Six Questions for Larry Robb

Larry Robb is running for one of three seats in Region I, which represents Bethel, Burrell, Cadogan, Ford City, Ford Cliff, Manor, Manorville, North Buffalo and West Kittanning.  This is part five.  We've heard from Dr. Lobby from Region I, Amy Lhote and Chris Choncek from Region II and Stan Berdell from Region III.  We look forward to reading the responses to the same six questions from the other candidates.

1- Since there seems to be quite a bit of negativity within the district, what do you feel is going right with ASD at this time?

The Armstrong School District has developed a very strong system of utilizing student achievement data to inform the instruction of teachers so they can adjust to the needs of individual students. Within this system is a process called Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTII). Using RTII, the district has implemented researched-based interventions or “safety nets” for students who may be struggling. In addition, the district has been involved in an initiative focused on Formative Assessment. This initiative has been featured in a national educational publication called Educational Leadership which has described the impact Formative Assessment has on student learning.


2- What are your ideas to improve student performance?

The district needs to continue to examine the needs of individual students to determine specific research-based programs that will provide students with the resources to grow academically. Also, since teachers have the biggest impact on student achievement, professional development is vital to ensure best practices such as Formative Assessment are utilized in the every classroom. Further, our students are facing many emerging environmental, economic, and social issues. These issues lead to a need for school districts to continually examine and develop curriculum to prepare students to meet these challenges of the 21st century on local, national and global levels.


3- What is your biggest concern with ASD?

The current and future budget crisis is my biggest concern with the district which will dramatically impact the quality of education offered to our students. The projected future expenditures will far surpass our future revenues. The current $80,000,000 bond used for renovations will only make the situation worse by locking the district into a more expensive model for the next 30 years. The projected savings from the closing of Kittanning Junior High and Kittanning Township Elementary will not be available when it is needed to make the debt payments due to the major staff cuts that are proposed for next year. The use of fund balance to make debt service payments over the next four years is not financially sound and will deplete the fund balance below recommended levels. As I outlined before, the district will need over $25,000,000 of new money to fund just the areas of salary increases, health care increases, and retirement contribution increases. The current board’s use of the $3,600,000 delinquent tax windfall and the use of $400,000 of fund balance to balance the 2011-2012 budget only pushes the problem to next year. What will be left to cut next year?


4- What is your perspective of the referendum question that has been placed on the ballot?

The current board majority has tried very hard to claim there are only two choices for the future of the district: an $80,000,000 renovation project or an over inflated $155,000,000 new comprehensive high school project. Since the majority of voters will vote no to the $155,000,000 project, the board majority will claim this means voters are in favor of the $80,000,000 renovation project. This is flawed logic! The referendum is being used as a political ploy and insults the intelligence of the voter. I am not in favor of a comprehensive high school. Lenape already provides the career and technical education for the district and duplicating these programs makes no sense at all.

5- What do you feel is the primary job of a school board?

The primary responsibility of a school board is to envision the educational future of its children and then formulate the goals, define the outcomes, and set the direction for its schools. Vision is not about what we are, but what we want to be. For school boards, it is defining what type of school system is needed for the future. The board is responsible to create the conditions under which excellent teaching and student performance will take place. Included in these conditions is the board’s ability to establish relationships and build consensus. We know that when individuals work together effectively, the product of their efforts will almost always be greater than the efforts of any single individual. Along with setting the educational direction of the district, the board needs to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer’s money by developing both short term and long term financial goals that balance the educational needs of the students with the financial impact to the community.


6- What attributes, talents and abilities will you bring to our district?

I bring to the board an extensive background in education. I have been a teacher, coach, principal, curriculum coordinator, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. I have worked within 4 different school districts which has given me a variety of perspectives on dealing with educational issues. Since I have worked for the Armstrong School District, I know the unique and challenging problems the district has faced and will continue to face in the future.

Referendum - How to vote....

We have been getting a lot of messages and emails from concerned taxpayers who do not know how to vote on the ridiculous, misleading and totally confusing referendum question that Solak and company had put on the ballot.  The question will read:

"Shall debt in the combined sum of $155 million for the purpose of construction of a new comprehensive high school building and Elderton K-6 building be authorized to be incurred as, or (as appropriate) transferred from nonelectoral debt to, debt approved by the electors?"

What if you agree with the buiding of the Elderton K-6 building but oppose the new school construction because that figure contains building a new vo-tech school, which is NOT NEEDED.  How do you vote?  You can't!  You could, in essense, vote No for the first part and Yes for the second part and those votes cancel each other out and you are left with NOT VOTING on the question at all.  Will this really help?  We are not sure.

Solak has stated time and again that if voters vote NO on this question, it means that they SUPPORT RENOVATIONS.  This is not true.  Since there wasn't a third option, which MANY taxpayers asked for "Do Nothing", then we are left with only one option.  Vote YES.

Many of our current school board members, which we support and those running for positions are telling us to vote NO.  We respect their opinion and understand their reasoning, however, we have to say that in out opinion, our best option is to VOTE YES to say NO RENOVATIONS.

This truly is all a smoke screen developed by Solak and company to shift the focus off of the election and their poor candidates.  We need to focus on getting the right people elected into office, whoever YOU feel that may be.  But for those of you asking US for OUR opinion on how to vote on the referendum, we say vote YES!

Bottom line is, get out and vote on May 17!

Six Questions for Stan Berdell

Stan Berdell is running for the one seat available in Region III, which represents Atwood, Boggs, Cowanshannock, Dayton, Elderton, Kittanning Twp, Pine, Plumcreek, Rural Valley, South Bend, Valley and Wayne.  This is part four.  We've also heard from Dr. Lobby from Region I, and Amy Lhote and Chris Choncek from Region II.  We look forward to hearing the anwers to these same six questions from all of the other candidates.

1- Since there seems to be quite a bit of negativity within the district, what do you feel is going right with ASD at this time?


I believe the teachers are working very hard, despite all the negativity, to provide a positive educational environment for our students. They are the strength of our system and continue to provide knowledge for our students as well as help develop a positive attitude in these times of turmoil.


2- What are your ideas to improve student performance?

There are individuals in our educational system that could better answer that question and I would rely heavily on their input and try to implement their ideas into our system.



3- What is your biggest concern with ASD?

Unfortunately, our district is in deep financial trouble and difficult decisions will need to be made so that we can properly educate our children and balance our budget.


4- What is your perspective of the referendum question that has been placed on the ballot?

The referendum question is very confusing and does not solve any issues. First of all it is non-binding and limits your choices, it does not make any sense to me.

5- What do you feel is the primary job of a school board?

The primary job of a school board is to, with the help of others, guide the ship. I do not believe in micromanaging, hopefully the Administrators, Principles and Teachers that have been hired are capable of making sound decisions regarding the management of our district. The board in turn should take those comments and suggestions and through constructive respectful discussions help develop policies that will help our district grow.


6- What attributes, talents and abilities will you bring to our district?


I have a degree in education, while it is true I have not been involved in teaching, I have always been concerned about the education of the students of Armstrong Co. as well as the quality of life of the residents of this County. To that end I have served on several boards. St. Mary’s of Yatesboro parish council, Chairman Shannock Valley Recreation Commission, Tourist Board of Armstrong County, and The YMCA Board of Armstrong County. I started BLX, Inc. in 1989 and employ 22 people. The experiences I have had in operating a business are invaluable and will help me to make the tough decisions that will need to be made in the very near future regarding the education of our students and financial stability of the ASD.

Six Questions for Chris Choncek

Chris Choncek is running for one of two seats in Region II, which represents Applewald, East Franklin, Kittanning Boro, Rayburn, Washington, West Franklin and Worthington. We've also heard from Dr. Lobby and Amy Lhote and look forward to hearing the anwers to these same six questions from all of the other candidates.

1- Since there seems to be quite a bit of negativity within the district, what do you feel is going right with ASD at this time?


Parents and taxpayers are becoming more engaged with school district business. They are holding the Armstrong School Board more accountable to its decisions and direction. It’s especially encouraging to see this in all areas of the school district, not just in one municipality or attendance area. It is my hope as we move forward that we can continue to keep the community engaged and seek their input as we try to improve the education in our district while still being responsible to the taxpayers.


2- What are your ideas to improve student performance?

I think it’s important to rely on the educational experts to arrive at new and effective ways to improve student learning. However, it is our responsibility as board members to keep up with the latest trends and initiatives that could potentially improve student learning. This knowledge should be shared and discussed with the rest of the board, as well as the administrators for possible follow-up action.


As an aside, I would like to see a reduction of the “teaching to the test” phenomenon we’ve experienced over the last few years as an attempt to improve PSSA scores. I think we’re doing a huge disservice to our students when we’re forced to provide a less varied curriculum with fewer courses in some subject areas simply due to the fact that they aren’t included on the PSSA exams. I realize that this issue goes beyond the control of our local school board, but it needs our attention nonetheless.


3- What is your biggest concern with ASD?

I’m very concerned that most of the decisions being made at this time are made without any regard to education and fiscal responsibility. It’s bad enough when there’s an overemphasis on one or the other, but to make decisions that negatively impact both the education and cost could put this district into a level of financial distress that will take many years to alleviate.


4- What is your perspective of the referendum question that has been placed on the ballot?

I think it’s an unnecessary distraction. The more we talk about it, the less we talk about the elections for the open school board seats. Our focus as voters should be on choosing the best candidates for those positions. The referendum is utterly confusing and convoluted. In addition, it’s non-binding so no matter what the outcome is, the board doesn’t have to act upon the results. Let’s simply put our efforts into getting those with common sense elected like Lobby, Rearic, Robb, Berdell and Lhote.


5- What do you feel is the primary job of a school board?

The primary role of a school board director is to focus on the vision, goals and policies of the district. The board “oversees” the education of the students. It is important to recognize that this governing body does not run the day-to-day operations.


A school board represents the entire community in advocating for quality education while still being effective stewards of the district’s resources.


6- What attributes, talents and abilities will you bring to our district?


As a 19-year administrator in higher education, I’ve had to rely heavily on data-driven decision making processes. I feel as though the skills I possess in statistics and measurement can be utilized to further enhance the effectiveness of the board.


In addition, I’ve held numerous positions on various committees and boards throughout my professional and personal careers. I recognize the importance of communication and collegiality in effective group decision-making and I hope to promote these attributes on the new school board.


Finally, the direct experience I gained over the last four years as an incumbent school board director will be extremely useful to the new board as I’m intimately familiar with school district processes and policies. I also have experienced the “highs” of making good decisions, as well as the lows associated with “bad” ones. All of these experiences (good and bad) have resulted in learning opportunities and will undoubtedly be used to help us make better decisions in the future.

Six Questions for Amy Lhote

Amy Lhote is running for one of two seats in Region II, which represents Applewald, East Franklin, Kittanning Boro, Rayburn, Washington, West Franklin and Worthington.   We've also heard from Dr. Lobby and look forward to hearing the anwers to these same six questions from all of the other candidates. 

1. Since there seems to be quite a bit of negativity within the district, what do you feel is going right with ASD at this time?


I feel that the majority of our teachers are good teachers, and they are in the classroom for the right reason, to teach our children. We as a board need to listen to their ideas and concerns and provide them with the tools to do their job properly. I also believe that the community of Armstrong County has wonderful and caring people, we just don’t see eye to eye on the schools.


2. What are your ideas to improve student performance?

Once again, we need to listen to the teachers, see what the needs are in the classroom. I believe the budget is stretched way too far and the majority of our taxpayer money is being used to keep old buildings open and replication of services. I believe that our class offerings will increase when the district is “right-sized”. Our administrative staff has not been able to do the jobs they were hired for. They have been too involved in the closing and opening of buildings instead of using all of their expertise to improve educational offerings and evaluate what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong.


