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Promise, spend, don't deliver. Make excuse. Pledge more spending. (nuts)

kBruce Kraus offers up another great spending quote:

Computerized city road paving plan going slowly 'I'm not certain that we're putting enough money into doing this,' said Councilman Bruce Kraus. He said some comparable cities have invested $300,000 in systems designed to ensure that paving decisions are made objectively. 'I want everything to be above board, and determined by need, rather than anything else.'

This should be open source software. That's what I'd do.

The city should not be spending any money on closed software solutions. None.

Furthermore, they toss around the 'transparent' word frequently. Prove to the citizens that the spending on the system is not up to snuff. Where is the system? What 200 miles of roads are in there? Where's there in the first place.

Welcome to 2008.

By the way, if Bruce wants to spend some money -- how about if he just hires himself to be a traffic cop on the city side of the Birmingham Bridge, the broken, one-lane bridge. Then he can insure that the traffic on East Carson Street flows.

kdka.com Blogs - Pyrite Age turns to Toe Jam Era

There is a KDKA TV News blog. Wow.

kdka.com Blogs Toe Jammed - Posted by jonesy

Seriously, how long does it take?

7-months ago I crushed my toe.

Too bad the graphic isn't show in a larger frame.

Off-duty officer wounds bystander, faces charges after fight

Off-duty officer wounds bystander, faces charges after fight'The gentleman who was in the physical altercation (with the officer) is an innocent victim as far as we can tell. He was just walking,' Chief Harper said.

I knew it would be a 5-4 vote -- but there were switches

I just watched the Pgh Public Schools board meeting from this week. The Schenley High School topic was part of the agenda.

Weird.

I had hoped to see Heather Arnet vote to KEEP Schenley High School. She didn't. She sided with Mark Roosevelt and the administration.

On the other side, I figured that Tom Sumpter would vote to allow for the closing of Schenley. He didn't. He was with the other black members on the board -- all voting to keep Schenley.

This could have been 5-4 the other way -- since Tom Sumpter voted to retain the school.

NBC offers wide online access for Beijing - SI.com - Olympics

NBC offers wide online access for Beijing - SI.com - Olympics NBC is making more than 2,200 hours of live competition from Beijing available online, giving Olympic junkies more action than they could ever devour in a day.

After barely tipping its toe in the digital world during past Olympics, the network will dive into the deep end: live blogging, 3,000 hours of highlights on demand, daily recaps and analysis and even fantasy league gaming. That's in addition to the 1,400 hours of coverage planned on six television networks, more than the combined total of every previous Summer Olympics.

City Worried About Losing Money If Casino Work Stops - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

It is not too late to turn over the Pittsburgh Convention Center to Don Barden. He could open the slots parlor there. Then finish the building of the other location in due time.

Pittsburgh could have killed two birds with the same stone by doing this sooner. We'd be with the new income since the end of the All Star Game fan fest.

City Worried About Losing Money If Casino Work Stops - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: "A $780 million Majestic Star Casino is projected to be a sparkling new economic generator for the Pittsburgh region, but there are new questions about funding.

Owner Don Barden has until Monday to come up with $10 million for the contractors who are building his casino on the North Shore. If the payment is missed, work could stop or slow down, and the city would suffer financially."

Why we fight for Schenley

Why we fight for Schenley Last fall, the superintendent's office stepped on a hornet's nest when it proposed the end of historic Schenley High School. While I won't address the achievement gap or renovation costs -- wonks on both sides have debated these to death -- I'd like to explain, or try to, the zealotry with which we're dealing.

Schenley is a blended school community. Schenley should not be flushed down the toilet, and lost for the future of this city, because some fibers are buried in some of the walls.

The killer: Roosevelt's reform says deform what isn't broken.

Read the editorial.

City-county merger meeting to be held

City-county merger meeting to be held Council received a citizens' petition yesterday calling for the hearing, and deemed the signatures valid. The drive's organizer was John Singleton of Sheraden, and most of those signing the petition were from the city's western neighborhoods.

I signed this petition. Great work John.

John went to the public hearing and also ranted about the closing of Schenley High School.

