Policy meeting agenda with no mention of Posti

On Tuesday, the Policy Committee will be meeting at the usual time, 4:30 pm. The agenda has been posted on the District website, and reprinted here:

Agenda 
  (Subject to Change)

September 6, 20111.  Policies - Sixth Review
      a.  GBEE, Social Networking

2.  Policies - First Review
      a.  Revisions to ECF, Energy Management Conservation
      b.  Revisions to JKF, Non-School Related Drug and Alcohol Violations

3.  Questions and Comments from Residents

They did promise to record the meeting and post it on the District website. No mention of plagiarism or bullying policies on the agenda. I guess that is where Item 3 comes in, but if no one can attend, that sure makes it difficult.  Too bad there is no teleconferencing for residents. "Operators are standing by.  Call now."

Update September 5, 2011 10:11 PM According to page 13 of the 2011-2012 Student & Parent Handbook,

Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition, defines plagiarize as “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: use (another's production) without crediting the source.” Examples of plagiarism include copying passages or visual downloads from the Internet or other texts; not documenting written or oral sources such as teachers, other students, critics; fabricating or manipulating a quotation or source and using free or purchased papers from the Internet or other sources. Students receive instruction about plagiarism in English and other classes and are responsible to discuss their questions and uncertainties with their teachers.

If anyone is going to the Policy meeting tomorrow, you might want to mention this.

I wasn't going to do this...

In response to a letter that was published the other day from a D.A.S., who compared Mt. Lebanon to Iraq's Fallujah, I thought it would be only fair to supplement his letter with more documentation. It gives a little more credence to their name, D.A.S.

All links were forwarded to me from various sources.  Don't shoot the messenger!

Item 4 from Master DesignTeam minutes (from a right to know request)
Attachment 1 (from a right to know request)
Attachment 2 (from a right to know request)
Attachment 3 (from a right to know request)
Board and Candidate Questionnaire
Dear Friends

Commissioners, get all promises in writing.  Handle the recreation updates the same way as the Veterans' Memorial.  Get the money upfront when they commit.


Update September 4, 2011  9/4/11 Letter to the editor by David Reese

Oh joy. It is here.

Sorry to break the news to the folks still at work, but when you get home today, your first storm water bill will be waiting for you. It is the full $32 for four months - no 2% discount.  The discount won't start until January 2012. 
I was under the impression that it was decided that the fee would start in January, not September as originally discussed.  I guess I was wrong.


Update September 1 12:37 PM

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.


Bill mailed to you from Jordan Tax Service is for new storm water fee. Letter 
enclosed with it explains. Questions, call Jordan, 412-835-5243 or 724-731-2300.

Steal This Report

In Steal this report: college plagiarism up,

You may know of it among your college friends, or if you're a parent, among your kids' friends: plagiarism is becoming as common as Wi-Fi connections at coffee shops.

The Pew Research Center, in conjunction with the Chronicle of Higher Education, recently surveyed 1,055 college presidents from two- to four-year schools, private and public. More than half of those top officials said they've seen an increase in plagiarism in the past 10 years. Nearly all of them say computers and the Internet have played a major role in the rise in stealing others work and claiming it as their own.

We could have our School Board President go on a college lecture circuit to discuss plagiarism.  What are we teaching our kids when one of our own does it and has no consequences?
.

Park plans may come to a grinding halt

Friends of Robb Hollow Park's Mary D'Angelo sent me an interesting letter today from the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.  It was sent to Steve Feller and calls for the end of shredding and composting of leaves or other vegetative material (that includes trees) in Robb Hollow Park.

Mary wrote in her email, "Imagine enjoying life near a park that contains only the leaves that nature puts there! Bet you’re smiling~I am!"

The DCNR letter states that equipment must be removed from that park immediately.  Looks like McNeilly Park may have to be the new home of the Beast.

B.Y.O.T.

While Dr. Steinhauer pitches his technology presentation on "Bring Your Own Technology" and the sports groups plead for more fields, in addition to the multi million dollars being spent for the high school sports facility, here is what Chartiers Valley is doing with their money. They are providing 1,325 laptops to their high school students.  The students will return them upon graduation.

While our school board discusses the pluses and minuses of auxiliary gyms, spends almost two months discussing Blue Devil blue, and sports groups rally for more fields, CV students are enjoying the smell of new computers.  Go Blue!

