Time is running out UPDATED

I have been asked to let parents know that if you want to opt-out your child from the PSSAs, time is running out. This is how it was explained to me:

"Parents have very limited time to “opt-out” of the PSSAs that begin on Monday. If you are thinking about it, start writing your email after reading this blog post.

If you aren’t sure you want to opt-out of the PSSAs, then a longer blog post about the topic might appeal to you. But for those of you that are on the fence, see this local blog written and managed by Jessie Ramey, Ph.D. for more information. Her blog has more than one entry regarding PSSAs as well as links to FAQ and other organizations, including one entirely devoted to opting-out.

Yinzercation: Your Cheat Sheet for the Test (In)

In Mt Lebanon, opting out may require slightly different responsibilities depending on your school principal. At the very least, you need to send an email indicating that you would like to opt your child out of the testing for “religious reasons." You may want to CC the superintendent. At the elementary level, CC your child’s teacher and Mary Beth Irvin. 

Some principals may state that the PDE requires you come into the building to review the materials, even if you state that you have opted out before and that seeing the materials will not influence you to change your mind. Other principals state that you do not have to come into the school. 

What your child gets to do in his/her free time away from the testing is also variable. Some students stay home during the testing period but for working parents this is not necessarily a desirable option. Students who go to school may spend time in the library. The testing hours are very long as the students get older. Things like band practice are scheduled for after school hours because of the time devoted to testing. 

You might wonder why parents want to opt-out…in brief, let’s just say that if the test requires a “throw-up” protocol that involves salvaging the answers that have already been answered by the stressed out student by a team of school employees, maybe the test and the hours/curriculum/expense/corporate development/school climate/pressure associated with it are questionable."

Update April 9, 2015 9:56 AM Email to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission  concerning bagging tests due to blood or vomit, and other observations during the PSSA testing window.

Update April 10, 2015 8:50 AM Look beyond just test scores when choosing district 

“Ultimately, our view was that we don’t want to be in a school district that is completely driven by test scores,” said Iriti, a faculty fellow in the University of Pittsburgh’s Learning Research and Development Center. “That type of reading and math does not equate to a person being ready to be out in the world. Those tests measure a slice, but not all of the most important things.”

How Seton-La Salle handles threats vs. MTLSD UPDATED

Seton-La Salle High School closed due to threat

Seton-La Salle takes this seriously. Mt. Lebanon School District does not.

When the deer cull was taking place, the principal from Seton-La Salle called the municipality and expressed concern. Mt. Lebanon School District did not.

Kids are being exposed to dialogue that killing deer is OK in Mt. Lebanon. They are told to stay out of parks while innocent deer are killed. Threats are not taken seriously by Mt. Lebanon authorities. Articles exhibiting bullying behavior are treated as a humorous piece. Parent offended by article in The Devil's Advocate We're accused of being helicopter parents. 

What is Mt. Lebanon teaching our kids? Thank you, Seton-La Salle for erring on the side of caution. Bomb threats are nothing new at Mt. Lebanon High School. I always kept my kids home because what if...? 

Seton-La Salle closes Wednesday after violent threat

Threats close Seton-La Salle High School

Seton-La Salle High School closed after email threat to students, staff

	WPXI (@WPXI)
April 8 JUST IN: Seton-La Salle HS cancels Thursday's classes as investigation into threat continues -on.wpxi.com/1JqhOd1 pic.twitter.com/J7ili2liJE

Update April 9, 2015 7:00 PM Seton La-Salle High School cancels classes for a third day, but students will work from home Very troubling. 

Instead, the school will have a Chrome from Home Day, according to a statement from school principal Lauren Martin, and is also planning to hold a meeting to discuss when students should return to the building.

Update April 12, 2015 9:22 PM Seton-La Salle to reopen Monday after threats

Deer Proof Your Garden UPDATED

Susan Morgans can't help herself. Read the last paragraph of her press release.

