posted by Joe Polk at 11:33 AM /
The president of the Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors wants more regular meetings with the municipal commissioners, but was met with some indifference this week and calls for those meetings to be more open to the public.
School board President Josephine Posti wants to hold quarterly meetings of a "joint steering committee," consisting of commission and school board leaders, to discuss issues where the two bodies can work together.
Read the full article:
School board President Josephine Posti wants to hold quarterly meetings of a "joint steering committee," consisting of commission and school board leaders, to discuss issues where the two bodies can work together.
Read the full article:
- www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_717864.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Labels: commission, jo posti, school district
19 Comments:
Josephine Posti, President of the school board has insisted that these meetings be held behind closed doors. No members of the public are allowed to attend. And 3commissioners have agreed to this stipulation. One commissioner says "Though I strongly support transparent government I do not believe that the meetings would be productive" if there are residens in attendence. What will they be discussing that they don't want us to hear? Why has Ms. Posti made this demand, and why did the commissioner agreed to it? Business as usual in Mt. Labanon? Transparency be damned.
Joe Wertheim
One question….Where are all the August Town Hall protestors now? Remember the “What the Kluck?” sign carried by a child? How about Mrs. Tashman’s letter to the Almanac editor saying something about “opening the doors and letting out the stench”? Oh wait, let me guess, the protest charade was never about transparency at all, it was simply a way to protect a certain minority of this community’s agenda (which is NOT what is best for our community as a whole – careless and inappropriate spending on a high school project!) Dirty politics are at work here folks. How dare they keep residents from following the very discussions that impact them directly? This backroom meeting deal between Commissioner Brumfield and Director Posti will cost them the trust of any Mt. Lebanon resident who values a participative governmental process. - Charlotte Stephenson
My God, Charlotte, the news just came out yesterday, so what do you expect? Maybe if you would phrase your idea less insultingly you might find some common ground with those people. If I had the slightest inclination to protest this secrecy, after reading your bile I would probably forget it because who would want to be associated with that? And I certainly would not want to let anyone think they could motivate me with this kind of behavior.
But perhaps August Town Hall protesters will decide your rant is just irrelevant and protest the board anyway, because you are right that the board is not being transparent. Your interests do intersect here.
Honestly, you were way too quick to the draw on this one, and that speaks volumes. A person in a better frame of mind might have seen this as an opportunity to build bridges. Do you have the guts to put your anger aside and work together with people with whom you otherwise disagree to make headway on issues on which you do agree? If not, how serious can you really be about transparency?
Perhaps today was not your finest day and if you had another chance you might say things a little differently. I can believe that. Perhaps the person who wrote the "What the Kluck" sign feels the same. Can you picture that? Being able to think that about others is a hallmark of civilization. Let's all try it some.
Well, David, you may think I was quick to comment on this one, but I am afraid that you have been asleep at the switch. These secret meetings have been in the planning stages for a while now and various individuals have struggled with the idea. The blog topic provided me with an opportunity to state my opinion about this issue that was a glaring infarction before the paper reported on it. Some who have cried ”foul” have been stonewalled. I guess you missed that along the way and no insult intended here, but does this mean that you get all of your information from the newspaper or maybe the blog rather than public meetings or dialogue? The reality is that this is old news. Call my comments “rant” or “bile” if you want to but the fact is that secret meetings among our elected officials (unless they are specific personnel or litigation issues) that lock out residents are just wrong – plain and simple. It’s sleazy politics and people are noticing. Now that you have the facts, will you think more about others’ behaviors that “speak volumes”? – Charlotte Stephenson
Yes, Charlotte, people are noticing. Secrecy and back door politics are never a good thing. Transparency is what it is all about, right Charlotte?
Elaine Gillen
From the Tribune article:
[Josephine] “pointed to the recently approved agreement to formally share the municipal parking lot adjacent to the high school: Though both sides worked together behind the scenes on the agreement, some questions raised by the commissioners came just before they voted on it, leaving no time for the district to respond, Posti said.”
The time for Commission questions and School Board response on the parking agreement was wasted because the School Board sued the Zoning Hearing Board after Kubit held closed-door meetings with the Commission. A poorly written brief by the Board Solicitor’s office handicapped the Board’s legal case. The time for questions was wasted by the Board’s inflexible position in filing a lawsuit that caused a delay of several months in the negotiation of the parking agreement. The attendance of the public at the closed-door meetings was prohibited and had nothing to do with the several-months interruption of the process.