Update: Chartiers Valley secondary students each to get computer,

The One-to-One laptop initiative came about because of feedback from parents, faculty and administrators during last fall's strategic planning process, which determined that integrating technology would improve student enthusiasm for learning and consequently boost achievement.

In Mt. Lebanon, the school board directors will be getting new laptops, to replace the ones that were supplied in the "Go Paperless" test a year ago. 

Dr. Tim Steinhauer Speaks, Again

The following letter to the editor was submitted by frequent commenter and Mt. Lebanon resident, Steve Diaz.

In the September 2011 edition of Mt. Lebanon Magazine, Dr. Tim Steinhauer, the Superintendent of the Mt. Lebanon School District, offers comments on the high school renovation project and more.  What Dr. Steinhauer has to say should be of interest to the residents of Mt. Lebanon.  Dr. Steinhauer's published comments include the following items of note:

1.  "We are currently in the redesign phase [of the high school renovation]."  Really?  What phase is that, Dr. Steinhauer, as no "redesign" was ever on the original project time line.  What he means is that the district will try to save its project from the recent bidding fiasco, but not go back and review whether it was properly scoped in the first place.  For example, he somehow manages to clarify by continuing that "..we don't see any significant loss in space...[e]verything that we had anticipated will be there,...[b]ut we've cut out about 30,000 square feet..."  Apart from the fact that his words directly contradict themselves on their face--how can you have "everything" anticipated if you cut 30,000 square feet out of the design, a very significant amount, unless you admit that there was that much excess in the original plan as bid.  Thank you for your clearly unintended admission, Dr. Steinhauer.  The student population of the school district is in the process of significant decline and we simply do not need more space.  One might at this point also ask, if the last plan (as bid) was styled "the minimum necessary for a 21st century education", don't we need some further explanation?  Will the administration and the school board stop hiding behind their fingers and recognize how "ridiculous" your position is under any rational evaluation (the quote is an adaptation of a characterization of the current political situation in the school district by citizen Josephine Posti, as attributed in the press)?

2.  "The board has set a maximum total cost of $113 [million].  So we're working hard to bring that cost back down."  So, in plain English, it sounds to me like the district plans on spending $113 million, regardless of what they can get for the money, and will nonetheless call the expenditure a "win".  Just as with the 30,000 square feet Dr. Steinhauer indirectly admits was not essential to the program benefits in his interview, one has to read between the lines for what is not said to find the meaning of Dr. Steinhauer's words.  Among the matters not addressed is why so much money would be spent for fiber-optic cables, when in the 21st century everything is migrating to wireless...there is another huge unnecessary cost for the lack of alternatives analysis still in the board's plans.  It seems clear that behind closed doors nothing has changed, the board and the administration yet do not hear the popular lack of confidence in the due diligence and decision making of those in control of the district.  The administration and the school board still do not hear people saying that the total cost has to come way down below 100 million, and/or there needs to be an election to give the public the final say on our schools and the massive economic impact that an over 100 million dollar project (and the taxes needed to sustain it) will have on our community. $113 million it is, though, because that is what they want and such a sum does not legally require an election.  But, be careful, project critics, to be "respectful" while you are being bulldozed.  Where is the respect for the obvious public sentiment in Mt. Lebanon either from Dr. Steinhauer or the board?  4,000 people have objected to the $113 million expenditure, Dr. Steinhauer and members of the school board, are you listening?  Rhetorical flourishes are no substitute for substantive change in response to public input.  Are you listening?  You have admitted that the project scope was too grand, so rather than cut "cost" to evade an election, why don't you consider the popular will as to the scope of the project--why can't you fix and maintain rather than trash and overspend?  Are you listening?

