From the Souderton Independent.
We seem to keep forgetting why the schools exist: It's the students.
Souderton Area HS senior: Give future students what I've had
By: Bob Keeler, Staff Writer
04/03/2009
Initially, it wasn't a big deal to Souderton Area High School student Samantha Hickman that the school board and teachers hadn't reached an agreement for a new contract.
"At first I was in a mindset similar to many of my other fellow seniors - So what? I'm out of here in a year. I'm sure they'll settle it before we get back to school," Hickman said during the public comment portion of the March 26 Souderton Area School Board meeting.
"Seven months and look where we are now," Hickman continued.
Following a 13 day strike by the teachers at the beginning of the school year, the two sides are now in non-binding arbitration and still don't have a contract. Recommendations from a fact finder for new contracts with district aides and secretaries, who are also working without a new contract, are about to be voted on.
Teachers say they are among the lowest paid in the area, which is causing good teachers to go elsewhere and that 28 teachers have left for reasons other than retirement since the impasse began. Board members say they are trying to keep raises within an affordable level to taxpayers and when there are district openings for teachers, there are plenty of applicants in all except some specialized areas.
Hickman said she doesn't want the district to lose what she's had as a student.
"If I hadn't met many of the teachers I had during high school, I don't know who I would be, but I certainly wouldn't be the type of student willing to get up here tonight and speak to you all about how highly I value education," Hickman said.
"Please allow my younger brother and sister this experience," she said. "Please allow my friends, my neighbors, my family and all future students of Souderton Area this experience."
The teachers are an important part of helping with the transition by students into their future, she said.
"Please make a decision that will satisfy people in the long run, not just during an economic crisis. Be flexible and allow yourself to view the arbitrator's report with an open mind. I ask you to please place some value in the one thing that matters in the community the most, a strong foundation," Hickman told the board. "As we enter what I hope to be the final act of this situation, I urge you to not only think of the present, but of the future. Picture Souderton on its current path, but 50 years from now. Will you be content with the decisions that you made today? Are you setting up my world - our world - for a prosperous future?"
Hickman's support for the teachers was the second of the night from a high school student.
Following recognition of high-achieving student musicians, student Cassondra Diaz gave flowers to choir director Teresa Washam as a token of appreciation from the students.
"She is the reason why we are here and she has dedicated her time and her energy to us and we can't thank her enough," Diaz said.
"You represent how great our teachers are and how they are far from a dime a dozen," Diaz told Washam.
The public comment portion of recent board meetings has focused on the strike and its aftermath.
Before the start of the March 26 public comment, Bud Miller, the board's vice president who chaired the meeting, reminded those in attendance that the arbitration is still ongoing and there can't be any new contract or negotiations until the arbitration is completed.
"There's nothing we can do at this time in that regard," Miller said.
"We appreciate what you do for us and it's important to remember we're all on the same team," Miller told teachers at the meeting.
Former board member Tracy Cole said she had not commented publicly before because it's important to let the arbitration process unfold, but wanted to respond to comments made at previous meetings.
"I want the board to know that while some members of the community have expressed at board meetings that if the teachers don't like it here, then they should just leave, that is not how I feel, and I am also a taxpayer and a parent of two students presently in our schools," Cole said.
Cole said she appreciates the devotion and passion expressed by teachers at previous meetings and doesn't want the district to have a "revolving door of employees."
"That's no way to run a business or a school district," Cole said. "It leads to poor returns on our investment, our investment in our employee, and more importantly, our investment in our children's future."
Teacher Beth Swartz spoke in opposition to board proposals to create new merit pay systems.
"As a teacher in the district, I know that we already have two forms of merit pay and we don't need another," Swartz said.
One is yearly evaluations by school principals that can freeze a teacher's salary if an unsatisfactory rating is given and lead to firing if there's no improvement, she said.
"We've had this form of merit pay for more than 15 years," Swartz said.
The other form of merit pay is scholarships to teachers from Souderton Area Education Foundation, she said.
"The big unanswered question to the board is what formula would be used to determine merit? Who determines who receives merit pay?" Swartz said, reviewing some possible systems, but concluding the systems are "merely divisive attempts at favoritism."
Resident Charlotte Wellener said proposed new state laws banning teacher strikes should be supported.
"This would eliminate all of what's been going on these past few months, open in the public, with our taxpayers and children being held hostage," Wellener said.
Resident Hugh Donnelly said Pennsylvania's teachers are among the highest paid in the country.
Giving information from the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Donnelly said the Pennsylvania State Education Association has moved from being a professional development organization at its 1852 start into a powerful labor union and political machine that leads to higher taxes.
"By completely politicizing public education at every level, the PSEA has effectively marginalized parents, children and even teachers in communities throughout Pennsylvania," Donnelly said.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Group to start push for tax relief
From the BCCT.
Group to start push for tax relief
Some residents are fed up over rising school taxes.
By AMANDA CREGAN
STAFF WRITER
Fed up with what they see as skyrocketing property taxes, bloated school budgets and outof-control teachers contracts, a grassroots group of Quakertown Community School District parents and taxpayers decided Thursday night that enough was enough.
More than 20 community members assembled for a first organizational meeting at Arianna Miles, a former restaurant in Haycock Township that is closed for renovations and set to open as a bed and breakfast this summer.
“Part of what we want to do is just to make the board hear us and make them understand we’re not just going to roll over and let them do what they want. They need to understand they represent us,” said Kim Pacella, a Haycock resident.
Helen Kondracki says she’s been diligently attending and speaking up at school board meetings for 10 years seeking change for seniors and pushing for more transparent financial decisions, to no avail.
Rising property taxes are forcing seniors out of their homes throughout the Quakertown School District, she said.
“We’ve got three (school board) members looking out for our interest and the rest are looking out for the administrator, and the way we’re going we’ll never get property tax relief,” said the Haycock resident, speaking of the nine member board.
School board member George Dager attended Thursday’s meeting.
Jill Wooden, who initiated the gathering, says she’s tired of parents who complain about rising costs but back down when the superintendent mentions cutting programs instead.
“I know a lot of people in this community who are on fixed incomes and some who can’t afford food. I’m here for them as well. The district dangles in front of us saying, ‘Then we’ll have to cut programs.’ Then cut them!” she said.
Quakertown district officials are facing a tough budget year.
The $86.9 million preliminary budget calls for a $211 increase for the average homeowner. Last year, the district hiked taxes by $156 for the average homeowner.
To present an early 2009-10 budget in the black, Quakertown had to draw its fund balance down to nearly zero to cover a $3.8 million deficit.
The final budget will be adopted in May.
Until then, parents and taxpayers vowed Thursday night to begin working to help pare down the budget by joining school budget committees and funneling ideas created in the grassroots group meetings into the district.
They also plan to hone in on upcoming school board elections and next year’s teachers contract renewal.
The group will work toward long-term goals aimed at property tax reform in Harrisburg.
“Until the Legislature makes a change and makes a cap, you’re going to sit here for however many more years and say the same thing,” said Haycock Supervisor Chairwoman Kathleen Babb. “The Legislature does not put through meaningful tax reform. We have been fighting for tax reform for 25 years.”
But here and now, residents say something has to be done to get school spending under control. Haycock resident Wooden says change starts with them.
“Far too long in this country people have been busy making a living and doing for their family, but we as a populace have forgotten how to be a community,” she said. “We only have each other. As neighbors, we need to stand each other up in tough times.”
The group will next meet on April 16.
Group to start push for tax relief
Some residents are fed up over rising school taxes.
By AMANDA CREGAN
STAFF WRITER
Fed up with what they see as skyrocketing property taxes, bloated school budgets and outof-control teachers contracts, a grassroots group of Quakertown Community School District parents and taxpayers decided Thursday night that enough was enough.
More than 20 community members assembled for a first organizational meeting at Arianna Miles, a former restaurant in Haycock Township that is closed for renovations and set to open as a bed and breakfast this summer.
“Part of what we want to do is just to make the board hear us and make them understand we’re not just going to roll over and let them do what they want. They need to understand they represent us,” said Kim Pacella, a Haycock resident.
Helen Kondracki says she’s been diligently attending and speaking up at school board meetings for 10 years seeking change for seniors and pushing for more transparent financial decisions, to no avail.
Rising property taxes are forcing seniors out of their homes throughout the Quakertown School District, she said.
“We’ve got three (school board) members looking out for our interest and the rest are looking out for the administrator, and the way we’re going we’ll never get property tax relief,” said the Haycock resident, speaking of the nine member board.
School board member George Dager attended Thursday’s meeting.
Jill Wooden, who initiated the gathering, says she’s tired of parents who complain about rising costs but back down when the superintendent mentions cutting programs instead.
“I know a lot of people in this community who are on fixed incomes and some who can’t afford food. I’m here for them as well. The district dangles in front of us saying, ‘Then we’ll have to cut programs.’ Then cut them!” she said.