I'm saving the District $2 in postage/packet! UPDATED

Yesterday morning, a Lebo Citizens reader wrote in to ask:

How many people received the the "Century of Excellence Capital Campaign" informational packet this week? Not a cheap packet to produce and cost $2 to mail. What a waste! Your fundraiser isn't working, and in true current Mt. Lebanon fashion, you keep throwing more money at an idea that isn't showing results. My husband and I won't be attending and we won't be donating.

The reader was kind enough to scan the packet for me and thanks to her, I am able to share with everyone.

Introduction letter

Financial Summary

The Case for Philanthropic Support

Area of Focus

FAQ

Strategic Plan

It came in a large color pocket folder with 4 "folds," lots of pictures and one pocket.. not cheap. Postage stamp on the envelope was $2.03.

Update April 6, 2015 7:57 AM The original campaign of $30 million was an attempt to avoid taking out a second bond. Since that was a little aggressive, the amount was reduced to $15 million and wrapped a second bond. Pursuant Ketchum advised that the campaign fund total should be $6 million, with $3 million going in an endowment and $3 million going toward capital funds. The high school renovation was to provide a 21st century education. Looking at the immediate needs breakdown, we bought ourselves a very expensive sports complex which we can't afford.

$3 Million Endowment Fund

$3 Million Immediate Capital Needs

Total $6 Million Campaign

Letter to the Editor from Bill Matthews

Elaine:

There is no magic bullet for the school district's budget situation. However, it would be a start to see the Board and Administration fully appreciate the fact that Real Estate Tax Revenue and General Fund Total Expenditures have outpaced the growth of family incomes in our Community, and that this is not a sustainable state of affairs.

The Administration has footnoted its March 2, 2015 budget summary with references to the proposed millage increases attributed to PSERS and High School Debt ... as if this matters. In reality, it matters little to residents challenged with balancing their family budget with an ever-increasing real estate tax bill.

What does matter is that Total Expenditures in the General Fund are projected to have risen 175% since 2001-2002, compared to Earned Income Tax Revenue (which is a proxy for family income) having only risen 155% over the same time period.

Bill Matthews

Mt. Lebanon School District General Fund Budget Summary

PG, I'm done with you.

As a 40+ year subscriber, I have canceled my subscription to the Post-Gazette. My carrier, Malcolm Andrews has been providing excellent service for many years, and I thank him and his family for their dedication. This is not a reflection on you, Malcolm, but it is based solely on John Hayes' weekly lies. The final straw was in his article today, Other towns also face deer dilemmas.

If protesters think Mt. Lebanon is done with its deer debate, they’re wrong. About 200 pregnant does are expected to deliver 300 or more additional deer to Mt. Lebanon in the coming months.

Where the hell are you getting your numbers, Mr. Hayes? Is this based on your estimates that Mt. Lebanon has THOUSANDS of deer?  I'm tired of you, Mt. Lebanon commission, Mt. Lebanon staff, and other media sources blaming "protesters" for Benner's blunder.

You write:

Activists opposed to the municipality’s plan to kill enough deer to decrease deer-car collisions by 50 percent in five years are still celebrating their victory.

The deer-car collisions plan is BOGUS!

• In Mt. Lebanon, people got hurt in over 90% of reported car crashes that involved pedestrians and/or bicyclists. (This is compared to 35% for regular car crashes and 3.8% for deer/car crashes.)
• In the last 4 years, there have been 50 reported injury-causing crashes involving pedestrians and/or bicyclists. (This is compared to 6 reported injury-causing deer/car crashes. In other words, there are 8 times as many for ped/cyc as for deer.)

Tom Moertel's in-depth analysis will be posted on Kelly Fraasch's blog in the near future.

Try to cancel a subscription online. It can't be done. I ended up finding this, Subscription Questions. I am sooooo done with you, John Hayes.

Tuesday's school board meeting - New Location

Because of the holiday weekend, the school board meeting will be held on Tuesday in the High School Large Group Instruction Room, D205. This is a new and permanent location for school board meetings. Those attending the meeting should enter the High School from the South Parking through Entrance B 9. Parking is available in the South Lot which can only be accessed from Cedar Boulevard to Morgan Drive to the South Lot.