3.  On the topic of administrative reorganization, the superintendent states:  "...[O]ur venues of communication weren't always as strong as they should have been."  It is less than obvious what that peculiar syntax may mean, Dr. Steinhauer (ignoring your "Gorceyism"--what is a "venue of communication" anyway?).  In this part of the interview, Dr. Steinhauer goes on to say:  "I think the lines of communication, the lines of deployment of initiatives will be much cleaner, much more input from the grassroots level of the teachers."  So much is well said, I think, if he means that teachers should be allowed sufficient leeway to reach the students as they encounter them.  So long, that is, as there is accountability for performance and results, too.  It is never the child's fault if the curriculum fails---our falling academic rankings demonstrate that such deterioration takes place over years, meaning not because of the transitory student population, but because of the permanent administrative and teaching regime (have you seen "Waiting for Superman" yet, Dr. Steinhauer?).  While giving teachers accountable flexibility because he believes in "much more input from the grassroots level", Dr. Steinhauer and the school board seem to compartmentalize that value when it comes to paying any attention to the grassroots level of parents, voters and taxpayers on the subject of the renovation.  Our superintendent seems confused, if not hypocritical in his approach.

So, again, it is a fascinating interview for the insight it provides on the rationalization and politicization of our schools by the current administration and leadership.  There are more tidbits overtly stated, and even more yet to be gleaned from this timely interview.  I commend reading Dr. Steinhauer's multiple messages to the citizens of Mt. Lebanon as part of the continuing effort to comprehend "the riddle inside the mystery wrapped in an enigma" that is the policy of our school district (and the original quote is from Winston Churchill for those of you may wish to know the source of my adapted, but borrowed, phrase).

From behind my reading glasses.  Steve Diaz.

It made the Trib

In today's Trib, Much ado about....Mt. Lebanon board chief's blog, Posti (Sorry, I can't call her anything else)

"would be more attentive to citing and linking her material in the future. She said Gillen's call for her resignation was "ridiculous," but not unexpected.
"I think she's called for all of us (on the board) to resign at one time or another," Posti said."

Ridiculous? Take a gander at the latest poll.  I am not alone.

Update August 27, 2011 8:45 AM I changed the date of the poll to close on the same day as the next School Board meeting.


Read more: Much ado about....Mt. Lebanon board chief's blog - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_753219.html#ixzz1W2Cx08Ss

Consequences, not corrections (with more incidents)

Update August 23, 2011 9:53 PM
Steve Diaz and Dale Ostergaard had another email exchange, this time over fear and intimidation on the School Board.

Update August 23, 2011 11:19 AM
Map of US visits since I posted the expose. Don't bother counting; there are 26 states highlighted.  In total, it has been viewed in four countries. 

Update 6:55 PM 
Another example was sent to me.  Keep 'em coming.
http://jposti.blogspot.com/2010/04/plancon-process.html
Description of PlanCon 


Update:  Here is another incident for Mrs. Posti to address.
http://jposti.blogspot.com/2011/04/voucher-bill-passes-appropriations.html 
"While SB1 was originally targeted to families making under $29,000 in failing schools or school districts, as amended SB1 would offer vouchers to families earning up to $67,000, even if they live in top school districts and even if their children have never set foot in a public school." 


Check this one out: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=208420045843951&comments
 "Where SB1 was originally targeted to families making under $29,000 in failing schools or school districts, as amended SB1 would offer vouchers to families earning up to $67,000, even if they live in the top school districts in the state and even if their children have never set foot in a public school." 


Let's see how many others we can find, folks.

The School Board President has apologized and corrected her Center Court blog to include sources for the three incidents that were exposed on this blog.  She was caught.  So what will become of this?  Probably nothing. Are there any students who were caught plagiarizing?  Were there any consequences? Feel free to comment here.  I am opening this up again to accept anonymous comments, just for this particular subject. If it is appropriate, I will approve it. Parents, we have a School Board President who basically says, "Do as I say, not as I do."  What if you had a child who was caught plagiarizing?  Were there any consequences? There should have been, according to the District website.  How do you feel knowing that your kid paid the price, but the School Board will look away when one of their own does it?

What are the consequences?  The District clearly says that there are severe consequences to plagiarism.  If your child apologizes and makes the appropriate corrections, that's good enough, according to the School Board President.  How many colleges or employers operate like that?  What consequences are in store for Mrs. Posti?

Where is President Posti’s Integrity? (updated six times)

I have received the following document from an anonymous source. Based on this easily verified information, do we want a school board director, the president – no less, of an “award winning” school district plagiarizing? President Posti majored in English. Her livelihood is public relations. As a professional, a parent, a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School, a school board director, and a blogger, Josephine Posti is a disgrace. How could she, in good conscience, sign this Parent Plagiarism Statement downloaded from the District website at http://www.mtlsd.org/highschool/stuff/plagiarism%20quiz%20v2.doc pledging that her son or daughter is expected to demonstrate academic integrity in all his or her schoolwork?  Where is her integrity?

