Don't turn your back

From the BCCT.

Why did the BCCT tack on $20 million dollars? The cost of the K-12 was $30 million as shown in previous articles and Google Archives. The archive also highlights how long ago these buildings have been found to be in disrepair and just how long this board of taxpayer advocates have been fighting it. It also shows the ugliness of their tactics through the years.

Why isn't the BCCT also calling for the removal of the school board? If it's clear that"most members are not committed to a high school program at all" then why are these people even on the board?

To the readership in Harrisburg (and yes, there is), if the local newspaper can see that the board has shirked its responsibility, can you see it as well?

Don't turn your back
The welfare of Morrisville students should be uppermost in everybody's mind.

Someone once said "It takes a village to raise a child." With that in mind, we turn to the resurrected debate over transferring Morrisville students to the Pennsbury School District, which once again focuses on cost, capacity, transportation and other issues of practicality. A little history: Morrisville has proposed transferring its 300 or so high school students to another district - preferably Pennsbury - with Morrisville footing the bill for their education. Pennsbury school board members were not receptive to the idea when questioned by our reporter, citing practical concerns and the impact on Pennsbury taxpayers.

For sure, practicality should be part of the debate. What's missing is attention to what's best for kids.

Without a doubt, the best thing for Morrisville students would be to remain at their hometown school in pursuit of a quality education. Problem is, the Morrisville school board is not committed to providing a quality high school program. In fact, most members are not committed to a high school program at all.

The current board majority was elected to nix a $50 million school construction project that would have given the district a new K-12 school. Instead, the board wants to renovate the high school for K-8, closing the two elementary schools and transferring the high school students to a willing taker.

Given the board's political and philosophical makeup, the high school students would be better off elsewhere. That's the sad reality. We're not saying it's OK; just the sad situation that exists. It's also a tough situation for students, their parents and officials in other districts that Morrisville has petitioned to strike a deal.

Indeed, so difficult and sensitive is the situation that we encourage the district's state representatives to get involved. That includes state Rep. John Galloway, D-140, and state Sen. Charles McIlhinney, R-10. It also could and perhaps should include state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, who, with Galloway, represents citizens in Pennsbury.

Galloway already entered the fray, suggesting that Morrisville and Pennsbury place referendums on their ballots. That's one idea. Another might be for the three reps to facilitate discussions between officials and hold informational sessions for citizens. We know money is tight in Harrisburg but maybe funds could be found to help a willing district absorb the Morrisville students.

Whatever happens, we encourage all involved to put the educational welfare of students above all else. Granted, that's the Morrisville board's responsibility - one it has shamefully shirked. We'd just hate to think that everybody intends to turn their backs on those kids.

FOLLOW UP EMAIL: 11:25 AM: There is no Pennsbury fairy...

I thought you might be interested in posting the comments written in response to the Courier editorial. The second and third reflect what we are up against. We have to take care of our own. There is no Pennsbury fairy, and we should stop stalking them with nothing to offer in return:

Pat17, 01-27-09, 8:26 am | Rate: -1 | Report
While I appreciate the sentiment of your editorial, there is a significant factual error. The new school project was NEVER a 50 million dollar project, it was a 30 million dollar project.

Goon, 01-27-09, 8:31 am | Rate: -1 | Report
I think the Pennsbury board is putting students first, the Pennsbury students. Our schools are already overpopulated and there seems to be no feasible reason why us taxpayers should absorb additional costs and lessen our own children's educational experience.

Morrisville residents unfortunately continually vote in incompetent board members and now want to shovel their problem off on us? I don't think so.

Rebecca100, 01-27-09, 9:22 am | Rate: 0 | Report
Pennsbury does not even put Pennsbury students first. Staff come first. Kids are way down the list. Parents get 5 minutes to be ignored at school board meetings. Wellness policies mandated by the federal government and PA dept of education policies like the one for hand washing are being ignored and called "an ideal" not a law. When I came here the gym capacity sign read "300" whereas over 650 students plus staff were attending assemblies. The principal changed the sign to the enrollment number (actually 2 short of the enrollment number, perhaps my 2) a week before the fire marshall came to do the actual inspection.
There seems to be no concern for rules or the kids.

I would like to see these school districts work together for the sake of the kids but each district has to bear its fair share of responsibility for its own resident students too.
But we need a change in heart or a change in personnel in the Pennsbury District too.

snowbird080, 01-27-09, 11:25 am | Rate: Flag 1 Flag | Flag Report
Why are they trying to force Pennsbury to take these students? Why not just send them to Trenton High School where probably most of them belong anyway.

Pat17, 01-27-09, 11:30 am | Rate: Flag -1 Flag | Flag Report
To Rebecca and Goon. As a Morrisville parent I appreciate your comments because this community needs to wake up and take responsibility, and I hope we will. The current board was voted in to end a building project, and ran on the idea that a k-12 school was a bad idea, not just a tax issue.

The new building would have housed all our students in a more cost efficient and educationally sound facility, that was designed to separate age levels and had flexibility to accomodate a changing educational program. We would be in the third year of the three stage tax increase by now and would be realizing significant operating cost reduction had the current board not ended the plan.

Board members have an obligation to act in the educational interest of the students they serve. They are not a taxpayer advocate body, but are charged with upholding quality public education. This board ended the new building project with only a cursory study of the issues with the buildings. Now we are dealing with a crisis and the education of our children has been disrupted, as much as the teachers and kids have made the best of a bad situation. And the "bad" k-12 idea? Now we have it, without any planning, redesign or age appropriate settings for the youn children.

That said, the voters voted based on what the candidates told them, and I know many who would now take back their vote. Hopefully, this is a wake up call - nobody else s going to fic our problems for us. Unfortunately, the ones most affected are those who have no vote at all, the children. Let's hope this is a bad as it gets and the next disaster does not result in tragedy.