Cathedral of Learning falcon dies after collision

Cathedral of Learning falcon dies after collision A young peregrine falcon, banded last month atop the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland, died yesterday when it slammed into a Rand Building window and broke its neck.

At least it wasn't killed at 11:30 pm from crossfire from patrons from the "O."

Merger of CAPA and Rodgers is so typical and not what we should do

Roids -- make you go bald -- #12 used em too

Bradshaw Admits To Using Steroids, so says WPXI.com.

Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw told a reporter he used steroids and
that a doctor administered the injections. VIDEO: Former Steeler LC Greenwood Comments On Steroids

http://www.wpxi.com/tu/5yP5S1OpX.html

P-G coverag of last nights meetings -- part 2 -- Parents were told to leave the building!

Schenley No. 1 topic at meeting
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A leader of the Save Schenley movement last night made a last-ditch appeal to save the Pittsburgh Schenley High School building, but Pittsburgh Public Schools officials again insisted the structure isn't safe.

Okay -- for the sake of discussion -- let's say Schenley isn't safe today. Then what? I was pleased to hear the questions that came from Mrs. Hazuda about fixing Schenley. The fact that Schenley isn't safe is one thing. But, none within the administration are trying to fix it. She wanted to know how it could be done to make Schenley safe into the future. Good questions. But they were not interested. They said -- well, you know, you've got to get building permits to do that. Like building permits are a deal breaker.

Board member Theresa Colaizzi, angry that Mr. Lardas was given time to speak, stalked from the room and returned after he had finished.

Childish, to say the least.

Mr. Lardas said the reports, commissioned by the district, show that the building remains safe for students and that there's no widespread collapse of asbestos-containing plaster. But district officials said the architects and engineers repeatedly have told them that the district no longer can risk exposing students and staff to asbestos.

Mr. Roosevelt and Paul Gill, the district's chief operations officer, said the qualifications of their industrial hygienists and other experts trumped those of Mr. Lardas, a civil engineer and contractor.

"He's not an expert in this field," Mr. Roosevelt said.

Aim arrow. Shoot messenger. Great for you Mr. Roosevelt.

The asbestos in the walls isn't going anywhere. It does not make a danger.

Board members Mark Brentley Sr. and Randall Taylor assailed Education Committee Chairman Thomas Sumpter, who presided at the workshop, for using the first 90 minutes to list and rank members' concerns about improving the district's high schools.

The pair wanted to spend the time asking administrators about Schenley and other high-school issues up for a vote tomorrow.

"What kind of game are we playing here?" Mr. Brentley said.

Mr. Taylor said the listing and ranking of concerns on large sheets of paper was a "filibuster" designed to prevent discussion of controversial issues. When Mr. Sumpter asked him to rank the concerns written on the sheets, Mr. Taylor said, "Hand me a couple of darts, and I'll throw them over there."

Mr. Sumpter said the board was divided into "two camps" on Schenley. He said some of his colleagues didn't understand that the workshop was intended to be an exercise in policy analysis, not a "rabble-rousing" session or forum for discussing Schenley exclusively.

Before the workshop, about six parents and other supporters held a news conference outside district offices to protest the proposed merger of the middle-grade and high-school arts schools. Among other complaints, the group said there wouldn't be enough space in the Downtown building to accommodate both schools.

Because of rain, the group tried to meet inside board offices but were told to leave.
Joe Smydo can be reached at jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.

Nothing is more telling than that. Parents were told to leave!

Schenley asbestos findings challenged by residents - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

I went to this meeting last night. It started at 6 pm and ended past 10 pm. I've got a lot to say.

We witnessed the worse of the worse. I would have rather have been in a dentist chair than see the behavior of the school board and the top school administrators. It was painful. They got to think out loud and some of them should never do that in public.

Last night Tom Sumptner, elected school board memeber, was the captain. He took charge of the microphone, standing, writing on the big post-it notes, and proved next to nothing except how folly should unfold.

The school board and superintendent spent hours in fruitless discussion so as to rearange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

The highlight of the meeting was a mini presentation from fellow parent, Nick Lardis. He went 100-miles an hour to knock the school districts spin silly only to have board president Bill Isler ask if Lardis was a certified engineer. They all shot the messenger -- missing the message.