Quakertown district officials are facing a tough budget year.
The $86.9 million preliminary budget calls for a $211 increase for the average homeowner. Last year, the district hiked taxes by $156 for the average homeowner.
To present an early 2009-10 budget in the black, Quakertown had to draw its fund balance down to nearly zero to cover a $3.8 million deficit.
The final budget will be adopted in May.
Until then, parents and taxpayers vowed Thursday night to begin working to help pare down the budget by joining school budget committees and funneling ideas created in the grassroots group meetings into the district.
They also plan to hone in on upcoming school board elections and next year’s teachers contract renewal.
The group will work toward long-term goals aimed at property tax reform in Harrisburg.
“Until the Legislature makes a change and makes a cap, you’re going to sit here for however many more years and say the same thing,” said Haycock Supervisor Chairwoman Kathleen Babb. “The Legislature does not put through meaningful tax reform. We have been fighting for tax reform for 25 years.”
But here and now, residents say something has to be done to get school spending under control. Haycock resident Wooden says change starts with them.
“Far too long in this country people have been busy making a living and doing for their family, but we as a populace have forgotten how to be a community,” she said. “We only have each other. As neighbors, we need to stand each other up in tough times.”
The group will next meet on April 16.
JOINT SCHOOL/BOROUGH COMMITTEE
NOTICE
The next meeting of the Joint School/Borough Council Committee will be held on April 23, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the G-Hall Conference Room located in the rear of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.
Traffic concerns at the Grandview Elementary School will be on the agenda. The Committee welcomes interested parties and requests that they come prepared with suggestions for discussion and consideration addressing traffic problems at the Grandview Elementary School.
If you are unable to attend this meeting but would like your concerns to be included, please send an e-mail containing your comments to mmihok@mv.org prior to the day of the meeting.
Marlys Mihok, Secretary
Borough of Morrisville School District
Chairman Facility Committee
The next meeting of the Joint School/Borough Council Committee will be held on April 23, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the G-Hall Conference Room located in the rear of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.
Traffic concerns at the Grandview Elementary School will be on the agenda. The Committee welcomes interested parties and requests that they come prepared with suggestions for discussion and consideration addressing traffic problems at the Grandview Elementary School.
If you are unable to attend this meeting but would like your concerns to be included, please send an e-mail containing your comments to mmihok@mv.org prior to the day of the meeting.
Marlys Mihok, Secretary
Borough of Morrisville School District
Chairman Facility Committee
St. Ann parents looking at options
From the BCCT.
St. Ann parents looking at options
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
About 90 elementary students will be placed in different schools after the parochial school closes in June.
The parents of children at St. Mark School say they'll welcome with open arms students from St. Ann School, which is being closed.
"We are a community," said Joe Kulak, a St. Mark parent whose family lives in the borough. "We have to stick together."
With the closure of St. Ann School in June, about 90 elementary students - including about 40 who live in the borough - will be placed in different schools, the Rev. James Day, pastor of St. Ann, said Thursday afternoon.
He said the students are also being enrolled at Our Lady of Grace in Penndel, Immaculate Conception in Bristol Township and St. Michael the Archangel in Tullytown.
Declining enrollment is decimating St. Ann, which costs $660,000 a year to operate, school officials said. In 1993, enrollment peaked at 213 students. But it has been declining steadily since 2000.
St. Ann isn't the first Catholic elementary school to close in the region, though it is the first to close in Bucks. Parish elementary schools throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been merging or closing over the past five years due to falling enrollment.
The archdiocese owns the school property and, as of Thursday, didn't have any plans for it, said Donna Farrell, spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
Bristol residents Brian and Charlene McGinley said they'll enroll their child at St. Mark. "It's close by," Charlene McGinley said.
St. Mark officials declined to comment on the enrollment process this week or to discuss how many students they expect.
Brooke Ulinski, a St. Mark parent, said an enrollment increase would help that school keep tuition stable. The Bristol Township mother said she pays about $5,500 a year for her three children to attend St. Mark.
"Let's say 50 students don't come back because their parents can't pay their tuition because of the economy; those kids could be replaced by students coming from St. Ann," she said. "I know St. Mark is not at risk of closing, but it's something to think about."
Virginia Huffnagle, also a St. Mark parent, said she doesn't believe an increase in enrollment would affect the classroom dynamics at St. Mark.
