Here's a letter today from the BCCT taking a general look at "failed" education in Bucks County. This reads a lot like some of the opinions advanced by the stop the school NSNs. There's a lot of kvetching, but what's the plan? If I went to my boss with a lot of complaints but no plan, I'd be laughed out of his office and told, "Come back when you think you have a way to deal with it. Leaving a dead cat at my door doesn't help anything." The writer is stating facts, but to what end?
What about "failed"? Just the fact that you're reading this means the system succeeded. Can things be better? Absolutely. Does the American school system have all the answers? Absolutely not. Do we need to be more serious about our schools? That's a given. Take a look at the prime time TV lineup and the rest of the BCCT or any other newspaper to see what is important to Americans--living vicariously through others in scripted "reality" shows and maintaining the conspicuous consumerist lifestyle.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves ...
GUEST OPINION
Elect only those willing to reform a failed school system
By JOSEPH J. RYAN
Using data from the U.S. Department of Labor on household median earnings, Ohio University economics professor Richard Vedder found “weekly pay for public school teachers in 2001 was about the same (within 10 percent) as for accountants, biological and life scientists, registered nurses, and editors and reporters.” Of seven professions Vedder compared, the only ones with higher weekly pay than teachers were lawyers and judges.
Vedder also found public school teachers and administrators receive a benefit agreement worth 26 percent of salary, a questionable determination. In Bristol Township, the benefit package is 33 percent of salary compared with average private sector benefit arrangements at 17 percent. The most conspicuous financial mistreatment of taxpayers is teachers’ excessive salaries, abuse of sick leave and disproportionate subsidization of their health care coverage and pension plan.
According to the Inquirer’s annual report on public schools, the top teacher salary in Bensalem in 2006-2007 was $96,593; Bristol Borough, $84,710; Bristol Township, $85,427; Centennial, $97,309; Central Bucks, $94,010; Council Rock, $98,548; Morrisville, $86,731; Neshaminy, $93,356; New Hope, $97,349; and Pennsbury, $90,782. Applying a 33 percent benefit cost to the top salary at Neshaminy, the total compensation was $124,163 or $3,104 per week. Using the original SAT scoring system, the combined 2006-2007 SAT score in Neshaminy was 911, 69 points below the 1963 national “average.”
In 1988, I witnessed the fiscally irresponsible Bristol Township school board’s decision to boost educator salaries in the district by 47.2 percent over five years, an increase of 9.4 percent per year while the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) held at 3.5 percent. This is an example of how educator salaries in this county have reached an unwarranted, disproportionate level compared to student academic achievement.
A glaring inconsistency with educator salaries and benefits is the educational background of many public school educators. Frederick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute, who has a master’s degree in education from Harvard, assessed teacher candidates: “Undergraduate education majors typically have lower SAT and ACT scores than other students, and those teachers who have the lowest scores are the most likely to remain in the profession.”
The name, the National Education Association, is a misnomer. The intent is to give the organization a professional connotation similar to that of the American Medical Association, while in fact, it is a trade union comparable to the Teamsters or the United Auto Workers. The NEA masquerades as a professional body intent on raising the quality of education, while resisting every attempt at public education reform.
Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Public Education Reform said: “It used to be whatever teacher unions said went, but no more; they may be wealthy, but they are no longer impervious to attack.” For instance, teacher unions in both Hartford Conn., and Wilkinsburg, Pa., lost their fight to stop private firms from taking over the city schools.
A major contributing factor to student underachievement is automatic promotion. Currently, no matter how poorly a student performs, it is considered unfair to have the student repeat the year. Repeating the year is considered harmful to a student’s sense of self-worth. It is incomprehensible how a student can be intellectually self-satisfied if deficient in the basics. Yet another detrimental practice is guaranteed graduation. Regardless of performance, students can be sure they will graduate at the prescribed time.
Seventy-eight percent of America’s colleges and universities have initiated remedial study in reading, writing, or math, says Diane Ravitch, research professor at New York University. “It is fairly shocking, or should be, that 39 percent of all freshmen take a remedial course, particularly reading, when they enter advanced study.”
William J. Bennett, former U. S. secretary of education, has said, “In looking at the National Education Association you are looking at the absolute heart and soul of the Democratic Party.” Taxpayers should take Bennett’s statement literally. Both organizations reciprocate in electing Democratic Party candidates and resisting any attempt to reform a failed public education system.
Source: Peter Brimelow, “The Worm in the Apple”.
Joseph J. Ryan, Levittown, is a U.S. Marine Corps retiree, and former employee of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Strip Club Appeal Coming?
I watched the presentation being made by Todd Colarusso to the zoning board, and as I said before, I thought the strip club was going to be a certainty. Then came the surprise U-turn swapping advertising for stripping. I was immediately uneasy. This was the same bait and switch I was taught to avoid in used car salesmen and politicians. However, this idea still has merit, minus the second floor strip club plans.
Now that both variance applications have been rejected by the zoning board, it's apparently off to court. "Todd Colarusso, president of Stockham Interests, LLC of Princeton, N.J., said after the meeting that he would appeal the decision in Bucks County Common Pleas Court. Colarusso threatened there will be a strip club as he stood outside on the steps of borough hall."
Todd, this isn't going to help matters. It's pretty clear that the residents do not want to have a strip club here. It's also pretty clear that Morrisville needs to have the Stockham Building filled and rented. Take a look at the acrimony and animosity surrounding the new school building and Gateway issues and imagine it doubled or tripled.
I can't see this ending well. A strip club forced onto the residents would most likely be met with stiff community resistance.
Zoning Board: No strip club in Morrisville
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Staff Editor
Morrisville Borough residents said they were happy when they heard the Morrisville Zoning Hearing Board's (MZHB) decision not to allow a burlesque-style theater with topless women in their town.
The request to allow the strip club in Morrisville Borough's old commercial zone was unanimously rejected May 6 by the board.
Todd Colarusso, president of Stockham Interests, LLC of Princeton, N.J., said after the meeting that he would appeal the decision in Bucks County Common Pleas Court.
Colarusso threatened there will be a strip club as he stood outside on the steps of borough hall.
According to board solicitor Dennis Denard, the MZHB must issue a written decision within 45 days of the hearing. Once issued, Stockham Interests, LLC has the right to appeal within 30 days.
In a 365-degree turn, Colarusso had said during the hearing that he would drop his original application for a zoning variance could be used by area businesses.
Pastor Gary Taylor of the 1st Baptist Church said he was concerned for the moral content of the sign and whether it could be controlled in the future.
Taylor said there would be adverse effects on the community because "Morrisville would be known for that particular establishment."
The applicant said he would not allow advertisements for alcohol, tobacco, condoms or abortion.
Hal Wilcox, a local sports coach, said he volunteers with the Solid Rock Youth Center, which is located on the second floor of the 1st Baptist Church. "I coach youth in this town. I teach them right from wrong. Morrisville does not need adult entertainment." He stressed the church is located "right down the street" from the Stockham building.
Three church pastors appealed to the board to reject the proposal to allow the burlesque theatre.
Father John Eckert, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Pennsylvania Avenue, quoted the book of Matthew from the Bible. He said when a man "looks at a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery."
Rev. Frank Sanders, pastor of the Morrisville United Methodist Church, said, "We stand in solidarity with him (Father Eckert)." Sanders questioned whether broken windows at the Stockham building would be replaced.
Colarusso said if a future tenant does not repair them in a few months, he would see that they would be replaced.
Along with other residents, Clarissa Taylor, Rev. Taylor's daughter, said if the adult entertainment use were approved, youths passing by the building to walk to and from school would be adversely influenced.
"They're going to dwell on it every single day."
After the 3 ½ hour presentation, discussion and public comment, the board voted 3-0 to reject the application for adult entertainment and an alternate option of a billboard or nylon hanging 'wallscape' for the west side of the historic Stockham building, located in Morrisville's ailing commercial district at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street.
Adult entertainment in the C-1 district is not allowed, however it is allowed in the two industrial zones.
Presenting stacks of paperwork to the board, Bruce McLaughlin, a witness for the applicant, argued that adult entertainment does not have an adverse effect on the community. He cited court decisions, which allowed adult entertainment. He said vagrants and undesirables would not congregate around a building offering adult entertainment.
Holly Mikhailik, of Casabella Design in Hamilton Township, N.J, said the proposed facility would be a French-style Moulon Rouge décor. A painting of a French café was shown for the first floor. Later, Councilwoman Jane Burger, who said she was not speaking as a public official, said that image was unacceptable to her.
In addition to the proposed restaurant on the first floor and a burlesque theater on the second floor, the applicant wants to rent the third and fourth floors to a fitness center. The center would provide babysitting services. That service was questioned since children would have to pass the proposed adult entertainment area on the second floor.
The applicant said the babysitting service would be located more than 500 feet from the burlesque area.
After the meeting, Morrisville Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock said the zoning board deemed the burlesque club "inappropriate and not acceptable." Sherlock said she agreed with the board's decision.
Now that both variance applications have been rejected by the zoning board, it's apparently off to court. "Todd Colarusso, president of Stockham Interests, LLC of Princeton, N.J., said after the meeting that he would appeal the decision in Bucks County Common Pleas Court. Colarusso threatened there will be a strip club as he stood outside on the steps of borough hall."
Todd, this isn't going to help matters. It's pretty clear that the residents do not want to have a strip club here. It's also pretty clear that Morrisville needs to have the Stockham Building filled and rented. Take a look at the acrimony and animosity surrounding the new school building and Gateway issues and imagine it doubled or tripled.
I can't see this ending well. A strip club forced onto the residents would most likely be met with stiff community resistance.
Zoning Board: No strip club in Morrisville
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Staff Editor
Morrisville Borough residents said they were happy when they heard the Morrisville Zoning Hearing Board's (MZHB) decision not to allow a burlesque-style theater with topless women in their town.
The request to allow the strip club in Morrisville Borough's old commercial zone was unanimously rejected May 6 by the board.
Todd Colarusso, president of Stockham Interests, LLC of Princeton, N.J., said after the meeting that he would appeal the decision in Bucks County Common Pleas Court.
Colarusso threatened there will be a strip club as he stood outside on the steps of borough hall.