Posti’s claim that the Board did not have time to respond was caused by poor legal work on the part of the District and superior legal work from the Zoning Hearing Board’s Counsel. Her claim that the Board had no time to respond is insincere. Now she wants to be sneaky behind closed doors again. The odor is growing pungent because the Commission agreed to be sneaky too !
Mr. Brown,
It seems a bit hypocritical for you to label Miss Stephenson's comments as "bile" and insinuate she was just being emotional (perhaps a sexist dig) while extolling the virtues of civility. You can't have it both ways.
She, and everyone else in this community, should be outraged by the behavior of the School Board. The fact there are now commissioners involved makes it even more disturbing. So please stick to the point instead of using the forum to bash the messenger.
Further, if I understand this whole situation correctly (and it's possible I do not) a commissioner or commissioners have met with or are planning to meet with people from the SB? And this won't be public? So what are they discussing? And I would venture to say, based on that, all involved should recuse themselves from any further action on the school project. In fact, Dave Brumfield is already on record (in 2009) as being in favor of the school. So he is far from impartial.
Wake up, Lebo.
Dave Brumfield was a member of the Build Our School Now Committee and he has agreed to meet with School Board Members behind closed doors.
Why is the Commission President not living up to his responsibility to serve on the Joint Steering Committee and letting Brumfield take his place?
John Ewing
What I initially wanted to say on this thread was that a good area for the Board and Commission to collaborate on could be tennis. I would like to see the high school eliminate tennis courts and have the students use the tennis center. This seems to be a win-win.
The school saves money by not building the courts and can repurpose that space. The school pays the municipality a fee for use of the tennis center courts during weekdays, a time when those courts are used the least. The recreation department gains needed income, only a part of which would be needed for additional maintenance.
Some tennis players might be inconvenienced, but I am sure Martin Tressel would approve. His vision was for the courts to be used by children.
There might be some other criteria for scholastic tennis that would not be fulfilled, I don't know. But whatever they are, when you are trying to cut costs this might be one the sort of "least bad among bad" choices that you are seeking.
Dear Mr. Brown,
Due to the WPIAL rules the high school cannot use the tennis courts due to the composition of the courts. Your argument is not valid in this case because of the unfair advantage to toher competitors.
Matt Kluck
Mr. Brown, are we really expected to believe that you sat down to make a suggestion about usage of the tennis courts, but as your fingers hit the keyboard the venum just came spewing out? Your original comment made only the weakest attempt to address the topic ("you are right that the board is not being transparent.") but was really nothing more than a personal attack on Mrs. Stephenson. Quite honestly I was surprised that Tom and Joe even allowed it to be published.
"after reading your bile"
"your rant is just irrelevant"
"A person in a better frame of mind"
"Do you have the guts to put your anger aside"
"Perhaps today was not your finest day"
What gives you the right to make statements such as these?
"Being able to think that about others is a hallmark of civilization. Let's all try it some."
DO YOU have the guts to follow your own advice?
You owe Charlotte an apology!
Joe Wertheim
Just a quick note to clarify what Joe and I will (and will not) allow to be published. We do not use our administrative powers to censor or otherwise edit the public conversation that occurs on Blog-Lebo. We view that conversation as an important public forum and, if we want to weigh in, we'll do it in the open, as part of the public conversation, and not by use of invisible administrative powers.
In other words, on Blog-Lebo, we do our part to protect freedom of speech. Sometimes that means we must publish (and you must read) things that we don't like. Is that too much to ask? We hope not. Compared to the sacrifices that others are making to protect freedom of speech, having to publish or read something we don't like seems a small price to pay.
Charlotte,
Upon further reflection, I regret using the word "bile" and so I do apologize for that. I should have been gentler. If I had been perhaps the rest of my message would have been heard.
David Brown
Mr. Kluck,
Are there options other than WPIAL? Is being in an interscholastic league absolutely necessary? The existence of a long list of non-negotiable criteria is one reason the price tag for the school is so high. When we can find a way to satisfy most of a need without cutting it entirely, that is the sort of thing we need to consider closely.
Dear Mr. Brown,
Is it necessary to participate in an interscholastic league? The WPIAL and the PIAA are the only games in town and they dictate the rules. If we want our athletes to compete at a high level it behooves us to be a member of both organizations. As far as I know, the only way to compete otherwise is to be a private school where other private/prep schools would entertain a competition but it would be costly to engage them on a regular basis.ie.travel to the private schools, interest and unrest when the competition is closer and less expensive, the competition would, in most cases, be inferior, etc. Is it absolutely necessary, No! Is it practical, YES!! Private schools...Is there an answer in there somewhere?