"Some classrooms may have one or two more students," she said Wednesday, as she picked up her 12-year-old stepdaughter. "Students will get the same attention and good education."
Max Mendez, a St. Ann father, said his two children will be enrolled at St. Joseph the Worker in Fallsington.
"It's a better place for my children to continue receiving a good Catholic education," he said.
Trish Lawlor, a St. Ann mother, said for the time being she'll register her two children to attend Bristol's public elementary school, Warren Snyder-John Girotti School.
"If I don't move by the summer, I'll enroll them at St. Mark," she said. "I'm looking to move to a town that the school district has school bus services."
April 03, 2009 02:10 AM
St. Ann parents looking at options
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
About 90 elementary students will be placed in different schools after the parochial school closes in June.
The parents of children at St. Mark School say they'll welcome with open arms students from St. Ann School, which is being closed.
"We are a community," said Joe Kulak, a St. Mark parent whose family lives in the borough. "We have to stick together."
With the closure of St. Ann School in June, about 90 elementary students - including about 40 who live in the borough - will be placed in different schools, the Rev. James Day, pastor of St. Ann, said Thursday afternoon.
He said the students are also being enrolled at Our Lady of Grace in Penndel, Immaculate Conception in Bristol Township and St. Michael the Archangel in Tullytown.
Declining enrollment is decimating St. Ann, which costs $660,000 a year to operate, school officials said. In 1993, enrollment peaked at 213 students. But it has been declining steadily since 2000.
St. Ann isn't the first Catholic elementary school to close in the region, though it is the first to close in Bucks. Parish elementary schools throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been merging or closing over the past five years due to falling enrollment.
The archdiocese owns the school property and, as of Thursday, didn't have any plans for it, said Donna Farrell, spokeswoman for the archdiocese.
Bristol residents Brian and Charlene McGinley said they'll enroll their child at St. Mark. "It's close by," Charlene McGinley said.
St. Mark officials declined to comment on the enrollment process this week or to discuss how many students they expect.
Brooke Ulinski, a St. Mark parent, said an enrollment increase would help that school keep tuition stable. The Bristol Township mother said she pays about $5,500 a year for her three children to attend St. Mark.
"Let's say 50 students don't come back because their parents can't pay their tuition because of the economy; those kids could be replaced by students coming from St. Ann," she said. "I know St. Mark is not at risk of closing, but it's something to think about."
Virginia Huffnagle, also a St. Mark parent, said she doesn't believe an increase in enrollment would affect the classroom dynamics at St. Mark.
"Some classrooms may have one or two more students," she said Wednesday, as she picked up her 12-year-old stepdaughter. "Students will get the same attention and good education."
Max Mendez, a St. Ann father, said his two children will be enrolled at St. Joseph the Worker in Fallsington.
"It's a better place for my children to continue receiving a good Catholic education," he said.
Trish Lawlor, a St. Ann mother, said for the time being she'll register her two children to attend Bristol's public elementary school, Warren Snyder-John Girotti School.
"If I don't move by the summer, I'll enroll them at St. Mark," she said. "I'm looking to move to a town that the school district has school bus services."
April 03, 2009 02:10 AM
Public silenced at regionalization meeting
From the BCCT.
Big deal. The Emperor cuts off public opinion on a whim.
Public silenced at regionalization meeting
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
Langhorne, Langhorne Manor and Penndel officials are meeting to discuss regionalizing their police forces, but the meetings aren't open for public questions.
The five people in the audience at a meeting of officials from three small boroughs regarding a possible police regionalization were not allowed to comment or ask questions at a meeting in Penndel's borough hall Thursday night.
But the folks - consisting of three council members, a council candidate and a resident - did sit and listen.
"We're at a very preliminary stage in this study where we are just trying to determine the feasibility for each borough and that's why we have multiple members of councils and government here," Penndel Mayor Michael Sodano said during the meeting.
Last month, a Penndel resident sat through the group's meeting. At a Penndel borough council work session later in the month, a resident and a councilwoman said they thought the meetings were closed to the public.
Officials this week said the public is welcome to attend the meetings, where they discuss a recent state report outlining the benefits and cost projections if Langhorne, Langhorne Manor and Penndel choose to regionalize their police forces, but the meetings aren't open for public questions.
Melissa Bevan Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, said the meetings should follow the state's Sunshine Act, which allows public participation.
Penndel's and Langhorne's lawyers disagree.
Langhorne solicitor Catherine Anne Porter sent an e-mail to the newspaper giving her and Penndel solicitor Don Williams' view.
