posted by Mike Madison at 11:13 PM /
Today's post on the School Board reorganization meeting and the selection of the new Board president quickly attracted comments, some critical, some not, regarding the identities of the players, transparency of Board processes, and related "good government" themes.
For me, the key issues facing the School Board -- and the Mt. Lebanon Commission -- don't involve ethics in government or involvement in personnel issues or who rents or owns or has kids or not, wherever they attend school. I know that many families in Mt. Lebanon are deeply invested in personalities and coaches and their kids, but the key issues for local government are financial.
The School Board is looking down the barrel at an enormous expense -- renovation or replacement of Mt. Lebanon High School -- and the financial ramifications of the Board's decision will affect all taxpayers in Mt. Lebanon for many years to come, and future taxpayers in Mt. Lebanon for years beyond that. Did the Board president file required disclosure forms? Apparently not, and I'm curious regarding the reason. Unless there's some scandal brewing that I'm not aware of, however, I'm much more interested in whether the Board is likely to make sensible decisions regarding taxing and spending, and specifically regarding the high school facility.
At the Commission (i.e., Municipality) level, the key issues are likewise financial. The 2008 budget has been presented to the Commission; approval of the revised budget is scheduled for next Monday evening (December 10). (For financial types, here's a link to the budget proposal.) As with any budget for a public entity, the key questions are:
For me, the key issues facing the School Board -- and the Mt. Lebanon Commission -- don't involve ethics in government or involvement in personnel issues or who rents or owns or has kids or not, wherever they attend school. I know that many families in Mt. Lebanon are deeply invested in personalities and coaches and their kids, but the key issues for local government are financial.
The School Board is looking down the barrel at an enormous expense -- renovation or replacement of Mt. Lebanon High School -- and the financial ramifications of the Board's decision will affect all taxpayers in Mt. Lebanon for many years to come, and future taxpayers in Mt. Lebanon for years beyond that. Did the Board president file required disclosure forms? Apparently not, and I'm curious regarding the reason. Unless there's some scandal brewing that I'm not aware of, however, I'm much more interested in whether the Board is likely to make sensible decisions regarding taxing and spending, and specifically regarding the high school facility.
At the Commission (i.e., Municipality) level, the key issues are likewise financial. The 2008 budget has been presented to the Commission; approval of the revised budget is scheduled for next Monday evening (December 10). (For financial types, here's a link to the budget proposal.) As with any budget for a public entity, the key questions are:
- Does the budget document accurately reflect the real income and real costs associated with running the organization?
- Once we have an accurate baseline, how can revenues be increased?
- How can expenses be reduced?
- And can this be accomplished without materially affecting service levels?
Labels: budget
3 Comments:
Monday night (12/3) the Commission met to polish the budget. Delayed at the School Board meeting - I arrived late. The Commission was on the final big topic - the Pool. Mr. Humphreys was for the $9+ million dollar option. Mrs. Logan was for a real swimming pool, sans the amusement park. Mr. Daley liked a big pool, but thought it should be left to the new Commission. Mr. Mulvihill supported the $1 million dollar repair option. Mr. Colby was absent and no new Commissioners were in attendance. In the end, the Commission could not reach consensus, so the new Commissioners will tackle the issue.
If money was no object - the decision would be easy - but money is the issue. A $10 million dollar project could cost about 4/10 of a mill in property taxes or $72 on a $180,000 home. Doesn't sound like much, but it quickly adds up. 1/2 mill here and 1/2 mill there, soon we are spending millions of dollars.
The Municipal budget is all but in the can - nevertheless the new Commission needs to start monitoring the spend on Day 1 and not wait a year to make their impression. Based on Commissioner-elect Raja's post - he has no interest in waiting. And I know Commissioner-elect Miller is revved up and ready to go.
As far as the Schools go - the process is about to ramp up and it is time for the long awaited "deep dive." We are not bad - but we can be better. If we want better results, we need a better process.
Borrowing from Barbara Logan: "Everything flows from the budget - it is the most important activity of a governing body."
Mike:
I do not wish to misrepresent myself, or have your diligent readers bring this your attention, but I am PTA Council President. I am not writing to you in that capacity, although my position affords me the opportunity to have a unique insight into the district. I write to you today as a taxpayer and Mt. Lebanon parent and alum.
