Thanks to the emailer for the links and research.
Dear Marlys,
We recently saw an email where you expressed some slight uncertainty over responsibility for homeless students.
"I have tried to comprehend Gloria's e-mails to you about the homeless kids and the school boards responsibility to them. Just to let you know I will never, never, ever be responsible for any child because I am a school board member."
We understand your concern. Many people who have a roof over their heads express similar feelings. Unfortunately, in these days of economic uncertainty, more and more families are facing homelessness.
We do not expect for you to personally provide Motel 6 like amenities, although the hot tub does sound like a Jim Dandy idea. Just imagine for a moment the happy squeals of joy from several children who have had almost nothing to laugh about for quite a long time now. Here is some information on what you or any other concerned private citizen can do to help.
The Bucks County Intermediate Unit also has some resources on homelessness and students. Perhaps the BCIU representative from the school board can help you.
As a school board member, you do have a teeny-tiny itsy-bitsy little bit of responsibility. The Pennsylvania Department of Education website has a site search tool.
Here's a bit from the Homeless Children's Education Fund webpage.
A 2008 estimate of homeless children and youth in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is approximately 30,000 (ages birth to 18). 50% are in elementary school, 26% in middle school, and 24% in high school. Pennsylvania ranks 6th nationwide in the number of children and youth identified as homeless (behind California, Florida, Michigan, New York and Texas).
Since a child often spends anywhere from a few days to a few months in a given center, many of the children counted in these surveys are forced to adapt to several different living spaces and schools each year. That exacts a terrible toll on a young mind and spirit.
What about the children's schooling?
Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Act, signed into law in July 1987, included authorization of the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program. A fact sheet provided by the National Coalition for the Homeless (Fact Sheet #10, updated June 2008) includes a summary of amendments to the act. The critically important 1994 amendment "provided local educational authorities with greater flexibility in the use of funds; specified the rights of homeless preschoolers to a free and appropriate public preschool education; gave parents of homeless children and youth a voice regarding their children's school placement; and required educational authorities to coordinate with housing authorities."
* Children must be allowed to remain in the school they were attending before becoming homeless and for the entire time they are homeless, even if they move from place to place
* The school district must arrange transportation for children who choose to remain at their school of origin but have moved outside that school's boundaries
* Children must be enrolled without delay, even if they lack necessary documentation or immunization records
* Children cannot be segregated from peers solely because of their residential status
* School districts are mandated to hire/train a homeless liaison to coordinate services and ensure compliance with federal/state mandates
Links:
National Coalition for the Homeless
Bucks County Housing Group
Bucks County Homeless Shelters
Interfaith Housing Development Corporation of Bucks County
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Don't Show Us the Money!
From the BCCT.
Pennsylvania Republicans are moving toward saying "NO" to stimulus money.
Pa. may turn down some stimulus funds
By: Gary Weckselblatt
The Intelligencer
State Republican lawmakers from Bucks County claim federal stimulus money has too many strings and will ultimately leave the state with long-term fiscal problems if it's accepted.
Citing federal mandates that come with portions of the $16 billion and rules that still "haven't been written," the legislators said in some cases it's best to turn the money down.
"We'll take the money for construction and engineering jobs," state Sen. Chuck McIlhinney said. "The shovel-ready projects are the way to go. The other stuff is just social engineering."
Speaking at a Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce breakfast Friday, where members begged for some good news, the lawmakers didn't oblige.
McIlhinney said if the state accepts federal stimulus funds for unemployment compensation, for example, it's mandatory that the Family Leave Act includes 12 weeks of time off with pay.
"That would cripple small business," McIlhinney said. "It's a very noble idea. They're doing it in California and they're in great shape there.
"These are the things we're going to say no to."
Another example McIlhinney cited is the Troubled Asset Relief Program [TARP], where rules for gaining access to the $700 billion kept changing.
"Tell us what you want up front," he said.
"That's the amazing thing about Washington," said state Rep. Kathy Watson, "the money's coming, but the rules for using it haven't been written."
It's possible a portion of the stimulus money could be used to stave off the anticipated school pension spike in 2012 from today's 4.76 percent district contribution rate to one in excess of 30 percent.
State Rep. Bernie O'Neill, co-chair of the House Republican Policy Committee's Education and Job Training Task Force, is looking at giving districts stimulus money to hold in a "secure dedicated fund" to ease the increase.