3. What is your biggest concern with ASD?

Without a doubt, the education of our students is paying the price for holding on to individual identities. According to The Pittsburgh Business Times, we are now ranked 352 out of 500 school districts in Pennsylvania. This is totally unacceptable our students are not getting what they need due to mismanagement of the district with a budget of 88 million. In the Hayes-Large study, it states that our high schools are incapable of teaching modern science. That study was completed in 2007, and no changes have been made. Putting band-aids on 3 buildings and adding gymnasiums and auditoriums, putting science classrooms on the second floor of a school without air-conditioning is not going to improve education.


4. What is your perspective of the referendum question that has been placed on the ballot?

I believe it is intentionally misleading and our manipulative school board will be able to interpret it anyway they would like to.


First of all, this mythical high school that has not even been discussed since the Charrette and should not be on a ballot. Secondly, if there was a second high school built, if you look at enrollment numbers and other school districts building high school now, this number is grossly over-priced. As a matter of fact, Penn Hills school district who has 5000 students is building a high school for 56 million dollars. How can ASD with 5500 students and with a fairly new high school (West Shamokin with 572 students), have an estimate of 155 million for the remaining secondary students? We can’t, it is another way the current school board members are trying to deceive the Armstrong County residents. It isn’t about education for them, it is only about identity.


5. What do you feel is the primary job of a school board?

I believe that the primary job of a school board is to make decisions based on recommendation of the administrative staff and factual data. It is imperative that there is planning for the future and that facts not emotions drive these decisions. I do not believe that the school board’s role is to micro-manage the school district. All decisions have to be made logically without favoritism, no matter what region you represent. A school board director is to represent all the children of Armstrong County, provide the best education possible while being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.


6. What attributes, talents and abilities will you bring to our district?

I am a team player, I have worked with many groups, have chaired committees, and am a good listener and communicator. I am decisive, I have to make hard decisions on a day to day basis being a nurse practitioner, and base my decisions on facts. I am a leader, even in high school I was class president and have had leadership roles throughout my nursing career. I am also part owner of a small business and have to evaluate financial and personnel data on a daily basis.


I believe that leadership, decisiveness, financial experience, and being a team player are essential to being a school director.

Armstrong School District has low enrollment!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!


Armstrong School District has low enrollment!

REALLY DR. CHAPP!?!?

At the last school board meeting, it was announced that there would be lay-offs of 66 positions in the district: 31 non-professional and 35 professional.

So let’s get this straight.

The previous board majority close Elderton JR-SR HS due to low enrollment.

The new board majority reopened it and in doing so rehired 25 teachers and reassigned 11.

Stated at the Act 34 hearing that there is justification to the renovation project because our enrollment is stabilized.

Director Solak last week on WTYM radio stated that the facilities studies show that Kittanning and Ford City are at 90% capacity.

And now tonight, when questioned by Director Chonek, Superintendent Chapp stated “we aren’t furloughing due to economic reasons- we are furloughing due to low enrollment”.

Ohhh what a tangled web we weave!

So where is the lie?

Is it in lying to the PDE stating that the renovations should be done because the enrollment is stabilized?

Is it in Superintendent Chapp stating that the teacher furloughs are due to low enrollment?

OR HERE IS SOMETHING UNUSUAL…..A THIRD CHOICE!!!!!

We do not have money for all these teachers nor the renovation projects!!!!

Six Questions With a Candidate - Dr. Paul Lobby

by Jennifer Willyard
I was lucky enough to email with Dr. Paul Lobby, who is one of the candidates running for ASD School Board Region 1.

Here are 6 questions that I asked of Dr. Lobby, with his unedited answers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

1- Since there seems to be quite a bit of negativity within the district, what do you feel is going right with ASD at this time?

Answer: The teachers are doing great things with new academic programs. A reading remediation program was initiated by Larry Robb that help bring students up to proficiency more quickly. The fact that the voters seem to be so interested in the election is also very positive. It is overshadowing all the other races including the count commissioners’ race. There seems to be an outpouring of sentiment for change.

2- What are your ideas to improve student performance?

Answer: I was an educator for three years from 1972 to 1975. I will defer to expertise of the educators we employ and make decisions based on their recommendations. There are evidence based studies to show that outcomes can be improved using proven strategies.

3-What is your biggest concern with ASD?

Answer: We are on the verge of financial collapse.


4- What is your perspective of the referendum question that has been placed on the ballot?

Answer: It has received so much publicity that the voters can see that the board is trying to force them to choose between two very unpalatable options. I believe the voters realize that there are more than two choices. Life is not black and white.

5- What do you feel is the primary job of a school board?

Answer: Any elected board is responsible to carry out the wishes of the voters who elected them. The board should not micromanage the operations of the district but make long range, strategic decisions based on the best educational opportunities for the students within the ability of the taxpayers to afford those programs.

6- What attributes, talents and abilities will you bring to our district?

Answer: I am a former educator, a native of Ford City and nearly a life long resident. I place a high value on education and have served on many boards locally, regionally and statewide. Additionally, being self employed for the past 30 years has given me the experience required to deal with business decisions similar to those that the board encounters. My undergraduate training was in mathematics so I am very analytical in my decision making processes.

We look forward to responses to these same six questions that were sent to the other candidates.

Vote for CHANGE May 17, 2011

If you don't like the direction that this current School Board is going in and you want CHANGE, vote for those in BLUE

Region I - 2 four year seats and 1 two year seat

Steven Kozuch
Paul Lobby
James Rearic
Larry Robb
James Solak
Karen Wissinger

You are in Region I if you reside in :  Bethel, Burrell, Cadogan, Ford City, Ford Cliff, Manor, Manorville, North Buffalo and West Kittanning.







Region II  - 2 seats

Jack Burford
Chris Choncek
Amy Lhote

(Although Jack Burford is for change, there are two seats available and we feel Choncek and Lhote are more qualified for the seats)

You are in Region II if you reside in :  Applewald, East Franklin, Kittanning Boro, Rayburn, Washington, West Franklin and Worthington.


Region III  - 1 Seat

Stanley Berdell
Rose Stitt

You are in Region III if you reside in:  Atwood, Boggs, Cowanshannock, Dayton, Elderton, Kittanning Twp, Pine, Plumcreek, Rural Valley, South Bend, Valley and Wayne.

Choncek Clarifies Position

I’ve been asked to clarify my position regarding the current issues facing the Armstrong School District. Most of what I’m about to state has been supported by the documented decisions I’ve made over the last 3 ½ years serving as School Board Director.

First and absolutely foremost, education has to be the major focus of this district in general, and of the School Board in particular. All too often, school board debate is dominated by discussions about “buildings” instead of the critical issues pertaining to education. The board needs to facilitate a shift in emphasis from facilities to education.

Unfortunately, because of the current school board majority’s action to borrow $82 million to renovate Elderton, Ford City and Kittanning High Schools, my immediate attention has to be directed towards further discussions about buildings. It’s important to state that I do not support the borrowing of $82 million for the current renovation projects. This is reflected and reinforced through my voting record in which I voted against any matter supporting these renovations. I have clearly stated my reasons for opposing this plan, but will briefly review those reasons below:

1.  Most people would agree that this is a bad time to borrow money. Contrary to the opinion of those who support the renovations, these are uncertain economic times. Further, with a looming pension crisis and significant budget cuts from state subsidies, this is the time to be fiscally responsible. It is not the time to be accruing additional debt.

2.  Furthermore, student enrollment is declining across the district. It is expected to decline in the future according to the Department of Education’s most recent enrollment projection report. Because of this continual decline, buildings are underutilized while the cost to educate students has steadily increased. It doesn’t make sense to invest money to renovate schools that are already extremely underutilized.

3.  Members of the current Board majority have made several claims that we (as a Board) haven’t addressed the needs of school district facilities in over 30 years. That statement is completely inaccurate. In fact, over the past 15 years, school district documents show that we’ve spent over $7.5 million on capital improvements that included such projects as roof and window replacements, upgrades to HVAC, electrical and phone systems, repairs to masonry and other structural components. To say that we’ve ignored the buildings is simply another poor attempt to trick the taxpayers into thinking that the renovations are a good idea.

4.  Finally, I reject this renovation plan simply based on the fact that the plan calls for little improvement to actual educational space. The plan focuses on gymnasiums, auditoriums and cafeterias. While these areas may be important to the overall development of students, they hardly justify the expense of an $82 million bond disguised as a project to improve education.

Thus, I have very good reasons for opposing the renovation plan put forth by the current board majority.

At the time of this writing, the board majority is desperately attempting to place a referendum question on the ballot asking voters whether they support building a $155 million comprehensive high school. This is a sham. To me, it demonstrates the complete lack of respect the board majority has for the taxpayers. I oppose the building of this comprehensive high school at this time for the same reason I oppose the renovation plan. In other words, in these uncertain economic times, this is the time to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. It is not the time to make hasty (and costly) decisions just because you feel as though you’re being backed into a corner. In addition, building a new comprehensive high school was never really on the table for discussion at any school board meeting during my tenure.

I strongly wish that I could provide the voters a definite answer as to what I would do with the bond money should I be re-elected. Unfortunately, there are just too many unknown variables to do so at this time. For example, some critical questions that need answers as part of our due diligence before proceeding include:

1.  How much of the bond money will have already been spent by the time the Board re-organizes?

2.  If one option is to return the money borrowed, what is the true cost to the district? What penalties are incurred as a result?

3.  What are other possible uses for the bond money besides renovations or building new? For example, is it feasible to use bond money to pay off existing debt?

How, may you ask, am I going to deal with this difficult predicament this district finds itself in? If I don’t support the renovations and I don’t support building a new comprehensive high school at this time, then what do I support? I support thoughtful decision-making using accurate data and sound advice from the administration, as well as from ethical and reputable legal and financial counsel. Thus, my ultimate goal is to use these tools to make the most financially prudent decision for the taxpayers. I trust that my prior experience on the board and the resulting decisions I have made will provide the voters enough information to support me in the upcoming primary election.

Here are your candidates for School Board

The candidates have been announced.  If you don't like the direction that this current School Board is going in and you want CHANGE, vote for those in BLUE

Region I - 2 four year seats and 1 two year seat

Steven Kozuch
Paul Lobby
James Rearic
Larry Robb
James Solak
Karen Wissinger

You are in Region I if you reside in :  Bethel, Burrell, Cadogan, Ford City, Ford Cliff, Manor, Manorville, North Buffalo and West Kittanning.


Region II  - 2 seats

Jack Burford
Chris Choncek
Amy Lhote

You are in Region II if you reside in :  Applewald, East Franklin, Kittanning Boro, Rayburn, Washington, West Franklin and Worthington.


Region III  - 1 Seat

Stanley Berdell
Rose Stitt

You are in Region III if you reside in:  Atwood, Boggs, Cowanshannock, Dayton, Elderton, Kittanning Twp, Pine, Plumcreek, Rural Valley, South Bend, Valley and Wayne.

New ASD Regions

These are the new regions in the ASD. Listed are the current board members holding those seats and if those seats are up for reelection. If you live in an area that has a seat open and you would like to run or you know someone who would like to run, please contact SoLongSolak@yahoo.com and we will point you in the right direction!

Region I
Current Member, Up for reelection?
Kozuch - YES - 2 year remaining on MJM's term
Solak - YES
Rearic - YES

Bethel, Burrell, Cadogan, Ford City, Ford Cliff, Manor, Manorville, North Buffalo and West Kittanning.


Region II
Current Member, Up for reelection?
Choncek - YES
Close - No 2013
NEW SEAT

Applewald, East Franklin, Kittanning Boro, Rayburn, Washington, West Franklin and Worthington.