I am glad that you made your remarks regarding Mrs. Stephenson more positive. She is undeserving of any remarks that challenge her character!!
I appreciate your concern regarding Mt. Lebanon issues and if I can add more clarity do not hesitate to call.
Regards,
Matt Kluck
Hello David,
I accept your apology and I do realize that we may come from two completely different perspectives. Although you and I have never met, my guess is that you view me as some sort of opponent for some reason or other, thus the personal attack. I find it interesting that you actively recruited for MESH, (Mobilize and Empower the South Hills) to help candidate Obama succeed. I also believe you had a tough blog day when this article struck a chord: http://bloglebo.blogspot.com/2010/11/tom-purcell-on-meter-maids-and.html#comments. Although I do not agree with your blog comments, your MESH activities and willingness to speak out on the blog show that we do have common ground – championing issues that we believe in. That being said, what do you say about my initial post asking where the town hall protestors are now? I would like to offer this e-mail that circulated to undermine the town hall event and ask if, after reading it, you agree that the protest was a disingenuous smoke screen in the name of “fair representation” for the hidden pro high school project agenda/lobby? Remember, the town hall event was not a meeting of only elected officials for the purpose of conducting business on behalf of their constituents. It was designed as a forum where people could get information about our local economy and share ideas, and one of the “pro high school invitees” freely recorded the event. The planned secret meetings are among elected officials and NO residents are invited. There will be NO record of what is discussed as far as I understand it. I am not going to reveal the author of this e-mail because I think it would be an attack on them and that wouldn’t be right. This is a lengthly post, so I have to divide it into two. E-mail to follow. – Charlotte Stephenson
Now, here is the e-mail:
“Hello friends,
I'm not sure if you are aware of what is going on in our community, but
contrary to popular belief, there are many road blocks being put up to
prevent our school renovation from moving forward. This is a critical time for our community. Those in favor of the high school renovation project
need to pull together to show their support before it is too late. We
cannot afford to let another ten years go by while our school continues to
fall apart and our neighbors continue to move south.
Tomorrow there is a "town hall" meeting scheduled at the municipal building. I put town hall in quotes because this meeting has been offered as an invitation only event to those apparently opposed to the current plan. Please see this week's Almanac editorial for details.
http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/08-25-2010-letter-Mt--Lebanon-Linfante
A group of concerned residents of Mt. Lebanon are joining together to get
the message out that we are not going to tolerate backhanded strategies to promote propaganda in our community.
If you are in favor of moving forward with the school renovation project,
please gather at the municipal building tomorrow at 9 AM. Even if you are
not sure where you stand on the renovation project, please help us get the
message across that public meetings, with public officials, held in a closed door venue will not be tolerated in this community. We need as many people, of all ages, to rally in support of this cause. Please help us get the word out to as many neighbors and friends as possible!
The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 but we are meeting at 9:00 to make sure that we go over proper conduct for our gathering. Bring signs saying, "Save our School" or "Dig Now" or "Whose town is it?" or "Don't be Fooled, Build our School". Kids are encouraged to come.
Thanks,” – blog posting of anonymous e-mail by Charlotte Stephenson
Charlotte,
What do I say about your initial post asking where the town hall protesters are now? I say what I said in my initial post. Call them up, nicely, and say "Hey, I know we have had our differences, but here is something I think we can agree on. What do you say we work together in a limited fashion on just this one issue?" I think that would have many benefits for you, for them, and for Mt. Lebanon as a whole.
As for the protest itself, I'd rather not drag that whole thing back up but I do think you are way off base to call it a "charade" and a "disingenuous smoke screen". You are surely sophisticated enough to understand that life is complicated and issues can become entangled -- in fact, that's the norm rather than the exception. So the email you trot out as evidence elicits no more than a yawn. I think you're better off not trying to impute sinister motives to people you don't know, even if it's a trap we all fall into from time to time.
Dave, there you go again, patronizing rather than debating the issue at hand – private meetings among elected officials that also seem to be going unnoticed by folks who protested the town hall. What is your opinion on this? Are private meetings acceptable in your mind? Do you think folks should be protesting this? Would you protest this? I do not understand why you keep throwing barbs rather than stating your opinion on the topic at hand. So much for ever joining hands and singing kumbaya on this one..Charlotte Stephenson
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