posted by Mike Madison at 10:49 AM /
The Mt. Lebanon School Board election is underway. The election for seats on the Mt. Lebanon Commission is underway too. In both, I expect that there will be substantial debate about the virtues and vices of keeping incumbents on the Board and on the Commission. The value of experience will be stressed by some; the virtues of new blood and fresh voices will be stressed by others.
In both contexts, do not underestimate the role of professional staff in guiding both the School District and the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon. Staff has enormous influence over administration of the town and the schools both on a day-to-day basis and on a strategic basis. Specifically, in the case of the School District, consider the role of Janice Klein, Director of Business. In the case of the Municipality, consider the role of Stephen Feller, Municipal Manager.
Continuity of service and job experience is critical to both jobs, since members of the Commission and members of the School Board are typically dedicated but untrained citizen politicians -- even at their very best. They depend heavily on staff. Brand new Board and Commission members are likely to depend on them even more.
So as voters, if your impulse is to change the way that Mt. Lebanon does business or runs its schools, recognize that by voting out the incumbents you may increase the power and authority of the municipality's and school district's current managers. And on the flip side, if your impulse as voters is to keep Mt. Lebanon on its current course with town and school management, then recognize the role of its current and past staff in that success. From both perspectives, though, candidates should be pressed for their views on the role of staff generally and on the capabilities of current staff.
In both contexts, do not underestimate the role of professional staff in guiding both the School District and the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon. Staff has enormous influence over administration of the town and the schools both on a day-to-day basis and on a strategic basis. Specifically, in the case of the School District, consider the role of Janice Klein, Director of Business. In the case of the Municipality, consider the role of Stephen Feller, Municipal Manager.
Continuity of service and job experience is critical to both jobs, since members of the Commission and members of the School Board are typically dedicated but untrained citizen politicians -- even at their very best. They depend heavily on staff. Brand new Board and Commission members are likely to depend on them even more.
So as voters, if your impulse is to change the way that Mt. Lebanon does business or runs its schools, recognize that by voting out the incumbents you may increase the power and authority of the municipality's and school district's current managers. And on the flip side, if your impulse as voters is to keep Mt. Lebanon on its current course with town and school management, then recognize the role of its current and past staff in that success. From both perspectives, though, candidates should be pressed for their views on the role of staff generally and on the capabilities of current staff.
Labels: municipality, school board
24 Comments:
I'm voting for those who will keep our taxes down. I'm sick of all of the tax increases and the TIF.
The only one running who voted against the TIF is Sue Rose.
Mike,
What an insightful post. I have long thought that Jan Klein has had major influence on the board - she has the ability to present things in a favorable or negative light any time she wants. That's why I think its critical to get respected business folks on the board who can process information independently.
Mike,
I agree wholeheartedly with anon 9:56 and the point that you make that you cannot underestimate the "enormous influence" of administrative staff. You and anon 9:56 have given voters clarity to choosing the next board members.
1.Question candidates about present administrative policies and procedures or lack thereof.
(e.g. budget,discipline,ethics compliance reporting,human resource practices)
2.Choose candidates with strong business/financial/administrative backgrounds that will challenge the status quo.
Mike,
Your post makes me wonder...Is this the reason that Marge Sable is no longer the superintendent?
That is a loaded statement about Jan Klein. Does that mean you don't trust her and that no current board members are able to process information independently?
What exactly would be the reason and/or motivation for Jan Klein to "present things in a favorable or negative light any time she wants?"
Being a "respected business folk" does not alone qualify one as a good board member.
While I don't agree with any one current member all of the time I have seen certain patterns emerge among the members. It's fairly obvious that certain members devote more time and thought to issues.
What is even more alarming to me is that it seems that many of our residents do not pay enough attention to our school district and school board.
Regarding the "enormous influence" of administrative staff...I would like to think that unless you had a known reason you would consider that reports, data, and recommendations offered are considered honest and informed. Given that, every board member should look openly and give thought to information presented. Ask questions, research, read your packets before the meeting.
The comment about Marge Sable...what do you mean?
The anti-administration theme being presented here is a scary road to travel. Candidates with business/financial/administrative backgrounds are fine...but that does not mean that they are they only qualified candidates worth considering. I would ask that voters look at candidates who don't possess personal agendas and who are more concerned with making choices that are best for the students and community.
To Anon at 8:59 am (and others),
This post has a logical connection to this earlier post, about trust and its role in our political system.
How is it that the commissioners get a stipend and none of the school board people do? I am amazed at how much more criticism the school board gets yet it is totally voluntary. I would be curious to learn if their time commitment was less than the commissioners.It doesn't seem that their responsibility is less. In fact, given that most of our local taxes are school taxes, I would suspect their time commitment is much more. Certainly their responsibility budgetarily is more. With all the grief that they get, it's no wonder that many talented people would prefer not to run.
j.s.