According to board solicitor Dennis Denard, the MZHB must issue a written decision within 45 days of the hearing. Once issued, Stockham Interests, LLC has the right to appeal within 30 days.
In a 365-degree turn, Colarusso had said during the hearing that he would drop his original application for a zoning variance could be used by area businesses.
Pastor Gary Taylor of the 1st Baptist Church said he was concerned for the moral content of the sign and whether it could be controlled in the future.
Taylor said there would be adverse effects on the community because "Morrisville would be known for that particular establishment."
The applicant said he would not allow advertisements for alcohol, tobacco, condoms or abortion.
Hal Wilcox, a local sports coach, said he volunteers with the Solid Rock Youth Center, which is located on the second floor of the 1st Baptist Church. "I coach youth in this town. I teach them right from wrong. Morrisville does not need adult entertainment." He stressed the church is located "right down the street" from the Stockham building.
Three church pastors appealed to the board to reject the proposal to allow the burlesque theatre.
Father John Eckert, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Pennsylvania Avenue, quoted the book of Matthew from the Bible. He said when a man "looks at a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery."
Rev. Frank Sanders, pastor of the Morrisville United Methodist Church, said, "We stand in solidarity with him (Father Eckert)." Sanders questioned whether broken windows at the Stockham building would be replaced.
Colarusso said if a future tenant does not repair them in a few months, he would see that they would be replaced.
Along with other residents, Clarissa Taylor, Rev. Taylor's daughter, said if the adult entertainment use were approved, youths passing by the building to walk to and from school would be adversely influenced.
"They're going to dwell on it every single day."
After the 3 ½ hour presentation, discussion and public comment, the board voted 3-0 to reject the application for adult entertainment and an alternate option of a billboard or nylon hanging 'wallscape' for the west side of the historic Stockham building, located in Morrisville's ailing commercial district at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street.
Adult entertainment in the C-1 district is not allowed, however it is allowed in the two industrial zones.
Presenting stacks of paperwork to the board, Bruce McLaughlin, a witness for the applicant, argued that adult entertainment does not have an adverse effect on the community. He cited court decisions, which allowed adult entertainment. He said vagrants and undesirables would not congregate around a building offering adult entertainment.
Holly Mikhailik, of Casabella Design in Hamilton Township, N.J, said the proposed facility would be a French-style Moulon Rouge décor. A painting of a French café was shown for the first floor. Later, Councilwoman Jane Burger, who said she was not speaking as a public official, said that image was unacceptable to her.
In addition to the proposed restaurant on the first floor and a burlesque theater on the second floor, the applicant wants to rent the third and fourth floors to a fitness center. The center would provide babysitting services. That service was questioned since children would have to pass the proposed adult entertainment area on the second floor.
The applicant said the babysitting service would be located more than 500 feet from the burlesque area.
After the meeting, Morrisville Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock said the zoning board deemed the burlesque club "inappropriate and not acceptable." Sherlock said she agreed with the board's decision.
Schools News Around the Blogosphere
Rendell's graduate skills test in trouble
Philadelphia Inquirer
Dozens of legislators and school boards statewide are objecting. They say local districts are the best judge.
A Rendell administration proposal to establish state high school graduation tests in 10 subjects has generated stiff opposition that threatens to scuttle the initiative.
Billions Needed to Fix Pr. George's Schools
Washington Post
The school system requires $2.1B to fix its aging buildings, according to a study that finds many schools running on antiquated equipment and deteriorating inside and out
The great literacy testing debacle in the United States
EducationNews.org
The United States seems to be caught up in measurement mania when it comes to literacy. The No Child Left Behind law calls for extensive testing of children's reading abilities in different grade levels. For adults, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has developed adult literacy tests, while Title 2: The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of the WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 calls for accountability measures that the DOE has implemented in a national reporting system that makes extensive use of adult literacy tests.
Special Ed Proposals Draw Scrutiny
Washington Post
Va. plans to give schools more leeway to suspend certain services for students and reduce the number of progress reports families receive. The most controversial proposal would give schools more leeway to suspend certain special services for students, such as speech or occupational health therapy. The targeted services would remain in place if parents object, pending a resolution of the dispute with the school system.
SpecialEdAdvocate.org
Student Tests - and Teacher Grades
Wall Street Journal
By John Merrow
Schools now have plenty of data to be able to see who is learning and why. Suppose a swimming instructor told his 10-year-old students to swim the length of the pool to demonstrate what he'd taught them, and half of them nearly drowned? Would it be reasonable to make a judgment about his teaching ability?
Advanced Placement courses, once a model for learning, are mere memory tests now.
Bursting the AP bubble
Los Angeles Times
By Tom Stanley-Becker
I'M AN AP DROPOUT. When classmates in my Advanced Placement U.S. history course take the AP exam Friday, I won't be with them. When they pick up their pencils and start filling in those little bubbles, I'll be reading the words of George Kennan, Lillian Hellman, Harry Truman and Paul Robeson
Charter-school fans want more
Denver Post
A group of angry parents stood before the Denver school board last month, holding up newspaper articles about a high-performing charter school and asking why their children were unable to receive the same education.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Dozens of legislators and school boards statewide are objecting. They say local districts are the best judge.
A Rendell administration proposal to establish state high school graduation tests in 10 subjects has generated stiff opposition that threatens to scuttle the initiative.
Billions Needed to Fix Pr. George's Schools
Washington Post
The school system requires $2.1B to fix its aging buildings, according to a study that finds many schools running on antiquated equipment and deteriorating inside and out
The great literacy testing debacle in the United States
EducationNews.org
The United States seems to be caught up in measurement mania when it comes to literacy. The No Child Left Behind law calls for extensive testing of children's reading abilities in different grade levels. For adults, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has developed adult literacy tests, while Title 2: The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of the WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 calls for accountability measures that the DOE has implemented in a national reporting system that makes extensive use of adult literacy tests.
Special Ed Proposals Draw Scrutiny
Washington Post
Va. plans to give schools more leeway to suspend certain services for students and reduce the number of progress reports families receive. The most controversial proposal would give schools more leeway to suspend certain special services for students, such as speech or occupational health therapy. The targeted services would remain in place if parents object, pending a resolution of the dispute with the school system.
SpecialEdAdvocate.org
Student Tests - and Teacher Grades
Wall Street Journal
By John Merrow
Schools now have plenty of data to be able to see who is learning and why. Suppose a swimming instructor told his 10-year-old students to swim the length of the pool to demonstrate what he'd taught them, and half of them nearly drowned? Would it be reasonable to make a judgment about his teaching ability?
Advanced Placement courses, once a model for learning, are mere memory tests now.
Bursting the AP bubble
Los Angeles Times
By Tom Stanley-Becker
I'M AN AP DROPOUT. When classmates in my Advanced Placement U.S. history course take the AP exam Friday, I won't be with them. When they pick up their pencils and start filling in those little bubbles, I'll be reading the words of George Kennan, Lillian Hellman, Harry Truman and Paul Robeson
Charter-school fans want more
Denver Post
A group of angry parents stood before the Denver school board last month, holding up newspaper articles about a high-performing charter school and asking why their children were unable to receive the same education.
Friday, May 9, 2008
The State of Apathy
I received an email today that has me absolutely shocked and downright despondent at the same time. I was asked to not provide the specific details, so I've removed some of the information and changed some other items, but the general message is unchanged.
The writer asks for feedback, so let's open it up for discussion.
I have some friends who live in Morrisville. They are young, have no children yet and have lived in town for several years.
We were talking other day, and as it happened, the conversation came around to (OK, I brought it up) the various goings on in town. I wanted to get their views on things.
Much to my shock, they had no idea what was going on. They were vaguely aware of the “build a new school” issue, and asked what side of the fence I was on for that. I mentioned that since it was all but over and the district had moved on to other issues it didn’t matter how I felt. They nodded. They were unaware of the politics, of the infighting, of all the things that your blog and the papers cover.
I asked how they felt about the Gateway center, and about the Stockham building. They were unaware of those issues also. They did mention that they were glad that there was a new restaurant going into the “new building” on Bridge street.
These are intelligent and articulate people who monitor national and state issues.
They are oblivious to local issues.
I just had to shake my head over this. I was aghast.
It got me to thinking, in light of all that has been said about voter turnout, about people from Morrisville making bad choices in leaders and turning a blind eye to issues, that maybe there is a majority of people in this bedroom community, who only look at Morrisville as a place to eat and sleep. That they don’t have a care or interest at all in how the town is run, or where it is headed.
I’d be curious to read your thoughts on this, and to read the thoughts and experiences of others as well.
The writer asks for feedback, so let's open it up for discussion.
I have some friends who live in Morrisville. They are young, have no children yet and have lived in town for several years.
We were talking other day, and as it happened, the conversation came around to (OK, I brought it up) the various goings on in town. I wanted to get their views on things.
Much to my shock, they had no idea what was going on. They were vaguely aware of the “build a new school” issue, and asked what side of the fence I was on for that. I mentioned that since it was all but over and the district had moved on to other issues it didn’t matter how I felt. They nodded. They were unaware of the politics, of the infighting, of all the things that your blog and the papers cover.
I asked how they felt about the Gateway center, and about the Stockham building. They were unaware of those issues also. They did mention that they were glad that there was a new restaurant going into the “new building” on Bridge street.
These are intelligent and articulate people who monitor national and state issues.
They are oblivious to local issues.
I just had to shake my head over this. I was aghast.
It got me to thinking, in light of all that has been said about voter turnout, about people from Morrisville making bad choices in leaders and turning a blind eye to issues, that maybe there is a majority of people in this bedroom community, who only look at Morrisville as a place to eat and sleep. That they don’t have a care or interest at all in how the town is run, or where it is headed.
I’d be curious to read your thoughts on this, and to read the thoughts and experiences of others as well.
From the Mailbag
I received this email today and thought I would share it with you.
Thank you for the compliment. I do try to be fair.
What do you think about this?
Hello,
I read and enjoy your blog every day.It is very informative and you seem to be even handed about issues that affect our children's education.
Recently I saw a job posting in my daughter's school, Grandview Elementary. The job entails "taking minutes at school board meeting once or twice a month".
I was under the impression that this was Ms. Mihok's job,for which she receives a stipend.
This does not sound(to me)to be a very good use of our tax money.If you get a chance, please look into this and "put it out there", because I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks for your time and effort on behalf of our children, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't use my name.
Morrisville Parent
Thank you for the compliment. I do try to be fair.
What do you think about this?
Hello,
I read and enjoy your blog every day.It is very informative and you seem to be even handed about issues that affect our children's education.
Recently I saw a job posting in my daughter's school, Grandview Elementary. The job entails "taking minutes at school board meeting once or twice a month".
I was under the impression that this was Ms. Mihok's job,for which she receives a stipend.
This does not sound(to me)to be a very good use of our tax money.If you get a chance, please look into this and "put it out there", because I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks for your time and effort on behalf of our children, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't use my name.
Morrisville Parent
Zero Tolerance = Zero Intelligence ?
It doesn't take much to do a search where "Zero Tolerance" and "Zero Intelligence" appear very close to each other in published articles. Most of the time, these citations appear in the context of our schools where six-year-olds are suspended for innocent kisses or Eagle Scouts suspended because they accidentally left a rusted Scout knife in their pack or lost in the car trunk.
Today, Kate Fratti takes a look at an issue at a MHS student's freedom of speech rights balanced against the rights of the staff and administrators.
It's a tough call. But then again, aren't ALL of the teenage related decisions tough calls?
Kudos to Dr. Yonson and the rest of the staff. This was apparently a pretty sticky situation with a lot of extenuating circumstances and related baggage that had the potential to turn into an extremely serious situation.
What it really turned out to be was a typical high school student who was unhappy with the teachers, staff, and administration. What a shocking revelation. Even the "Back to the Future" movies caricatured Mr. Strickland the disciplinarian as a disliked high school fixture. How many of us can say we "liked" our high school teachers? (Yes, there were some we liked and respected, but for the most part, I know I thought of them as associate parents and nearly as annoying as the real thing.)
This student took it a step farther and created songs, burned them to CDs and started selling them. Extra credit points for the entrepreneurial spirit, but the execution of the business plan was not well thought out. Real people in the real world get fired when they use their employer's time and resources for personal gain. This was no different except that it was a high schooler who was using the "employer's" resources. Kids are notorious for not thinking things out fully.
It seems like the punishment here is severe but fits the crime. It's a bitter but reasonable ending for their high school career, and the future (college, etc) will not be effected, unless the students lets that happen.
CD stirs up trouble
Should a boy be allowed to write a song critical of adults running his high school and then produce a music CD with that song as its centerpiece?
Should he be allowed to sell said CD to classmates on school grounds? Isn't that the kind of entrepreneurial spirit adults should applaud?
Does your answer change if the CD lyrics are raunchy? What if they aren't just scandalous, but maybe slanderous, too? Like, what if the boy proclaims in lyrics that one administrator has been ... how can I say this delicately, because the singer did not ... uh, physically intimate with another?
Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson says the boy had every right to sing what he thinks, and to lay it down on a CD for sale. You don't have to be old to exercise your right of free expression.
You do have to be old to see around corners, though.
The entertainer shot himself in the foot when he violated school policy by allegedly selling the CD on school grounds, even posting fliers that could have potentially exposed the district to liability for slander, Yonson said. What if it could be argued the CD amounted to a school-sponsored project?
The student cinched his undoing by violating another school policy, allegedly loading the CD onto a school computer to play it for other students. He'd signed a contract, as all the kids do, promising the computers would not be used for anything but school work.
His punishment?
The fledgling musician, a senior, has been suspended, and will not be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies.
The suspension is pretty stiff. The boy will be allowed to complete his senior requirements, but it won't be at Morrisville during the regular school day. He'll likely be invited to do his work at the close of the regular day. His college of choice will not be notified of his recent troubles.
Case closed? Not yet.
Yonson was at a conference in Harrisburg Friday when she got phone calls from the high school telling her lots of kids disagreed with her stand. They planned to walk out of the school in protest of the musician's suspension.
click here!
Kids were informed that any who chose to walk out wouldn't be permitted to participate in sports or any other extracurricular.
“There are proper ways to protest, to have your position heard,” Yonson said. “Walking out of class isn't one of them.” Kids stayed put.
Case closed now?
Not so fast again.
Fueling kids' continued opposition to the musician's suspension, even this week, is by now a well-circulated rumor that another student brought an unloaded gun to school, threatened other kids' safety via a “hit list” on MySpace, but was merely suspended for 10 days.
No fair, kids argued. The musician was being persecuted because he dissed staff, while a kid packing heat got off easy.
Yonson says it's just not true.
Administrators investigated the rumor and found a case of whisper down the lane that reached parents who phoned her. There was no gun in school, administrators found — and no “hit list.”
Yonson did concede that recently a Neshaminy student — who was attending a Bucks County Intermediate Unit support class at Morrisville High — did verbally threaten a classmate. He's been expelled from Morrisville and returned to Neshaminy.
“If he was a Morrisville student, we'd have to deal with him. We don't,” she said.
Some worry the gun rumor was manufactured and fanned by kids close to their music-producing peer who needed an argument to rile other kids.
In the end, the mess had a lot of grownups singing the blues last week — parents, teachers, administrators — all trying to reason with and calm teenagers. No word on whether they'll produce a CD.
Today, Kate Fratti takes a look at an issue at a MHS student's freedom of speech rights balanced against the rights of the staff and administrators.
It's a tough call. But then again, aren't ALL of the teenage related decisions tough calls?
Kudos to Dr. Yonson and the rest of the staff. This was apparently a pretty sticky situation with a lot of extenuating circumstances and related baggage that had the potential to turn into an extremely serious situation.
What it really turned out to be was a typical high school student who was unhappy with the teachers, staff, and administration. What a shocking revelation. Even the "Back to the Future" movies caricatured Mr. Strickland the disciplinarian as a disliked high school fixture. How many of us can say we "liked" our high school teachers? (Yes, there were some we liked and respected, but for the most part, I know I thought of them as associate parents and nearly as annoying as the real thing.)
This student took it a step farther and created songs, burned them to CDs and started selling them. Extra credit points for the entrepreneurial spirit, but the execution of the business plan was not well thought out. Real people in the real world get fired when they use their employer's time and resources for personal gain. This was no different except that it was a high schooler who was using the "employer's" resources. Kids are notorious for not thinking things out fully.
It seems like the punishment here is severe but fits the crime. It's a bitter but reasonable ending for their high school career, and the future (college, etc) will not be effected, unless the students lets that happen.
CD stirs up trouble
Should a boy be allowed to write a song critical of adults running his high school and then produce a music CD with that song as its centerpiece?
Should he be allowed to sell said CD to classmates on school grounds? Isn't that the kind of entrepreneurial spirit adults should applaud?
Does your answer change if the CD lyrics are raunchy? What if they aren't just scandalous, but maybe slanderous, too? Like, what if the boy proclaims in lyrics that one administrator has been ... how can I say this delicately, because the singer did not ... uh, physically intimate with another?
Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson says the boy had every right to sing what he thinks, and to lay it down on a CD for sale. You don't have to be old to exercise your right of free expression.
You do have to be old to see around corners, though.
The entertainer shot himself in the foot when he violated school policy by allegedly selling the CD on school grounds, even posting fliers that could have potentially exposed the district to liability for slander, Yonson said. What if it could be argued the CD amounted to a school-sponsored project?
The student cinched his undoing by violating another school policy, allegedly loading the CD onto a school computer to play it for other students. He'd signed a contract, as all the kids do, promising the computers would not be used for anything but school work.
His punishment?
The fledgling musician, a senior, has been suspended, and will not be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies.
The suspension is pretty stiff. The boy will be allowed to complete his senior requirements, but it won't be at Morrisville during the regular school day. He'll likely be invited to do his work at the close of the regular day. His college of choice will not be notified of his recent troubles.
Case closed? Not yet.
Yonson was at a conference in Harrisburg Friday when she got phone calls from the high school telling her lots of kids disagreed with her stand. They planned to walk out of the school in protest of the musician's suspension.
click here!
Kids were informed that any who chose to walk out wouldn't be permitted to participate in sports or any other extracurricular.
“There are proper ways to protest, to have your position heard,” Yonson said. “Walking out of class isn't one of them.” Kids stayed put.
Case closed now?
Not so fast again.
Fueling kids' continued opposition to the musician's suspension, even this week, is by now a well-circulated rumor that another student brought an unloaded gun to school, threatened other kids' safety via a “hit list” on MySpace, but was merely suspended for 10 days.
No fair, kids argued. The musician was being persecuted because he dissed staff, while a kid packing heat got off easy.
Yonson says it's just not true.
Administrators investigated the rumor and found a case of whisper down the lane that reached parents who phoned her. There was no gun in school, administrators found — and no “hit list.”
Yonson did concede that recently a Neshaminy student — who was attending a Bucks County Intermediate Unit support class at Morrisville High — did verbally threaten a classmate. He's been expelled from Morrisville and returned to Neshaminy.
“If he was a Morrisville student, we'd have to deal with him. We don't,” she said.
Some worry the gun rumor was manufactured and fanned by kids close to their music-producing peer who needed an argument to rile other kids.
In the end, the mess had a lot of grownups singing the blues last week — parents, teachers, administrators — all trying to reason with and calm teenagers. No word on whether they'll produce a CD.
Pennsbury SD Budget Increase is 5.3%
Good thing we're not in the Pennsbury district.
Yet.
Preliminary budget includes $231 tax hike
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent. School board members vowed to work to reduce the increase.
By MANASEE WAGH STAFF WRITER
Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyBurbs.com
The average Pennsbury taxpayer would face a $231 tax increase under the preliminary budget proposal approved 8-0 by the district school board Thursday night.
The $174.5 million budget plan, about $6.3 million more than last year, includes a 7.4 mill increase for the 2008-2009 year. Figures are based on the district’s average home assessment of $31,160.
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent, more than the state mandated 4.4 percent limit. However, the district applied and received approval for three exceptions to raise the tax rate above the state-mandated percentage in order to fund special education and other costs.
The board cited several reasons for the boost.