Tuesday's Agenda includes:

Audit Services Request for Proposal – Every three years the District requests proposals for audit services for the Independent Certified Public Audit of the District’s finances. This year four companies responded to the request with prices in the first year ranging from $19,500 to $24,000, $20,475 to $24,825 in year two and $21,499 to $25,650 in year three. While all firms have experience in auditing governmental entities and public school districts, only two reference CAFR audits where the school district attained ASBO’s Certificate of Excellence Award. Maher Duessel is the lowest cost of those two firms. Since their work with Mt Lebanon School District has been exceptional in prior years, we are recommending continuing their contract for another three years. The price quoted for their audit including the CAFR work is $23,550 in year one, $24,150 in year two and $24,750 in year three. The superintendent recommends approval of this action. (Does that make it thirty years with the same outside auditor?)

2015-2016 Proposed Final Budget – The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be discussed at the meeting.

Audit Response - PDE has requested that we submit a written response to the previous state audit (for the 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007 fiscal years that was completed in January of 2013).

Change Orders for High School Renovation Project – The change orders for the high school project total $47,356 from the Contingency, $4,184 from soft costs, and $7,067 from the Capital Budget. The change orders are as follows:

a. GC-112-275 to Nello for $14,742 for a courtyard wall, 

b. EL-78-276 to Farfield for $19,864 for wiring, lights, elevator changes, gas shut off and smoke dampers, 

c. PL-36-277 to Vrabel for $12,750 for sump pumps, drains and sewer lines, 

d. EL-79-278 to Farfield for $4,184 for cabling, and 

e. EL-80-279 to Farfield for $7,067 for power to fume hoods

For those who are not on Facebook

I love, love, love Fake Lebo. This is hilarious! Thank you, Fake Lebo!

Why is it always the protesters' fault?

Yesterday's Trib published a letter submitted by Mt. Lebanon resident, Harvey Bower called, Mt. Lebanon residency embarrassing. Mr. Bower, a Republican turned Democrat, questioned the competency of his party by writing:

Our commissioners, after years of ignoring the problem, can't even get the deer culling right. Who hires a company that needs 11 shots to kill three deer at close range? Most hunters would only need three shots (even at 50 yards). 

Did anybody think to do their due diligence? 

But then, Mr. Bower resorted to blaming protesters for the flubbed attempt to cull the deer population.*

And after this company started the process, our commissioners allowed protesters, one of whom compared the culling to the Holocaust, to break the law by disrupting the process.

Mr. Bower, just as it is your right to submit a letter of opinion to the newspaper, it is also our right to protest. It is not that the commissioners were "allow[ing] protesters," The United States Constitution explicitly provides for "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" in the First Amendment. How is having three peaceful protests in front of the Municipal Building and one on Connor Road disrupting the process? If one protester compared the culling to the Holocaust, that is not breaking the law OR disrupting the process.

You said it yourself that Wildlife Specialists needed 11 shots to kill three deer at close range. This company blamed the ammunition, the number of shooters authorized by the PA Game Commission, the weather, the protesters, vandalism, and a police car scaring away deer. The only ones they didn't blame were themselves.

I participated in three of the protests. We never went beyond the No Trespassing signs. We helped clean up the mess that the contractor left behind. We followed the rules and for that we have people like Mrs. Logan, Dr. Narey, Mr. Bower, Ms. Linfante, Ms. Vipperman and others calling us liars and vandals, criticizing the way we are dressed, and blaming us for Benner's failures. We were the ones stopped by police for walking near parks or through church parking lots on sunny Sunday afternoons. We have been treated like criminals. We were silenced. We were treated rudely by the commissioners and staff. Will we ever get apologies? No. Will the commissioners admit that they screwed up? Never. Our commissioners have divided our town. The commissioner leading the charge, resigned as promised to her colleagues, once she got her cull. Mr. Bower, the commissioners should be the ones who are embarrassed. They are the ones governing Mt. Lebanon. They allowed this to happen. They are the ones to blame.

 *'Deer-proofing' expert to offer lessons in Mt. Lebanon

Michalina: We must cull!