I should be clear to qualify both Isler and Sumpter as "outgoing elected school board members" because their present terms are so soiled that they'll never win re-election again.

Schenley asbestos findings challenged by residents - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Schenley asbestos findings challenged by district residents
By Bill Zlatos, TRIBUNE-REVIEW, Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Supporters of Schenley High School disagreed Monday night with officials of Pittsburgh Public Schools over the danger of asbestos in the building.

"Now, from everything I've seen in the reports and from what I know about plaster and asbestos, the building is as safe as any other Pittsburgh public school for students to be in," said Nick Lardas, 53, of Oakland.

Lardas, who runs a contracting company that specializes in historical renovation, made the comment during the school board's workshop on high school reform.

His qualifications were immediately challenged by district officials.

"Were I to hire you to tell us about asbestos at Schenley, I should be fired," said chief operations officer Paul Gill.

Gill said the district has received four reports from architectural firms stressing the risk of asbestos-containing plaster at the landmark high school in Oakland.

He said the majority of plaster samples in Schenley show levels of about 3 percent asbestos, with some as high as 7 percent. The safety threshold is 1 percent asbestos.

The school board is scheduled to vote Wednesday night on a recommendation by Superintendent Mark Roosevelt to close the school because of that risk and the estimated $76.2 million cost to overhaul the school.

"Mr. Lardas is a reputable contractor," Roosevelt said. "He is not an expert in the (asbestos) field."

Citing advice from the architects and Solicitor Ira Weiss, Roosevelt added, "It is inconceivable to me that we would be discussing to have students in the building."

Before yesterday's meeting, the Task Force for Excellence in Education at CAPA -- a parents' group -- held a news conference to discuss its opposition to the proposed merger of Rogers Middle School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Garfield with the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Downtown.

"It's just not a matter of packing it up and bringing it over," said Linda Doernberg, 58, of Point Breeze. She has four daughters who went to the Pittsburgh High School CAPA, three of whom went to Rogers.

Parents raised concerns about possibly cramming students into rooms, greater wear on facilities and equipment, safety and the teacher-student ratio.

Doernberg complained that a feasibility committee met just once on the merger. The school board is scheduled to vote next month.

Bill Zlatos can be reached at bzlatos@tribweb.com or 412-320-7828.

The superintendent, the attorney, Ira Weiss, Mr. Gill of the facilities side are reading from The Old Testament. Over and over and over again we've heard about the things in the past. Roosevelt calls names and dwells on things that happened last summer, last fall, last reports, last decade, last superintendent. He is Mr. Rear-View Mirror.

The board of the school district listed dozens of serious issues about how the district is failing to meet its established goals, and Mr. Roosevelt is only about to whine about how this is the cost of doing business in this city.

The engagement sucks. Mr. Lartis got the microphone and another outgoing elected school board member, Theresa Colazzi, stormed out of the room, fearing that her mind might be opened, beyond her control.

Mr. Roosevelt wants his "high school reform" to "meet the kids where they are." Somehow, he thinks boutique schools are going to accomplish that mission for the district. Pittsburgh is just bursting at the seams with 5th graders who are itching to get into a Science and Technology focused career path. Or, I.B. Or, with 2 hours of violin a day for the next seven years when you can't change majors, or University Prep.

If there is anyone in the world with fewer credentials of meeting kids in Pittsburgh "where they are," beyond Mr. Roosevelt, they must live in Antarctica.

Just for the record for those who were there. I want our kids to graduate. Yes, it is important to graduate, school board -- as that was debated a bit. And the PPS experience should aim to make lifelong learners from its students. The classroom lessons should put a value on critical thinking. The kids need to know how to better oneself, and that should be done in association with our schools -- with engagement.

Presently, the school board and the district is nothing but a waste of time and money, as proven last night in spade.

Kids drop out. Families leave. They say the district in in declining enrollment. But they don't see themselves as the cause of that poor performance nor the outward migration of the city's residents.

It is ironic how they worry about the 'big picture' and about being 'open minded' but then storm out of meetings when a different perspective comes. They can't even add numbers nor keep time.

It took 2-hours into the meeting to the point where it should have started. No wonder the principal at Oliver can't execute a school year for seniors. They don't value time nor know how to manage it.