"It is our opinion that the police regionalization informational sessions held at the Penndel Borough Hall are proper and appropriate," Porter wrote. "As the municipalities involved are committed to public involvement in the government, the sessions have been held in a public building, with doors open to the public and with the public permitted to attend, though not participate, in the sessions."
She says that if officials from the three municipalities decide to move forward with police regionalization and appoint representatives to an official police regionalization committee, that those meetings should fully comply with the Sunshine Act.
Melewsky doesn't see it that way. "Although the boroughs have not formally appointed a committee to render advice on the issue of police reorganization," she said Thursday, "representatives of borough council have nonetheless participated in meetings about the issue and can (or may have) render advice based on their participation in these meetings."
Penndel resident Lloyd Patton attended the meeting. Afterwards, said he always thought the meetings were closed, and was surprised to find out residents could sit through them.
But he wanted more: "I think they should have had a question-and-answer or a public comment at the end of the meeting," Patton said.
The representatives from neighboring towns stressed financial and staffing concerns during Thursday's meeting.
Langhorne Mayor Chris Blaydon said his officers wonder what will happen to them if his borough regionalizes police forces with neighboring Langhorne Manor and Penndel.
"My part-time officers are on pins and needles wondering what their fate is," Blaydon said during the group's informal, hour-long information session. He noted that the three towns have more police officers than the number that would be available under a regional department.
Other officials, including Sodano, said they hoped the boroughs could find officers within their own ranks to fill a regional department's jobs.
"I'm sure there are officers who are worthy and willing to participate," he said.
April 03, 2009 02:10 AM
Big deal. The Emperor cuts off public opinion on a whim.
Public silenced at regionalization meeting
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
Langhorne, Langhorne Manor and Penndel officials are meeting to discuss regionalizing their police forces, but the meetings aren't open for public questions.
The five people in the audience at a meeting of officials from three small boroughs regarding a possible police regionalization were not allowed to comment or ask questions at a meeting in Penndel's borough hall Thursday night.
But the folks - consisting of three council members, a council candidate and a resident - did sit and listen.
"We're at a very preliminary stage in this study where we are just trying to determine the feasibility for each borough and that's why we have multiple members of councils and government here," Penndel Mayor Michael Sodano said during the meeting.
Last month, a Penndel resident sat through the group's meeting. At a Penndel borough council work session later in the month, a resident and a councilwoman said they thought the meetings were closed to the public.
Officials this week said the public is welcome to attend the meetings, where they discuss a recent state report outlining the benefits and cost projections if Langhorne, Langhorne Manor and Penndel choose to regionalize their police forces, but the meetings aren't open for public questions.
Melissa Bevan Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, said the meetings should follow the state's Sunshine Act, which allows public participation.
Penndel's and Langhorne's lawyers disagree.
Langhorne solicitor Catherine Anne Porter sent an e-mail to the newspaper giving her and Penndel solicitor Don Williams' view.
"It is our opinion that the police regionalization informational sessions held at the Penndel Borough Hall are proper and appropriate," Porter wrote. "As the municipalities involved are committed to public involvement in the government, the sessions have been held in a public building, with doors open to the public and with the public permitted to attend, though not participate, in the sessions."
She says that if officials from the three municipalities decide to move forward with police regionalization and appoint representatives to an official police regionalization committee, that those meetings should fully comply with the Sunshine Act.
Melewsky doesn't see it that way. "Although the boroughs have not formally appointed a committee to render advice on the issue of police reorganization," she said Thursday, "representatives of borough council have nonetheless participated in meetings about the issue and can (or may have) render advice based on their participation in these meetings."
Penndel resident Lloyd Patton attended the meeting. Afterwards, said he always thought the meetings were closed, and was surprised to find out residents could sit through them.
But he wanted more: "I think they should have had a question-and-answer or a public comment at the end of the meeting," Patton said.
The representatives from neighboring towns stressed financial and staffing concerns during Thursday's meeting.
Langhorne Mayor Chris Blaydon said his officers wonder what will happen to them if his borough regionalizes police forces with neighboring Langhorne Manor and Penndel.
"My part-time officers are on pins and needles wondering what their fate is," Blaydon said during the group's informal, hour-long information session. He noted that the three towns have more police officers than the number that would be available under a regional department.
Other officials, including Sodano, said they hoped the boroughs could find officers within their own ranks to fill a regional department's jobs.
"I'm sure there are officers who are worthy and willing to participate," he said.
April 03, 2009 02:10 AM
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