Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Fedko's Skylights has an upload button -- but it isn't working for me
High School Sports - Carlynton A page exists at WPXI and Fedko to allow for the posting of photos and videos for Carlynton. The buttons do not work for me, today. But, here is a photo.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sports, Lies and Videotapes
At the August 21st school board meeting, Carlynton school board directors agreed to circulate to the public and interested groups all proposed facilities use policy changes prior to any board discussion and vote.
But once again, without notice to the public, the board pushed through a new policy at the very next meeting on Sept. 4.
Once again, the administration told the public there was no scheduled vote on the policy and no publicly available documents for review prior to the meeting.
Once again the board ignored the public's previous input on what would be best for the kids.
Once again, they misled the public about their intentions.
Once again, they slap outrageous rents to parent-run and funded sports clubs that go below 85% Carlynton residents or a $200/year fee to non-resident kids participating in those clubs, whichever is greater.
And once again, they patted themselves on the back for "being fair to the taxpayers".
Oh, and they exempted from the new policy their pet programs that have few if any Carlynton kids.
Apparently, use of facilities by resident sports programs without paying outrageous fees is unfair to district residents, but use of the same facilities by non-sports group for free is totally fair to everyone.
That's the ill-logic of Brown, Schirippa, DiPietro, McCartney, Wolkowiak and Hughans.
Relive the entire assault on the democratic process perpetrated by Carlynton's own Gang of Six with the the only publicly available video of the events:
But once again, without notice to the public, the board pushed through a new policy at the very next meeting on Sept. 4.
Once again, the administration told the public there was no scheduled vote on the policy and no publicly available documents for review prior to the meeting.
Once again the board ignored the public's previous input on what would be best for the kids.
Once again, they misled the public about their intentions.
Once again, they slap outrageous rents to parent-run and funded sports clubs that go below 85% Carlynton residents or a $200/year fee to non-resident kids participating in those clubs, whichever is greater.
And once again, they patted themselves on the back for "being fair to the taxpayers".
Oh, and they exempted from the new policy their pet programs that have few if any Carlynton kids.
Apparently, use of facilities by resident sports programs without paying outrageous fees is unfair to district residents, but use of the same facilities by non-sports group for free is totally fair to everyone.
That's the ill-logic of Brown, Schirippa, DiPietro, McCartney, Wolkowiak and Hughans.
Relive the entire assault on the democratic process perpetrated by Carlynton's own Gang of Six with the the only publicly available video of the events:
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Carnegie Teenager Killed In Car Crash - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh
Bad news.
Carnegie Teenager Killed In Car Crash - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh Family and friends mourn the death of a Carlynton High School senior who died in a car crash Labor Day.
Alyssa Boff, 17, was well known for her involvement in color guard and plays.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Parents Speak Out En Mass
At the August 21, 2008 Carlynton School Board meeting, about 50 parents appeared to express their displeasure at the new policy and the directors who thrust it upon the public.
In Part 1 ( http://blip.tv/file/1197712), Director Sharon Wilson expresses her disappointment at the new policy and the negative impact it has had on the Carlynton Community already.
In Part 2 ( http://blip.tv/file/1198858), the directors discuss the policy. Some admit that the policy that they voted in favor for was not the policy they intended to impose on the people. They express an openness to revising some of the components.
In Part 3 ( http://blip.tv/file/1199491), angry parents express their displeasure with the directors and tell of the detrimental effect this policy has had on youth sports, including:
o disbanding of some programs
o increased fees for residents
o increased volunteer requirements for resident parents
o house sales falling through
o loss of business sponsorship for Carlynton clubs
In the end, the only thing the directors agreed to was to revoke the $100/quarter non-resident fee IF a group falls below 90% and must pay rent. They agreed to reconsider further amendments at a future meeting and allow the public time to comment on any proposed changes prior to any vote.
Finally, a piece of democracy in action!
In Part 1 ( http://blip.tv/file/1197712), Director Sharon Wilson expresses her disappointment at the new policy and the negative impact it has had on the Carlynton Community already.
In Part 2 ( http://blip.tv/file/1198858), the directors discuss the policy. Some admit that the policy that they voted in favor for was not the policy they intended to impose on the people. They express an openness to revising some of the components.
In Part 3 ( http://blip.tv/file/1199491), angry parents express their displeasure with the directors and tell of the detrimental effect this policy has had on youth sports, including:
o disbanding of some programs
o increased fees for residents
o increased volunteer requirements for resident parents
o house sales falling through
o loss of business sponsorship for Carlynton clubs
In the end, the only thing the directors agreed to was to revoke the $100/quarter non-resident fee IF a group falls below 90% and must pay rent. They agreed to reconsider further amendments at a future meeting and allow the public time to comment on any proposed changes prior to any vote.
Finally, a piece of democracy in action!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
One director tells us how it is.....
“To think that limiting the debate on the issue would have somehow changed the outcome of the board’s vote is wrong.”
So says Carlynton director Patty Schirripa in a statement she circulated regarding her decision to push through the new facilities policy.
