their graduates into PA’s economy and thinking about corrective actions to their programs if their students leave unprepared?

It was a good meeting, and the most of the participants were genuinely interested in the issues that they discussed. What I felt was missing was a high-level state initiative that could pull all of the issues, gripes and concerns into unified strategy that I feel could alleviate the symptoms of a much larger problem.

John David Kendrick

Are families leaving Lebo? UPDATED

A recent comment made to me was that several (five or six) families left one of the elementary schools over the math program. I asked someone to file a Right To Know for me asking for the number of families, per school, who left Mt. Lebanon School District this year.

You may remember one of my more popular posts, Those "math professionals" can't do math  UPDATED 6x 

It is ironic that Ed Kubit said that he was satisfied with the way Timmy handled the TERC Investigations parents considering the anonymous comment made today at 12:29 PM,

I guess Mr. Kubit feels that getting the parents to go away and be quiet is considered a success.

So the RTK request is timely. Here is the information. Right To Know response

Update September 17, 2013 6:10 PM A resident asked for the Third Day Report, which lists school enrollment by grade and building. Elaine Cappucci responded with her typical "It is on the website." Thanks to Dr. Steinhauer for taking the time to explain WHERE the report is located on the website. Third Day Report

Spending more money to raise money

In tonight's agenda:

*(11) DonorPro Software Contract: RESOLVED, That the Board approves entering into a contract with TowerCare Technologies, Inc. for DonorPro software for donor information management for the capital campaign at their stated price of $6,550 plus monthly fees based on usage.

*(12) Wealth Screening Software: RESOLVED, That the Board approves an annual subscription to FindWealth software for donor qualification for the capital campaign at their discounted price of $8,999 for the first year.

The asterisk represents new agenda items. They were not considered or discussed by the Board at its Discussion Meeting on September 9, 2013.

OMG They want to keep him through June 30, 2019

From the revised Agenda September 16, 2013 Agenda

*(2) Superintendent’s Contract Approval: RESOLVED, That the Board hereby re-elects Dr. Timothy J. Steinhauer to the position of Superintendent for a term commencing July 1, 2014 and expiring June 30, 2019, and does approve an employment contract with Dr. Steinhauer for said term and does authorize the President and Secretary or Assistant
Secretary to execute said contract with Dr. Steinhauer substantially in the form presented.

 Wasn't there an auditor's report or legislation discouraging long contracts? Is this a wise thing? Didn't we learn anything from the Sable buyout? Isn't it supposed to be limited to three years?

The asterisk represents a new agenda item. This was not considered or discussed by the Board at its Discussion Meeting on September 9, 2013. This revision appeared today, same day as the meeting.