From the BCCT
PUBLIC MEETING WRAP
Morrisville Council
215-295-8181
When: Monday, Oct. 20
Issue: Nominate Edward Albertson to fill council vacancy.
Vote: Approved 4-3 by Jane Burger, Eileen Dreisbach, Rita Ledger and Stephen Worob. Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta and David Rivella voted to nominate Fred Kerner.
Issue: Appoint Albertson to the council.
Vote: Approved 7-0.
Issue: Accept Aug. 18 meeting minutes.
Vote: Approved 7-0.
Issue: Pay bills; acknowledge receipt of $64,835.24 from Department of the Auditor General and distribute 100 percent to the Morrisville Fire Co.; award the 2008-09 consortium salt bid; pay $172,402.10 for curb and sidewalk project; pay $79,005.01 for median island and traffic signal installation project; approve change order for curb and sidewalk project and library boiler replacement; pay $8,892 for boiler replacement project; award bid for storm sewer construction to L.C. Costa Contractors for $30,700; award contract for library slate roof repairs to Alper Enterprises for $2,700.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Issue: Acknowledge 2009 community development block grant application for the Morrisville Library air conditioning installation for $194,500; accept state Department of Community and Economic Development grant for $44,500 for an emergency generator for borough hall.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Issue: Appoint Lillian Piscopo to the recreation board.
Vote: Approved 6-1-1. Ledger voted no. Albertson abstained.
Issue: Appoint Patricia Brofman to the recreation board.
Vote: Approved 5-2-1. Ledger and Panzitta voted no. Albertson abstained.
Issue: Approve 2008 Halloween policy; appoint borough manager George Mount as the borough’s open records officer; set an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policy; accept resignation of Andy Thompson from the Landmark Towns of Bucks County steering committee.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Issue: Deny the preliminary plan for Penn Jersey Real Properties because applicant withdrew plans.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Issue: Authorize borough manager to submit grant to DCED in the amount of $5,000 for replacement handguns for the borough police department.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Issue: Advertise rental registration ordinance.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Will Pa. graduation exams improve public education?
A press release from the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Will Pa. graduation exams improve public education?
Gov. Rendell has been pushing the idea of a statewide graduation requirement that all students pass a test (his latest gives one of four options) before graduating. Rendell's plans are taking heat from both lawmakers and education interest groups.
Almost half (47 percent) of Pennsylvania's 11th-grade students don't meet proficiency standards on the PSSA in math, while 35 percent underachieve in reading. Yet, most of these students graduate anyway. The Commonwealth Foundation's examination of student performance results -- given that the state's standards are far below the national standards -- indicates that our public schools are worse than we thought they were.
So is a graduation exam the answer?
Some think that graduation rates are already too low in Pennsylvania (only 60 percent of black males graduate, according to one analysis). Others think too many graduate when they aren't adequately prepared. Last year, 23 states (representing 64 percent of students) had some sort of graduation exam. And at least one study shows that graduation exams do not reduce graduation rates -- though some question whether the exams are meaningful at all.
We don't have any problem with high-stakes testing. After all, "teaching to the test" isn't a problem, if a test adequately measures what children should have learned. But is the State Board of Education the proper entity to create the test?
On the one hand, we like the idea of local control, rather than standards set by a state bureaucracy. On the other hand, it is clear that local government isn't always committed to excellence - see, for instance, the Pittsburgh School District's decision to make 50 percent the lowest possible score on any test.
One thing is certain: Pennsylvania has a long way to go to improve the quality of our public education system, and as our recent experience has shown, simply spending more isn't going to improve the quality of our schools.
Instead, Pennsylvania could look to Florida, which implemented high academic standards and tests, held schools and students accountable, ended social promotion (both before graduation and at earlier grades), and offered an array of school-choice options for families.
Will a graduation exam requirement improve our schools? If so, who should craft it? If not, what should the state do to improve its public schools?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Will Pa. graduation exams improve public education?
Gov. Rendell has been pushing the idea of a statewide graduation requirement that all students pass a test (his latest gives one of four options) before graduating. Rendell's plans are taking heat from both lawmakers and education interest groups.
Almost half (47 percent) of Pennsylvania's 11th-grade students don't meet proficiency standards on the PSSA in math, while 35 percent underachieve in reading. Yet, most of these students graduate anyway. The Commonwealth Foundation's examination of student performance results -- given that the state's standards are far below the national standards -- indicates that our public schools are worse than we thought they were.
So is a graduation exam the answer?
Some think that graduation rates are already too low in Pennsylvania (only 60 percent of black males graduate, according to one analysis). Others think too many graduate when they aren't adequately prepared. Last year, 23 states (representing 64 percent of students) had some sort of graduation exam. And at least one study shows that graduation exams do not reduce graduation rates -- though some question whether the exams are meaningful at all.
We don't have any problem with high-stakes testing. After all, "teaching to the test" isn't a problem, if a test adequately measures what children should have learned. But is the State Board of Education the proper entity to create the test?
