Let's hear from the people who SUPPORT the Emperor. How is this sitting with you?
Residents angered by proposals
Battling over budget
By MANASEE WAGH
STAFF WRITER
In an effort to further reduce costs for the upcoming school year, the Morrisville school board agreed 6-0 Wednesday night to consider trimming proposed increases in funding for special education and alternative and charter schools next year.
If the proposals are finalized, the expected increase for special education could be reduced by more than $91,000, or 40 percent. The anticipated increase in charter school funding would be cut by almost $59,000, or 40 percent. Likewise, alternative school funding would be cut by more than $114,000, or 54 percent of the expected increase.
In addition, the board will consider eliminating several positions.
The proposals did not sit well with the approximately 50 residents who attended Wednesday night’s meeting.
“These changes seem to directly impact our children,” said Ann Perry, a resident with children in the district.
On Tuesday, board President William Hellmann directed district Business Administrator Reba Dunford to incorporate the suggested changes into the board’s proposed 2008-09 school budget.
Hellmann’s proposals would reduce expenses by about $1.57 million, but would also reduce revenue by about $150,000 because of less money from taxes.
According to the proposals, the average property tax next year would be $3,371 on an average $18,000 property assessment. Without the changes Hellmann requested, taxes would be $3,416, still less than the average tax of $3,692 this year.
While the proposed changes would reduce the millage rate by 17.8 mills to a 2008-09 total of 187.3, the administration on Wednesday warned board members that this kind of reduction would make the following year’s taxes skyrocket.
District Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson advised the board against cutting the proposed increases.
The state requires that school districts fund whatever special education services are necessary for all special education students.
“We’d get sued if we didn’t pay for special education costs,” Dunford said.
According to Dunford, the Pennsylvania Department of Education would remove charter school tuition from the state subsidy that Morrisville would get next year, so the district has no choice about paying the tuition.
Other ways Hellmann wants to cut expenses is to eliminate staff positions, including the principal’s position from M. R. Reiter Elementary School. Principal Karen Huggins recently retired from the school. Getting rid of the position would save the district more than $128,000.
In a related move, the board also wants to eliminate a teacher position, which would save the district $68,200.
According to Dunford, the grant writer’s position would be dissolved as well, netting the district about another $72,000.
Johanny Manning, another resident with children in the district, wanted to know how one principal would take over the duties for two schools. She and about five other speakers expressed outrage about cutting special education and money for charter and alternative schools.
“How are we going to survive?” she asked. “What happens when we know we need the funding? Because we will.”
Hellmann had no response to the public comments.
At that, board member Joseph Kemp was incensed.
“Not to respond to these parents, these concerned citizens, is really disrespectful,” he told Hellmann. He went on, “These cuts will take money from those who need it most,” referring to the planned special education reductions.
The deadline for final changes to the budget is June 25. The board will have until then to tweak the plan.
12 comments:
Parents - Maybe, like us, your stomachs turned when hearing the budget news. I felt a sense of panic that our children will suffer dearly with this cuts, and that those least likely to speak for themselves are being targeted.
Don't let this board override your child's rights. If your child has an IEP (special education plan), the district is obligated to provide those services determined as needed by QUALIFIED educators (not elected officials). If you are concerned that your child might need an IEP, then advocate to for testing. You have a right to initiate this process. Our experience has been that the staff members have been nothing but helpful and cooperative with us with any needs our children exhibited, but with this budget crunch they will be overwhelmed. An IEP protects your child's rights to special education services, as determined appropriate.
If you have questions, complaints or concerns, The Disability Rights Network provides assistance and advocacy -800) 692-7443 or (717) 236-8110. Another place you can contact is the Education Law Center - their website is www.elc-pa.org. And remember, we are in this together. Share this information with a friend, please.
On your rights, again:
I am certain that under Right to Know laws we have the right to have our questions answered, whether Mr. Hellman likes it or not. Does anyone know the current process for such requests, for example, detailed answers as to exactly what these budget cuts translate to for our students?
Further, in addition to what is mentioned in the article, it seems that there are drastic cuts in textbooks, supplies, and staff development. Such cuts more than a decade ago took years to overcome - any of you "older" parents remember those outdated science and social studies textbooks? Was your child surprised to learn that we'd been to the moon and the Berlin Wall came down?
I also noticed a significant cut in security. Given that the security in place is already minimal, this should be of concern to parents. That's coming from someone who firmly believes the best security is supportive staffing and timely and appropriate intervention with students at risk. With many such services being cut, and a reduction in security, there is a recipe for tragedy.
