From the BCCT.
Reminder: TONIGHT, 7:00 P.M. in the high school auditorium.
Public hearing Thursday to close M.R. Reiter Elementary
Posted in News on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 at 3:11 pm by Courier Times reporter Manasee Wagh
Morrisville’s residents will voice their opinions and concerns Thursday at a public hearing to consider permanently closing down M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
The board majority has been encouraging the closing of one elementary in the financially strapped district. Selling the property would provide money to renovate the district’s two other school buildings, board President William Hellmann has said. Both Morrisville Middle/Senior High School and Grandview Elementary School are in somewhat better shape than Reiter.
Reiter parents have expressed concern over the idea of closing their children’s school, the larger of the district’s two elementary schools.
Its operational problems culminated in a December furnace explosion, driving its more than 250 pre-K through fifth-grade students to other district locations. Next month, district officials expect to install modular units on Grandview’s property to house the displaced children.
After the public hearing about Reiter, the board cannot make any decisions about closing the building for at least 90 days, according to school code.
Parents are also upset that the board is mulling over a long-term plan to send grades nine through 12 to other districts, turning Morrisville into a pre-K through eighth-grade district. The feasibility of this endeavor is still uncertain.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
IMPORTANT Reiter Closure Meeting Info
I received this important information about the special meeting Thursday evening to close M. R. Reiter. DO NOT ALLOW THIS MODIFICATION OF THE CONDITIONS YOU ARE USED TO STOP YOU FROM SPEAKING. Be prepared. Be ready.
Pennsylvania code is not well posted online. Here is an entry from the Pennsylvania Newspapers Association as a guide to
Closing a School (24 P.S. § 7-780)
In the event of a permanent closing of a public school, a public hearing must be held at least three (3) months before the decision of the board relating to the school closing. Notice of the hearing must be given in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district at least 15 days prior to the hearing date.
The board has fulfilled this provision, but like everything else in this district, we find out about the details with almost no time to prepare. Does anyone have a copy of the statute that can be posted so that we, the people, (where have I heard that phrase before?), know the law? Maybe the school board or the solicitor would have it posted on the district website along with all the presentations and testimony taken at the meeting.
The hearing scheduled for this Thursday evening is a hearing under Section 780 of the Public School Code. It is different than a typical school board public meeting in that the Administration would give a presentation, followed possibly by contracted professionals to provide their opinion. Members of the public who determine to participate in the hearing can also comment upon the permanent closing of M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
It is a hearing. Everyone who participates will be sworn. They will be giving their names to a Court Reporter (stenographer) so that a full and complete record will be available. The solicitor would start by stating the purpose of the hearing and admitting into evidence affidavits of posting and advertisement. The official testimony will follow.
In terms of the procedure for the hearing (length of testimony, number of witnesses, etc.) the presiding officer (President of the Board) will determine. We should have all those interested in providing testimony sign a card with name and address. Based upon the number of witnesses, the presiding officer can increase the normal (board policy) time allotment to 4 or 5 minutes and also announce that anyone can provide written testimony up to three days following the hearing and that the record will be supplemented with the written testimony. That way everyone can be assured of participation in the hearing.
Pennsylvania code is not well posted online. Here is an entry from the Pennsylvania Newspapers Association as a guide to
Closing a School (24 P.S. § 7-780)
In the event of a permanent closing of a public school, a public hearing must be held at least three (3) months before the decision of the board relating to the school closing. Notice of the hearing must be given in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district at least 15 days prior to the hearing date.
The board has fulfilled this provision, but like everything else in this district, we find out about the details with almost no time to prepare. Does anyone have a copy of the statute that can be posted so that we, the people, (where have I heard that phrase before?), know the law? Maybe the school board or the solicitor would have it posted on the district website along with all the presentations and testimony taken at the meeting.
The hearing scheduled for this Thursday evening is a hearing under Section 780 of the Public School Code. It is different than a typical school board public meeting in that the Administration would give a presentation, followed possibly by contracted professionals to provide their opinion. Members of the public who determine to participate in the hearing can also comment upon the permanent closing of M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
It is a hearing. Everyone who participates will be sworn. They will be giving their names to a Court Reporter (stenographer) so that a full and complete record will be available. The solicitor would start by stating the purpose of the hearing and admitting into evidence affidavits of posting and advertisement. The official testimony will follow.
In terms of the procedure for the hearing (length of testimony, number of witnesses, etc.) the presiding officer (President of the Board) will determine. We should have all those interested in providing testimony sign a card with name and address. Based upon the number of witnesses, the presiding officer can increase the normal (board policy) time allotment to 4 or 5 minutes and also announce that anyone can provide written testimony up to three days following the hearing and that the record will be supplemented with the written testimony. That way everyone can be assured of participation in the hearing.
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