O'Neill also bemoaned Gov. Ed Rendell's plans to create new education programs while cutting others. "It's going to be a battle," he said.
He cited the state's push for Keystone Exams, a series of 10 state-developed end-of-course exams that area districts had balked at.
"It would cost our school board $42 million," O'Neill said.
State Rep. Paul Clymer said he's "opposed to the direction the governor is moving on these tests."
Clymer, an anti-gambling crusader, also blasted Rendell's proposed expansion of video gambling machines into bars to lower costs for those attending state universities.
"It's an enormous amount of gambling expansion in Pennsylvania," he said. "This is not the way this state should be going."
The same could be said for overall spending, according to State Rep. Scott Petri, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Economic Impact and Infrastructure.
He said that although state revenues decreased by 6.2 percent this fiscal year Rendell plans to increase spending from $28 billion to $29 billion.
"I don't believe another state has proposed higher spending than last year," Petri said. "We've got to buckle down."
Also Friday, state Rep. Marguerite Quinn argued on behalf of Worth & Co., the mechanical contractor from Plumstead that's been hounded by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for paying 19 of its 450 workers $61,516 less than prevailing wage over a four-year period.
She said the state's "draconian measures" could put the company out of business.
"We're told by the governor, we're told by Washington that things are getting better. I'm not seeing it," Quinn said.
She then went on to question the government's commitment to job growth.
Quinn used the illustration of Congressman Patrick Murphy's plan to spend $10 million in flood relief to potentially create 200 jobs and $2 million more for up to 12 jobs at Humanistic Robotics.
"Do the math," she said. "We've got 450 jobs here that pay between $75,000 and $100,000 each. We're going to throw those away for $61,000.
"I'm deeply concerned with this fight. + Scream about this. It's something we should not let happen."
Pennsylvania Republicans are moving toward saying "NO" to stimulus money.
Pa. may turn down some stimulus funds
By: Gary Weckselblatt
The Intelligencer
State Republican lawmakers from Bucks County claim federal stimulus money has too many strings and will ultimately leave the state with long-term fiscal problems if it's accepted.
Citing federal mandates that come with portions of the $16 billion and rules that still "haven't been written," the legislators said in some cases it's best to turn the money down.
"We'll take the money for construction and engineering jobs," state Sen. Chuck McIlhinney said. "The shovel-ready projects are the way to go. The other stuff is just social engineering."
Speaking at a Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce breakfast Friday, where members begged for some good news, the lawmakers didn't oblige.
McIlhinney said if the state accepts federal stimulus funds for unemployment compensation, for example, it's mandatory that the Family Leave Act includes 12 weeks of time off with pay.
"That would cripple small business," McIlhinney said. "It's a very noble idea. They're doing it in California and they're in great shape there.
"These are the things we're going to say no to."
Another example McIlhinney cited is the Troubled Asset Relief Program [TARP], where rules for gaining access to the $700 billion kept changing.
"Tell us what you want up front," he said.
"That's the amazing thing about Washington," said state Rep. Kathy Watson, "the money's coming, but the rules for using it haven't been written."
It's possible a portion of the stimulus money could be used to stave off the anticipated school pension spike in 2012 from today's 4.76 percent district contribution rate to one in excess of 30 percent.
State Rep. Bernie O'Neill, co-chair of the House Republican Policy Committee's Education and Job Training Task Force, is looking at giving districts stimulus money to hold in a "secure dedicated fund" to ease the increase.
O'Neill also bemoaned Gov. Ed Rendell's plans to create new education programs while cutting others. "It's going to be a battle," he said.
He cited the state's push for Keystone Exams, a series of 10 state-developed end-of-course exams that area districts had balked at.
"It would cost our school board $42 million," O'Neill said.
State Rep. Paul Clymer said he's "opposed to the direction the governor is moving on these tests."
Clymer, an anti-gambling crusader, also blasted Rendell's proposed expansion of video gambling machines into bars to lower costs for those attending state universities.
"It's an enormous amount of gambling expansion in Pennsylvania," he said. "This is not the way this state should be going."
The same could be said for overall spending, according to State Rep. Scott Petri, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Economic Impact and Infrastructure.
He said that although state revenues decreased by 6.2 percent this fiscal year Rendell plans to increase spending from $28 billion to $29 billion.
"I don't believe another state has proposed higher spending than last year," Petri said. "We've got to buckle down."