She calls Sandy Baker coming to Mt. Lebanon "a Band-Aid." Michalina Pendzich wants deer dead. Sandy Baker, "The Deer Doctor" will be coming to Mt. Lebanon later this month. With last month’s trap and cull program a bust, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Kelly Fraasch says it’s time to get some coexisting advice from the “Deer Doctor” on deer habits and needs. "Coexist" is not in Michalina's vocabulary.

In the Trib article, 'Deer-proofing' expert to offer lessons in Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Lebanon officials hope Baker's presentations can ease some of the discord that followed the flubbed attempt to cull the community's deer population.

The Almanac reports that Baker, known as “The deer doctor,” said the free two-hour seminars held each day April 25-27 will focus on practical tips for landscaping and protecting vegetation in gardens, but also understanding deer behavior.

"Deer Doctor" Being Brought In To Help With Mt. Lebanon Deer Problem

In Defense of Animals International has issued this bulletin, Tell Mt. Lebanon: No More Deer Killings. The nation is watching us, Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.

"...this is my community, this is my school district and this is where I belong,”

Memorial award nominee sees Mt. Lebanon school district as the place she belongs

Collier Township resident, Jan Klein, has received the Gary E. Reeser Memorial Award from the PA Association of School Business Officials. 

In honor of her recognition, a Mt. Lebanon student will receive a Gary E. Reeser Memorial scholarship for $2,500. 

“Ms. Klein’s recognition is indicative of the depth of business competence she brings to her work every day,” superintendent Timothy Steinhauser said. “She has successfully integrated proven best practices into the district’s core operations and this award recognizes that achievement.”

Are we talking about the same person, Timothy Steinhauser [sic]? Here are just a few Lebo Citizens posts which see things differently.

How the School District CHEATS Mt. Lebanon taxpayers

No way! UPDATED 2x

6-1 in favor of .54 mill increase UPDATED

$36 million in double counting UPDATED 3X

Far From Frugal

The Annual Budget Ritual

Are you frickin' kidding me? UPDATED 2X

Lebo needs to demonstrate fiscal responsibility

Once, twice, three times a lady...

As promised, more on the budget forum

Rover ate my homework.

A dollar not borrowed is not a dollar and 77 cents saved.

Dear Mt. Lebanon Neighbor:

Another Budget "Fast One"

Heads up

This is an important notice from LeboALERT. 

The Mt. Lebanon Area DUI Task Force will be conducting roving patrols in 6 different communities this weekend. Please don't drink & drive. [this weekend.]

Toxic turf update

It looks like construction resumes today down at the toxic turf site. Workers are showing up this morning.

Just a couple of weeks ago, USA Today had published this concerning article, Feds promote artificial turf as safe despite health concerns.

"We're using your children as part of the poison squad," said Bruce Lanphear, a leading researcher on lead poisoning at Simon Fraser University in Canada, who suggests a moratorium on installing artificial-turf fields until their safety is proved.

The health threat is substantial enough that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists artificial turf as one of seven sources of children's lead exposure along with well-known items such as paint, water and toys.

The show must go on

Call it dedication or the spirit of Good Friday, but whatever it is, consider it great news. Our former commissioner, Kristen Linfante, will be performing tomorrow in concert in Shadyside. Bach concert in Shadyside celebrates devotion for Good Friday

Even though Kristen is now a private citizen, many people have been quite concerned about her serious medical condition. I wanted to share the positive news. It is true that Kristen and I did not agree on anything except the Williamsburg Park dog issue, I am happy to read that her health is improving. Best of luck, Kristen.

New Disney Movie - SNL

The Post-Gazette played this April Fools joke. Dan Simpson: A strange start to April 

On a more local note, in Mt. Lebanon, a pretentious suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, local town commissioners were examining the early results of their latest attempt to bring the fertile, hungry deer population under control. To deal with the problem they had imported from Kenya a pride of lions, using the contacts of a senior American political figure born there. With a midnight curfew for people established, the big cats were released to hunt freely until dawn, when they were tranquilized, recaptured and re-caged. Commissioners refused to talk about reported problems with the project, although an early election to fill one unexpectedly vacant seat has been quickly scheduled. The commissioner in question had been observing the lion experiment.

Cafe IO is featuring these specials today: