West Mifflin superintendent prevails; coach is released

it was a sad, sad night......"cut off your nose to spite your face" sad..sad for the baskeball girls.......more so for the girls that worked SO, SO LONG....FOR WHAT now

They fired the wrong guy, I will remember the 5 votes that fired him.

It's done,sweep the floor,turn out the lights,wait for another interesting moronic idea from borough politicians.

I see the 3 votes to keep Shar are out the door in 6 months,they had NOTHING to lose. Only the ONE guy had balls to stand up to Risha.. Too bad the others didnt't.

UP YOURS wrote:

It's done,sweep the floor,turn out the lights,wait for another interesting moronic idea from borough politicians.

I AGREE.......... ;~))another time......another place........so mote it be....bunch a f--k ups

ONLY IN WEST MIFFLIN JUST WAIT THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME
Has anyone noticed that this borough and its' clowns make the papers weekly for something that is either wrong or corrupt?
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THE TAXPAYING CITIZENS OF THIS BOROUGH ARE STARTING TO SPEAK OUT AND TO ATTEND MEETINGS
Changes for this borough are happening. Don't give up the fight....it is only the beginning.

So ... how do taxpayers get rid of the Superintendent?

I dont understand why no one digs deeper into rishas background, racketeering?? whats Pat jr doing these days?? running numbers?

I cant believe the 5 votes!! one from former atheletic director!!! talk about backstabbing and scared!!!! it is a reign of terror!!!

Go back to south allegheny and clairton football risha, and keep your corruptness out of our town!!!!

Landslide Victim wrote:

ONLY IN WEST MIFFLIN JUST WAIT THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME
Has anyone noticed that this borough and its' clowns make the papers weekly for something that is either wrong or corrupt?
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THE TAXPAYING CITIZENS OF THIS BOROUGH ARE STARTING TO SPEAK OUT AND TO ATTEND MEETINGS
Changes for this borough are happening. Don't give up the fight....it is only the beginning.

West Mifflin Area hikes taxes, replaces coach



Diane Stanesic was one of several residents to speak out at a packed West Mifflin Area school board meeting Tuesday night.(Cindy Shegan Keeley)
By ERIC SLAGLE
Daily News Staff Writer
Taxpayers in the West Mifflin Area School District will be paying more money to the district this year.

The board on Tuesday night adopted a $45,409,837 budget for the 2009-10 school year, and with it a .7 mill tax increase.

It also hired a new girls varsity basketball coach despite protests from parents, coaches and others that longtime head coach Phil Shar should remain in his post.

Superintendent Patrick A. Risha also took heat from some attending the meeting over his work attendance record.

The tax increase will amount to about $46.20 more in taxes annually for residents, based on the average house assessment rate in the district, which is $66,000, according to district Business Manager Dennis Cmar.

The new budget and tax rate, which were approved by a single 5-4 consent vote, represents an increase of about $1,044,477 over the spending plan approved last year and brings the millage rate to 22.992 mills.

"It's nobody's fault. It's the global economy," Risha said of the tax hike.

He said a recent appeal settlement that reduced Century III Mall's assessed value from a high of $112 million several years ago to $58 million this year took a big chunk out of the district's tax revenues.

Risha said the district this week will cut a $1.8 million refund check to the mall for taxes collected over the past three years. Going forward, he said the new assessed rate would mean a loss of $1.2 million annually for the district.

"It's just a bad break for us," he said.

To read this and all the stories in today's Daily News, eligible subscribers can register for our Electronic Edition.

Phil Shar replaces as West Mifflin Area girls coach
By JOSH YOHE, Daily News Staff Writer
07/01/2009

There have been three WPIAL championship teams in the history of the West Mifflin Area school district. The man who coached all of those teams has been shown the door by the West Mifflin Area school board.

Phil Shar, the larger-than-life coach of the West Mifflin girls basketball team, received an enormous amount of public support at Tuesday night's meeting. He did not, however, receive the support of the school board.
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Thanks to a 5-4 vote, Shar's former assistant coach, Mindy McClelland, is the new head coach of the Lady Titans.

"I wasn't even allowed to speak," he said. "This whole thing was ridiculous. I just can't believe this has happened. We had something special here. I loved these girls, helped them get scholarships. It was a special thing we had here, and now I guess that tradition is gone."

Droves of West Mifflin residents spoke on Shar's behalf in the overflowed board room.

The school board, however, did not waver from pre-meeting speculation that McClelland would be named coach via a 5-4 vote.

John J. Donis, Edward J. Schueler, Michael Price and Richard Fialkovich voted against the hiring of McClelland. Ned Mervos, Diana Olasz, Dr. Albert Graham, Kathleen Bracco and Michael Jakubovic voted in favor of McClelland's hiring.

Shar did not have kind words for the five board members who essentially sided with Superintendent Patrick A. Risha, opting to keep Shar from the post he has occupied for 19 years.

"Those five people that voted against me are back-stabbers," Shar said. "Every single one of them."

Risha made the decision to fire Shar in late May following comments the coach made in The Daily News. Shar commented in May that he had been "coaching under a reign of terror" with Risha as superintendent.

That comment appeared to haunt Shar during the most compelling moment of the evening, when Olasz gave a lengthy speech in which she explained why she voted in favor of McClelland.

