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UPDATE: The link is gone as of 2010.

Pittsburgh Superintendent Gives Reasons For Closing Schenley - Education News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Superintendent Gives Reasons For Closing Schenley - Education News Story - WPXI PittsburghShortly before noon Monday, Superintendent Mark Roosevelt revealed insight into the current facility conditions of Schenley High School that prompted the district's recommendation to close the facility and relocate its students for the 2008-2009 school year.

Roosevelt said the ventilation system in the school has not operated properly in over a decade. He also said there's plaster cracking and falling, exposing asbestos.

To fix the problems, it would cost the district $64 million. Roosevelt said nothing has been done to the building in 80 years.

The Rev. Ricky Burgess, D, new to council come January 2008, reads this blog. But, Mark Roosevelt doesn't, I guess.

Schenley has a new gym and swim pool. It isn't 80 or 90 years old.

Schenley's windows are just five years old.

Nothing has been done to the building = LIE.

Hell, they just did hundreds of patches. Nothing = LIE.

Meanwhile, there isn't a varsity swim pool at Frick nor the other middle school that will be a high school.

How much has been done at Frick? There is plaster there that is falling down too.

How much has been done to Milliones Middle School? That is what it is.

What has happened at Schenley in the past 80+ years -- the education of our kids.

Now the price is $42-million. We already saved $20-million on the price tag in the past weeks.

Schenley should not be retired. Rather, lie making politicans should retire. At least he should retire the lies, such as the Pittsburgh Promise.

Journalist in Pittsburgh -- how about some follow up questions!

ChrisBrogan's AttentionUpgrade: A Conversation with the commnity about Digital Relationships

Chris B has a new podcast / vcast.

ChrisBrogan's AttentionUpgrade: A Conversation with the commnity about Digital Relationships: "What is this Blog About? Attention Upgrade is a daily (we hope) videoblog about what has Chris Brogan's attention and how it might upgrade your day."

Today is the professor's day on Grant Street

2 Political JunkiesToday is Randy Pausch Day in the City of Pittsburgh

Perhaps the professor can be the guarding angle for Pittsburgh's Youth Technology Summit.

The CMU chair said that the professor is now "off the scene." I know that. We need help from above.

Jazz up your life with a musical remix

Now, for your listening enjoyment, music with a Creative Commons license.

ccMixter Welcome to ccMixter This is a community music site featuring remixes licensed under Creative Commons, where you can listen to, sample, mash-up, or interact with music in whatever way you want.

Boston police plan to search youths' homes for guns - The Boston Globe

Boston police plan to search youths' homes for guns - The Boston Globe Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms.

Another KDKA Radio Show - Sunday evening

Mark Brentley will be appearing on the Chris Moore Show on KDKA Radio (1020 AM) tonight between 6-7 pm TONIGHT (Sunday)! He said that he wants people to call in with their questions and concerns about the Schenley Issue. I believe the number to call during the live show is: 412.333.KDKA

PLEASE CALL WITH ANY QUESTIONS , CONCERNS, OR COMMENTS!!!!!!

Please forward this message on to the Schenley Supporters.

I'm at the Oliver Bath House for an elem school swim practice from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. So, I'm mostly not able to attend.

Schenley High School topic of more letters to the editor in the papers

Letter #1:

The Schenley rush

I agree with your Sunday editorial that there are too many unanswered questions about Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt's rush to close Schenley High School ("School Test: The City's New Round of Reform Comes With Risk," Nov. 11). The most troubling questions are:

Why tear apart the school district's most positive model of integrated, urban education? Why split the Schenley student body into three separate schools? The proposed Hill District school, in particular, will reinforce the de facto segregation that the Schenley community has worked hard to prevent.

Why have the architectural and construction reports never been made public? Even the PG has been quick to assume that the reports accurately justify the Schenley building's demise, but these documents are not available for public scrutiny.

The district wants to combine students from sixth through 12th grades in one building with no plans to ensure their safety. Why are parents expected to accept the district's plan for these 6-12 schools when there are no finalized plans for us to evaluate?

