District financial condition

Moving on to another, and very important topic, the district's financial condition.

Somehow, we went from dire predictions of possibly not being able to meet payroll, to having a comfortable surplus.

Last Fall, a foundation leader wrote in the Post-Gazette:

"A few years ago the district’s financial condition was so dire that Ms. Lane admitted that, “with insolvency breathing down my neck,” she couldn’t sleep at night. She made tough, unpopular calls, resulting in closed schools and teacher furloughs during a period of recession, declining enrollment and decreased funding. Twice she turned down raises totaling $35,000. And she reduced per-student spending from $21,711 in 2010-2011 to $20,594 in 2012-2013, dropping the district from the eighth-highest-spending in the state to the 29th."  
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2015/09/08/Gregg-Behr-Pittsburgh-schools-must-continue-the-legacy-of-Linda-Lane/stories/201509080021

In a recent WESA interview, the superintendent made similar claims about bolstering the district's financial situation.  

Are the comments valid?  What is the true financial situation?  Another point of view follows.
In the five years BEFORE Linda Lane the school district's budget surplus/deficit in sum total, across five years, was +/- $1 million in total, with a rock solid all-in fund balance of roughly $80 million, well with guidelines from Moody's, S&P, and Fitch.

Since then, poor financial modeling from 2011 forward has seen Linda Lane twice raising taxes in years that massive surpluses were run. That's not worthy of applause. Middle class families are hurting. 
In the five years BEFORE Linda Lane the school district's budget surplus/deficit in sum total, across five years, was +/- $1 million in total, with a rock solid all-in fund balance of roughly $80 million, well with guidelines from Moody's, S&P, and Fitch. 

Since then, poor financial modeling from 2011 forward has seen Linda Lane twice raising taxes in years that massive surpluses were run. That's not worthy of applause. Middle class families are hurting. 

It's unfortunate that one of the requirements of the Gates Foundation grant was a sharp reduction in the number of teachers - all at the same time teacher academies were illogically required to open - but Dr. Lane was a good soldier and nonetheless cut deep and still hit taxpayers twice. 

Even after the auditor generals's report was issued great efforts were taken to book transfer in March 2016 - after the fiscal year was closed - to hide another $20+ million surplus. 

Dr. Lane inherited a budget that at year end was essentially balanced five years running and in her tenure missed the mark five years running, all while essentially ignoring the long term health of our school buildings by choking off capital improvements. The next superintendent will be tasked to take this neglect on. It's not rocket science - if investment does not approximate depreciation, the assets are not being cared for. 

In the meantime, while all local foundations have celebrated 10 years of philanthropic reign, enrollment continues to decline. Parents are voting with their feet and there's no amount of ink at the post gazette to make that go away.
It's unfortunate that one of the requirements of the Gates Foundation grant was a sharp reduction in the number of teachers - all at the same time teacher academies were illogically required to open - but Dr. Lane was a good soldier and nonetheless cut deep and still hit taxpayers twice. 

Even after the auditor generals's report was issued great efforts were taken to book transfer in March 2016 - after the fiscal year was closed - to hide another $20+ million surplus. 

Dr. Lane inherited a budget that at year end was essentially balanced five years running and in her tenure missed the mark five years running, all while essentially ignoring the long term health of our school buildings by choking off capital improvements. The next superintendent will be tasked to take this neglect on. It's not rocket science - if investment does not approximate depreciation, the assets are not being cared for
In the meantime, while all local foundations have celebrated 10 years of philanthropic reign, enrollment continues to decline. Parents are voting with their feet and there's no amount of ink at the post gazette to make that go aw


Since then, poor financial modeling from 2011 forward has seen Linda Lane twice raising taxes in years that massive surpluses were run. That's not worthy of applause. Middle class families are hurting
It's unfortunate that one of the requirements of the Gates Foundation grant was a sharp reduction in the number of teachers - all at the same time teacher academies were illogically required to open - but Dr. Lane was a good soldier and nonetheless cut deep and still hit taxpayers twice. 

Even after the auditor generals's report was issued great efforts were taken to book transfer in March 2016 - after the fiscal year was closed - to hide another $20+ million s
Dr. Lane inherited a budget that at year end was essentially balanced five years running and in her tenure missed the mark five years running, all while essentially ignoring the long term health of our school buildings by choking off capital improvements. The next superintendent will be tasked to take this neglect on. It's not rocket science - if investment does not approximate depreciation, the assets are not being cared for
In the meantime, while all local foundations have celebrated 10 years of philanthropic reign, enrollment continues to decline. Parents are voting with their feet and there's no amount of ink at the post gazette to make that go away.

Board's reforms interrupted

Anonymous wrote:

New Post Please

New PG article 

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/06/17/As-Hamlet-debate-continues-school-reforms-are-stalled/stories/201606170109 

Petition in support of Dr. Hamlet

Anonymous wrote:

"Hey!! There is a petition to keep Hamlet!! Here is the link


https://www.change.org/p/pittsburgh-board-of-education-support-dr-hamlet-for-superintendent


PLEASE everyone who supports him please sign and get your friends and family to sign. Let's crush the petition that one of the 4 foundation jokers started!!!! "

Personnel committee to meet

Anonymous wrote:

"http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2016/06/13/City-public-schools-committee-will-continue-discussion-about-Hamlet-s-resume/stories/201606130127

Board met this AM. The personnel committee will continue to look into his resume. I wonder who is on that committee? I didn't know we had such a committee. "

Let the fact checking begin

"The Legacy of Linda Lane," Post Gazette September 8, 2015

From an op-ed about Linda Lane's legacy as superintendent:

"...the number of students who enroll in post-secondary education within two years of leaving high school has risen to 68 percent from 58 percent..."

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2015/09/08/Gregg-Behr-Pittsburgh-schools-must-continue-the-legacy-of-Linda-Lane/stories/201509080021


Pittsburgh Promise Website

"58%  => 68%
PPS students who are enrolled in post-secondary education during the first two years after high school ('05 - '10)"

http://www.pittsburghpromise.org/about_dashboard.php


... So, this progress to 68% took place before Linda Lane even became superintendent!  Who would know that the figures cited were from 5 years earlier?  Fact checkers, check yourselves!

Superintendent selection and setting an example

We are now the ones setting an example.

What kind of an example does it set to condemn a person, ruin their career and destroy their livelihood over a one sentence mistake, most likely made with no intent to deceive?

In the course of their careers our students will be called upon to display compassion and good judgment.  The best decision may not be the easiest one, or the path of least resistance.  Now is our opportunity.

Gates Foundation struggles to get it right

Anonymous wrote:

"Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Superintendent's resume": 


Gates Foundation Failures:http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gates-education-20160601-snap-story.html "