Thanks for your comments--it really got me thinking. Especially about your statement that "key issues for local government are financial."
So I went to the PSBA site, and found the following information.
Perhaps it will shed some light for your readers that while "School Boards must balance their responsibility to provide educational programs with the need to be effective stewards of public resources," (PSBA site, Code of Conduct for Members of PA School Boards), the first part of the Code of Conduct sets the tone:
"Striving toward ideal conditions for effective school board service to our community, in a spirit of teamwork and devotion to public education, is the greatest instrument for preserving and perpetuating our representative democracy." (same reference as above) The whole text of the PSBA Code of Conduct is below for your readers:
PSBA Code of Conduct
for Members of Pennsylvania School Boards
Preamble
"We, as members of our local board of education, representing all the residents of our school district, believe that:
Striving toward ideal conditions for effective school board service to our community, in a spirit of teamwork and devotion to public education, is the greatest instrument for preserving and perpetuating our representative democracy.
The future welfare of this community, commonwealth and nation depends upon the quality of education we provide in the public schools.
In order to maintain a free and strong country, our civic obligation to the community, commonwealth and nation is to maintain free and strong public schools in the United States of America, without surrendering our responsibilities to any other person, group or organization.
Boards of school directors share responsibility for ensuring a "thorough and efficient system of public education" as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Our fellow residents have entrusted us with the advocacy for and stewardship of the education of the youth of this community.
The public expects that our first and greatest priority is to provide equitable educational opportunities for all youth.
Accordingly,
The community should be provided with information about its schools and be engaged by the board and staff to encourage input and support for the school system.
Devoting time, thought and study to our duties and responsibilities as school board members is critical for rendering effective and credible service.
Board members should work together in a spirit of harmony, respect and cooperation, despite differences of opinion.
Personal decisions should be based upon all sufficient facts, we should vote our honest conviction without partisan bias, and we will abide by and uphold the majority decision of the board.
Individuals have no legal authority outside the meetings of the board, and should conduct their relationships with all stakeholders and media on this basis.
We will not use our positions as school directors to benefit ourselves or any individual or agency.
School boards must balance their responsibility to provide educational programs with the need to be effective stewards of public resources.
We should recognize that the primary responsibility of the board is to adopt policies by which the schools are to be administered.
We should respect that the superintendent of schools and his or her staff are responsible and accountable for the delivery of the educational programs and the conduct of school operations.
Communication with all stakeholders and the media should be conducted in accordance with board policy."
This site also states that "...an effective school board...
a. Promoting public education as a keystone of democracy.
b. Engaging and promoting community support by seeking input, building support networks and generating action.
c. Allocating resources in a manner designed to facilitate student achievement consistent with school district goals and plans.
d. Maintaining legislative awareness and communicating with members of local, state and federal legislative bodies.
e. Ensuring strong management of the school system by hiring, setting goals with and evaluating the superintendent.
f. Employing qualified staff to meet student and program needs."
(www.psba.org/psba/boardstandardsandcode.asp
There is some mention of 'financial' responsibility, but they majority of the code makes it clear that School Boards are ultimately responsible for the education of our students.
My husband and I received outstanding educations here in Mt. Lebanon, and are pleased that our children are now recipients of even more exceptional programs.
The collective groups of the Administration, School Board, teachers, parents, the ever-vigilant community and the students themselves set the bar high, and expect great things from our schools; we also expect those same great things from our School Board. And excellence comes with a price tag.
Say it ain’t so, Mrs. Birks. You mean to tell me that a School Board has a “civic obligation to the community … to maintain free and strong public schools”? I thought their primary responsibility was to hold down taxes? You’ve shattered my belief system when you tell me the School Board Code says that the Board should “respect that the superintendent of schools and his or her staff are responsible and accountable for the delivery of the educational programs and the conduct of school operations. “ I thought the Board was supposed to hire/fire Athletic Directors and eliminate classes that only had 19 instead of 20 students enrolled in them. I’ve been looking at this all wrong when I thought, as Mike did, that finance was the key issue. But the School Board Code clearly puts me in my place when it states “The future welfare of this community…depends upon the quality of education we provide in the public schools."
C. Boady
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