Shar and Olasz previously enjoyed a good relationship and Olasz's daughter even plays for the Lady Titans.

"I took great offense to that (reign of terror) comment," she said.

To read this and all the stories in today's Daily News, eligible subscribers can register for our Electronic Edition.

Still waiting to someone to look into why Mindy was called into Hoover's office (high school principal) and give the details about her questionable behavior.

I seen in the Daily News that West Mifflin increased the school tax .7 mills..... and Risha's excuse was,(and I quote)... It's nobody's fault,It's the global economy"... Does this guy also know that people are losing their jobs,savings, etc.. So why not cut some staff members from the district? Cut back on expenses?
He willing to take a pay cut?? Anyone working for the school district being ask to "freeze their pay?" F*CKING AMAZING !!! This is the same mind set as the present council for the borough !!! But let's NOT forget,we need a new school !!!! And as far as the 5 that voted Risha to work from home,should be FIRED as well !!! Is this guy ever going to come back to work?? Or does he lay around all day stuffing his face with pizza,hoagies,donuts,etc. etc., Anyone hear when his "by pass" surgery is scheduled? And I will say this,I wonder why I vote....things NEVER change !!

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp...

Send the fat pig Risha to the slaughter house!

well the solicitor was trying to hide behind the protective health care information act and said they don't discuss the employee health issues in public. Well Mr Cambest, Risha opened the door when he told the PPG that he can't sit for more then 2 hours and that he has weight related issues. How the hell does the school board not question a physician on his yearly physical state he is physically fit to perform his duties, obviously he can't. Maybe they need to take the popcorn machine out of the office and the other garbage snacks. If you are reading these Jack it is HIPAA, not HIPPA and you stated last night at the meeting, get your term correct.

WHAT IS HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (August 21), Public Law 104-191. Also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act. The regulations which the US Department of Health and Human Services have published as required by HIPAA are known as the Privacy Rule, and you may have heard it referred to as the new Federal Privacy Laws.

In addition Mr Risha opened the door when he gave the PPG an interview disclosing the information

I saw Risha last night at the meeting....he was as big as a house.....he must go 350-390 pounds.....Now the thing about this gastric by pass operation......they WILL NOT operate on you unless you slim down just a tad.....You have to go to meetings,and meet certain criterias...weight management,counciling,show that YOU can lose weight......It's not like you can say "I'm FAT,Please do the surgery!" Google how the process works. Is ANYONE keeping track of the process for which he is suppose to be doing??? Anyone checking his medical records?? Is he a candidate for this operation? NOT everyone is !! Is Risha giving the board all the information?? Is ANYONE asking questions as far as "When will the surgery occur?" ( time frame )
This guy going to work at home until his contract is up?? I know medical records are protected under the HIPAA,but if you're paying someone for sitting on his FAT ASS at home on the tax payers dime.......someone should know what is going on here.Next meeting we can ask....Let's all keep pressure on Risha and the school board....Don't let up now or THEY WIN !!! Your taxes will also go up in 2011.....That's a GIMME !!! With the new
middle school being built !!! And dont forget ALL the raises for the teachers and administration in the years to come..... This Risha guy has a shakey past,as the posts in here have proven.. I didn't see ANY DIRT on Phil Shar that Risha fired,that controlled the strings for the 5 puppets that he got to vote Shar out. This guy has bullshitted eveyone on the board.....and they bow to him??? No backbone for the board members..
Any "PERKS" down the line for the 5 that voted Shar out??? YOU BETCHA !!!! Risha is creepy,dont trust him,I dont even trust the school board now !!!! That's a shame !!!

I voted for Shar and against the tax raise even though most of the money will be for raises for my son in law who has about 15 jobs in the district that pay 5000 each in addition to his teaching job. If you need anything, let me Dohn Jonis know. Janitor jobs all around without raising taxes if you vote for me Dohn Jonis.

WM Parent wrote:

So ... how do taxpayers get rid of the Superintendent?

Keep their feet to the fire,,,attend all meetings.pack the house.ask about when this surgery is suppose to take place,insist that Risha comes to work or resign !!!!! Put pressure on the board too!! Keep their feet to the fire......We need more speakers next time,,,,let the meeting go on for 4 hours.......DONT GIVE UP !!! PLEASE!!!!!

Dohn Jonis wrote:

I voted for Shar and against the tax raise even though most of the money will be for raises for my son in law who has about 15 jobs in the district that pay 5000 each in addition to his teaching job. If you need anything, let me Dohn Jonis know. Janitor jobs all around without raising taxes if you vote for me Dohn Jonis.

I need a job too !! Hair dye has gone up in price !!!

Ray Butko wrote:

<quoted text> I need a job too !! Hair dye has gone up in price !!!

Ray, you vote for me and you will have a janitor job that will allow you to have all the hair dye and polyester suits you want. You closet will be full of all kinds of man made fabrics! You will have every shade of weird hair color!

mindy was called in to the office(from what I heard) for being ACCUSED of acting too much like a STUDENT.TALKING ABOUT GIRLS LIKE SHE was in high school.hanging out with a few MALE STUDENTS former male basketball player, Chris) after hours and doing illegal activities, sex, drugs(likes her coke) and buying alcohol and doing certain b ball players HOMEWORK AND PROJECTS SO THEY COULD CONTINUE TO PLAY........good luck wm..good luck mindy,,,,,,,,,hope you grew up