Rampant Plagiarism by Mt. Lebanon School District Board President Revealed

There have been numerous instances over the last year of Mt Lebanon School Board President Josephine Posti stealing information from websites and posting it on her blog as her own. In the three instances outlined below, I have copied word for word her blog post and indicated in yellow highlighted text where that information was sourced from and the original text of that source. Again, Mrs. Posti has never indicated that her sources were from anything but her own intelligence.

There are very specific documents available on the District website that deal with plagiarism (see http://www.mtlsd.org/highschool/highschoolplagiarismlessons.asp

Grade 11 Plagiarism Tutorial):

Plagiarism (and avoiding it!)

If you intend to pursue a career or an education, you must not plagiarize.

Plagiarism is theft.

Plagiarism is stealing somebody’s idea or words without giving credit to that person. If you do not clearly tell your audience that you were not the person who came up with it, your audience will believe that the idea was yours. You are stealing credit for another’s work.

In the real world, people who plagiarize are punished. The same is true in high school and college. Do not risk your academic standing by not carefully and completely citing your sources. Please refer to the Student‐Parent Handbook for Mt. Lebanon School District’s policy on Academic Integrity, including plagiarism.

What follows are three of examples that were found after only a few minutes of searching.

Complete document is here. 


Update: Direct links to Josephine Posti's blog.
Instance #1 direct link 
Instance #2 direct link
Instance #3 direct link
More can be found on her blog just by searching key phrases on search engines such as Google. 

Update 1:30 pm
I have been told that Josephine Posti has an accreditation in public relations. http://prsa-pgh.org/bio.php?n=150 
From the website, http://www.prsa.org/Learning/Accreditation/ 

What is APR?
APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice, and who are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective, and sound professional judgment.

I do not have a degree in English, journalism, or even fiction writing, but I was able to pass the plagiarism quiz on the District website. 

Update 11:00 pm Screen shots of posts
Instance #1 Mergers and Aquisitions
Instance #2 Act 1 Exceptions
Instance #3 Single Prime Approved 


Update August 22, 2011 Response from Josephine Posti, Mon. Aug 22, 2011 12:07 pm

Dear Mrs. Gillen,
Thank you for bringing that to my attention.  As your anonymous source may have 
noticed, I share information from a variety of sources and endeavor to attribute 
them and include links to original sources.  I've made those corrections and 
provided additional information on my blog.

Best regards,

Josephine Posti
President
Mt. Lebanon School Board
412.667.1479
http://jposti.blogspot.com

Mission: To provide the best education possible for each and every student

Update 12:33 PM

Josephine Posti has entered a new post on her Center Court blog. Corrections 

Update 5:04 PM

http://jposti.blogspot.com/2011/04/voucher-bill-passes-appropriations.html 

"While SB1 was originally targeted to families making under $29,000 in failing schools or school districts, as amended SB1 would offer vouchers to families earning up to $67,000, even if they live in top school districts and even if their children have never set foot in a public school." 

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=208420045843951&comments

 "Where SB1 was originally targeted to families making under $29,000 in failing schools or school districts, as amended SB1 would offer vouchers to families earning up to $67,000, even if they live in the top school districts in the state and even if their children have never set foot in a public school."

Compensation Policy

The following letter was written by Mt. Lebanon resident, Steve Diaz.

Sat, Aug 20, 2011 2:07 pm
Members of the school board:  Well, another interesting unanimous decision has come down from you disposing of our money.  Apparently you have now, cumulatively over the past 2 years, given a total of some 11% of salary increases to the district superintendent, and given him more time off as well.  Given the state of the economy in general, and of the finances of our school district in particular, it bears some analysis as to what might be the basis for such a decision.  I suppose there were objective professional criteria used to justify such a decision, but in examining those I personally think might be pertinent I find myself once again baffled by the seemingly careless way you dispose of other people's money (in this case, the money of the taxpayers of the Mt. Lebanon School District.)

