From the BCCT.
No new taxes.
Board vows no tax increase
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
District officials continue to pursue an early retirement incentive for teachers and other possible cost-cutting measures.
Bristol school board members committed Thursday night to not raise property taxes for the upcoming school year.
They made the declaration after learning the district had received an approximate $800,000 reimbursement from the state for renovations done a few years ago on the district administrative building.
The reimbursement could be used to help cover a near $1,000,000 revenue deficit projected for the 2009-10 budget, board members said.
That means the owner of the district's average assessed property of $16,000 would pay about $1,920 in the coming year.
President David Chichilitti, Vice President John D'Angelo, Joseph Fusco, John Hill, Jeff Paleafico and James Petrino voted in favor of the no tax concept. Steve Cullen, Mary Jane Paglione and Louis Persichetti Sr. did not attend the meeting.
It's possible that not all of the money from the reimbursement will need to be used because a possible early retirement incentive for Bristol teachers and other cost-cutting measures continue to be pursued, district officials said.
The board has to adopt a final 2009-10 budget by June 30.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Cost of Busing
From the BCCT.
District looks for transportation savings
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Pennsbury School District is looking to save at least $211,100 in transportation costs.
If the school board decides to implement the recommendations of a transportation committee, bus routes could be combined, smaller school buses would replace some full-size ones and advertising could be used inside buses. Those are a few of the 13 recommendations of the committee, made up of residents, board members, a student and district staff and administration.
The transportation budget is about $8 million. District buses serve 15 district schools and 52 private and parochial schools. More than 11,000 students use the district's 137 vehicles.
No action was taken on the recommendations at the Thursday board meeting.
District looks for transportation savings
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Pennsbury School District is looking to save at least $211,100 in transportation costs.
If the school board decides to implement the recommendations of a transportation committee, bus routes could be combined, smaller school buses would replace some full-size ones and advertising could be used inside buses. Those are a few of the 13 recommendations of the committee, made up of residents, board members, a student and district staff and administration.
The transportation budget is about $8 million. District buses serve 15 district schools and 52 private and parochial schools. More than 11,000 students use the district's 137 vehicles.
No action was taken on the recommendations at the Thursday board meeting.
BREAKING NEWS
From the BCCT.
Happy first day of spring! Be sure to check out the Rita's website the the countdown to spring.
Spring tradition
By JACKIE MASSOTT
Bucks County Courier Times
Today is the first day of spring, and to feed your spring fever, Rita's is dishing out free 10-ounce Italian water ice for the 17th straight year. The company said more than 1 million people will scoop up the free treat from noon to 10 p.m. at more than 500 Rita's locations in 17 states.
Also beginning today, the company will launch its new mystery flavor Italian ice. Customers can submit a suggested name for the flavor and then vote for their favorite name at www.ritasice.com. The person whose ice name is voted the best will receive free water ice for a year. The contest ends April 17. The winner will be announced on the Web site April 27.
Rita's Franchise Co. is headquartered in the Trevose section of Bensalem.
Happy first day of spring! Be sure to check out the Rita's website the the countdown to spring.
Spring tradition
By JACKIE MASSOTT
Bucks County Courier Times
Today is the first day of spring, and to feed your spring fever, Rita's is dishing out free 10-ounce Italian water ice for the 17th straight year. The company said more than 1 million people will scoop up the free treat from noon to 10 p.m. at more than 500 Rita's locations in 17 states.
Also beginning today, the company will launch its new mystery flavor Italian ice. Customers can submit a suggested name for the flavor and then vote for their favorite name at www.ritasice.com. The person whose ice name is voted the best will receive free water ice for a year. The contest ends April 17. The winner will be announced on the Web site April 27.
Rita's Franchise Co. is headquartered in the Trevose section of Bensalem.
Who needs options? Just do it!
From the BCCT.
Four options presented for school reorganization
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Centennial School District parents and teachers heard four options to reorganize the district's elementary schools Wednesday evening.
Seven board members selected the options from a longer list of 13 choices that architects presented to the public earlier this month. Six elementary schools currently serve more than 2,600 students in Upper Southampton, Warminster and Ivyland.
The district predicts budget shortfalls in the coming years if the aging elementary schools are allowed to continue as is. Major problems in the schools include underutilized space, renovation and replacement of original systems, and a lack of equivalent educational programs and resources across all schools.
The four current options are:
* Create two K-1 schools and two grade 2-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $61.8 million
* Create two K-2 schools and two grade 3-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $70.9 million
* Build one consolidated K-5 educational center to serve the entire district; sell all six existing schools. Cost of plan: $91 million
* Renovate four K-5 schools; close and sell two others. Cost of plan: $55.3 million
Each option will produce long-term savings in operating costs and the money from selling any schools will go into renovations and construction.
Some board members at the meeting gravitated toward selling all the existing schools and building an elementary campus in a single location. It would separate grade levels into individual areas. This option would save the most money in yearly operating costs and provide a fair and equal educational experience for all students, said Superintendent Sandy Homel.
Four options presented for school reorganization
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Centennial School District parents and teachers heard four options to reorganize the district's elementary schools Wednesday evening.
Seven board members selected the options from a longer list of 13 choices that architects presented to the public earlier this month. Six elementary schools currently serve more than 2,600 students in Upper Southampton, Warminster and Ivyland.
The district predicts budget shortfalls in the coming years if the aging elementary schools are allowed to continue as is. Major problems in the schools include underutilized space, renovation and replacement of original systems, and a lack of equivalent educational programs and resources across all schools.
The four current options are:
* Create two K-1 schools and two grade 2-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $61.8 million
* Create two K-2 schools and two grade 3-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $70.9 million
* Build one consolidated K-5 educational center to serve the entire district; sell all six existing schools. Cost of plan: $91 million
* Renovate four K-5 schools; close and sell two others. Cost of plan: $55.3 million
Each option will produce long-term savings in operating costs and the money from selling any schools will go into renovations and construction.
Some board members at the meeting gravitated toward selling all the existing schools and building an elementary campus in a single location. It would separate grade levels into individual areas. This option would save the most money in yearly operating costs and provide a fair and equal educational experience for all students, said Superintendent Sandy Homel.
Divide and Conquer?
From the BCCT.
Board offers administrators deal similar to teachers
By RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
The school board is hoping a deal with the administrators will force the teachers to acquiesce as well.
The Neshaminy school board has offered the district's nearly three dozen administrators a deal identical to the package the teachers union rejected, officials said Wednesday.
Board members said they're hoping that if the proposal's accepted, the educators will follow suit.
That offer includes a 3 percent annual salary increase and a requirement that employees pay 15 percent toward health care premiums the first year of the three-year deal, 16 percent the second year, and 17 percent the third year, board members said in a statement.
Like the teachers, administrators do not contribute to their insurance premiums. This contract would save taxpayers $250,000 next year, officials said.
"If the administrators take it, we'll expect the teachers to take it," said board President Ritchie Webb.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching teacher union President Louise Boyd Wednesday for comment. The board has been holding "meet-and-discuss" dialogues with the administrators' organization since February to negotiate a new agreement to replace the one that expires June 30.
Paul Minotti, director of facilities and president of the administrators' association, confirmed the preliminary proposal. He added that he'll be meeting with the 30-plus members of the group early next week to discuss the offer.
"We're making headway," Minotti said. "We should have something done shortly."
If approved, the contract would change the medical plan from Blue Cross PC15 to a less expensive PC 20/30/70 and the drug plan from Rx 5/20 to a cheaper Rx 5/30. But administrators still would have the option of a Keystone HMO, according to the board's statement.
The agreement would remove the full benefits package and a $27,000 incentive upon retirement, as well as the single source item, which allows employees to pay a $5 generic fee for $20 brand name drugs when generics aren't available, the same as proposed to the teachers union. The proposal also calls for reducing opt-out sharing from 37 percent to 25 percent; that's the amount of the premiums the district pays to employees who use their spouse's insurance, said Webb.
And, finally, the deal would eliminate any future annual, long-term service bonuses, which are $1,750 for employees with 20 to 24 years, $2,150 for 25 to 29 years, $2,550 for 30 to 34 years and $3,000 for 35 years or more, officials said.
The district's 500-plus support staff contract is also scheduled to expire in June. Officials are working out the details for a new proposal, but they said support staff members, who tend to make less than teachers, also will be asked to contribute to their health care premiums.
While the support staff belongs to a union with striking power just like the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, the administrators' group does not, officials said.
And, although that organization - the Neshaminy School District Administrators Association - meets to discuss bargaining, it excludes cabinet members like the superintendent, business manager and directors of human resources and secondary education, said Webb.
Those administrators can negotiate their own deal, but the highlights often mimic the association's, officials said.
Administrators' salaries, excluding cabinet members, can range from about $100,000 to $124,000. For example, an assistant principal at the high school could earn about $100,000 for a 10.5-month spot, or roughly $108,000 for 12 months, according to acting Superintendent Lou Muenker.
After three years, that same assistant could be making $120,000. An elementary school principal might begin at about $111,000, while a middle school principal could earn $112,000 to start and $124,000 after three years, Muenker said.
The teachers union counter-offered a 6 percent annual salary increase, including steps, and a requirement for no change in the medical insurance package. No further bargaining sessions have been scheduled, administrators said.
Neshaminy, which operates 14 public schools in Middletown, Lower Southampton, Penndel, Langhorne Manor and Hulmeville, is the only district in Bucks County where employees pay nothing toward health insurance premiums. Union members pay $15 for doctor visits and $5 and $20 for generic and brand-name drugs through Personal Choice, the district's human resources department reported.
The district pays at least $22,000 per year to cover a family of four's health care. The average employer contribution for a similar package is roughly $12,700, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.
District educator salaries start at an average of $51,976 and top out at roughly $95,923. The average Neshaminy teacher's salary is $76,000, administrators said. The salary and benefits for the district's staff, which includes more than 700 teachers, accounts for more than 80 percent of Neshaminy's budget, officials said.
District officials are still trying to figure out how to balance a potential $14 million deficit and avoid a possible $500 tax increase. And the teachers have been working without a contract since June, administrators said.