Reform for them sounds like "de-form" for the city.

To reform, one needs to see what is before us at present. Then chart a course for the future based upon where we are now. Mr. Roosevelt said staging the reform agenda is the hardest part of the process for him. Of course it is because he is lost on the course as to where we are today. He can't meet the kids where they are. He can't meet the citizens where they are. He can't stage a series of changes that make sense as he is clueless on what has been unfolding in this district the past years. And, he's been her for three years as well. He has no excuse.

These "Schenley supporters" who don't listen are really just city taxpayers, parents, and experts that can't be purchased. My opinion, as a parent and connected person of the community, can't be bought. I'm not for sale. My report is not able to be hired.

Only a fool like Roosevelt would stand behind experts and think that the opposition won't understand that experts can craft the reports that the one's paying the bills want them to generate.

The out of town experts are meaningless when contrasted with the un-paid, in-town, insulted yet still in your face, parents and students who pay for these schools and still show up in them day after day.

When we go away, there will be nobody to attend his boutique schools. And, many are tugging at us to just go away and allow for the collapse of the city and the school district.

When does the lesson on 'fight or flight' get taught in the science and tech lesson plans?

The fight rages on. We will win because they proved, last night, again, that they are clueless and without logic.

The building at Schenley has troubles. We understand that. Fix it. Fix it when the kids are not there.

Now we are hearing that the building was a danger and yadda, yadda, yadda -- go talk to the solictor and read from the Old Testament again. That's a rear-view mirror approach. Fix it.

Moving to the four other schools costs more. It is more expensive to not just fix it.

The asbestos that is in Schenley is just like that of the other buildings in the district. It needs to be managed. Manage it. Do the job that needs to be done. And, be honest about it.

We don't want our kids to be in a dangerous building. And, we don't want to be paying for a palace either. But most of all, we don't want to put our kids in failed buildings that cost plenty for the short term and have no upside with those investements.

We don't want to toss good money, rare money, down the drain in Reizenstein. Sell Reizenstein. That wasn't mentioned once last night. There is no plan for the long-term home for the I.B. students and the middle school ISA (Internation Studies Students).

A committee without names, without budgets and without a track record of getting anything done in the spirit of engagement in PPS, does not make for a plan.

Finally, around 10 pm last night, Randall Taylor, elected school board member, talked about some of his plans. His plans save millions of dollars. Perhaps up to $15 million in a two year period and millions each year for the future as well.

Furthermore, the Taylor plan saves good schools and helps to boost lagging schools.

Furthermore, not another board member said a peep about what he delivered.

Furthermore, there was not even a peep from the Administration about Tayor's plan. The only grunts from our paid administration was clarification that the solutions would fit and would save millions.

But, that came at the very end.

Randall Taylor's plan is to move Robotics from Schenley into Peabody. That is already happening with the Roosevelt High School Reform efforts. Plus, Taylor wants to move all the rest of Schenley's students, I.B., Spartans, ESL, etc., as well as all the faculty, staff and support people too -- into Peabody High School. Everyone in the school would go together into Peabody and join with those at Peabody now.

Peabody is a big, rehabed, building that is way under capacity. And, Peabody has the space.

Moving into Peabody means Reizenstein, presently closed, could be sold. No short term money is needed there for a temporary solution.

Moving into Peabody means that Frick does not need to change. That saves $14-million.

Moving into Peabody means that Milliones does not need to be set up as is under the present plan.

Furthermore, Taylor wants to see the extra two floors that have been purchased at CAPA be devoted to high school students. Expand the high school component there. Don't move the middle school to CAPA.

The Peabody + Schenley School gets I.B. as well as a mix of other disciplines, as a blended high school experience in an accessible space.

Plus, the science and technology programs gets into Westinghouse High School.

The closed Knoxville School -- opens with a petition?

Some attendees said they would like to see Knoxville Middle School reopened in the summer as a recreational site. The school, which closed in 2007, has a gymnasium, auditorium, swimming pool, playground, and basketball courts that would keep children off the street, said the attendees.

Mr. Kraus told them to get a signed petition and take it to the school board, and he would back them.

There's a plan.

CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger"

CAPA Parents Voice Concern Of Possible School Merger
Parents Feel Decision Overshadowed By Schenley Controversy

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- CAPA High parents spoke out against a plan that would merge the schools their children attend on Monday night.

The proposal calls for the merging CAPA and Rogers CAPA.

Parents said the plan has not received a lot of attention because of the decision to close Schenley High School.

Linda Doernberg is a chairwoman of the Task Force for Excellence and has children that graduated from both schools.

Doernberg voiced her concern about the priority of the possible merger and said, "Shockingly there has been one meeting of the feasibility committee for this merger and it was held on June 11...one meeting."

Opponents said the merge does not make sense financially.

They said if both schools merge, the academic credibility of its staff will decline.

CAPA is not a 'clown car.' I love that sign. I had the photo on this blog weeks ago.

I've been talking about CAPA and Rodgers for many months.

CAPA is a good high school. It is the best in the district with academics. The best should be expanded, if not replicated. The district should expand and allow more students into CAPA, given the extra two floors. Keep CAPA as a school that ranges from 9-12th grade.

Don't put kids in grades 6, 7 and 8 into CAPA. Don't short-change the middle-school experience by cutting out their access to stage space. Don't put yellow school buses on downtown streets. Rodgers is a good school. It should be replicated, not jammed into downtown spaces.

SAVE MONEY. Keep it where it is for now.

First meeting of the Campaign for Liberty: 7 pm on June 26, 2008

I'd like to invite you all to the first meeting of the Campaign for Liberty. The mission statement can be found here: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/mission/

Details regarding the meeting can be found here:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/97/calendar/8170348/

I'd like to see this group as a network of activist networks, building on the meetings begun last year at Tom K's house, with the Libertarian party, Constitution party, Republican Assembly, Second Amendment groups, etc. all communicating and cooperating on the liberty activist front.

Ideally, we will go over the agenda items for CfL, then each group represented should be able to go over their current slate of activities (ie: LP-Barr's and CP-Baldwin's presidential campaigns, anti REAL-ID, voting system audits, etc). Afterwards, I'd like to break up into discussion/planning groups, and people looking to get active can choose which projects to work on.

We should have computers, wireless access and printers available.

Whether you are just looking for information on the liberty agenda or interested getting active, this should be one of the best opportunities to advance the liberty agenda since the start of the Ron Paul primary campaign, and I would encourage all to come, whether or not you can be active right away.

I hope to see you all there!
-Dave Powell, Chairman, LP-PGH, Co-Org, PAFA

Libertarians 'may send a message' to the GOP - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Front page coverage, again, on Ron Paul, in today's Trib.

Libertarians 'may send a message' to the GOP - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Libertarians 'may send a message' to the GOP

Wonder when the coverage is going to flip to Bob Barr? Will he get two front page stories from the Trib in the weeks after the election too?

4th of July invite

The 4th of July is coming again (it does that every year!) and we are having our annual party. Here are the details…

6 pm:Badminton in the park by our house (Armstrong Park, 12th and Sarah).

If you don’t want to play or watch badminton, plan to show up at the house (108 S. 12th Street) any time after 7 pm.

We’ll have the usual arts and crafts and some “water” games.

Remember, we supply napkins, plates, utensils, cups and lemonade and chips. If you want something more exciting (and we hope you do), please bring some to share (food or beverage).

You’ll be viewing the downtown fire works from our deck just after dark.

For those of you who came last year amidst our renovations in progress, all the renovations are finished and we’d love for you to see the final product!

Everyone is welcome – please feel free to bring friends, relatives, etc.

If you need to reach us, call 412-298-3526 or email at mark@rauterkus.com.

Hope to see you.

Mark, Catherine, Erik, and Grant
(Sarah (two year old cat) and two kittens, Sam and Lyla.

Homework is still due: Re-asking questions to the Pgh Public School board and administration

This is from citizen, parent, advocate: Kathy Fine. It is a reposted here, with pleasure, with slight edits. My reactions to follow, later.

June 23, 2008

Dear PPS board members,

As we all seek the information necessary to make an informed decision regarding the fate of Schenley High School, it is important to remember that we are all on the same side. We all want a public school system that serves ALL children. We all want to be fiscally responsible in that quest. We all want our voices to be heard and to be given real consideration when it comes to the education of our children.