Among the criteria I would expect the school board to consider in determining any potential increase in compensation might be:  (1) academic performance of our schools; (2) management of the school renovation process; and (3) our general fiscal condition.  By any of these objective standards, your decision is unwise and unfounded.  First, with regard to academic performance, since the superintendent was hired we have realized a steady decline in our standing against other competing local districts, including the currently No. 1-ranked district in Allegheny County, which it may recalled "lost" our current superintendent (many residents of that district tell me due to his performance there, while others say he left to find a new construction project).  Second, in view of the incredible fiasco we have had with bids, consultants, estimates, failed and mismanaged public hearings and processes, ineffective permit presentations (including a lost lawsuit against the municipality for which the taxpayers had to pay the costs of both sides), the school board seems to have completely exculpated its chief manager, the superintendent, from any performance responsibility for the results (which is curious, given that you don't accept any responsibility either, leaving no one accountable for the waste and failures in that matter to date--oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that it is the outside consultants, whose contracts you have also not terminated, who bear all the political blame, but none of the performance responsibility for that).  And lastly, there is the matter of the fiscal shape we are in. You have significantly raised our taxes this past year, and but for the tradition of no tax raise in an election year, you will certainly to do so again next year, regardless of public input and pressure against it (most of those of us who pay the bills have not enjoyed 11% increases in the past 2 years).  We are hopelessly undone by the likely costs of our ever-shrinking "renovation" project, and we have had no special insight or leadership from our top staff member, who you generously reward financially.  We have a massive coming pension obligation that will have to be paid for, somehow, but I guess you are prepared just to raise taxes as much as "necessary".  Nonetheless, money is an object in this district at this time.  Do you have any idea, from the earned income tax or otherwise, whether the taxpayers of this district have, on average, had such a generous increase in income?  Did you measure your generosity with our money against our ability to pay?  Is there some rational fear of losing a uniquely qualified employee or other "special" reason to ignore the fiscal facts of the day in setting the pay for the superintendent?  Once again, your judgement in fiscal and oversight matters is demonstrated to be callous to the needs of the community you serve and to the efficient and economical use of our money.

The first time I ever addressed the board I told you that "now is not the time" for lavish expenditures and tax increases.  You did not heed my advice.  Since that time, not only has the financial situation deteriorated to Depression conditions (I remind you that there is an effective unemployment rate in excess of 16% according to all mainstream economists, and there have been more home foreclosures in the US in the past 3 years than in the 1930's), but the situation has only gotten worse, worldwide.  We now find that all of your contrived "planning" to allow our valuable school assets to deteriorate by a deliberate policy of not maintaing them in a cynical attempt at self-justification for building a new high school, regardless of need or affordability, has come to a dead-end--unless you tax us even more (the limit to your willingness to borrow, however, seems to be reached at your desire to do anything to avoid a public choice, that is, and election, as would be necessary if more borrowed funds are required, apparently because you understand that you would lose such an election).  I have yet to mention the underlying inconvenience (from your perspective) that our already small school district of a mere 5,000 or so students, is on a downward population spiral, according to your own figures.  We simply don't need to ruin this community financially to educate our kids. Have you forgotten that this is about the quality of education we offer in Mt. Lebanon?  The strongest argument can be made that you are not only tax-insensitive and arrogant, but that you are pursuing policies that inexorably lead only to the destruction of quality education in this community.  If all the points are ultimately about the children and their education, then your misuse of our assets is a true man-made disaster of intellectual dishonesty.  Your decision to grant an economic reward for the kind of leadership under which this school district currently strains is merely an indication of how education unfriendly you truly are.

I would be disappointed, but, being a rational man, I have come to expect the irrational and the irresponsible from this school board.

With Due Respect.  Steve Diaz

Thank goodness for Office Depot

Just days after approving a 3.5% increase or 5.42% when including the additional week of pay (Bill Matthews' calculations on Blog-Lebo) for Dr. Steinhauer, we read this tale of woe.

Mt. Lebanon School District spokeswoman Cissy Bowman said tissues are among the few items elementary school students are asked to bring at the height of the winter cold season; the district provides most other school supplies. Mt. Lebanon students are expected to provide their own backpacks, binders and, for high school students, graphing calculators, which can cost $100 or more, depending on their complexity.
The district's budget for supplies has shrunk year after year, down 2.7 percent in 2011-12 to $1,325,716, said Bowman.
"Our supply budget's gone down; it keeps getting sliced and sliced," she said, but parents haven't been expected to pick up the slack yet. The district has been able to maintain its current system through a favorable contract to buy supplies through Office Depot, Bowman said.