Besides employee salaries and benefits, which make up about 75 percent of the 2008-09 expenses, special education costs have risen, as have diesel fuel costs and utilities.
Additionally, falling interest rates have negatively impacted revenues, as has the loss of state subsidies.
Although board members approved the proposed budget, they said they would work to reduce the final numbers.
“My target is around 4 percent. That’s what I was hoping for,” said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Some board members suggested focusing on salaries and benefits to control expenses.
“That’s the only controllable aspect,” said member Arlene Gordon.
To reach the 4.4 percent index demanded by the state, the budget needs to be reduced by more than $1 million.
“We’re going to try to reduce the budget without detracting from programs and services,” said district CEO Paul Long.
The district will continue tweaking the budget until the final 2008-09 budget has to be adopted on June 12.
One board member, Wayne DeBlasio, was absent.
Yet.
Preliminary budget includes $231 tax hike
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent. School board members vowed to work to reduce the increase.
By MANASEE WAGH STAFF WRITER
Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyBurbs.com
The average Pennsbury taxpayer would face a $231 tax increase under the preliminary budget proposal approved 8-0 by the district school board Thursday night.
The $174.5 million budget plan, about $6.3 million more than last year, includes a 7.4 mill increase for the 2008-2009 year. Figures are based on the district’s average home assessment of $31,160.
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent, more than the state mandated 4.4 percent limit. However, the district applied and received approval for three exceptions to raise the tax rate above the state-mandated percentage in order to fund special education and other costs.
The board cited several reasons for the boost.
Besides employee salaries and benefits, which make up about 75 percent of the 2008-09 expenses, special education costs have risen, as have diesel fuel costs and utilities.
Additionally, falling interest rates have negatively impacted revenues, as has the loss of state subsidies.
Although board members approved the proposed budget, they said they would work to reduce the final numbers.
“My target is around 4 percent. That’s what I was hoping for,” said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Some board members suggested focusing on salaries and benefits to control expenses.
“That’s the only controllable aspect,” said member Arlene Gordon.
To reach the 4.4 percent index demanded by the state, the budget needs to be reduced by more than $1 million.
“We’re going to try to reduce the budget without detracting from programs and services,” said district CEO Paul Long.
The district will continue tweaking the budget until the final 2008-09 budget has to be adopted on June 12.
One board member, Wayne DeBlasio, was absent.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Another Surveillance Photo
Our intrepid mole inside the unnamed security agency has obtained another classified photo that should not be shared with anyone.
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Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Crossposting to Kate Fratti
Kate recently updated her blog with entries on the hiring of Mike Fitzpatrick as solicitor, and the lack of quorum for the school board retreat. Please check it out and leave her some comments to let her know that we appreciate her hard work in keeping us all informed about what is happening here in the borough.
Stockham Strip Club Followup
The BCCT carries a story about the Stockham Building zoning board hearings: Denied on two counts.
Board denies building plans
By DANNY ADLER STAFF WRITER
A property owner in Morrisville proposed two ideas for the largely vacant Stockham building in the borough: a burlesque themed strip club or a 1,000-square-foot billboard.
Morrisville’s zoning hearing board, though, unanimously denied both proposals Monday night at a hearing.
Stockham Interests LLC originally proposed a first floor French-themed restaurant and a gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as a fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
The land owner was asking the zoning board for variances to allow adult entertainment in the building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street and variances from sign regulations.
But more than an hour into the hearing, Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests, said he would kill plans for the “less-than-popular” strip club if the zoning board would allow a 1,000-square foot “soft” vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
“This alternative variance request will allow us to bring in the fitness center on the third and fourth floor … [and] it may very well help us attract a restaurant.”
Many residents spoke out against the gentleman’s club yet seemed to favor the billboard — or at least favor it more than a gentleman’s club.
But resident Barbara Runner said she was wary of the billboard alternative.
“I believe Mr. Colarusso, in my opinion, has threatened this board: Take Option 1 or the lesser of two evils. And I hope you gentlemen will not fall for that,” Runner said.
Stockham Interests denied the charge: “The sign alternative was brought to our attention and we brought it here in good faith as a method to make this building economically viable,” Colarusso said.
The zoning hearing board has 45 days from Monday to give a written decision on the matter, and the applicant has 30 days after that to appeal the decision.
Board denies building plans
By DANNY ADLER STAFF WRITER
A property owner in Morrisville proposed two ideas for the largely vacant Stockham building in the borough: a burlesque themed strip club or a 1,000-square-foot billboard.
Morrisville’s zoning hearing board, though, unanimously denied both proposals Monday night at a hearing.
Stockham Interests LLC originally proposed a first floor French-themed restaurant and a gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as a fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
The land owner was asking the zoning board for variances to allow adult entertainment in the building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street and variances from sign regulations.
But more than an hour into the hearing, Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests, said he would kill plans for the “less-than-popular” strip club if the zoning board would allow a 1,000-square foot “soft” vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
“This alternative variance request will allow us to bring in the fitness center on the third and fourth floor … [and] it may very well help us attract a restaurant.”
Many residents spoke out against the gentleman’s club yet seemed to favor the billboard — or at least favor it more than a gentleman’s club.
But resident Barbara Runner said she was wary of the billboard alternative.
“I believe Mr. Colarusso, in my opinion, has threatened this board: Take Option 1 or the lesser of two evils. And I hope you gentlemen will not fall for that,” Runner said.
Stockham Interests denied the charge: “The sign alternative was brought to our attention and we brought it here in good faith as a method to make this building economically viable,” Colarusso said.
The zoning hearing board has 45 days from Monday to give a written decision on the matter, and the applicant has 30 days after that to appeal the decision.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Retreat!
I received a message from Joe Kemp reporting on the Cinco de Mayo School Board Director's retreat last night. The forecast for the greater Morrisville area: continuing cloudy, thunderstorms likely with intermittent snarkiness.
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M.: Thanks for the blog mention.]
Retreat was attended last night (Cinco de Mayo) by directors Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer and administrators Yonson and Dunford. Dr. Barry Gallosso and Joanne Perotti of the BCIU (for free) put together a PowerPoint and had the big easels out. The goal of the retreat was to find common ground and put together a short list of short-term goals we could all agree on for the district. Since we were several apples short of a consensus tree, we amended the goal to trying to figure out if there can be any trust built up between board members and administrators. Outlook gloomy, but we're going to try to do it again with full participation. Corner me sometime for comments.
Kudos to members Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer, and Yonson and Dunford. Frankenfield remains on the injured reserve list. Assign an incomplete to members Mihok, Heater, Worob, and the big enchilada himself, the Emperor.
I hereby renew the open invitation to any of the nine school board members who want to comment or contribute.
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M.: Thanks for the blog mention.]
Retreat was attended last night (Cinco de Mayo) by directors Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer and administrators Yonson and Dunford. Dr. Barry Gallosso and Joanne Perotti of the BCIU (for free) put together a PowerPoint and had the big easels out. The goal of the retreat was to find common ground and put together a short list of short-term goals we could all agree on for the district. Since we were several apples short of a consensus tree, we amended the goal to trying to figure out if there can be any trust built up between board members and administrators. Outlook gloomy, but we're going to try to do it again with full participation. Corner me sometime for comments.
Kudos to members Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer, and Yonson and Dunford. Frankenfield remains on the injured reserve list. Assign an incomplete to members Mihok, Heater, Worob, and the big enchilada himself, the Emperor.
I hereby renew the open invitation to any of the nine school board members who want to comment or contribute.
Strip Club Plans Dropped?
From the looks of things last night, it seemed like the strip club in the Stockham building was going to be a reality. The owner of the building brought in a professional urban planner who produced ten or twelve studies showing that adult entertainment does not have a negative effect on the area. I thought the coup de grâce was when he stated that there was nothing in the current Morrisville ordinance that prevented an adult bookstore from being put in a certain square footage of the Stockham building, right now!
Then the owner presented a second plan: give us a larger square footage signage variance and we'll drop the strip club variance request. The side of the Stockham Building would have a large "wallscape" nylon mesh advertising panel. The wallscape would showcase the building's tenants at first, and then generic advertising later, minus alcohol, tobacco, and condoms.
I'm appreciative of the willingness for compromise that the owner is showing. It's not a completely black and white issue here. I'm mindful of the difficulties in renting out the Stockham Building. Part is location, part is the borough's (lack of?) maintenance of the parking lot area and downtown maintenance in general, but part is the condition of the building. Any homeowner checks for the building's condition and their ability (or inability) to upgrade the purchase before buying. When the elevator in a four story building doesn't work, let's get it fixed.
This is not an issue where the owner is completely at fault for an inability to rent/sell the floor space. This is not an issue where the borough is completely at fault for making it difficult to rent/sell the floor space. There's room to work together...WITHOUT THE STRIP CLUB...
Owner offers to scrap plans for strip club
The owner of the Stockham building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street offered an alternative zoning request that would eliminate a controversial proposal to bring a burlesque-style gentleman’s club to Morrisville.
Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests LLC, said Monday night he would scrap plans for the strip club if the zoning hearing board allowed him to put a 1,000-square-foot vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
More than 70 residents crowded Monday’s zoning hearing, most of whom seemed to be against the proposed gentleman’s club. As of late Monday, the zoning hearing board did not make a decision.
The original proposal called for an “upscale” French-style restaurant on the first floor and the gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as the fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
Then the owner presented a second plan: give us a larger square footage signage variance and we'll drop the strip club variance request. The side of the Stockham Building would have a large "wallscape" nylon mesh advertising panel. The wallscape would showcase the building's tenants at first, and then generic advertising later, minus alcohol, tobacco, and condoms.
I'm appreciative of the willingness for compromise that the owner is showing. It's not a completely black and white issue here. I'm mindful of the difficulties in renting out the Stockham Building. Part is location, part is the borough's (lack of?) maintenance of the parking lot area and downtown maintenance in general, but part is the condition of the building. Any homeowner checks for the building's condition and their ability (or inability) to upgrade the purchase before buying. When the elevator in a four story building doesn't work, let's get it fixed.
This is not an issue where the owner is completely at fault for an inability to rent/sell the floor space. This is not an issue where the borough is completely at fault for making it difficult to rent/sell the floor space. There's room to work together...WITHOUT THE STRIP CLUB...