Board offers administrators deal similar to teachers
By RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
The school board is hoping a deal with the administrators will force the teachers to acquiesce as well.
The Neshaminy school board has offered the district's nearly three dozen administrators a deal identical to the package the teachers union rejected, officials said Wednesday.
Board members said they're hoping that if the proposal's accepted, the educators will follow suit.
That offer includes a 3 percent annual salary increase and a requirement that employees pay 15 percent toward health care premiums the first year of the three-year deal, 16 percent the second year, and 17 percent the third year, board members said in a statement.
Like the teachers, administrators do not contribute to their insurance premiums. This contract would save taxpayers $250,000 next year, officials said.
"If the administrators take it, we'll expect the teachers to take it," said board President Ritchie Webb.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching teacher union President Louise Boyd Wednesday for comment. The board has been holding "meet-and-discuss" dialogues with the administrators' organization since February to negotiate a new agreement to replace the one that expires June 30.
Paul Minotti, director of facilities and president of the administrators' association, confirmed the preliminary proposal. He added that he'll be meeting with the 30-plus members of the group early next week to discuss the offer.
"We're making headway," Minotti said. "We should have something done shortly."
If approved, the contract would change the medical plan from Blue Cross PC15 to a less expensive PC 20/30/70 and the drug plan from Rx 5/20 to a cheaper Rx 5/30. But administrators still would have the option of a Keystone HMO, according to the board's statement.
The agreement would remove the full benefits package and a $27,000 incentive upon retirement, as well as the single source item, which allows employees to pay a $5 generic fee for $20 brand name drugs when generics aren't available, the same as proposed to the teachers union. The proposal also calls for reducing opt-out sharing from 37 percent to 25 percent; that's the amount of the premiums the district pays to employees who use their spouse's insurance, said Webb.
And, finally, the deal would eliminate any future annual, long-term service bonuses, which are $1,750 for employees with 20 to 24 years, $2,150 for 25 to 29 years, $2,550 for 30 to 34 years and $3,000 for 35 years or more, officials said.
The district's 500-plus support staff contract is also scheduled to expire in June. Officials are working out the details for a new proposal, but they said support staff members, who tend to make less than teachers, also will be asked to contribute to their health care premiums.
While the support staff belongs to a union with striking power just like the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, the administrators' group does not, officials said.
And, although that organization - the Neshaminy School District Administrators Association - meets to discuss bargaining, it excludes cabinet members like the superintendent, business manager and directors of human resources and secondary education, said Webb.
Those administrators can negotiate their own deal, but the highlights often mimic the association's, officials said.
Administrators' salaries, excluding cabinet members, can range from about $100,000 to $124,000. For example, an assistant principal at the high school could earn about $100,000 for a 10.5-month spot, or roughly $108,000 for 12 months, according to acting Superintendent Lou Muenker.
After three years, that same assistant could be making $120,000. An elementary school principal might begin at about $111,000, while a middle school principal could earn $112,000 to start and $124,000 after three years, Muenker said.
The teachers union counter-offered a 6 percent annual salary increase, including steps, and a requirement for no change in the medical insurance package. No further bargaining sessions have been scheduled, administrators said.
Neshaminy, which operates 14 public schools in Middletown, Lower Southampton, Penndel, Langhorne Manor and Hulmeville, is the only district in Bucks County where employees pay nothing toward health insurance premiums. Union members pay $15 for doctor visits and $5 and $20 for generic and brand-name drugs through Personal Choice, the district's human resources department reported.
The district pays at least $22,000 per year to cover a family of four's health care. The average employer contribution for a similar package is roughly $12,700, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.
District educator salaries start at an average of $51,976 and top out at roughly $95,923. The average Neshaminy teacher's salary is $76,000, administrators said. The salary and benefits for the district's staff, which includes more than 700 teachers, accounts for more than 80 percent of Neshaminy's budget, officials said.
District officials are still trying to figure out how to balance a potential $14 million deficit and avoid a possible $500 tax increase. And the teachers have been working without a contract since June, administrators said.
Trashes and Grasses and Snow. Oh my.
From the BCCT.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Morrisville School District is requesting sealed bids for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifications may be obtained from the Morrisville School District, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067, to the attention of Paul W. DeAngelo, Business Administrator, 215-736-5933. The individual items and bid opening times are as follows:
Bus Contracted Service 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Trash Removal 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Grass Cutting and Snow Plowing 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Bids must be received before the above listed deadline at which time they will be opened publicly in Conference Room F-10 of the Middle/Senior High School. The owner reserves the right to waive information and to accept or reject any/all bids in its best interest.
Marlys Mihok
Board Secretary
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Morrisville School District is requesting sealed bids for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifications may be obtained from the Morrisville School District, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067, to the attention of Paul W. DeAngelo, Business Administrator, 215-736-5933. The individual items and bid opening times are as follows:
Bus Contracted Service 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Trash Removal 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Grass Cutting and Snow Plowing 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Bids must be received before the above listed deadline at which time they will be opened publicly in Conference Room F-10 of the Middle/Senior High School. The owner reserves the right to waive information and to accept or reject any/all bids in its best interest.
Marlys Mihok
Board Secretary
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