Below are 3 questions to which we need clear and detailed answers to before anyone can consider closing the Schenley building:

1. What are the 5 and 10 year vision if the district? How will high school reform affect the other 9 PPS high schools?

2. Given that Schenley High School is the only high school between the rivers (besides Alderdice and CAPA) that is not perceived by the public as in an “unsafe” location, where will the IB students be housed if Schenley is closed?

3. What is the cost for a renovation that would make the building safe and available on a no frills basis?

I know that this process has been difficult for everyone involved. There are no easy answers. We know that the administration is trying to do what is right to make our students safe as well as address the wide array of academic needs of all of our students. But there is usually more than one option when solving a problem, and we would like all of those options to be thoroughly evaluated.

We would like to thank each of you for your dedication to our public schools. We realize that it is often a thankless job, but one that is so important to the success of our public schools and the vitality of our city.

Best Regards,
Kathy Fine

---

Questions that School Board Directors need answered before voting to close Schenley High School

1. Schenley Remediation

1. Why did the plaster start falling in the Schenley building?

1. Administration response:

   1. The district yesterday said the installation of new windows in 2005 has reduced ventilation, contributed to humidity and weakened the plaster. (PG 11/20/07)

   2. On June 18, 2008 Mr. Vidya Patil, Director of Facilities, PPS, reiterated the often repeated statement that the cause of the falling plaster from the ceilings in Schenley High School is due to delamination (failure to adhere) caused by age.

2. Reality: Failing plaster is due to repeated water exposure from roof leaks, possible ventilation problems, inadequate plaster repairs by PPS facilities, and delayed repair (WJE Conclusions, Materials experts hired by PPS, 10/07, tab 8, pg 7)

2. When did the falling plaster begin and how large the problem?

1. Administration Response:

1. Mr. Fellers said in a report that "ceiling and wall plaster (particularly on the upper floors) is falling away from surfaces on a recurring basis" (PG 11/20/07)

2. After a ceiling collapse in a stairwell last summer, the district spent $750,000 to repair 10,000 worn areas of plaster building-wide. (PG 11/20/07)

2. Reality: WJE reports that Robert Kennedy, PPS Facilities, stated that there were 5,000-10,000 patches were repaired last summer (tab 8, pg 2). Mr. Roosevelt repeatedly states only the 10,000 number. This is often reported as failure on a grand scale. However, the Schenley building has approximately 600,000 to 1 million square feet of plaster (ceiling and wall). If there were 5,000 one square foot patches done, this would be only .5% of the total ceiling space in Schenley needing repair.

The piece of plaster that Mr. Fellers refers as a “ceiling collapse” was a 4’X4’ piece of patch that had been repaired improperly (PPS facilities did not use mesh or latex modifiers/plasticizers which is why some patches failed. (documentation here)

3. What is the recommendation for solving the falling plaster problem?

1. Administration response

1. Astorino: Vacate and gut the building. “It would be difficult to determine the magnitude of overall danger of possible plaster failures in the future. It is important to understand that danger does exist and requires constant monitoring” (Astorino, tab 1, pg 2)

2. Kimball and Assoc.: Vacate the Schenley building until it can be adequately renovated. “Asbestos plaster of this era typically adheres to substrate very well (that was the purpose for putting asbestos in plaster) (tab 1, pg 3). This is not true, asbestos is put in plaster for fireproofing and increased tensile strength. “The plaster in this building has maintained its integrity for approximately 90 years and started to fail almost universally across the entire building.” (tab 1, pg 3) Also untrue, plaster failure was due to ongoing, unaddressed moisture exposure according to WJE.

3. Note: MacLachlan, Cornelius and Filoni made no statement regarding the immediate removal of the students and staff or to potential danger posed asbestos or falling plaster, only that the major renovations should be done while the building is vacant. It should also be noted that the Filoni report initially contained a section evaluating the costs of renovating Reizenstein for converting into a high school and evaluating the worth of Reizenstein building, but this section was redacted before it was released to the public.