Owner offers to scrap plans for strip club
The owner of the Stockham building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street offered an alternative zoning request that would eliminate a controversial proposal to bring a burlesque-style gentleman’s club to Morrisville.
Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests LLC, said Monday night he would scrap plans for the strip club if the zoning hearing board allowed him to put a 1,000-square-foot vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
More than 70 residents crowded Monday’s zoning hearing, most of whom seemed to be against the proposed gentleman’s club. As of late Monday, the zoning hearing board did not make a decision.
The original proposal called for an “upscale” French-style restaurant on the first floor and the gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as the fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Stockham Interests Burlesque Hearing Tonight
The burlesque club application for the second floor of the Stockham building will have its zoning board variance hearing tonight at 7:30 P.M. at borough hall.
We've mentioned this project and the hearing in several places on the blog.
This sounds like a great project...until you get to the second floor plans. We do not need another R or X rated business in town.
Please come out and show your Bulldog pride and principles. Come out and let the zoning board know to reject any proposal that has any R or X rated references
We've mentioned this project and the hearing in several places on the blog.
This sounds like a great project...until you get to the second floor plans. We do not need another R or X rated business in town.
Please come out and show your Bulldog pride and principles. Come out and let the zoning board know to reject any proposal that has any R or X rated references
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Inexperienced Board Members?
We've had the members of the school board referred to as "inexperienced" recently. Is that really the case?
The Emperor: School board, zero. Former Morrisville controller.
Al Radosti: Second term
Maryls Mihok: Second tour on board.
Gloria Heater: Second term
Brenda Worob: Second term
Joe Kemp: Completing first term
Ed Frankenfield: Completing first term
Bill Farrell: Newcomer
Robin Reithmeyer: Newcomer
Let's keep in mind the board president is the inexperienced one. He also hates rules and regulations that apply to him. Combined with his natural arrogance, this is a bad way for a leader to operate.
His accomplices on the board have plenty of experience. They're the ones not doing the job to educate and guide the newbie.
Did you notice that for a newcomer, Robin Reithmeyer seems to be doing just fine?
The Emperor: School board, zero. Former Morrisville controller.
Al Radosti: Second term
Maryls Mihok: Second tour on board.
Gloria Heater: Second term
Brenda Worob: Second term
Joe Kemp: Completing first term
Ed Frankenfield: Completing first term
Bill Farrell: Newcomer
Robin Reithmeyer: Newcomer
Let's keep in mind the board president is the inexperienced one. He also hates rules and regulations that apply to him. Combined with his natural arrogance, this is a bad way for a leader to operate.
His accomplices on the board have plenty of experience. They're the ones not doing the job to educate and guide the newbie.
Did you notice that for a newcomer, Robin Reithmeyer seems to be doing just fine?
Mike Fitzpatrick is New Solicitor
Fitzpatrick named school board solicitor
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M. Kate Fratti mentions this in her blog. I don't really agree with the sentiment, but I agree it's unfortunately a real and viable option. I still prefer the smaller district. That's what brought me and my family here in the first place.]
Former Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, an attorney with Begley Carlin and Mandio in Middletown, is the newest solicitor for the Morrisville School Board.
Fitzpatrick, a Middletown resident and former county commissioner, will replace Thomas Kelly of Media.
Kelly represented a prior school board, which had begun moving forward with plans to construct a new high school despite public outcry. The new board majority, which took office in December nixed that plan and recently defeased the bond lined up to pay for it.
Although this will be Fitzpatrick’s first time as a school board solicitor, the firm has a long tradition in that arena. Currently, it represents Bristol, Neshaminy, Bensalem, Centennial and Central Bucks school districts.
In 2006, Fitzpatrick lost his 8th district congressional seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy, and was expected to challenge Murphy to regain it this year. Instead, Fitzpatrick expressed interest in running against Democratic State Rep. Chris King. Not long after his announcement, Fitzpatrick declined saying a family health consideration demanded he stay closer to home. He returned to practice law full time after 12 years.
Other candidates for the solicitorship included Karen Quinn of Steif Gross Sagoskin Gilman and Classetti and Harry Glosser, a Morrisville attorney and former school board director.
Board members said they were counting on Fitzpatrick’s political connections and legislative experience to guide their way as they decide how to maintain or reorganize the small and financially beleaguered school system.
The law firm Curtin and Heefner recently finished its review of the district’s contract with school Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson. Some board members have expressed interest in reducing the duration of that 5-year agreement. No details of the Curtin and Heefner review have been released to the public yet.
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M. Kate Fratti mentions this in her blog. I don't really agree with the sentiment, but I agree it's unfortunately a real and viable option. I still prefer the smaller district. That's what brought me and my family here in the first place.]
Former Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, an attorney with Begley Carlin and Mandio in Middletown, is the newest solicitor for the Morrisville School Board.
Fitzpatrick, a Middletown resident and former county commissioner, will replace Thomas Kelly of Media.
Kelly represented a prior school board, which had begun moving forward with plans to construct a new high school despite public outcry. The new board majority, which took office in December nixed that plan and recently defeased the bond lined up to pay for it.
Although this will be Fitzpatrick’s first time as a school board solicitor, the firm has a long tradition in that arena. Currently, it represents Bristol, Neshaminy, Bensalem, Centennial and Central Bucks school districts.
In 2006, Fitzpatrick lost his 8th district congressional seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy, and was expected to challenge Murphy to regain it this year. Instead, Fitzpatrick expressed interest in running against Democratic State Rep. Chris King. Not long after his announcement, Fitzpatrick declined saying a family health consideration demanded he stay closer to home. He returned to practice law full time after 12 years.
Other candidates for the solicitorship included Karen Quinn of Steif Gross Sagoskin Gilman and Classetti and Harry Glosser, a Morrisville attorney and former school board director.
Board members said they were counting on Fitzpatrick’s political connections and legislative experience to guide their way as they decide how to maintain or reorganize the small and financially beleaguered school system.
The law firm Curtin and Heefner recently finished its review of the district’s contract with school Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson. Some board members have expressed interest in reducing the duration of that 5-year agreement. No details of the Curtin and Heefner review have been released to the public yet.
Schools News Around the Blogosphere
An Initiative on Reading Is Rated Ineffective
New York Times
By SAM DILLON
President Bush's $1 billion a year effort to teach reading to low-income children has not helped improve their reading comprehension, according to a Department of Education.
In 123-page guide, state offers schools tips on stopping bullies
Boston Globe
The goal is to dispel myths: that bullies have low self-esteem, that bullying is just a part of childhood, and that victims often overreact to taunts. The advice is often simple: Increase supervision where students get on and off buses and in the lunchroom, where some of the worst bullying can take place.
Californians divided over new taxes for schools, poll finds
Los Angeles Times
By Mitchell Landsberg
Californians want their public schools protected from state budget cuts and are willing to tax the rich to make that happen. But despite the threat of schools taking a beating in next year's state budget, residents are sharply divided over whether they would support higher taxes for themselves, according to a statewide poll released late Wednesday.
New York Times
By SAM DILLON
President Bush's $1 billion a year effort to teach reading to low-income children has not helped improve their reading comprehension, according to a Department of Education.
In 123-page guide, state offers schools tips on stopping bullies
Boston Globe
The goal is to dispel myths: that bullies have low self-esteem, that bullying is just a part of childhood, and that victims often overreact to taunts. The advice is often simple: Increase supervision where students get on and off buses and in the lunchroom, where some of the worst bullying can take place.
Californians divided over new taxes for schools, poll finds
Los Angeles Times
By Mitchell Landsberg
Californians want their public schools protected from state budget cuts and are willing to tax the rich to make that happen. But despite the threat of schools taking a beating in next year's state budget, residents are sharply divided over whether they would support higher taxes for themselves, according to a statewide poll released late Wednesday.
Ancient Chinese Secret?
Once the moo goo gai pan, fried rice, and the General's chicken are finished, the bill is delivered along with the fortune cookie. Rare bits of wisdom are dispensed along with the all too frequent Gil Grissom-esque zingers, lottery numbers, and the Chinese pronunciations of words.
Well now. That was rather relevant considering the past few days. Prophetic even.
I am not well versed in the tenets and teachings of other faiths, but I know where I can find Christian teaching on this topic.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence”and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings (James 3:1-13).
Words for all of us to consider.
Well now. That was rather relevant considering the past few days. Prophetic even.
I am not well versed in the tenets and teachings of other faiths, but I know where I can find Christian teaching on this topic.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence”and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings (James 3:1-13).
Words for all of us to consider.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Conspiracy?
There's almost always a grain of truth inside of the conspiracy theories. That puff of smoke on the grassy knoll and an inexperienced and harassed pathology team combined to provide us with forty five years of entertaining JFK conspiracy theories. There's even a great link for the Ten Wackiest Conspiracy Theories. (Numbers 5 and 9 were new to me.)Boldly ignoring the cyberspace "STOP" sign, Steve Worob has heedlessly plunged into the four way intersection of Fact and Fiction Lanes toward the ultimate destination of Wassup Dude?
The latest Insults instead of answers post is rather misspelled and awkwardly phrased. I find it entertaining that some of the people who most desperately want school standards would not be able to cut it in a ninth grade English class at Morrisville.
Why for God's sake would he ever use the name "Gould" in a written text? Ever? I wouldn't talk about Elliot Gould, Stephen Jay Gould, Gulden's Mustard, or the Gould Coast of Antarctica. Taking up his challenge to "Here’s a hint, just like here he never finished out his contract as superintendent. You can google his name with Allentown Morning Call if you feel my statement is leaking water.", I did just that.
On Monday [Feb 25, 2007], a new superintendent will take charge of the Northwestern Lehigh School District.
The Board of Education on Tuesday appointed Assistant Superintendent Susanne Meixsell to replace John Gould, who will assume a newly created position as the district's director of strategic initiatives. Meixsell will have a five-year contract.
A press release issued by the board said Gould, whose employment agreement would have expired June 30, 2008, will retire Jan. 16, 2008.
