Superintendent Support Letter

[RFlanag@aol.com]

Has your support letter been sent? Attached file has a sample support letter.

Below is a copy of the letter that was sent from Superintendent Dale 
Frederick to Councilman Dan Cohen. Please note that since I did note receive 
a scanned copy the letterhead and signature does not appear. Anyone wanting a 
hard copy please e-mail me with your name and address.

See you at Hill House tonight at 6:30 p.m. for the I-Net community meeting.


SUPERINTENDENT FREDERICK'S SUPPORT LETTER


April 28, 1999

The Honorable Dan Cohen
Pittsburgh City Council 
5th Floor, City-County Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Dear Councilman Cohen:

First, I would like to thank you for taking the lead on the enormous and 
complex task of negotiations with AT&T/TCI regarding the city's cable 
franchise agreement.  We in the School District are aware that your vision is 
beyond City interests and includes both district and community needs.  We 
appreciate efforts you have made toward the realization of this vision and 
would like to extend our support to you and others involved in the 
negotiations.

Specifically, the joint proposal would be most beneficial not only for the 
education of our young people, but also our need to communicate with our 
constituents.   On our own, with our major budgetary constraints, we could 
never finance the necessary infrastructure and technology required for a 
fiber I-net system.  This system, which would allow us to transmit data, 
voice and video between and among our facilities, could save the district a 
great deal of money in the areas of staff development and communications, for 
example.

Providing network access for community groups would enable our students to 
continue their studies after school hours, promote lifelong learning and job 
opportunities for citizens, and enhance our communication with the 
communities we serve.  We would welcome the opportunity to expand the I-net 
to community sites where feasible, within the confines of our budget and the 
need to keep our system secure and safeguard the confidentiality of certain 
records.

Please let us know how we might be of service to you in supporting this 
cause.  This time around, the Pittsburgh School District is taking a much 
stronger interest in the city's cable franchise agreement.

Sincerely,



Dale E. Frederick
Superintendent of Schools


cc:	Members, Pittsburgh School Board
	Members, Pittsburgh City Council
	Mayor Tom Murphy
	Mr. Jerry Balbier
	Mr. Richard Flanagan
	Mr. John Barry