Tuesday, November 5, 2013

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Frustrated with the School District? You're not alone. It seems that the PA Department of Education has no control over elected officials. HOWEVER, they do have control over any educator with Pennsylvania Certification. This includes superintendents, vocational directors, principals, teachers, and educational specialists such as school counselors and school nurses.

If parents are not getting satisfaction by going to the school board or to the administration and feel that the PA Department of Education should get involved, here is the process. To file an Educator Misconduct Complaint, visit Educator Misconduct Complaint Procedures and Complaint Form

To read about Professional Standards and Practices, visit Professional Standards and Practices Commission Home Page

Upset about unfair recess practices and can't get the situation resolved by the School District? File a complaint.

Do you feel that the principal and/or superintendent did not conduct an impartial review concerning the Devil's Advocate article? File a complaint.

Tired of the superintendent's aggressive communication style and disrespect toward parents? File a complaint.

The Educator Misconduct Complaint Form (PDE-348) requires Microsoft Word. If a complaint form is filed, it must be notarized and sent along with any documentation (such as the Devil's Advocate article, emails, etc.) to the PDE. If you have a complaint against two people, for example, two separate forms must be submitted.

At the bottom of the Educator Misconduct Complaint Form, please note the Confidentiality Notice. The educator misconduct complaint process is confidential and any unauthorized release of confidential information is a misdemeanor of the third degree. In other words, DON'T TELL ME YOU FILED A COMPLAINT. Don't write in anonymously that you filed a complaint. I don't want to know!!! Everything is strictly confidential!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

We don't need this dialog in Mount Lebanon.

Anonymous said...

Yes, we do! Big time! Go away!

Anonymous said...

We need more respectful behavior, then this conversation wouldn't be necessary.

Anonymous said...

I seriously doubt that the PDE has ever taken any action on any public school administrator as a result of this farce. It's likely all smoke & mirrors. Ask them to provide evidence of followup on such complaints and results.

Anonymous said...

sometimes it is more important to understand, than it is to be understood.

Anonymous said...

One never knows unless they try.

Anonymous said...

Elaine are you still considering forming a group to counter the School Board and Commissioners? Also does anyone know how many households have kids in Mt Lebo Schools? My wife and I just returned from a quick walk and as we passed each house we noted those without kids and those with. Seems those without outnumbered those with by 10 to 1.

Lebo Citizens said...

11:12 PM, yes, please email me at egillen476@aol.com

I seem to remember something like 70% don't have kids in school. Does that sound right?
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Closer to 75.

Anonymous said...

School Director MT LEBANON

38 OF 38 PRECINCTS COUNTED
Dan Remely 2,875
William J. Moorhead 3,596
Mary D. Birks 3,744
Michael Jon Riemer 3,516
WRITE-IN 192

Anonymous said...

Easy definitions of bystanders from wikipedia:
--A bystander a person who, although present at some event, does not take part in it; an observer or spectator.
--Bystander effect, a social psychological phenomenon wherein individuals do not offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present
--Bystanders of scientific misconduct

There are many bystanders in Mt Lebanon Muni and School District. Too many.

If you take action, you are not a bystander.

Speak up, please people. We all need to work together.

Lebo Citizens said...

In 2009, Birks 5,088
Remely 3,695
Ostergaard 4,845
Posti 3,537
Gardner 3,227
Silhol 3,504
Write- in 46
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/elect/200911gen/el45_356.htm
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Elaine:
An impartial review had been completed by the headmaster....it was rudely dismissed by the Superintendent ! Mr. Steinhauer's "I am also surprised and disappointed that you commented on a situation of which you do not know any of the details" defines "impartial" in his criticism to the headmaster.

Anonymous said...

So, at best, 192 people were on the same page as you with respect to writing in candidates. That's a far cry from the 4,000 angry souls oft cited on this blog as evidence of the outrage in the community.

Methinks the reach and impact here is a lot smaller than some may believe...

Lebo Citizens said...

That is one way to look at it, 8:45 AM. Another point of view would be that 1,344 fewer people voted for Birks this time than when she first ran.
Elaine

Lebo Citizens said...

That is what happens when [People] Can't Get No Satisfaction.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

I, for one, am happy we have elections like in Venezuela and Cuba where we have so many people running unopposed.

I hate when I have to make a decision when I go to the polling place.

I like it when parties make those decisions for us, no matter how unqualified the candidates are.

signed,

the Sheeple of Mt Lebanon

Anonymous said...

What I think that shows is that ANYBODY who had their name on the ballot would have beaten Remely.

Lebo Citizens said...

I believe these are the final numbers.
MT LEBANON
■ School Director ( 4 Seats Available ) [100%]
☑ Mary D Birks (REP/DEM) 3,864
☑ William J Moorhead (REP/DEM) 3,709
☑ Michael Jon Riemer (REP/DEM) 3,630
☑ Dan Remely (REP) 2,952
☐ WRITE-IN 195
■ Treasurer ( 1 Seat Available ) [100%]
☑ John C Ferguson, Jr (REP/DEM) 2,346
☐ WRITE-IN 2,256

Dave Brumfield only got 709 votes.
Elaine

Lebo Citizens said...

The final numbers show that 1,224 fewer people voted for Mary Birks this year than in 2009.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

The treasurer's race proves how uninformed the voters of Mt Lebanon actually are.

Anonymous said...

I think Dave Brumfield got about 500 more votes than you did when you ran.

Lebo Citizens said...

Thanks for pointing that out, Dave. I ran against an incumbent who was endorsed by the Mt. Lebanon Republican Committee. You ran unopposed.
Elaine

Lebo Citizens said...

I would like to get this back on topic. Thanks.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Mr. Steinhauer should review Unit 7: The Ethical Colleague in The Educator Ethics & Conduct Toolkit.