"Personal agendas" are the buzz words around election time. Often used for candidate bashing It is next to impossible to determine personal agendas during the election process.Isn't it also important to identify possible conflicts of interests? Does the school board member or candidate benefit in their private business through contacts and /or contracts before, during or after holding a board postion. Is there a policy that school board members will not do business with the district for a certain time frame post board position?
Let's face it, doesn't every parent in the district has a personal agenda? (AKA "my child".)
Education is big business. As voters, shouldn't we strive to establish boards that mimic corporate organization
(accounting and finance, human resources,legal,information technology,education,construction,
and health) I feel confident when Dan Remley takes the lead with construction issues and I am appreciative when Mark Hart's clarifies the budget process.
Bill Mathews must recognize the importance of Steve Fellers role in municipal government. He is asking that feedback be sent to Steve Feller via e mail or phone
after a reviewing the facts about Zamagias' financial gain.Bill has sent informative TIF information
to Mt. Lebanon residents on a post card detailing the diversion of $9,966,240 of educational and local service money. Why has such clarity been provided by a private citizen? Isn't this the role of the municipal manager and elected commissioners?
On this issue,
what is the logical connection between trust and the political system?
Thanks Bill Mathews for the enlightenment.
If you were running for school board or commissioner, you would have my vote.
Anon 4/14 7:38 asks: What exactly would be the reason and/or motivation for Jan Klein to "present things in a favorable or negative light any time she wants?" Can you say "job protection?" When the board or superintendent tasks you with researching and finding support for a particular position, and you respond publicly with a contrary opinion, how safe do you think your job will be? Wait... we already know the answer to that (Dr. Sable got FIRED).
Mike,
Am I reading this right?
Anon 8:59 writes that the public should trust the boards and blog postings reveal a "scary" an anti-administration theme?
Transparency builds trust.
And how do you make decisions that are good for the students and the community without business background and experience? The district deals with millions of taxpayers dollars, complicated union and vendor contracts, federal regulations, legal issues, major architectural and construction concerns,public relations and response to the media.
What multi million dollar business hires top management without credentials and proven experience?
Well...we had a big-shot business tycoon in Ron Hoffman...and he led the Marge Sable fiasco.
Was his experience a value?
Re: comments by Anonymous 8:08...what about somebody with experience in EDUCATION? How do people judge qualified candidates if they have no experience in the educational realm? I find it embarrassing to attend school board meetings where school board members can't pronounce the services for which they are authorizing expenditures.
j.s.
J.S.
Me thinks thou protest too much.
If you read what was posted...I suggested "credentials and experience", never excluding educational credentials and experience. I agree with you. That is why I specifically listed education as an important field to be represented in my previous blog. (see 11:23)
In addition, school boards need to be lead by a dynamic, confident, outspoken superintendent who will take the lead with academic issues.
Gee...If I recall, MtLSD use to have someone that fit that description...
posted by j.s. (April 16, 2007 1:18 PM )"what about somebody with experience in EDUCATION? How do people judge qualified candidates if they have no experience in the educational realm?"
The board is not, and probably should not be educators! It is their responsibility to hire a competent staff and allow them to operate the educational system. How many times have we heard complaints about the board micro-managing? Many of the problems we have seen over the past years are the result of ineffective boards that have not made wise choices in hiring the educational staff - we'll never know if they actually got it right with Dr. Sable because they got bullied by the existing staff and the teacher's union and chose to fire her rather than see if the changes she proposed would be beneficial.
Re: 4-17 @5:38
I wholeheartedly disagree that school board members should not be versed in education. I think that is why they make the questionable hiring decisions that they do.
I do agree with the post before yours about having a diversity of professional backgrounds on the board, including some with experience in the educational realm.
j.s.
A couple of things I think worth pointing out. Not everyone will agree on the qualities that a school board member should have. What I think we all agree on is that members of the board should be able to think independently. They should not have an agenda outside of 'providing the best possible education to each and every student'. They also ought not be afraid of reading a lengthy budget in order to find even the most seemingly inconsequential savings. Little savings can add up to big savings over the course of a budget year and especially over a four-year Board term.
As far as the current administrative staff, I think by attending meetings you get a feel for their abilities. Hopefully Board members themselves have the ability to read the numbers that are given to them by the administrative staff and interpret them on their own. If they have to rely whole-heartedly on the administrative staff and do not dig deeper than the surface on the issues, then I dont think they belong on the Board.
regarding james' post:
I like that you mentioned thinking independently and getting a feel for the administrators abilities. The two current members that I see doing this: Jo Posti and Sue Rose.
Serious question to anonymous 7:47am.
Do you regularly attend the school board meetings?
Anon 5:00 pm
Perhaps Blogger 7:47 watched the TIF meeting and thinks that this is normal practice for board members Posti and Rose. But...at least they came through on this one.
I think there are two groups on the school board: the values in education team and everyone else.
We need a school board that has the guts to stand up to the American Federation of Teachers. Teachers should not have better benefits than the taxpayers who pay their salaries. Who of the candidates will do this for us?
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