How will high school students be transported to the Reizenstein and Hill District schools? Right now, there are many Port Authority buses that transport our students to Oakland. There are relatively few routes, however, to the two proposed locations. Why has this situation not been addressed and resolved?

We are expected to accept the district's plans without question or debate. Yet this rush to action looks like another Pittsburgh Promise -- an academic theory that does not involve the community or hold up to careful scrutiny. I urge the school board to delay splitting Schenley into three schools. And I demand that the district present us with real answers, not more empty promises.

JOAN STEVENSON Point Breeze

Letter #2 comes from Jen. Jen called into Marty's show Friday (blogged about below.) Her letter ran in the paper today. She is on the front lines in this quest for more info and accountability.

Show us the proof

I would like to clarify some of my remarks to the press over the last few days. I understand remarks need to be pared down for brevity's sake, but in the process my position has been distorted ("A Compromise for Schenley Students?" Nov. 15).

I am concerned that the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the board are pushing through radical reforms including the creation of 6-12 schools, elimination of neighborhood high schools, allowing uncertified and nonunion people to teach (at Milliones), eliminating Schenley and more -- all without fully informing the public and receiving input on the plan.

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt claims he received information eight weeks ago convincing him the situation at Schenley reached emergency status. Why wasn't that information made public? He claims that research shows 6-12 schools improve achievement. Where can the public see that research? He claims painful reform is necessary. I want him to prove to the district's children and parents that the trauma of having your school disbanded and reformed is necessary and preferable change through an open process that encourages community input and buy-in. My 15-year-old could have gotten those documents posted on Facebook in about 10 minutes. Why can't the school board and the district officials share?

I am not anti-reform. I simply want the board and the district to let the public make informed decisions and not waste more taxpayer money on ineffective reforms.

JENNIFER ENGLAND, Greenfield

Comments from Amy via email.

Many thanks to Joan and Jennifer for keeping the issues in everyone's mind. Saturday's Post-Gazette printed both letters to the editor. Joan's very clearly listed the main issues:

1. Why tear apart the school district's most positive model of integrated, urban education? The proposed Hill District school will reinforce the de facto segregation that the Schenley community has worked hard to prevent.

2. Why have the architectural and construction reports never been made public? Even the PG has been quick to assume that the reports accurately justify the Schenley building demise, but these documents are not available for public scrutiny.

3, Why are parents expected to accept the district's plan for 6-12 schools when there are no finalized plans for us to evaluate? (Amy's note: and we can find no documentation that combining these age groups is beneficial; we are still searching. If there are any education people out there who have any research sources on this subject, please let me know)

4. How will the high school students be transported to the new Reizenstein and Hill schools?

Jennifer strongly reinforces the point that we NEED accurate information. And she is so right about Facebook; in this electronic age, there is no excuse for not getting information out to the people concerned in a timely manner.

Another meeting was held today. I could not attend.

We did go to a nice concert today at CAPA. The boys were playing violin with Extreme Strings and Chello Fourte. What a gas.

At the end of the concert, I was not happy to hear all the gushing of thanks for the staff and administration. Sure, the parents got thanked too -- but they don't seem to understand a few important facts. That school is our building. We own it. We operate it. We pay for it. It isn't that of the janitors, the principal nor the superintendent. Certain people get paid -- because we pay them. They are not 'letting us use the building' as the building isn't theirs in the first place. Oh well. I'll rock the boat with another letter another time about that.

Pittsburgh Man Takes 1st At World Series Of Poker Event - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Man Takes 1st At World Series Of Poker Event - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Williams said once he takes care of the taxes, his goals for the winnings are to take the money and put it down on a new condo.

Come Live Over Here! Hope the condo is in the city!

Bloomfield-Garfield group still banks on partnership - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Too bad the Dems didn't nominate a county executive who thinks and acts like this.