Region III
Current Member, Up for reelection?
Monroe and Stitt - YES these two seats will now be ONE
Smeltzer - No 2013
Yassem - No 2013

Atwood, Boggs, Cowanshannock, Dayton, Elderton, Kittanning Twp, Pine, Plumcreek, Rural Valley, South Bend, Valley and Wayne.

Letter to Department of Education - Oppose The Wasteful Spending!

If you opposed the frivilous spending that is about to occur in the Armstrong School District, please print out the following letter, sign it and mail it to the Department of Education. The district is required to have an Act 34 Hearing, which will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 6:30 pm at Elderton High School. Please plan to attend and share your views. If you can't attend, it is important that you mail a letter. Act 34 Letter

Network of influence: It's hard to tell if the public interest is being served

Armstrong County should recognize some of the names in this BLOG POST.  It's time to wake up people!

Repost of originial blog that can be found at the link above.

Some of the most influential figures in local municipalities and school districts aren't those elected by the voters. Theirs are not household names and most citizens wouldn't recognize their faces. The roles they play are hard to pinpoint and the consequences for taxpayers hard to ascertain.


Yet the threads that connect their governmental, political and business enterprises form a tight bond, affording them access to multimillion-dollar contracts, which in many cases do not go through open bidding processes that bring competition, public scrutiny and cost controls.

In "The Network," a three-part series published last week and based on a six-month investigation, Post-Gazette staff writer Rich Lord described the long-standing relationships among a group of lawyers and businessmen, and he documented $32 million in payments from state and local municipalities and agencies from 2005 to 2009 to their companies, as well as 31 bond deals since 2001.

The reality is there are two flow charts that simultaneously determine how the work of governing gets done. One is visible and contains the public officials who lead towns, counties and municipal authorities. The other is less obvious but no less influential.

The old-boys-style network includes: Stephen A. Zappala Sr., the former state Supreme Court chief justice, his brother Charles and Charles' nephew Greg; the elder Zappala's former law partner, James J. Dodaro, long active in county development, the Port Authority and the state Turnpike Commission; Mr. Dodaro's partners John F. Cambest and Gary J. Matta; Mr. Matta's brother George, the former county clerk of courts; political operatives John J. Verbanac and Edward Grattan; and business associates Joseph F. Hohman, Christopher Kerr and William Brucker.

The biggest contract, at $19.53 million, was held by Wilkinsburg-based Resource Development and Management, to handle operations of the Greater Johnstown Water Authority. The firm -- headed by Mr. Hohman, Mr. Dodaro and Mr. Kerr -- also manages three other public water systems and has gotten state contracts to advise six financially distressed municipalities and 11 local governments at risk of heading that way.

A related business, Utility Line Security, should be familiar to customers of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. It was able to add a $5 charge to their monthly bills when it assumed responsibility for line repairs. Mr. Kerr incorporated ULS and Mr. Brucker's law firm represents it. ULS obtained an unusual contract that gave it unprecedented access to a customer base because it forced homeowners to opt out if they didn't want the service rather than opt in if they did. The contract now is the subject of a civil lawsuit and a state attorney general's investigation.

In another example in the series, a Downtown firm, PrimeSolutions Capital Corp., was paid $30,000 in referral fees for sending business to a local bank. One of the accounts that was subject to the referral agreement belonged to the Allegheny County sheriff's department. The problem is, that account, holding around $6 million, earned interest from the bank that was far below the prevailing market rate. Mr. Grattan was an independent contractor for PrimeSolutions. The bank arrangement was in effect during the term of former Sheriff Pete DeFazio, who retired after pleading guilty to soliciting campaign contributions from employees. After William P. Mullen was elected sheriff, he put a stop to the practice, but the public funds in the account had missed out on earnings during years when interest rates were much higher than current levels.

Not all of the situations detailed in the series dealt specifically with dollars. In some cases, network connections led to influence. For example, Mr. Verbanac, from outside the government, was instrumental in a change in leadership at the city's powerful Urban Redevelopment Authority.

