Who Needs a Referendum?

Apparently, the closing of an elementary school is not the same as the closing of the high school.

Board president William Hellmann said no decision about closing the high school would be made without going to referendum. He agreed to organize a meeting with all board members and community stake holders, including residents, students and teachers, to brainstorm ideas and discuss options for Morrisville going forward.

Ask the Emperor: Where's the referendum?

'It is our future'

By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times

An emotional crowd packed the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School auditorium Wednesday night in a show of support for keeping the 116-year-old high school together.

About 15 people spoke during the school board's public comment session, most giving impassioned statements against dissolving the school.

“We found a gem of a town,” William Martin said of his family's wish to move into Morrisville for its community and small school. If the students are sent to other, larger districts, like nearby Pennsbury, they would have little opportunity to join and excel in sports teams, the band, and other groups, said Martin, father of a student.

The large turnout at the meeting also included about 50 Middle/Senior High School students. Several, including student representative Kimberley Charles, expressed outrage at the board's unwillingness to allow them to speak longer after the end of the 45-minute public comment period.

“Let them speak!” was the often-repeated cry from students and other attendees.

Student Michael Leather said the school is too valuable to disband.

“The teachers here are our mentors for life,” he told the board. “Have a student poll and ask us what we want, since it is our future.”

John W. Jordan, the president of the Bucks County NAACP, also spoke during the public comment session, not only about keeping the school together, but also to point out a racial comment allegedly made by current Morrisville school board member Alfred Radosti.

“The NAACP is asking tonight for the resignation of Mr. Radosti,” said Jordan, whose speech elicited gasps from the crowd and sustained applause.

Jordan said Radosti made his comments in front of another former school board member, who did not want to be named. That member brought the matter to Jordan's attention, and he spoke to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Civil Rights Division and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

“Certain things will not be tolerated,” said Jordan, also vice president of the state NAACP and a former Morrisville school board member. Jordan said he was talking to the state Department of Education to “check on what the board is doing.”

Jordan also addressed concerns that programs might be cut to accommodate financial issues.

After public comment, Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said that neither programs nor textbooks were slated to be cut at this point.

“We looked at the contingency fund of $120,000,” she said, adding that it could be used in place of raising taxes above the state mandated 4.4 percent index.

In an agenda meeting two weeks ago, the board decided to forego applying for state exceptions, which would allow the district to raise taxes above the index to cope with uncontrollable costs.

About two weeks ago it was revealed that some members of the new Morrisville school board majority contacted local school systems to see if they would be interested in accepting its high school students on a tuition basis. This was reportedly one option to relieve financial and other stresses in the district.

Board president William Hellmann said no decision about closing the high school would be made without going to referendum. He agreed to organize a meeting with all board members and community stake holders, including residents, students and teachers, to brainstorm ideas and discuss options for Morrisville going forward.

Staff writer Kate Fratti contributed to this article. Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyburbs.com. Kate Fratti can be reached at 215-949-4179 or kfratti@phillyBurbs.com.

January 24, 2008 6:29 AM