Also Friday, state Rep. Marguerite Quinn argued on behalf of Worth & Co., the mechanical contractor from Plumstead that's been hounded by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for paying 19 of its 450 workers $61,516 less than prevailing wage over a four-year period.
She said the state's "draconian measures" could put the company out of business.
"We're told by the governor, we're told by Washington that things are getting better. I'm not seeing it," Quinn said.
She then went on to question the government's commitment to job growth.
Quinn used the illustration of Congressman Patrick Murphy's plan to spend $10 million in flood relief to potentially create 200 jobs and $2 million more for up to 12 jobs at Humanistic Robotics.
"Do the math," she said. "We've got 450 jobs here that pay between $75,000 and $100,000 each. We're going to throw those away for $61,000.
"I'm deeply concerned with this fight. + Scream about this. It's something we should not let happen."
Teen volunteers honored
From the BCCT.
After seeing the selfishness of our school board so well displayed yesterday, it is refreshing to see that the next generation is using a more community based focus.
Congrats to Morrisville honoree Michael Leather!
Teen volunteers honored by Bucks County YWCA
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
Jazmin Shields spends countless hours volunteering her time to make her world a better place.
The senior at Harry S Truman High School in Bristol Township is the Bucks County NAACP Youth Council president. She’s also a youth ambassador for St. Mary’s stroke awareness initiative and a volunteer with the YWCA and Camp Hidden Falls.
Plus she volunteers with Youth Fighting Against Tobacco, Neighborhood First and the peer mediation program and environmental club at her high school.
For her efforts, Jazmin has been named the Bucks County Teen Volunteer of the Year.
The Truman senior was one of 20 area teens honored by the YWCA of Bucks County recently in conjunction with National Volunteer Week for their service to the community.
The top volunteer is chosen based on a willingness to serve and take on a leadership role or significant responsibility in that service. The teens also are selected based on whether they have a mix of school and community-based volunteer efforts and how their service impacts the lives of others, organizers said.
Other teens recognized during the YWCA awards ceremony at the Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit No. 22 complex in Doylestown on Wednesday are:
Kaitlyn Utermark, Archbishop Wood High School senior, who volunteers at Wood Services and with Aid for Friends and Operation Santa Claus.
Jaison Zachariah, Bensalem High School senior, who serves as a math tutor, a library and hospital volunteer, with the school’s Student Government Association and as vice president of Bensalem’s National Honor Society.
Anikka Grange, Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School senior, who works with the homeless ministry, is a Titus Kitchen instructor and a member of a library club and the Interact Club.
Kristin Sandquist, Central Bucks East High School senior, is a founding member of Team Peru Denmark —Kiya Survivors, a Key Club and Interact Club member and a Special Olympics volunteer.
Thomas Lonergan, Central Bucks South High School senior, who volunteers with Doylestown Hospital patient transport, American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer campaign and with community-based athletic programs in Central Bucks.
Kelly Steelman, Central Bucks West High School senior, is a March of Dimes, NOVA, Relay for Life and soup kitchen volunteer.
Julia Burke, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School senior, is a Community Services Corps vice president, a student council representative and a member of the Key Club.
Joshua Wortzel, Council Rock High School North senior, is the Garden of Giving founder and president, National Honor Society president, a member of the environmental protection and Invisible Children clubs, and Pennsbury Manor Historic Center volunteer.
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Catherine Edwards, Council Rock High School South senior, volunteers at the Churchville Nature Center, Northampton library, St. Mary Medical Center and the Bucks County Association for the Blind.
Michael Tantum, Holy Ghost Preparatory School junior, is an elementary school tutor, a Pickering Manor and music volunteer, and did his Boy Scout Eagle Scout project in Middletown’s Community Park.
Michael Leather, Morrisville Middle/Senior High School senior, is a Boy Scout, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact Club, and Mentors in Violence Prevention.
Valentina Souprountchak, Neshaminy High School senior, works with the district’s toy drive, People to People, Fairy Godmothers, Sister Wheeler’s annual Thanksgiving dinner and VITAS Organization for Hospice.
Elizabeth Rowland, New Hope-Solebury High School senior, is a variety camp volunteer, a Girl Scout, a member of the Key Club and a volunteer with the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, Relay for Life and A Woman’s Place.
Colleen Moran, Palisades High School senior, is Key Club president, volunteers with the Delaware River Clean-up Community Project, Kiwanis Club and Students for Social Change and serves as National Honor Society vice president.