"Who you know" often is a key factor in private commerce, and many consider its practice as simply the way of the world. No one should be so naive as to suggest it doesn't play a role in government and politics as well. But that doesn't make it right and, more to the point, it doesn't necessarily serve the public's interests.

"Know who," as opposed to know-how, should not play a decisive role when the enterprise is the people's business, funded with the people's dollars. Even though the letter of the law allows for some opaque practices, citizens have a right to see how their tax dollars are being spent and a right to know who is really calling the shots.

Terrorist Attack on Armstrong School District

Disclaimer, " this is a parody, the names have not been changed to expose the sillyness".


Author: U.N. Owen

Today, the ASD, Department of Homeland Community Schools issued a warning, lowering the intelligence level from stupid to idiotic, two levels above the nadir of insane.

The reason for the lowering of the intelligence level is weapons of mass destruction have been found at a science teachers home, an unnamed source said the cache consisted of, a pen, writing paper, a voice box, independent thought and most damaging of all, a brain.

As a reminder, the ASD Department of Homeland Community Schools warning system is as follows:

1. Silly
2. Stupid
3. Idiotic
4. Imbecile
5. Insane

Members of the ASD were informed of the threat and appropriate actions taken,

D. Royce Smeltzer was interrupted reading “ My pet goat” seemed utterly confused.

Tokyo Rose Stitt was seen crying in front of Kittanning Township School, explaining “we had to close the school in order to keep it open.

Kim Jong Solak, born on a mountain top underneath double rainbows, immediately issued a statement stating “this conspiracy has been in the works since William Kerr was an oocyte”.

Ms. Sara Yessum issued a statement saying “ this is like, you know a tragedy”

Mr. John Monroe was ushered into the underground command center at an undisclosed location somewhere near Yellow Dog.

Mr. Jim Rearic stated, what a bunch of assholes

Mr. Joe Close was tooting a train whistle indicating that any vestige of sensibility has left the station.

Mr. Chris Choncek uttered a call for reason, and some investigation into whether actually possessing independent thought and a brain were reasons to lower the intelligence level.

Mr. Dave Brown, spokesman for a “truther movement” called H.E.R.O. declared that over 200 years ago, Washington D.C. applied for and built The White House, this is unfair, where is our White House? We pay taxes, it’s no fair that everything occurs near the Potomac River, I’ll bet they have a new YMCA as well. I heard them say “pull it” that means we can spend all the money we want and we want a White House. Look the Pentagon was rebuilt and we didn’t get anything, we deserve something.

Upon further reflection, it was determined that a phallic symbol would be more appropriate for the H.E.R.O. “truther movement”, all agreed that the phallus is more indicative of the movement.

Kim Jong Solak: well furthermore, on an official document which I just made up, and furthermore to my furthermore, I have read this in great detail and it has been furthermore determined that the threat, while not real, is meaningless and needs to be prosecuted.

Something smells fishy.....

An Editorial by Jen Willyard

I have waited to see if more information has come out regarding this, but since it hasn't, this is what I think so far.....the whole thing is fishy, in my eyes.

A- you can't really read everything on that kdka piece, but I can plainly see that it is not a print screen of a facebook page. It looks like a cut and paste job to me. So who did that? Why? Since it is cut and paste, is the conversation taken out of order?

B- The "maybe someone will blow it up" comment seems to me that it is taken out of context just from the few other things I can read on there. No more harmful that wishing my ex would drop off the face of the planet. LOL It's a wish in one hand and spit in the other....which one fills up first?

C- I find it curious that the police are not involved if this indeed is a threat. If this really were a threat, that school would have been locked down and bomb sniffing dogs would have been involved. Unfortunately, we have had that happen before.

D- How did kdka get a hold of this if it is a personnel issue? Sounds like either a person with connections in pittsburgh for the TV station Or someone that knows a reporter from kdka since he is from the area? Either way unethical.