That's right - with less than 12 hours notice to the other directors, little board discussion, no public review or discussion, an absent director, and the overriding of standard board policies and procedures, Mrs. Schirripa is certain the outcome of the vote would have been no different than if the board had followed its usual procedures.
Does she know something we don't?
Read her entire statement here:
http://fixpa.wikia.com/wiki/Response_to_Schirripa_Message
Just be aware that it is filled with new misinformation.
Are we not surprised?
So says Carlynton director Patty Schirripa in a statement she circulated regarding her decision to push through the new facilities policy.
That's right - with less than 12 hours notice to the other directors, little board discussion, no public review or discussion, an absent director, and the overriding of standard board policies and procedures, Mrs. Schirripa is certain the outcome of the vote would have been no different than if the board had followed its usual procedures.
Does she know something we don't?
Read her entire statement here:
http://fixpa.wikia.com/wiki/Response_to_Schirripa_Message
Just be aware that it is filled with new misinformation.
Are we not surprised?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
"Gouge thy neighbor": Resident and parent tells it how it is!
The author sent this to me. It appeared in the Signal Item.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears -- or rather your jeers for Carlynton school board members Tom Brown, Patty Schirripa, Tom DiPietro, Sandra Hughans and Ray Wolkowiak, who railroaded through a new facilities policy without letting the public -- or their fellow board members -- know what they were planning to do. Why the secrecy and the hurry? Why did they ram this policy down the throats of residents when all groups affected by the policy repeatedly and publicly stated it would hurt them and, more importantly, the kids of this district?
The new policy charges parent-run clubs thousands of dollars in "rent" for admitting more than 10% non-residents AND charges those out-of-district kids $100/quarter to play sports with our kids. Don't be fooled by the public "spin" the directors fed this and other newspapers. This is not "cost recovery" or "paying for wear and tear". It's highway robbery aimed at getting rid of non-residents from our sports clubs. If "being fair to district taxpayers" is really their motive, why does the new policy target only sports clubs and not all clubs?
Here in Carlynton it's not "Love thy neighbor" but rather "Gouge thy neighbor". Take a look at the district's budget - our 15,500 residents spend $1.8 million a year to operate and maintain all our facilities. Do the math - we pay less than $120 a year for facilities to provide our children with an education and after school activities. Yet, these directors think it's "fair" to charge our kids' friends $400 a year to play sports with them a few hours a week?
The directors are right about one thing - we do need to charge people not contributing to our tax base a fee for using our facilities. But that fee needs to be both fair to district taxpayers and reasonable. That way, the district can recover some costs while not turning people away in disgust or, worse, revenge. The Carlynton gymnastics team uses Montour's facilities because Carlyton has none. Hopefully, Montour won't turn around and charge our team over-priced rent PLUS $100 per quarter per gymnast to use their facilities.
We tell our children to share. Why can't the people we elect to represent us do the same? Apparently, everything these five directors needed to know they didn't learn in kindergarten. Send them to the principal's office, or better yet, out of office come election time.
Kathy Fisher
Carnegie
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears -- or rather your jeers for Carlynton school board members Tom Brown, Patty Schirripa, Tom DiPietro, Sandra Hughans and Ray Wolkowiak, who railroaded through a new facilities policy without letting the public -- or their fellow board members -- know what they were planning to do. Why the secrecy and the hurry? Why did they ram this policy down the throats of residents when all groups affected by the policy repeatedly and publicly stated it would hurt them and, more importantly, the kids of this district?
The new policy charges parent-run clubs thousands of dollars in "rent" for admitting more than 10% non-residents AND charges those out-of-district kids $100/quarter to play sports with our kids. Don't be fooled by the public "spin" the directors fed this and other newspapers. This is not "cost recovery" or "paying for wear and tear". It's highway robbery aimed at getting rid of non-residents from our sports clubs. If "being fair to district taxpayers" is really their motive, why does the new policy target only sports clubs and not all clubs?
Here in Carlynton it's not "Love thy neighbor" but rather "Gouge thy neighbor". Take a look at the district's budget - our 15,500 residents spend $1.8 million a year to operate and maintain all our facilities. Do the math - we pay less than $120 a year for facilities to provide our children with an education and after school activities. Yet, these directors think it's "fair" to charge our kids' friends $400 a year to play sports with them a few hours a week?
The directors are right about one thing - we do need to charge people not contributing to our tax base a fee for using our facilities. But that fee needs to be both fair to district taxpayers and reasonable. That way, the district can recover some costs while not turning people away in disgust or, worse, revenge. The Carlynton gymnastics team uses Montour's facilities because Carlyton has none. Hopefully, Montour won't turn around and charge our team over-priced rent PLUS $100 per quarter per gymnast to use their facilities.
We tell our children to share. Why can't the people we elect to represent us do the same? Apparently, everything these five directors needed to know they didn't learn in kindergarten. Send them to the principal's office, or better yet, out of office come election time.
Kathy Fisher
Carnegie
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