Bloomfield-Garfield group still banks on partnership - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review He was introduced to Rick Swartz of Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., which eventually would act as an accountant for Garfield Youth Sports, now funded mostly by state and local grants.

Jones recalled Swartz saying: 'Don't worry about the money. Let's worry about structuring the program, getting some good people. The money will come.'

Rick Swartz could have run for mayor in 2007 and Mark DeSantis could have run for County Executive.

It's Light Up Night. So,.... I'm spreading some cheer. Seems I was a bit busy when this aired a couple of weeks ago.

Jay Leno, The Sex Pistols and Ron Paul!

Ron Paul 2008 › CNN-YouTube Debate Ad Competition

Ron Paul 2008 › CNN-YouTube Debate Ad Competition: "Create a Ron Paul Ad for the CNN/YouTube Debate!"

Institute for Justice, E.D, Rec Center - Less Government, More Jobs and Freedom for Pennsylvanians

Save Our Gym!

Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh — Less Government, More Jobs and Freedom for Pennsylvanians Pittsburgh residents are all too familiar with “eminent domain”, the constitutionally sanctioned practice where governments take private land for legitimate public uses.

Watch the Reason TV show from Drew Carey.

Pro Bono offer to examine Schenley High School was delivered to Mark Roosevelt

They say it will cost $60-million to fix up Schenley High School. They say that Schenley presents safety and asbestos problems. Bigger lies can only be found with the Pittsburgh Promise.

We all know now that the Pittsburgh Promise is a big-fat-hairy lie. Same with Schenley's condition and its value to the region as a high school.

Those reports that flipped the entire high school reform agenda into a crisis condition has NOT been made available to the public for eight weeks.

New news -- a big firm with great experiences and local interests sent a letter to the Superintendent of Pgh Public Schools, Mark Roosevelt, asking for an opportunity to do an evaluation of Schenley in a pro-bono capacity.

What's up with that?

Saving Schenley - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Saving Schenley - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A suggestion to all those supporters of keeping Schenley High School from being razed: Contact PNC Financial Services Group and tell CEO Jim Rohr to return the $48 million in public subsidies PNC got for its Downtown skyscraper to help offset the renovation of the school.

What is his number?

South Side restaurant fights for sidewalk dining

The system is sure to fail when the pump is primed with folly.

Doug Shields said the need for a public hearing about a fence represents a "failure in the system." Bingo!

We could play pin the tail on the failure.

"A business owner needs to know what the heck the landscape is," Shields said.

Here is a hint at the landscape, Mr. Shields. In the world of Bruce Kraus, expect to see the attitude: "To the victor go the spoils."

Furthermore, Kraus will kick up some dust and that dust won't settle -- unless some others come into the scene to clean it up and charge the taxpayers along the way. Kraus will send dozens of do-nothing deals to the legal department, or to consultants, or to advisors, or to task forces, or to some other new growth of municipal government, if not the county and state. We'll see over-reaching without any grip. The process from the new council-member in D3 will be filled with chatter from him, "Mine, mine, mine... When it breaks, the urgently not mine provision kicks in."

Kraus said he expected the city's legal department would review the matter to create a more precise definition of permanence.

South Side restaurant fights for sidewalk dining - Pittsburgh Tribune-ReviewKraus disagrees. He says structures like the Folino's fence bring the bar scene outside into the public space.

Kraus said he wants to change the perception that East Carson Street is just a place where people go to drink.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Blair helping hometown Panthers win

FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Blair helping hometown Panthers win PITTSBURGH - Pitt's enormous 6-7, 275-pound freshman center DeJuan Blair grew up in the Hill District, living in a townhouse right behind the VA Hospital just 200 yards from the Peterson Events Center. He began making himself a local legend just a mile up the road at fabled Schenley High School, where he became the best player the city has produced since Sam Clancy — a 6-7, big-boned clone who went on to become an NFL defensive end — from Fifth Ave. in 1977, leading his prep team to a three-year record of 56-0 in city league play and the PIAA 4A State championship his senior year.