Wow. That was hard hitting, um, conclusive proof...of...what exactly? The only outrageous thing I saw was the fact that the new superintendent got a five year contract! That's scandalous! FIVE YEARS!! What school district would ever give a five year contract to a superintendent?
Oh. Sorry. My bad. [Shout-out to EHY: Keep up the good work!]
The whole statement itself is also a bit out there. I believe he's confusing one Jon for another for one thing. [Oh dear, I always get this mixed up. It's slander when it's spoken, and libel when it's written, right?] But,
28: First of all, high public offical is just an accurate description of the position and nothing more. No concete intended. And common people are regular hard working people. I put myself above no one. I’m about as blue collar as you can get. Some people will twist anything.
Kate, I didn’t think you’d have the courage to interview me. Nice excuses. But at least you get to keep your job now. Although I don’t usually read your colum, (It’s boring) it will be good to see your picture three times a week. Nice job defending your newspaper but you’re wrong again. You really should do some research before before spouting off about things you don’t know. You are a waste of time.
And Jon, oh my gosh it’s former school director Jon Franklin. I should have known but to tell the truth, I forgot all about you. You were quiet and went with the flow when you were on the board. Glad to see you’re finally speaking up 7 years later on the blog. Interesting how in one breath you believe I was guilty of malice but then you say “I believe that you believe it.” You contradict yourself Jon. Then you say “you describe things a lot differently than I remember.” Why don’t you say what these things are? Because you can’t. You don’t know anything about what happened and I didn’t see you in court. You my friend, were a self server enabler. You had blinders on and neglected to see the double billing, triple billing, and altered contracts. In fact, you enabled the thugs to spread like a cancer and wreak fiscal havoc elsewhere. Then, the students school store was even plundered. All this while the school lawyer was embellishing himself to the tune of $78,000 per year.And what about the wonderful Einstein Cyber Charter School that you favored? How many thousands of dollars were we out on that deal. Am I the only one who read the Nihill and Riedley forensic audit report on Einstein? Am I the only one who read the SEC report on the Dolphin and Bradbury Bond Company? Why do I torture myself like this? I guess it must be because I hold myself high above the common people, right Jon? You were an ardent supporter and enabler to the former superintendent. (The good doctor) Do you recall after he was Morrisville’s superintendent for over 4 years that “74% of the middle-senior high school and Grandview Elementary students performed at basic or below basic levels in math and 63% scored at basic or below basic in reading.” Do you think this could have been because the good doctor was to busy jetting around the country performing private/paid services for Classroom Conect and Interlink? You should know Jon, you approved the taxpayers paying for that. Do you remember in fact that the test results were so poor that even you became angry? I cite Courier Times news article of January 24, 2002, titled “Board hesitant to support project.” The project was the Rivers Bays and Ocean project that the good doctor and his gooooood friend Dawn wanted you to approve. I quote, “Board member Jon Franklin demanded a plan. “I think there needs to be a plan laid out for our kids to score better on tests. Is there a plan in place where administrators and teachers directly attack central elements that are leading to weaker scores?” Franklin said. “The district is in the process of developing a plan, Gould said. That was the one time i remember you speaking out. It was a flash in the pan Jon. Sorry, not good enough to make my book. Finally Jon, you were critical of the people who allegedly drove the good doctor out of Morrisville but did you happen to see how he performed at his next school district? Here’s a hint, just like here he never finished out his contract as superintendent. You can google his name with Allentown Morning Call if you feel my statement is leaking water. I could go on for hours telling things but that would spoil the book so finally Jon, keep up your good blog work for I believe you found your calling in life but do me one favor, when you criticize me and state that you “saw things differently,” please have the courage to state the examples IF YOU CAN.
Comment by:
Steve - 5.2.2008 at 12:26 am
First Act for Act I
From the BCCT this morning:
Taxpayers to reap Act 1 benefits
Bucks property owners will get an average of $236 in property tax relief next year, according to state estimates.
By BRIAN SCHEID STAFF WRITER
For the first time, Bucks County property owners will receive an average of nearly $236 next year in property tax relief from gaming revenue, according to estimates released by the state Thursday.
The amount of tax relief varies by each of the county’s 13 school districts. Bristol Township property owners will receive $289, the most of any district in the county, while property owners in the Centennial School District will receive $166, the lowest amount in Bucks. Overall, districts in Bucks will receive nearly $33.6 million in property tax relief from the state, just more than 5 percent of the $613 million in gaming revenue that will be given out to the more than 500 districts throughout Pennsylvania.
The funding is part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006, also known as Act 1, and is taken from state revenues collected from Pennsylvania’s seven slot machine casinos, including Philadelphia Park Casino in Bensalem, which opened in December 2006. Gov. Ed Rendell signed the act into law in June 2006.
As of April 27, those casinos had made gross revenue of more than $1.1 billion during the current fiscal year, including a 34 percent state tax that has climbed to more than $376.6 million as of late last month, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
According to Michael Race, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, the amount each district will receive is based on a complex formula he said benefits high property tax, low wealth districts. Based on the formula, districts with high property tax bills and low income residents will benefit most, he said.
The funding will be given directly to the school districts and the relief will be reflected in each property owner’s tax bill, Race said.
The money will cover only a small portion of most property owners’ tax bills, but likely will offset many of the proposed budget increases area school boards could approve this year, several school administrators said Thursday.
“They’re certainly not going to use this money to go on an extended vacation, but I’m sure every bit helps,” said James Lombardo, superintendent of the Bensalem School District, where an estimated 11,170 property owners are expected to receive about $203 in property tax relief from gaming revenues. “It’s nice to see some reduction.”
Lombardo said the district’s school board will consider a preliminary budget next week that calls for a $175 increase for the owner of a median assessed home.
In Bristol Township, homeowners’ tax bills could be less next year than they were this year, according to Gerry Barcik, the district’s business manager. The school board is considering a preliminary budget that calls for a $111 increase for the average homeowner while the state estimates that each of the township’s 11,729 eligible homeowners will receive $289 in tax relief.
In the Neshaminy School District, where the board will consider a preliminary budget in two weeks that calls for a $358 increase for the average homeowner, the property tax relief is a welcome and unexpected bonus for Joe Paradise, the district’s business administrator.
“The fact that we’re getting any gaming revenue at this point is great,” Paradise said. “It’s good news for taxpayers.”
Throughout the Neshaminy district, 16,602 property owners will receive an estimated $216 in property tax relief.
State Rep. John Galloway, D-140, whose district includes the Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts, said the tax relief “couldn’t come at a better time.”
“Prices for fuel, utilities and food continue going up so it gives me great pleasure to let my constituents know that at least their school property tax bill is going down,” Galloway said.
Taxpayers to reap Act 1 benefits
Bucks property owners will get an average of $236 in property tax relief next year, according to state estimates.
By BRIAN SCHEID STAFF WRITER
For the first time, Bucks County property owners will receive an average of nearly $236 next year in property tax relief from gaming revenue, according to estimates released by the state Thursday.
The amount of tax relief varies by each of the county’s 13 school districts. Bristol Township property owners will receive $289, the most of any district in the county, while property owners in the Centennial School District will receive $166, the lowest amount in Bucks. Overall, districts in Bucks will receive nearly $33.6 million in property tax relief from the state, just more than 5 percent of the $613 million in gaming revenue that will be given out to the more than 500 districts throughout Pennsylvania.
The funding is part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006, also known as Act 1, and is taken from state revenues collected from Pennsylvania’s seven slot machine casinos, including Philadelphia Park Casino in Bensalem, which opened in December 2006. Gov. Ed Rendell signed the act into law in June 2006.
As of April 27, those casinos had made gross revenue of more than $1.1 billion during the current fiscal year, including a 34 percent state tax that has climbed to more than $376.6 million as of late last month, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
According to Michael Race, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, the amount each district will receive is based on a complex formula he said benefits high property tax, low wealth districts. Based on the formula, districts with high property tax bills and low income residents will benefit most, he said.
The funding will be given directly to the school districts and the relief will be reflected in each property owner’s tax bill, Race said.
The money will cover only a small portion of most property owners’ tax bills, but likely will offset many of the proposed budget increases area school boards could approve this year, several school administrators said Thursday.
“They’re certainly not going to use this money to go on an extended vacation, but I’m sure every bit helps,” said James Lombardo, superintendent of the Bensalem School District, where an estimated 11,170 property owners are expected to receive about $203 in property tax relief from gaming revenues. “It’s nice to see some reduction.”
Lombardo said the district’s school board will consider a preliminary budget next week that calls for a $175 increase for the owner of a median assessed home.
In Bristol Township, homeowners’ tax bills could be less next year than they were this year, according to Gerry Barcik, the district’s business manager. The school board is considering a preliminary budget that calls for a $111 increase for the average homeowner while the state estimates that each of the township’s 11,729 eligible homeowners will receive $289 in tax relief.
In the Neshaminy School District, where the board will consider a preliminary budget in two weeks that calls for a $358 increase for the average homeowner, the property tax relief is a welcome and unexpected bonus for Joe Paradise, the district’s business administrator.
“The fact that we’re getting any gaming revenue at this point is great,” Paradise said. “It’s good news for taxpayers.”
Throughout the Neshaminy district, 16,602 property owners will receive an estimated $216 in property tax relief.
State Rep. John Galloway, D-140, whose district includes the Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts, said the tax relief “couldn’t come at a better time.”
“Prices for fuel, utilities and food continue going up so it gives me great pleasure to let my constituents know that at least their school property tax bill is going down,” Galloway said.
Shoes too small? Too bad.
Here's an article about a district that has rejected the SECOND citywide referendum to expand the school facilities. Note to the Emperor and friends: Imagine sending multiple referenda out to the people for repairs and they keep rejecting the expenditures. That's a safety issue too. Tell me what you'll do then. Who would you find to do the cursory repairs report then to cover your butt?
School district wrestles with expansion
By Will Hobson
For The Inquirer
Administrators and school board members in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District are again asking "What's next?" after another failed referendum proposal.
Voters last week rejected the district's proposal to borrow $30 million to pay for a renovation and expansion of Unionville High School. This was the second try for the district, as voters rejected a proposal in November to borrow $62.5 million for the high school project.