Further, word from a concerned community member is that the Hellman master plan is to put all the students in the high school (yes, all, rumor has it) without any restructuring. The scrapped new school plan called for separation into elementary, middle and high school with age appropriate facilities for each level. The high school facilities are not to PDE code for elementary, nor is there anything close to adequate space for all our students. Imagine crowded classrooms. Keep in mind this has been studied by previous boards. The plan is not likely to be legally acceptable, but then again, that hasn't seemed to matter to this board majority.
It's time for this board to come clean on the plans - if this is rumor, correct me, and tell us what the actual plan is. The public has a right to know. Board members - you may be willing to ignore your moral obligation to the students, or pretend that you care while passing an impossible budget. But we will NOT let you ignore your legal obligations to our children.
As a final note, a special thank you to Joe Kemp for standing up last night.
The best part last night was when Hellmann asked for the audience to show some respect to the speakers. We burst into spontaneous laughter.
When I used the same line a few moments later from the audience, I earned the evil eye of spite from Al Radosti.
Both Hellmann and Radosti were pretty ticked off last night, badgering both Beth Yonson and Reba Dunford. They were doing their best to advise the board, and the board didn't want to hear anything.
Mike Fitzpatrick was not there either. Hellmann sent him away after the executive session was completed. Fitzpatrick probably should have stayed. It took a full ten minutes for the administration and some board members to convince Hellmann that the budget vote could not be tabled because the 30 day public review clock was ticking.
Thank you Joe Kemp. I've stood at the microphone several times to point out that the board is unresponsive to the public.
Why in the world did someone vote for these people who care nothing about the children? (Except a few you know who you are)
Why can't Hellman answer any dang gone question??
By the way what good are you "the board" doing for our wonderful kids?
Also whats the deal with the boilers that are too old to fix so I hear-- by the way.. Will we ever get answers on anything?
How could any of HELLman and his crew even think of telling a parent that there kid could not get special education if the child needs it?
Not to mention the nerve of Mihock and her borough friends to lie swearing up a storm on election day that she is so against putting the little kids with the high school kids in the same area--well guess what folks now Hellman and his crew are planning to put the entire town of kids pre-k through 12th in the high school building! Golly where will they fit all those kids when every class now is filled with high school kid's? Well if this is a rumor how about this strange and odd way of letting us know your plans...._an actual answer and explanation"!!!!!!! is that possible Mr "HELL"man??????????
Is there a path for a recall election on these board members? A vote of "no confidence" or some such?
In this town it wouldn't happen. Too many people just care about themselves.
If the Morrisville School Board cuts the special education services, the Morrisville School District will spend more money than the anticipated savings in legal fees. How will they explain to the Department of Education Due Process Hearing Officer, Office of Civil Rights and the Supreme Courts that they violated the special education students’ civil rights to save the taxpayers a few dollars? Before we have a class action lawsuit, please do not cut the special education budget.
How about the cuts in text books? Will the ones that are always bringing up "scores" be standing up at the mic next year, when the kids are learning from old ratty, outdated textbooks! How about the cost of supplies being slashed for the elementary kids? We are going to be buying more then tissues, santizer and wipes come next year!
Is anybody really suprized?
"Thirdly, special education costs are exploding... we are too liberal in this area" Bill Hellman
Borows, you're off to a great start. I wish I had the energy to go back through all the back-entries on this blog to see how so many of the things people warned about this new board doing have actually come true. I have joked before about it not taking Nostradamus to see this coming. I hope that others are beginning to see that us "blogheads" aren't just a lunatic fringe and that maybe, just maybe, our warnings were valid and that we've been making, for the most part, good credible arguments all along.
Help! Please believe us!
May 24, 2008 ONLINE EDITION
Soiux City Journal
Plaintiffs post bond in Spirit Lake School Board case
12:31 PM
By Greg Drees Journal correspondent
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- Five plaintiffs who are seeking the removal of two Spirit Lake School Board members posted a required $90,000 bond Wednesday in district court.
Judge Frank Nelson had ordered the bond at a hearing March 17. If the bond
had not been posted by Wednesday, the case against school board president Beth Will and vice president Ann Goerss would have been dismissed.
Iowa law requires private individuals filing actions in district court seeking to remove elected officials from office to post a bond covering court and legal costs.
Several motions in the case -- including one for dismissal filed by attorney Steve Avery -- will be heard at 10 a.m. April 7 in Dickinson County District Court.
Last week, after a physical plant and equipment levy vote failed, the school board voted unanimously to cut more than $1 million from next year's budget. The fiscally troubled district faces faculty, coaching and administrative position cuts. Among them: One K-6 teacher, one school nurse, six individuals who resigned or took early retirement, one custodian, a reduction in textbook materials, elimination of driver's education, one media position and deans of students for the middle and high schools.
The school board has been under fire since Feb. 5, when high school principal Jedd Sherman tended his resignation which he says was made under duress. Students protested the resignation and court actions followed.
Here's the link for the Sioux City article, March 27, 2008
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