Mark Roosevelt on KDKA Radio with Marty Griffin -- 9 am

I'm going to live blog the KDKA Radio show with Marty Griffin and Mark Roosevelt.

I'm sure that Marty won't have me on the show. I've been emailing him about this topic for a few days and he is not able to reply.

On the teaser, they said that it is just about money. The Pgh Public School District just does NOT have the money. Schenley is too expensive. Well, this is NOT true. Every system in Schenley needs a new system Marty said. Well, the outside is in great shape. The windows are only five years old. The plaster is falling off in a few places. That's all.

The building does NOT need air conditioning. It never had it. Many schools don't have air. So what.

The swim pool and athletic complex at Schenley is just 10 or 15 years old. It is NEW -- with the rest of the building.

Schenley was built 91 years ago. When it opened, it was the best public school building in America. Today it is a classic building that can be fixed.

Plus, it costs $31-million to fix up the other schools. It costs MORE to do the silly plan of Mark Roosevelt.

Last night's vote was to hire consultants. CONSULT WITH US FIRST. Consult with the students, the parents, the citizens, the taxpayers, the customers, the neighborhood groups, the city's educators, the alumni.

---

Marty says no one is screaming about urban education and test scores. Well, Marty would be WRONG. I'm screaming about it. And, I'm on hold. I've been screaming about it.

The implication is that it will take $65M to $85M to fix Schenley. Bull.

Yes, People have mentioned the test scores. Schenley SPARTANS have are one of the best test scores of all PPS Schools. Even the Spartins are tops.

Roosevelt said: No maintance. Everything is original.

Swim pool isn't original.

Windows are not original. Five years old.

Under $45 M says Roosevelt.

Add $6M to annual budget. Have to pay it back.

We have declining enrolement.

Great bones. Great tradition. Honor the sadness of it. Ha.

Eight weeks ago sat with the consultant, Roosevelt said. He didn't release the consultant study. He didn't get a second opinion.

The only ventilation needed is an open window.

Schenley isn't Peabody, Marty! We are fired up about test scores.

We are doing it because the building is collapsing. That isn't the intention. That is the crisis.

The protest is here -- Marty. You don't see it. Treat it as a crisis. It is 'hard work.'

Homework is a part of LIFE, so said Mr. Roosevelt. Well, Mr. Roosevelt has NOT done his homework. He is selling this as a done deal without the homework being delivered to the community.

Marty is talking on and on about Peabody. Well, let's talk about Peabody. Mr. Roosevelt isn't under fire for Peabody. He is under fire for Schenley and the Rightsizing plan, the K-8 that just began and are proven to be broken -- and are being changed again -- and Schenley, Frick, I.B., Reisenstein rehab, Board of Ed building not going for sale, lack of Vo Tech School, moving 6, 7, and 8 into 9-12 settings, moving 6th graders to downtown, putting school buses downtown, etc.

Marty, it would be great to talk about the "Drop Out Factories." That is being missed by Mark Roosevelt now. We are clueless as to what he plans on doing about any of those schools.

With this plan, there could be a way to make the new, proposed Science and Technology school to move within WESTINGHOUSE. But, he isn't doing that. He is blowing an opportunity to make great things come of the poorest performing schools where there were recent rehabs.

I was clicked off the air.

The building has NEW WINDOWS. The building has recently new athletic facilities. They just said that the building was all in its original state! LIES.

I said on the air that the students have to do their homework -- and that the Administration needs to do its homework.

Click.... Marty knocked me off the air and said, "He's gone."

Then he took another call. Mr. Roosevelt had nothing to say about his recent on-air lie.

There NEVER was a 'ventalation system.' It was steam heat and windows. The ceilings are big. The halls are big. Stairwells are everywhere. You don't want to put in a ventalation system.

This "homework" needs to be done and revealed in the conversation.

Call in: 412 333 5352 (KDKA)

Face Facts says Marty Griffin. The consultants have been hired to spend more money. Not to coach the board members. The voters have spoken and the two lame duck board members are changing the history of the district.