Kelsey Detweiler, Pennridge High School senior, volunteers with the Adopt A Highway program, Stand Tall Student Mentoring program, Pennridge Ambassador program and is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society.
Ashley Mullican, Pennsbury High School senior, has volunteered with the American Red Cross Blood Drive, New Orleans Rebuilding Effort, Aid for Friends, Souper Bowl of Caring and at Pickering Manor.
Molly Jamison, Quakertown Community High School senior, has served as a Youth With a Mission director, at Allentown Rescue Mission, Milford homeless shelter, and Quakertown food pantry and is a National Honor Society member.
Brittany Nicole King, Villa Joseph Marie High School junior, works with Canine Companions for Independence.
Geoffrey Eill, William Tennent High School senior, volunteers with a local adoption agency, Doylestown Hospital patient transport, Cat Tales Inc., American Red Cross Blood Drive, and is a Key Club member.
Each honoree received a certificate of appreciation and a monetary award for their volunteer service, organizers said.
After seeing the selfishness of our school board so well displayed yesterday, it is refreshing to see that the next generation is using a more community based focus.
Congrats to Morrisville honoree Michael Leather!
Teen volunteers honored by Bucks County YWCA
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
Jazmin Shields spends countless hours volunteering her time to make her world a better place.
The senior at Harry S Truman High School in Bristol Township is the Bucks County NAACP Youth Council president. She’s also a youth ambassador for St. Mary’s stroke awareness initiative and a volunteer with the YWCA and Camp Hidden Falls.
Plus she volunteers with Youth Fighting Against Tobacco, Neighborhood First and the peer mediation program and environmental club at her high school.
For her efforts, Jazmin has been named the Bucks County Teen Volunteer of the Year.
The Truman senior was one of 20 area teens honored by the YWCA of Bucks County recently in conjunction with National Volunteer Week for their service to the community.
The top volunteer is chosen based on a willingness to serve and take on a leadership role or significant responsibility in that service. The teens also are selected based on whether they have a mix of school and community-based volunteer efforts and how their service impacts the lives of others, organizers said.
Other teens recognized during the YWCA awards ceremony at the Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit No. 22 complex in Doylestown on Wednesday are:
Kaitlyn Utermark, Archbishop Wood High School senior, who volunteers at Wood Services and with Aid for Friends and Operation Santa Claus.
Jaison Zachariah, Bensalem High School senior, who serves as a math tutor, a library and hospital volunteer, with the school’s Student Government Association and as vice president of Bensalem’s National Honor Society.
Anikka Grange, Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School senior, who works with the homeless ministry, is a Titus Kitchen instructor and a member of a library club and the Interact Club.
Kristin Sandquist, Central Bucks East High School senior, is a founding member of Team Peru Denmark —Kiya Survivors, a Key Club and Interact Club member and a Special Olympics volunteer.
Thomas Lonergan, Central Bucks South High School senior, who volunteers with Doylestown Hospital patient transport, American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer campaign and with community-based athletic programs in Central Bucks.
Kelly Steelman, Central Bucks West High School senior, is a March of Dimes, NOVA, Relay for Life and soup kitchen volunteer.
Julia Burke, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School senior, is a Community Services Corps vice president, a student council representative and a member of the Key Club.
Joshua Wortzel, Council Rock High School North senior, is the Garden of Giving founder and president, National Honor Society president, a member of the environmental protection and Invisible Children clubs, and Pennsbury Manor Historic Center volunteer.
Advertisement
Catherine Edwards, Council Rock High School South senior, volunteers at the Churchville Nature Center, Northampton library, St. Mary Medical Center and the Bucks County Association for the Blind.
Michael Tantum, Holy Ghost Preparatory School junior, is an elementary school tutor, a Pickering Manor and music volunteer, and did his Boy Scout Eagle Scout project in Middletown’s Community Park.
Michael Leather, Morrisville Middle/Senior High School senior, is a Boy Scout, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact Club, and Mentors in Violence Prevention.
Valentina Souprountchak, Neshaminy High School senior, works with the district’s toy drive, People to People, Fairy Godmothers, Sister Wheeler’s annual Thanksgiving dinner and VITAS Organization for Hospice.
Elizabeth Rowland, New Hope-Solebury High School senior, is a variety camp volunteer, a Girl Scout, a member of the Key Club and a volunteer with the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, Relay for Life and A Woman’s Place.
