Ohhhh boy, this is a goodie! Remember how we have a sound bite of President Cappucci giving a resident a hard time over the budget? How she and the resident disagree on how transparent the Board has been? The lack of documents shared with the public? Well guess what I just got back from the PA Department of Education? Right To Know Response from the PDE.
Not only are Elaine Cappucci and the rest of the school board members keeping the budget from us, they are also keeping the budget away from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
From the PA School Code of 1949, Section 687(2)(b):
Within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of the budget, the board of school directors shall file a copy of the same in the office of the Department of Public Instruction.
A follow up email to the PDE has been sent:
Now we are waiting for a time stamped copy of the budget they received, not the one with today's date on it. I guess when confronted with irrefutable facts, government has to fess up lest you take the next steps and go public to expose the deceptions. Yeah, blame it on a clerical error when you're caught.
Update June 19, 2013 4:31 PM Here is the latest email from the PDE with a nine page budget sent to them.
Not only are Elaine Cappucci and the rest of the school board members keeping the budget from us, they are also keeping the budget away from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
From the PA School Code of 1949, Section 687(2)(b):
Within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of the budget, the board of school directors shall file a copy of the same in the office of the Department of Public Instruction.
A follow up email to the PDE has been sent:
| To: | bhanft <bhanft@pa.gov> |
| Cc: | ra-educationsecretary <ra-educationsecretary@pa.gov> |
| Subject: | Mt. Lebanon School District final budget 2013 |
| Date: | Wed, Jun 19, 2013 2:48 pm |
| Attachments: | PDE_RTK0001.pdf (72K), may%2020,%202013%20board%20meeting%20summary.pdf (52K) |
Mr. Hanft,
The Mt. Lebanon School District voted on the final budget 20-MAY-2013.
See page five (5) of attached business meeting summary.
From the Pa School Code of 1949, Section 687(2)(b):
Within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of the budget, the board of school directors shall file a copy of the same in the office of the Department of Public Instruction.
Fifteen (15) calendar days from 20-MAY-2013 was 04-JUN-2013.
Today is 19-JUN-2013, an additional fifteen (15) days, making it now thirty (30) calendar days.
My RTK request response, attached, demonstrates the PDE does not have the final budget.
This is a clear violation of the Pa School Code of 1949.
What is the penalty to the Mt. Lebanon School District for this violation of law?
Update 4:15 PM Mr. Hanft responded with:
At the time PDE received your RTKL request, due to a clerical error, it was not apparent that the budget had been received. However, Mt. Lebanon SD had timely filed its budget. I have attached a copy and apologize for the oversight. Thank you.
Benjamin T. Hanft | Division Chief
Division of Subsidy Data and Administration
Department of Education | Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management
333 Market Street | Hbg PA 17126
Phone: 717.787.5423 | Fax: 717.772.4106
www.education.state.pa.usDivision of Subsidy Data and AdministrationDepartment of Education | Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management333 Market Street | Hbg PA 17126Phone: 717.787.5423 | Fax: 717.772.4106www.education.state.pa.us
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONThis message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender and then delete the communication from your electronic mail system.
Update June 19, 2013 4:31 PM Here is the latest email from the PDE with a nine page budget sent to them.
From: bhanft@pa.gov
CC: ra-educationsecretary@pa.gov
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:17:05 -0400
Subject: RE: Mt. Lebanon School District final budget 2013-14
Attached is the original paper copy received by the Department of Education.
Benjamin T. Hanft, Chief
Division of Subsidy Data and AdministrationBureau of Budget and Fiscal Management