Lie again Marty. He says disgusting. Look in the mirror. The aim of the consultants isn't what the radio host talks about on the air.

Marty says, "God bless the kids at Peabody." That 11% of anything is a failure. Seriously. Expand that to an entire high school. Our future rests in these numbers. Marty does put a lot of 'weight' on the school issue. But, he misses the point. Schools matter. Schools matter more than Grant Street.

Caller: Ed, 58 SHS grad. Taxed to the max. Says close SHS. $64M is 64-M reasons to close it. If you want to fix public education, go to vouchers. Send more to private/catholic schools. He was a tutor at Milliones in the past. A few kids can hurt the rest.

Marty would like to start the conversation, so he says. But, he sustains the lie. He doesn't dig into the specifics. I'm not sure who is worse, the media and Marty Griffin or the administration and Mark Roosevelt. The watchdog is barking at the wrong things. The man with the purse strings is spending more money in the wrong directions.

Next caller: Matt, Thank goodness for the option of going to private schools. Spent retirement money of grandma to cover Catholic Schools. Some of this starts at home.

Peabody Principal is on the line.... Stand by....

Sixty plus percent of the students are African American.

John, Principal at Peabody, joins the show. I can tell you one thing. The teachers and community are all united. We are facing the issue head on. We aim to increase the test scores. There are some things that the superintendents put in place to help me. Change is a process, not an event. The support has come from the community.

MG: I don't belive it.

Parents have issues. The community has a wealth of support services. Trying to meet the social needs prior to giving a quality education.

There are external issues. And then there is what we do with them when we have them.

Marty gripes on parents.

Principal is a parent too. We try to help the parents understand and support. Have a homework time. Parents are not the only issue.

We have a mulit-pronged approach, especially in the math.

When they come to us they have a double block of math for 9th grade students. They have a double block to work on English. The test is about meeting certain standards. They are not at the level that the state wants them at that time.

That # is disastrous.

Why are we seeing all the yelling and screaming about the physical building?

Principal: I'm open with PSCC meetings. We move the meetings. We have events. We interact. See the building. We see that these are good kids and we are there to help. The outrage is there. I'm feeling it. I'm pushing the teachers. We have Pitt folks to work with the teachers. Tailor needs. Individualize. We are looking at the scores. We are working on the teaching.

You know the vibe in Pgh. I'm sending my kid to private school. How to overcome that?

Events that invite the public. Symphony. Interact in the building. Education is an issue that goes beyond the school walls. (Schenley is beyond the school walls joy.)

Wants a magic wand. Suspensions have decreased. We are making changes when the 9th grade reaches the 11th grade.

Marty will use Peabody as our petri dish.

Hang with me.... Labor agreement that is going to blow your mind. Marty's mind is blow, fur shore.

Jennifer E is on the show.

Parents are not against reform. Parents want to know about the reform that is being placed on them. The district average is 44%.

There is no proof from Mark Roosevelt.

He got that info 8 weeks ago. He didn't put that info out on a desk for others to see it. No public venting.

Show me something that 6 to 12 is going to work.

Thanks for caring, comes from Marty.

I'm glad I pinged Jen and got her to call into the show. And, I'm glad she hung on the phone to talk to Marty. Now Marty wants her info for later discussions. Jen was quoted in the P-G today. BTW, Jen and I co-taught at BootCamp about net and politics.

Expert, Female guest, a "Doctor": Attendance is up from Westinghouse. Marty's data is wrong. Schools start at 8 am, not 7:30. We can't ignore student achievement. Society is ignoring the crisis. It is a team effort.

Well, a team effort -- needs to have an open playbook.

She said she could fill two pages of notes. Let's not just blame.

Are the parents blowing it off? -- Absolutely not.

We need to create a culture where we need to educate the parent and the student. Mom and Dad have to buy in or nobody succeed. But we have to educate the parents and the kids. It is say, says Marty. But it isn't sad said the expert.