Colleen Moran, Palisades High School senior, is Key Club president, volunteers with the Delaware River Clean-up Community Project, Kiwanis Club and Students for Social Change and serves as National Honor Society vice president.
Kelsey Detweiler, Pennridge High School senior, volunteers with the Adopt A Highway program, Stand Tall Student Mentoring program, Pennridge Ambassador program and is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society.
Ashley Mullican, Pennsbury High School senior, has volunteered with the American Red Cross Blood Drive, New Orleans Rebuilding Effort, Aid for Friends, Souper Bowl of Caring and at Pickering Manor.
Molly Jamison, Quakertown Community High School senior, has served as a Youth With a Mission director, at Allentown Rescue Mission, Milford homeless shelter, and Quakertown food pantry and is a National Honor Society member.
Brittany Nicole King, Villa Joseph Marie High School junior, works with Canine Companions for Independence.
Geoffrey Eill, William Tennent High School senior, volunteers with a local adoption agency, Doylestown Hospital patient transport, Cat Tales Inc., American Red Cross Blood Drive, and is a Key Club member.
Each honoree received a certificate of appreciation and a monetary award for their volunteer service, organizers said.
Don't Tax Me!
From the Philadephia Daily News
We hate taxes! The teabaggers chant of choice! It's an unsurprising poll finding.
It's easy to say don't tax ME. The harder answer is the one to the question how are WE going to pay for US?
New poll: we hate taxes Posted on Fri, Apr. 24, 2009
ACCORDING TO A NEW poll from the Pew Charitable Trust's Philadelphia Research Initiative.
The 800 Philadelphians contacted for the poll are unsure about how deal with the $1.4 billion hole in the city budget. According to the survey, residents oppose Mayor Nutter's plan to increase the property and sales tax.
But a majority also opposes increasing the wage tax, which has been pushed as an alternative by some members of City Council.
That seems straightforward enough, but the poll also found that many people don't understand the ramifications of not increasing taxes. Sixty-two percent opposed reducing the city workforce by just 250 employees, which is only about 1 percent of the total. That's a major disconnect, since failing to raise taxes will undoubtedly lead to layoffs.
It's particularly puzzling because both Nutter and Council have tried to engage the public. More than 1,700 people attended community budget forums sponsored by the administration, and Council added additional public hearings in neighborhoods. The citizen input from these events runs counter to the poll results.
Part of the reason could be that responding to a poll requires little thinking. Who is going tell a stranger over the telephone that they want to increase taxes? In contrast, the forums actually required citizens to come up with actual solutions.
Ultimately, the findings are also a warning against government by polling. The financial crisis demands that Nutter and Council provide strong leadership. Their decisions should take public input into account, but must also be rooted in sound public policy. Some of the ultimate decisions might make the public unhappy, but it's clear that it's going to take hard choices to get the city through this crisis. *
We hate taxes! The teabaggers chant of choice! It's an unsurprising poll finding.
It's easy to say don't tax ME. The harder answer is the one to the question how are WE going to pay for US?
New poll: we hate taxes Posted on Fri, Apr. 24, 2009
ACCORDING TO A NEW poll from the Pew Charitable Trust's Philadelphia Research Initiative.
The 800 Philadelphians contacted for the poll are unsure about how deal with the $1.4 billion hole in the city budget. According to the survey, residents oppose Mayor Nutter's plan to increase the property and sales tax.
But a majority also opposes increasing the wage tax, which has been pushed as an alternative by some members of City Council.
That seems straightforward enough, but the poll also found that many people don't understand the ramifications of not increasing taxes. Sixty-two percent opposed reducing the city workforce by just 250 employees, which is only about 1 percent of the total. That's a major disconnect, since failing to raise taxes will undoubtedly lead to layoffs.
It's particularly puzzling because both Nutter and Council have tried to engage the public. More than 1,700 people attended community budget forums sponsored by the administration, and Council added additional public hearings in neighborhoods. The citizen input from these events runs counter to the poll results.
Part of the reason could be that responding to a poll requires little thinking. Who is going tell a stranger over the telephone that they want to increase taxes? In contrast, the forums actually required citizens to come up with actual solutions.
Ultimately, the findings are also a warning against government by polling. The financial crisis demands that Nutter and Council provide strong leadership. Their decisions should take public input into account, but must also be rooted in sound public policy. Some of the ultimate decisions might make the public unhappy, but it's clear that it's going to take hard choices to get the city through this crisis. *
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