2. Reality: According to WJE, the materials expert hired to assess falling plaster, PPS should: fix leaks to stop moisture, repoint mortar joints, hire engineer to assess ventilation system, inspect plaster near any roof repairs, use proper techniques to repair plaster (use mesh or latex modifiers to do it correctly, PPS facilities did not do this, that is why some patches failed), periodically inspect for future plaster distress.

Summary of damaged plaster assessment: WJE, the materials experts hired by the PPS, evaluated the remediation of the patches done on the PPS facilities and states most areas of plaster failure had been identified and that correct repair methods and periodic monitoring along with proper ventilation will be sufficient for safety. However, the administration, Astorino, Kimball looked at the evaluation done by WJE and came to completely different, more dire conclusions. If roof leaks and ventilation are repaired, there is no reason to keep students out of the building in the fall. Humidity, poor ventilation, water infiltration and windows not opening can be remedied in a cost effective manner.

4. What is the cost of only asbestos removal?

1. Administration response: Robert Kennedy states that asbestos removal will cost about $40 million.

2. Reality: Al Filoni reports that estimates for asbestos management range from $3.5 million to $30 million, but he estimates that the costs would be closer to $10.5 million.

5. What is cost of asbestos removal and new ventilation only?

1. Administration response: Mr. Roosevelt said he fears that a partial renovation merely would mean doing more work down the road. Two Kimball executives said they doubted a partial project would be feasible now anyway because the falling plaster would prevent the asbestos from being encapsulated (PG, 11/20/07)

2. Reality: The standard management of non-friable asbestos (the type that is present in the plaster at Schenley and is not a risk to health) according to the EPA is to leave it in place. Even the plaster that has fallen has not released asbestos into the air (AGX report) The ventilation system can be replaced/repaired during the summer when no students are in the building and abatement of asbestos around ducts can be done at that time.

Two Kimball officials -- Thomas Blank, vice president and operations manager for the civil and environmental division, and Ryan Pierce, vice president of K-12 architecture -- today said the $37.8 million estimate was made before plaster began falling away. The low estimate included encapsulating the asbestos, which is cheaper than removal. However, encapsulation is not possible when the plaster is falling down.

6. Can the work be done to make Schenley safe for students/staff and the rest of the renovation (electrical, plumbing, air conditioning) be done in stages as funds become available? Will this add substantially to the costs?

7. What is the scope of work that will be done at Schenley for the $76 million costs?

1. Administration response- Mr. Roosevelt yesterday released six renovation cost estimates, the highest an $86.9 million proposal from L. Robert Kimball & Associates in 2005. That proposal included $500,000 for refurbishing an organ. Ryan M. Pierce, the Downtown firm's vice president and market sector leader, said the proposal was not only a renovation but a "restoration" of the building. (PG 11/20/07)

2. Reality: It is unnecessary and extravagant to perform a “restoration” on the Schenley building at this time.

8. What are the costs to remove all asbestos and make the building available on a no frills basis?

9. What is the level of asbestos in Schenley compared to the level of asbestos present in the other six PPS high schools?

1. Administration response: “It's in every wall, in every ceiling, on every floor," and more prevalent in Schenley than other district schools, the district's chief operations officer, said Richard Fellers, (PG 11/20/07).

1. Paul Gill states that what differentiates Schenley from other high schools is that extensive work was done at Peabody and Westinghouse. What does that mean? Was asbestos abated completely at these other two high schools? Is there asbestos in the plaster at these schools?

2. Reality: Awaiting documentation from administration.

10. What is the total cost for housing the Schenley students in 3 separate facilities?

1. Administration response: In October 2007, the cost estimates from the administration for renovations at Reizenstein, Milliones and Peabody were $28.2 million. Add the costs for CAPA expansion and Sci-Tech renovation and the administration was proposing to spend $49.3 million.

2. Reality: Architect Al Filoni placed the renovation costs for Reizenstein at $50 million, bringing the total cost for housing Schenley students to $64 million. This cost does not reflect the soaring construction costs or the fact that the Milliones and Sci-Tech price tags are most likely grossly underestimated as the cost for Reizenstein was.

2. General Questions

1. What are the 5 and 10 year plans for the district?

2. What are the plans for the other nine high schools?

3. Shouldn’t we have a permanent location for the IB program before any decision is made regarding Schenley?