This also follows the Technology Presentation given on Monday evening. See page 15 for "Bring Your Own Technology." 

Are we still excited?  After all, it's for the children.

Read more: As supply costs rise, school districts conserve, look to parents - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_751993.html#ixzz1VWoOkZkd

Important message from Dr. Steinhauer

Note: This was not sent to me by Dr. Steinhauer.  It was sent out to parents with children in Mt. Lebanon Schools. One of those parents, in turn, forwarded it to me. 

Dear Mt. Lebanon Parents,

I am writing to inform you that the Mt. Lebanon School District administration was notified by the Mt. Lebanon Police Department today, August 19, 2011, that Christopher Childs, a former volunteer with the High School track team during the 2011 season, was arrested on multiple charges alleging improper contact with a Mt. Lebanon High School student after the school year ended. The former volunteer is no longer involved with the team.

We are cooperating fully with the Mt. Lebanon Police Department. I want to assure you that we will take all appropriate measures to protect the health, safety and welfare of Mt. Lebanon students.

I also want you to know that the District guidelines require coaches and volunteers in the athletic department to submit state and federal criminal clearances before working with students. This individual’s clearances showed no prior violations of any kind.

The safety and security of each and every student is our top priority. We take our responsibility very seriously and work diligently to have comprehensive procedures and guidelines in place to protect our students.

If you or your child has any information or concerns regarding this matter, please contact the Mt. Lebanon Police Department. Please feel free to contact me with any general questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tim Steinhauer
Superintendent of Schools
Mt. Lebanon School District

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_752476.html

Please and Thank You

I had an email exchange with Dave Brumfield this evening concerning McNeilly Park.  I asked if I could publish the exchange.  Here is the whole exchange per his request.  Start at the bottom.


From: david brumfield <davidcbrumfield@gmail.com>

To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 10:21 pm
Subject: Re: Please and thank you

As long as it is the whole exchange.  Then that would be fine.

Dave

______________________

On Aug 18, 2011 9:13 PM, <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

May I reprint this on the blog? It might clarify the issue for people.
Elaine


-----Original Message-----
From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
To: davidcbrumfield <davidcbrumfield@gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 8:21 pm
Subject: Re: Please and thank you

That shouldn't be your problem, Dave. Think about what the Municipality is responsible for. Infrastructure. Following your logic, more people use the roads than fields. Actually, recreation shouldn't even be on your minds in this economy. Just my opinion.
Elaine

_____________________

From: david brumfield <davidcbrumfield@gmail.com>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 8:01 pm 

Subject: Re: Please and thank you
But shouldn't we focus on what helps the most residents. Also keep in mind the SD is actually removing a field, at least for 4 years, they are not adding any.
Dave
______________________

On Aug 18, 2011 7:52 PM, <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Hi Dave,
People of all ages use the pool. I know people use the pool for rehab too. I understand how the locker rooms are not family friendly. Just a few things off the top of my head. I don't use the pool, so I can't comment on the condition of it.
Elaine

____________

From: david brumfield <davidcbrumfield@gmail.com>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Aug 18, 2011 7:35 pm
Subject: Re: Please and thank you

Elaine,
Why the pool and not the fields. The fields get more hours of us[e] for the same money. Just curious as to what you see the difference is?
Thanks
Dave
_____________

On Aug 18, 2011 7:21 PM, <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:

Hi Commissioners~

Please consider postponing the development of McNeilly Park. While I understand your reasons, I don't think it is wise to take on more debt than needed. I don't think people are opposed to updating the bath house, pool, or buying a fire engine, but in my opinion, the community can't really handle more money being spent on youth sports than what is being done through the School District. Please don't say that it will only be another $200 a year or whatever the number is. We are hearing that it is ONLY $xx a month for too many things now. And saying that it will increase the value of my house means nothing to me. I have no plans to sell my house. ... I gave up lattes long ago.

Thank you for commenting on my blog, Dan and Dave!

Elaine

Two commissioners commenting within 24 hours!

Thanks goes out to Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.  Two of them took time out to comment on this blog. Thank you for the open dialogue, Dave and Dan. We may not agree, but it is refreshing to see open and direct responses from our elected officials. This is the way government should work.  Thank you!