Rumblings that they can close Westinghouse. ?? I'm an educator. I'll fight for the students as their safety is a concern.

Promise me one thing... Encourage more school visits. Everyone is open to visit Westinghouse to see learning is occurring.

60-second radio ad

Comment at the YouTube site, if you wish.

Ethics Hearing Board replies with 3 letter from George R. Specter to me, Mark Rauterkus

Letters are dated November 14, 2007. There are three of them.

Dear Mr. Rauterkus:

I am writing to you in response to the Complaint which you have filed with the City of Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board against Bruce Kraus. As you know, the Pittsburgh Ethics Code vests the City Solicitor with the initial duty of conducting a preliminary inquiry into the validity of the Complaint. If that preliminary inquiry fails to establish reason to believe that the City provisions have been violated, the Solicitor is to terminate the inquiry and so notify the complainant, the subject of the complaint and the Board.

Accordingly, please accept this letter as official notice that your Complaint against Mr. Kraus is being dismissed for the following reasons:

Lack of jurisdiciton. The Ethics Hearing Board has jurisdiction to hear Complaints alleging violations of the City Ethics provisions. The City Ethics Code is applicable to City officials and City employees. Because Mr. Kraus is not a City employee, the Board lacks jurisdiction to hear a complaint against him.

Prematurity: Your Complaint alleges wrongdoing which has not yet occurred, and many never occur. Therefore it must be dismissed on the grounds of prematurity.

On behalf of the Board, I think you for your interest in the City's Ethics Code.

Sincerely, George R. Specter, City Solicitor

---

So, this letter tells that the City Ethics Hearing Board will do nothing about a candidate for office in a race for a position in the city.

And, the letter tells us that the City's Ethics Hearing Board is not going to be proactive.

Dear Mr. Rauterkus:

I am writing to you in response to the Complaint which you have filed with the City of Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board against Michael Lamb. As you know, the Pittsburgh Ethics Code vests the City Solicitor with the initial duty of conducting a preliminary inquiry into the validity of the Complaint. If that preliminary inquiry fails to establish reason to believe that the City provisions have been violated, the Solicitor is to terminate the inquiry and so notify the complainant, the subject of the complaint and the Board.

Accordingly, please accept this letter as official notice that your Complaint against Mr. Lamb is being dismissed for the following reasons:

Lack of jurisdiciton. The Ethics Hearing Board has jurisdiction to hear Complaints alleging violations of the City Ethics provisions. The City Ethics Code is applicable to City officials and City employees. Because Mr. Lamb is not a City employee, the Board lacks jurisdiction to hear a complaint against him.

Prematurity: Your Complaint alleges wrongdoing which has not yet occurred, and many never occur. Therefore it must be dismissed on the grounds of prematurity.

On behalf of the Board, I think you for your interest in the City's Ethics Code.

Sincerely, George R. Specter, City Solicitor

Then the third letter.

---

Dear Mr. Rauterkus:

I am writing to you in response to the Complaint which you have filed with the City of Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board against the Ethics Hearing Board. As you know, the Pittsburgh Ethics Code vests the City Solicitor with the initial duty of conducting a preliminary inquiry into the validity of the Complaint. If that preliminary inquiry fails to establish reason to believe that the City provisions have been violated, the Solicitor is to terminate the inquiry and so notify the complainant, the subject of the complaint and the Board.

Accordingly, please accept this letter as official notice that your Complaint against the Ethics Hearing Boards is being dismissed for the following reasons:

Your Complaint alleges that the City's Ethics Code is itself unethical insofar as it requires that Complaints be kept confidential. The Code rpovision to which you refer was enacted by City Council in 1990. Though the Board can request changes to the City Ethics Code, the Board has no authority to change the Code without Council approval.

A Complaint to the Board is an inappropriate forum for your challenge. Unless and until it is changed by Council, the Board intends to abide by the law as it is written.

On behalf of the Board, I think you for your interest in the City's Ethics Code.