In response to the second failed referendum proposal, the district and the school board called a facilities committee meeting of the whole for Monday night, gathering the entire school board, Superintendent Sharon Parker, and a few other administrators to discuss the district's next move.
The result of the meeting, though, is that the next move is still up in the air.
The administration did have a plan C (the two referendums were for plans A and B) that was discussed Monday night.
Plan C, with a price tag of about $5 million, would add 12 modular classrooms to alleviate overcrowding in the high school, where enrollment is expected to be near 1,400 next school year, but capacity is only 1,135. Unionville already has 12 modular classrooms.
Parker said in a phone interview Tuesday that she felt the board did not not support moving forward with plan C, because most of the $5 million would be in stopgap measures - like the modular classrooms - that would be rendered useless if the proposed renovation is ever done.
Monday's meeting, attended by about 40 community members, ended around 9:15, with a board decision to continue discussion of the issue at the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Parker said Tuesday that, if more modular classrooms are not the answer, perhaps the next step could include starting construction to add more rooms, with the district trying to fund the project itself.
In looking over responses given to a survey posted on the district's Web site last week, Parker concluded that voters still objected to the scope of the proposed renovation, which was not scaled down from November (only the funding was changed).
"That's a great concern to me, because the planned proposal was based on a needs assessment, and the needs still exist," Parker said.
Two former school board members, Jeff Hellrung and Keith Knauss, started Citizens for Efficient Education last year to oppose both referendum proposals. Despite their win on Election Day, Hellrung was less than celebratory.
"We know that we need a renovation, we know that we need an expansion, we just want to see one done with a lower scope or cost," Hellrung said.
Whatever the next step is, both sides agree that something needs to be done, and soon.
"It's not a good feeling to see the need continue," Hellrung said.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford District has tentatively scheduled another facilities committee meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school library.
Check the district Web site - www.ucfsd.org/ - for confirmation on the date.
School district wrestles with expansion
By Will Hobson
For The Inquirer
Administrators and school board members in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District are again asking "What's next?" after another failed referendum proposal.
Voters last week rejected the district's proposal to borrow $30 million to pay for a renovation and expansion of Unionville High School. This was the second try for the district, as voters rejected a proposal in November to borrow $62.5 million for the high school project.
In response to the second failed referendum proposal, the district and the school board called a facilities committee meeting of the whole for Monday night, gathering the entire school board, Superintendent Sharon Parker, and a few other administrators to discuss the district's next move.
The result of the meeting, though, is that the next move is still up in the air.
The administration did have a plan C (the two referendums were for plans A and B) that was discussed Monday night.
Plan C, with a price tag of about $5 million, would add 12 modular classrooms to alleviate overcrowding in the high school, where enrollment is expected to be near 1,400 next school year, but capacity is only 1,135. Unionville already has 12 modular classrooms.
Parker said in a phone interview Tuesday that she felt the board did not not support moving forward with plan C, because most of the $5 million would be in stopgap measures - like the modular classrooms - that would be rendered useless if the proposed renovation is ever done.
Monday's meeting, attended by about 40 community members, ended around 9:15, with a board decision to continue discussion of the issue at the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Parker said Tuesday that, if more modular classrooms are not the answer, perhaps the next step could include starting construction to add more rooms, with the district trying to fund the project itself.
In looking over responses given to a survey posted on the district's Web site last week, Parker concluded that voters still objected to the scope of the proposed renovation, which was not scaled down from November (only the funding was changed).
"That's a great concern to me, because the planned proposal was based on a needs assessment, and the needs still exist," Parker said.
Two former school board members, Jeff Hellrung and Keith Knauss, started Citizens for Efficient Education last year to oppose both referendum proposals. Despite their win on Election Day, Hellrung was less than celebratory.
"We know that we need a renovation, we know that we need an expansion, we just want to see one done with a lower scope or cost," Hellrung said.
Whatever the next step is, both sides agree that something needs to be done, and soon.
"It's not a good feeling to see the need continue," Hellrung said.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford District has tentatively scheduled another facilities committee meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school library.
Check the district Web site - www.ucfsd.org/ - for confirmation on the date.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
So, what’s next?
Good luck Kate! I've been asking that question for months now.
Here's hoping you have better luck.
So, what’s next
Word is the Morrisville School Board is considering hiring a new person to serve as facilities director for the district. It’s unclear whether the current maintenance supervisor would keep his job.
Friday the board will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the high school to hire a new solicitor. And then, there’s the superintendent’s job. Beth Yonson’s contract was sent out for review to the law firm of Curtin and Heefner last month. No official word on whether that review has been completed. Yonson has a five-year deal with the district. School board majority members have indicated they’d like that changed.
Thoughts?
Posted by Kate Fratti at 3:02 pm |
Here's hoping you have better luck.
So, what’s next
Word is the Morrisville School Board is considering hiring a new person to serve as facilities director for the district. It’s unclear whether the current maintenance supervisor would keep his job.
Friday the board will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the high school to hire a new solicitor. And then, there’s the superintendent’s job. Beth Yonson’s contract was sent out for review to the law firm of Curtin and Heefner last month. No official word on whether that review has been completed. Yonson has a five-year deal with the district. School board majority members have indicated they’d like that changed.
Thoughts?
Posted by Kate Fratti at 3:02 pm |
Accountability and Involvement
Let's put Steve Worob and his specific issues off to the side for now. No matter what, the people in his district elected him. The same goes for the rest of the borough council as well as the Emperor and his merry band of sycophantic sheep.
I've been driving this point home for quite a while now: Those people sitting up on the dais work for YOU. They are no different than a plumber, car mechanic, doctor, contractor, or other professional service provider. You engaged them to perform a service by voting for them on election day.
Your responsibility does not stop there once you exit the polling place. Just like watching over the pot on the stove or the kids while they're crayoning, you need to provide oversight for the activities of these officials. This means you need to hold them accountable for their past, present, and future performance.
Accountability takes many forms. At the lower end, it means being educated on the issues and being involved with the process. Watch cable channels 22 and 28 to at least see the meetings. Attend in person if possible. Know what they are discussing, debating, evaluating, and/or voting on, and be knowledgeable enough to know if they are doing the job correctly or pulling a fast one on you.
Moving toward the more advanced end of the spectrum, send them letters or emails (or call, especially for those who do not have computer access.)
Maybe you would want to speak up at a meeting. (BTW, would the borough council consider voting to remove the Christmastime poinsettias from the council chamber? It is May, you know.) Let your elected officials and your neighbors know what you're thinking. Start the debate and get engaged in the process.
Let's make one thing clear: This is CIVIL debate. The name calling crap is a clear sign of the weakness in your own position. If you can't point out the merits of your plan with reasoned argument, then why are you supporting it? Morrisville has been unable to sustain a civil debate for many, many years. Stop it. There's nothing beneficial about the name calling and tattling. Let's graduate out of elementary school.
Maybe you're smarter and better than the person on the dais representing you. We all think that from time to time, and it might even be true. Are you ready to replace them and do the hard work of governing yourself? Get started now.
"I don't have the time." Perhaps so. In all our lives, time becomes a premium commodity at some points, and more freely available at others. Some people just don't have the time. I can understand that.
"Who cares what they do? They're all corrupt or liars. They don't listen anyway." Perhaps so again. But who let them get that way? You did. Without accountability, every human becomes irresponsible. Our politicians can lie, cheat, steal, and perform as they desire without you there to tell them it's unacceptable.
Please don't write in to say, "But I know XXXXX is doing a great job!" There are several council and board members who are doing the hard work of governing. There are several who are not. We know who they are just by taking a few minutes to observe what they do. It isn't about how they voted on particular issues, because opinions change on a daily basis depending on how the wind is blowing and our current vantage point. Promising the world on Election Day is easy. Following through on those promises is the hard part.
Remember the last time you wrote that check to the mechanic for the car repairs? Did you ensure that the work was performed correctly and within the agreed upon standards? Of course you did! You probably hated writing the check, but you know it was a fair exchange of labor for cash.
So now ask yourself, did your elected official do what they needed to do? Are they deserving of your support in the next election? If the answer is no, then why are you reaching for the button to re-elect them?
I've been driving this point home for quite a while now: Those people sitting up on the dais work for YOU. They are no different than a plumber, car mechanic, doctor, contractor, or other professional service provider. You engaged them to perform a service by voting for them on election day.
Your responsibility does not stop there once you exit the polling place. Just like watching over the pot on the stove or the kids while they're crayoning, you need to provide oversight for the activities of these officials. This means you need to hold them accountable for their past, present, and future performance.
Accountability takes many forms. At the lower end, it means being educated on the issues and being involved with the process. Watch cable channels 22 and 28 to at least see the meetings. Attend in person if possible. Know what they are discussing, debating, evaluating, and/or voting on, and be knowledgeable enough to know if they are doing the job correctly or pulling a fast one on you.
Moving toward the more advanced end of the spectrum, send them letters or emails (or call, especially for those who do not have computer access.)
Maybe you would want to speak up at a meeting. (BTW, would the borough council consider voting to remove the Christmastime poinsettias from the council chamber? It is May, you know.) Let your elected officials and your neighbors know what you're thinking. Start the debate and get engaged in the process.
Let's make one thing clear: This is CIVIL debate. The name calling crap is a clear sign of the weakness in your own position. If you can't point out the merits of your plan with reasoned argument, then why are you supporting it? Morrisville has been unable to sustain a civil debate for many, many years. Stop it. There's nothing beneficial about the name calling and tattling. Let's graduate out of elementary school.
Maybe you're smarter and better than the person on the dais representing you. We all think that from time to time, and it might even be true. Are you ready to replace them and do the hard work of governing yourself? Get started now.
"I don't have the time." Perhaps so. In all our lives, time becomes a premium commodity at some points, and more freely available at others. Some people just don't have the time. I can understand that.
"Who cares what they do? They're all corrupt or liars. They don't listen anyway." Perhaps so again. But who let them get that way? You did. Without accountability, every human becomes irresponsible. Our politicians can lie, cheat, steal, and perform as they desire without you there to tell them it's unacceptable.
