Thanks to the contributor who noticed this money for nothing story. Maybe we could apply and use it to climb out of our dire straits.
State Funds Move Classrooms Into The Future
By Peter Ciferri, Advance Editor
Misbehaving students at Council Rock's two high schools won't have to worry about clapping erasers and washing chalkboards as punishment anymore.Today, students say it's "kind of a joke" when teachers use the green, slate fossils of the classroom, as more and more teachers are turning to interactive white boards to deliver their message.
Fueled by over $750, 000 in Pennsylvania Classrooms for the Future (CFF) grant money, 68 classrooms across district high schools are now equipped with technology from laptops and digital cameras to camcorders and Web cams.
But the consensus is that the project's crown jewels are the interactive white boards installed across many core classrooms.
The boards, about four feet tall and mounted overtop existing chalkboards, allow teachers to utilize touch screen technology to draw diagrams, create notes and even make a database of previous lessons. "I embraced it with open arms", Physics teacher Joe Warwick said. "The kids are much more likely to look at the drawings I'm going to make on the board with the different colors, than what I would just draw on a chalkboard."
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Warwick has been using the technology since September. During classes, he navigates through the program - which operates like a PowerPoint and Photoshop hybrid - with ease. "There are times when it makes it much, much easier", Warwick explained. "I can say it but without a simulator, there's nothing like seeing it on the screen." Warwick said he often e-mails students notes or study guides based on the computerized lessons. "It makes it more interactive", student Marissa Custren said. "Instead of just telling us, they can actually show us the notes."
According to a description on state.pa.us, the CFF program "recognizes and embraces the need for high school reform preparing students to enter and successfully compete in the ever-expanding high-tech global marketplace." Council Rock was one of two Bucks County schools (Bensalem) to receive first year project funding in 2006. This year, that number jumped to $742, 000 and the district has applied for a third year grant to equip 41 more classes next year. The state also funds training for teachers not experienced with the technology. "It's really opening up classroom walls", CFF Coach Suzanne Loftus said.
She said the program also allows teachers and students to work together on outside projects, using new digital cameras and camcorders for interactive homework assignments. "These projects teach you how to pace yourself, how to interview people, all those 21st century learning skills you're looking for", Loftus explained. "It's preparing them for the job market that they're going to be exposed to when they're getting through college." Each teacher also has their own Web page, where students can access notes and use blogging tools to hold classroom discussions even when school is out.
One Council Rock South Psychology class even links to a classroom at Council Rock North, where there are no staff members trained in the subject. The South teacher uses a monitor to see and hear the students as they sit in class and students watch their teacher over a projector. They get homework via fax machine and are still under live supervision by a substitute teacher.
"I think [CFF] is going to revolutionize learning", Loftus said. "It's going to be standard eventually." Currently, around 1, 750 students at North an 1, 890 students at South use the CFF equipment in some form every day. Loftus said the students and most teachers took to the technology immediately, and those who were reluctant at first, are now embracing the schools'goal.
"Nobody has said 'I'm sorry I did this.' They all say 'Thank God I'm in the program what are we doing next?'"
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
If Only I had Said "Morrisville is GOOD for business"
Remember when the Emperor decreed that he would not recommend business investment in Morrisville? We know the borough council backs up that view (remember Gateway?), but did you know that civilized communities know about and use the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.
Giving back for June 3
Bucks County Courier Times
Click Here!
FirstService Bank donated $8,050 to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA to support the YMCA's full- and half-day preschool programs and several programs for teenagers. FirstService is a division of Boyertown-based National Penn Bank, with branches in Warminster, Bristol, Middletown and Bensalem. The money was donated under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which gives businesses tax credits for approved education-related contributions.
Freedom Credit Union of Warminster sponsored A.M. Kulp Elementary School's Reading Day, a community-wide literacy project held last month. Freedom's marketing coordinator, Cyndi Cohen, read to second graders at the Hatfield Township school, which is part of the North Penn School District. Freedom Credit Union, which has branches in Philadelphia, Warminster and Lansdale, has been a major sponsor of the event for three years.
Rita's Water Ice hopes to raise more than $580,000 for pediatric cancer research during its latest paper lemon promotion. All Rita's locations will sell paper lemons for $1 during June. Proceeds will go to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. In two years, the Bensalem-based company has raised more than $1 million for the foundation, which is named after Alex Scott. She died of cancer in 2004.
Giving back for June 3
Bucks County Courier Times
Click Here!
FirstService Bank donated $8,050 to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA to support the YMCA's full- and half-day preschool programs and several programs for teenagers. FirstService is a division of Boyertown-based National Penn Bank, with branches in Warminster, Bristol, Middletown and Bensalem. The money was donated under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which gives businesses tax credits for approved education-related contributions.
Freedom Credit Union of Warminster sponsored A.M. Kulp Elementary School's Reading Day, a community-wide literacy project held last month. Freedom's marketing coordinator, Cyndi Cohen, read to second graders at the Hatfield Township school, which is part of the North Penn School District. Freedom Credit Union, which has branches in Philadelphia, Warminster and Lansdale, has been a major sponsor of the event for three years.
Rita's Water Ice hopes to raise more than $580,000 for pediatric cancer research during its latest paper lemon promotion. All Rita's locations will sell paper lemons for $1 during June. Proceeds will go to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. In two years, the Bensalem-based company has raised more than $1 million for the foundation, which is named after Alex Scott. She died of cancer in 2004.
Pennsbury Budget Woes
You hear what I'm saying? The budget is too high! It's my job to cut the taxes. That's what the people of Morrisville voted us in to do, and that's what I'm going to do.
But, Mr. Hellmann...this is the Pennsbury school district.
I'm just practicing. Fitz will make sure it happens. Besides, why aren't you cutting the special education budget?
Budget panel’s suggestions include hiring freeze
The citizens advisory budget committee also recommended cutting expenditures by 2 percent to relieve the tax burden on residents.
By MANASEE WAGH
Pennsbury’s citizens advisory budget committee suggests that the district freeze hirings and trim expenditures by 2 percent to hold the line on taxes.
“We expect them to do more with less,” said Gary Cruzan, a committee member and a Lower Makefield resident.
According to proposed figures, the owner of a $31,160 average assessed property in the district is facing $4,574 in real estate taxes next year — an increase of $231.
The committee wants the district to relieve some of the tax burden by reducing next year’s roughly $174.5 million proposed budget. It’s up about 4 percent more than this year’s.
Cruzan said he hopes next year’s contract negotiations take into account that the taxpayer “bears the burden” of salaries and benefits. The district’s total salaries and benefits are expected to constitute about three-quarters of the budget next year.
Board member Gene Dolnick came up with the idea to form the committee for more citizen participation in the budget process, said Gregory Lucidi, the board president. Last November, administration members appointed seven residents from three of the four municipalities that make up the Pennsbury district. Nobody from Tullytown applied.
The other three people on the committee are part of the administration and include Isabel Miller, the district’s business administrator.
The advisory committee’s goal is to provide recommendations to the school board for reducing costs and generating revenue, so that taxes can be kept as low as possible.
Cruzan wants the public to know that the seven residential members, who worked as a group without a chairman, oppose the tax hike the district unveiled May 8.
“Every year, they ask for a tax increase that exceeds inflation, but the economy is in a very big slowdown and it’s time to get realistic,” he said.
Cruzan stressed that the committee doesn’t want any cutbacks or changes that would adversely affect education in the district.
Instead of cutting programs or funding to educational services, Cruzan said the seven members would like to see the board and administration work on reducing expenses in other areas, such as:
The committee also is looking for a solution to transportation costs, which have been rising as a result of higher fuel prices.
Committee members will present details of these recommendations in a video, which will be posted after June 5 on the Pennsbury School District Web site, www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us.
The school board and administration have said they will continue looking for ways to reduce tax increases next year, including reviewing the advisory committee’s recommendations.
After the administration presented the proposed budget in early May, Lucidi said his goal was to stay below the state’s mandated 4.4. percent tax increase cap.