On the one hand, we like the idea of local control, rather than standards set by a state bureaucracy. On the other hand, it is clear that local government isn't always committed to excellence - see, for instance, the Pittsburgh School District's decision to make 50 percent the lowest possible score on any test.
One thing is certain: Pennsylvania has a long way to go to improve the quality of our public education system, and as our recent experience has shown, simply spending more isn't going to improve the quality of our schools.
Instead, Pennsylvania could look to Florida, which implemented high academic standards and tests, held schools and students accountable, ended social promotion (both before graduation and at earlier grades), and offered an array of school-choice options for families.
Will a graduation exam requirement improve our schools? If so, who should craft it? If not, what should the state do to improve its public schools?
SchoolBoardTransparency.org: Transparency in Teacher Strikes and Negotiations
A press release from the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives
10/23/08
Pennsylvania school boards get a hand-up
#1 in the nation for teacher strikes
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation announced the launch of a new project engaging in an effort to provide greater transparency in negotiations between school boards and labor unions.
As part of a year-long campaign to provide greater transparency in school district labor negotiations, the Commonwealth Foundation has unveiled a new website and blog, SchoolBoardTransparency.org. SchoolBoardTransparency.org will offer insight and advice in the labor negotiations process for school boards and citizens. The site will provide regular posts on issues, news, and best practices in school district labor negotiations, and allows users to comment and create posts on a moderated blog.
The project will also include a "how-to" manual for school board members looking to provide greater transparency during union negotiations and a resource for media covering public school labor negotiations. The guides will provide the important questions to ask and explain the key issues typically involved in labor negotiation contracts.
Fred D. Baldwin, a school board member of the Carlisle Area School District in Pennsylvania for 14 years and board president for 12 years, is spearheading the project. "Bringing transparency to the board-union bargaining process would encourage both boards and unions to make more realistic proposals," Mr. Baldwin said. "When both sides tell the public what they're proposing and why, the result will be fewer misleading rumors, shorter bargaining periods and fewer teacher strikes. This doesn't require changing the law, just school boards acting on the principle of 'no taxation without information.'"
"The frequency of teacher strikes and long-unresolved labor negotiations in Pennsylvania is partly the result of a lack of openness and public understanding of the underlying issues," said Matthew Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation and a former teacher and public school board member. "Transparency in the negotiation process is crucial if we are seriously committed to improving education and safeguarding taxpayers."
Transparent school labor negotiations and openness in how school districts spend taxpayer money will provide for a more informed debate during contract negotiations, teacher strikes, and school budget discussions. The Commonwealth Foundation's goal is to ensure that citizens have the tools they need to evaluate how their property taxes are spent and to decide on future property tax increases. More transparency in labor negotiations will also make sure the public has adequate information to help school boards and unions set spending priorities during contract negotiations and their annual budget setting.
# # #
The Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org) is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, PA. For more, visit SchoolBoardTransparency.org.
10/23/08
Pennsylvania school boards get a hand-up
#1 in the nation for teacher strikes
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation announced the launch of a new project engaging in an effort to provide greater transparency in negotiations between school boards and labor unions.
As part of a year-long campaign to provide greater transparency in school district labor negotiations, the Commonwealth Foundation has unveiled a new website and blog, SchoolBoardTransparency.org. SchoolBoardTransparency.org will offer insight and advice in the labor negotiations process for school boards and citizens. The site will provide regular posts on issues, news, and best practices in school district labor negotiations, and allows users to comment and create posts on a moderated blog.
The project will also include a "how-to" manual for school board members looking to provide greater transparency during union negotiations and a resource for media covering public school labor negotiations. The guides will provide the important questions to ask and explain the key issues typically involved in labor negotiation contracts.
Fred D. Baldwin, a school board member of the Carlisle Area School District in Pennsylvania for 14 years and board president for 12 years, is spearheading the project. "Bringing transparency to the board-union bargaining process would encourage both boards and unions to make more realistic proposals," Mr. Baldwin said. "When both sides tell the public what they're proposing and why, the result will be fewer misleading rumors, shorter bargaining periods and fewer teacher strikes. This doesn't require changing the law, just school boards acting on the principle of 'no taxation without information.'"
"The frequency of teacher strikes and long-unresolved labor negotiations in Pennsylvania is partly the result of a lack of openness and public understanding of the underlying issues," said Matthew Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation and a former teacher and public school board member. "Transparency in the negotiation process is crucial if we are seriously committed to improving education and safeguarding taxpayers."
Transparent school labor negotiations and openness in how school districts spend taxpayer money will provide for a more informed debate during contract negotiations, teacher strikes, and school budget discussions. The Commonwealth Foundation's goal is to ensure that citizens have the tools they need to evaluate how their property taxes are spent and to decide on future property tax increases. More transparency in labor negotiations will also make sure the public has adequate information to help school boards and unions set spending priorities during contract negotiations and their annual budget setting.
# # #
The Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org) is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, PA. For more, visit SchoolBoardTransparency.org.
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