Wednesday, November 1, 2017

When I ask, it's redacted. UPDATED 5:11 PM

The school district has gone overboard by redacting and withholding public information in Right To Knows about the Century of Excellence Campaign. I filed a RTK for "Sloane Astorino's handout with the campaign financial summary from her November 2016 PowerPoint presentation." This is what I received No financial summary. Just a redacted presentation orginally archived without redactions by Nick Meduho here.

And so the emails which emphasize the glut of redactions to the Open Records Officer with copies to the school board begin. RTK emails abt Sloane campaign financial summary 

This isn't the only instance where the school district has gone redaction crazy. From my post, The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Makermy dear friend Nick M. had filed a RTK for the names of the Advisory Panel. They charged him for the redaction too, even though Lebomag had no problem listing a minor's name in their misinformation/propaganda. Under the Sunshine Law, the school district has the right to charge 25¢ per page of redactions.

Misinformation from 710 Washington Road
“Last year, the district launched the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign, a private funding initiative to bridge the gap between the balance sheet and the wish list. The campaign’s goal is to raise $3 million for things that would enhance the quality of education but fall outside of the budget, and another $3 million to establish a sustainable endowment.”
As a Lebo Citizens reader writes:
WRONG! WRONG! WRONG MTL MAGAZINE! THE DISTRICT LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN TO RAISE $6 MILLION IN 2013, NOT 2015 AS THE MAGAZINE CLAIMS. NEED PROOF, JUST LOOK AT THE DISTRICT’S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
IF THE MAGAZINE IS GOING TO BE THE MAIN SOURCE OF INFO FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT SHOULD AT LEAST GET IT RIGHT!
Nick Meduho was aware of what was happening with the campaign. He maintained a soft-spoken, unassuming demeanor during Citizen Comments, quietly filing Right To Knows, and Mary Birks knew it. I am feeling overwhelmed with Nick's passing. I hope others will come forward to continue Nick's work.

Update November 1, 2017 5:11 PM Oops! She found it.
Dear Mrs. Gillen,

After I received your email I did locate the attached financial summary that was not originally with the PowerPoint, but was handed out to the Board.

Jeanine

I can see why it was not originally included. YIKES!!!!!!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

A presentation that was recorded in some form at a board meeting (was it just a handout or was it shown in projection form for all in attendance to see?), a public forum, was redacted by the district in fulfillment of a RTK request asking for the same presentation in e-form?

Lebo Citizens said...

Yes, 9:18 AM. Please click on the link which Nick had archived. All this will be going away when the November 2017 meeting will bump out the November 2016 meeting video.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

From the MTL magazine article on the fundraising campaign:
“Astorino expects one of the mainstays of the campaign to be the pride that so many Mt. Lebanon grads of all ages have in the district.
“The alumni pride that I’ve seen is so sincere and so heartfelt—that’s the spirit that’s driving the campaign,” she says.”

The campaign is in the red, that alumni spirit maybe sincere and heartfelt, but if it goes on much longer the campaign will be bankrupt.

Anonymous said...

??? about the financial summary found.

“Definition of scholarship. 1 :a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation) 2 :the character, qualities, activity, or attainments of a scholar :learning.”

Scholarships by definition go to individuals!

How do scholarships fit with the objectives of the Century of Excellence Campaign?

“Last year, the district launched the Century of Excellence Capital Campaign, a private funding initiative to bridge the gap between the balance sheet and the wish list. The campaign’s goal is to raise $3 million for things that would enhance the quality of education but fall outside of the budget, and another $3 million to establish a sustainable endowment.”

Anonymous said...

Was this even remotly right correct? So she presented fraudulent documents to the administration and for months after, acted like everything was fine? She should be prosecuted.

Anonymous said...

Even with all the fudging, they’re nowhere close to the $6 million goal.

Anonymous said...

Categories come and go. Numbers don’t add up or change. Riemer is correct. We need a full independent audit now. Like right now. This thing is a fiasco.

Anonymous said...

It’s apparent certain school board directors have no clue regarding financial statements or don’t really want to know what they mean for conveniences.

Anonymous said...

Those supplemental community scholarships... what are they and to whom do they go? Did they not exist BEFORE the launch of the Century of Excellence Campaign and therefore should not be folded into the financial statement.

Anonymous said...

http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoods/alleghenyneighborhoodsmore/7148417-74/district-campaign-foundation

““We hold and invest that money, then the income in those funds goes back out in the form of grants,” said Kelly Uranker, director of philanthropic resources at the foundation.”

In Sloane’s November 2016 financial summary there doesn’t seem to be any mention of income from the investments.

After two years shouldn’t there be a line item showing the return, after all the district invested almost a million dollars in the campaign.