On Tuesday, Miller said she anticipates a significant reduction to the proposed tax hike by June 12, when the final budget is supposed to be adopted. The advisory committee has been meeting since Dec. 6, considering the administration’s advice and input along the way. The seven residential members want the administration to include them in the process of determining the feasibility of their proposal, according to their report.
“The budget is like any other entity. It has to get real, and the school district has to share the sacrifices that private citizens have to make,” said Cruzan. “We don’t necessarily expect the district to follow our recommendations, but we feel the recommendations should carry weight and be considered, because we’re a cross-section of the community.”
But, Mr. Hellmann...this is the Pennsbury school district.
I'm just practicing. Fitz will make sure it happens. Besides, why aren't you cutting the special education budget?
Budget panel’s suggestions include hiring freeze
The citizens advisory budget committee also recommended cutting expenditures by 2 percent to relieve the tax burden on residents.
By MANASEE WAGH
Pennsbury’s citizens advisory budget committee suggests that the district freeze hirings and trim expenditures by 2 percent to hold the line on taxes.
“We expect them to do more with less,” said Gary Cruzan, a committee member and a Lower Makefield resident.
According to proposed figures, the owner of a $31,160 average assessed property in the district is facing $4,574 in real estate taxes next year — an increase of $231.
The committee wants the district to relieve some of the tax burden by reducing next year’s roughly $174.5 million proposed budget. It’s up about 4 percent more than this year’s.
Cruzan said he hopes next year’s contract negotiations take into account that the taxpayer “bears the burden” of salaries and benefits. The district’s total salaries and benefits are expected to constitute about three-quarters of the budget next year.
Board member Gene Dolnick came up with the idea to form the committee for more citizen participation in the budget process, said Gregory Lucidi, the board president. Last November, administration members appointed seven residents from three of the four municipalities that make up the Pennsbury district. Nobody from Tullytown applied.
The other three people on the committee are part of the administration and include Isabel Miller, the district’s business administrator.
The advisory committee’s goal is to provide recommendations to the school board for reducing costs and generating revenue, so that taxes can be kept as low as possible.
Cruzan wants the public to know that the seven residential members, who worked as a group without a chairman, oppose the tax hike the district unveiled May 8.
“Every year, they ask for a tax increase that exceeds inflation, but the economy is in a very big slowdown and it’s time to get realistic,” he said.
Cruzan stressed that the committee doesn’t want any cutbacks or changes that would adversely affect education in the district.
Instead of cutting programs or funding to educational services, Cruzan said the seven members would like to see the board and administration work on reducing expenses in other areas, such as:
- Impose an immediate hiring freeze for all positions not mandated by law for 2008-09.
- Identify capital expenses, purchases and operational and maintenance expenses that can be deferred until the following budget year.
- Provide incentives for district budget managers to find ways to save.
- Ask all district employees to generate ideas for cost savings based on their familiarity with district operations.
- Track down violators of the district’s residency requirements to avoid paying for students who belong in another district.
- Start a comprehensive review of building usage to see if the district is making efficient use of space.
- Review printing and mailing costs.
- Find ways to extract small savings from sources like various employee benefits, district insurance policies, telephone costs and other sundry expenses.
The committee also is looking for a solution to transportation costs, which have been rising as a result of higher fuel prices.
Committee members will present details of these recommendations in a video, which will be posted after June 5 on the Pennsbury School District Web site, www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us.
The school board and administration have said they will continue looking for ways to reduce tax increases next year, including reviewing the advisory committee’s recommendations.
After the administration presented the proposed budget in early May, Lucidi said his goal was to stay below the state’s mandated 4.4. percent tax increase cap.
On Tuesday, Miller said she anticipates a significant reduction to the proposed tax hike by June 12, when the final budget is supposed to be adopted. The advisory committee has been meeting since Dec. 6, considering the administration’s advice and input along the way. The seven residential members want the administration to include them in the process of determining the feasibility of their proposal, according to their report.
“The budget is like any other entity. It has to get real, and the school district has to share the sacrifices that private citizens have to make,” said Cruzan. “We don’t necessarily expect the district to follow our recommendations, but we feel the recommendations should carry weight and be considered, because we’re a cross-section of the community.”
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