Please don't write in to say, "But I know XXXXX is doing a great job!" There are several council and board members who are doing the hard work of governing. There are several who are not. We know who they are just by taking a few minutes to observe what they do. It isn't about how they voted on particular issues, because opinions change on a daily basis depending on how the wind is blowing and our current vantage point. Promising the world on Election Day is easy. Following through on those promises is the hard part.
Remember the last time you wrote that check to the mechanic for the car repairs? Did you ensure that the work was performed correctly and within the agreed upon standards? Of course you did! You probably hated writing the check, but you know it was a fair exchange of labor for cash.
So now ask yourself, did your elected official do what they needed to do? Are they deserving of your support in the next election? If the answer is no, then why are you reaching for the button to re-elect them?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
More Frattiness
Take a look at the recent blog posts made by BCCT columnist Kate Fratti. We talked about the Insults instead of answers entry [STS] [BCCT] previously. Now, she has two new entries, one complete with tin foil hat. I'm ruthlessly appropriating the photo because it's too good to pass up. I hope Kate, Mr. Fratti [possiprobably?], and the feline will approve. The furry one looks ticked off. Who would want to known as Le Chat Au Chapeau?
Kate: Thanks for keeping up with this. Morrisville really needs a change from the politics of fear.
Call me crazy: I’ve been at this job a very long time and I’ve been called a lot of names, accused of a lot of things. But never wide ranging conspiracy. Until now. Weird. Very weird.
Morrisville Councilman Stephen Worob first used this Web site to mock my full figure last week, (hey, I’m big boned!) and now claims in a post on this blog that this columnist was presented by him information and documents pertaining to questionable bond issues related to several school districts including Morrisville. AND that I’ve not reported on them because the banks, the newspaper, a beat reporter, a judge, lawyers, state and federal officials and the state school board association and I were in cahoots. The ultimate corruption. His theory is that we all risked our reputations, our careers, our personal integrity and credibility to block information Mr. Worob had about financing that was bad for schools and for kids.
Say what? How do you have a rational conversation about change in the borough with guys like this at the helm? No wonder regular people are so discouraged. Speak out and you can find yourself mocked (really, seriously I am big boned) or in the middle of a fictional book outline. I can speak about that now, first hand.
Posted by Kate Fratti at 3:20 pm |
Can’t get anything past this guy: Morrisville Councilman Stephen Worob, husband to school board director Brenda Worob professes to loathe this newspaper, but reads it and its phillyburbs.com bloggers faithfully, even contributes regularly to its op-ed pages.
His latest contribution was to its electronic pages in which he comments on my figure. This counts for discourse these days.
“Chubby cheeks” he calls me. Doesn’t mention which cheeks, but I have to concede, alas, that all of them fit the description. Guess his weight watching is easier than addressing issues that plague the school board and the borough. Not the least of which are gatherings of school officials at the Worobs’ home out of the eye of voters.
Worob accuses me and my chubby cheeks of digging up dirt in the borough. I haven’t really. The dirt I’ve reported on was surface dirt or dirt called in. But now he’s made me curious. What’s he so afraid I’ll find that he tries to embarrass me out of school board meetings? I’ll think more about it over my next cookie.
Posted by Kate Fratti at 4:05 pm |
Insults Instead of Answers Update
Kate Fratti certainly has stirred up the pot, judging from the responses she has received on the Insults Instead of Answers column that we mentioned here .
UPDATED April 29, 2008, 6:20 P.M. (see below comment #8)
Steve Worob is posting his explanations directly. I don't think Steve cleared his responses with Mrs. Worob, because while School Board Brenda ran against a K-12 school, Borough Councilman Steve says maybe we need to consider it. Check answer number 6. I bolded it for easy reading.
Anyone want to listen in to THAT secret meeting?
8 Responses to “Insults instead of answers”
1.Hooray for Kate!
It is refreshing to see a journalist trying on our shoes, and using her power of the press to voice the same complaints that have rattled around Morrisville for years.
Namely: for one “Stephen Worob”, all rules and labels apply, except to him.
Going back through the “Worob years” if you could imagine any other school board doing the same things (Nelson, Nestor, Junkins, Gibson) claims of impropriety would dominate the public comment session, and everyone from the State AG to the County Commissioners would be called on to investigate. And if they didnt’ they too would be complicit.
The shoe is on the other foot this time.
Comment by:
Borows - 4.24.2008 at 3:29 pm
2.This is why we need experienced reporters like you to cover Morrisville. A “rookie” reporter would not be able to handle the bullying from Worob.
It’s amazing that the very same things that Worob and the new board complained about, i.e. “You don’t listen” “You are having secret meetings”, are being done by the new board. At least the old board didn’t limit the time for public comment to 45 minutes.
Keep up the good work up the good work Kate. I think that most, if not all, people have accepted that the new school is dead. Now it’s time to move forward and find ways to improve our schools without farming our kids out and/or firing our wonderful administrators.
Comment by:
Cori - 4.24.2008 at 10:03 pm
3.Yes, please keep up the good work. I agree with Cori. Thanks for covering.
Comment by:
Kevin - 4.25.2008 at 7:00 am
4.I regret any insults and am sorry. Anger is counter productive and only serves to taint the message. However, When Ms. Fratti writes about my bias (Anger) towards her newapaper, she’s knows why but isn’t telling you. I worked with the Courier Times and school board members from three different counties where we uncovered a pervasive trail of corruption that involved at least four school districts. I’m not going to get to deep into this other than to say we uncovered a trail of illecit long term bond issues to school districts that were not for the good of the children.(Including Morrisville)
We gave this information to the proper authorities including the media only to have it all buried. I suspect the reason for this was that it involved major banks and we only scratched the surface.
I sent this information to Kate Fratti and she ignored it. I will gladly grant her an interview with documents in hand if she’ll have the courage to print it. I don’t think she will. You see, the people who investigated and lied, and did nothing, now hold some of the higher positions in county, state and federal government. Now back to the Courier Times. Because of my devoted efforts to honor my oath of public office, I was sued in a frivalous lawsuit that if you ask Sandy Gibson, was financed by the Superintendent’s Assoc. of PA. Because I am considered a high public offical, I am granted a high level of immunity for speaking at public meetings on public concerns. However, if I go to the press and talk, I then open myself up to a defamation lawsuit. In Oct. 2003, one week after I was sued, The Courier Times called me as I was enjoying lunch with my wife. The reporter lied and told me she was doing a profile story on the superintendent. Truth is she was setting me up in the lawsuit. She asked for my opinion if the new school board should fire the superintendent. My answer was “I hope they help him to work harder for the children of Morrisville.” The next day, I was quoted to have said “the superintendent is a criminal masquarading as a superintendent.” This misquote came out against me in legal depositions. It didn’t take long for me to learn that the attorney of party who sued me did legal work for the Courier Times. I was then dragged for over two years through the lawsuit only to appear before a member of the good old Republicans club in county court. There, I was given an unfair trial(You’ll have to read the book for details) and the judge took away a big piece of mine and my wife’s future before growling in open court,”if you appeal my decision, I will do everything in my power to stop you.” Odd how this remark failed to appear in the offical court trancript.
I hope now that people will at least understand my anger which I will try to control. I’m humbly awaiting your interview Kate.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.26.2008 at 6:44 am
5.Mr. Worob,
I’ve never received information from you, or even discussed the scenario you describe. What gives? From your writings, I know how dearly you value honesty. Must be an honest mistake.
In the meantime, do you have any comment on the recent Sunday school board gathering at your home?… Or on why the school board is asking for specific information about children requiring special education services. Do you support that? Or would you comment on whether, as a town leader, you support the consolidation of K-12 in the high school building, so the district can let go of the care of the two elementary buildings.
Not as interesting stuff as the weird conspiracy you allege, but no less is important.
Comment by Burbs Blogger:
Kate Fratti - 4.28.2008 at 12:53 pm
6.Ok Kate, thank you for responding. I’ll do my best. Sunday meeting- I am currently restoring a fifty year old termite eaten house in the borough to a much better than new condition. Therefore, I work on Sundays. I did stop home briefly though to get a drink and saw three friends drinking coffee and chatting. I didn’t stay long.
Special education- I can only assume that the concern here is the high cost of special education and the increasing number of students entering that catagory. I believe that number is almost at 20% of the student body. You know that the state sets the mandates here and then fails to fund them. It is especially difficult for a tiny district like Morrisville to keep up with special ed. costs. I guess that board members are educating themselves about special ed. so hopefully they can figure out a way to cope.
K-12 school- I’m not happy about all the students in one building however, this is something that should be explored in the name of survival. You know about the high school taxes in Morrisville and almost five million dollars was just spent for nothing. Yes, a K-12 school may be the only affordable option that we have.
Finally, I did send to you via US mail, a 200 page overview potraying corruption that is hurting public education. Sorry you never received it. I’ll be glad to give you another copy if you’ll give a response to it. I also gave a copy of the document to your co-columist but he never responded. Finally-finally Kate, why didn’t you mention for me to elaborate about when the CT published malicious lies for no other reason than to set me up in a lawsuit. I know I was stepping on some big toes but my wife didn’t deserve that. I’ll never forget when reporter DC explained to me that “Mr. Worob, the quote wasn’t my idea and my editor was the one who put the quotation marks around the word “CRIMINAL.” I believe she was referring to your chief editor. By the way, let her know that when she told me on the telephone that a certain attorney “never performed legal work for the CT,” she was speaking the untruth. Ask Pat W. or attorney Herschinson for the truth about that one. Please let PW know that she made my book.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.28.2008 at 10:52 pm
7.What happened to your comments that were on this page yesterday and mysteriously disappeared, Ms. Fratti? Perhaps you would like to post those again.
Comment by:
Houdini - 4.29.2008 at 7:46 am
8.Hey Steve:
Did Oswald kill Kennedy? Or was the assassination part of a grand conspiracy involving the CIA, Lyndon Johnson and little green men from Mars?
You, sir, need to get a grip.
Comment by:
Conan the Grammarian - 4.29.2008 at 9:42 am
UPDATED 6:20 P.M. (The comments are too good to pass up. The common people need to be led!)
It's not the Sullivan Law that Steve wants to use, but the decision in New York Times v Sullivan 1964. Here's the text of the opinion, but the conclusion of the court was:
"The Court held that the First Amendment protects the publication of all statements, even false ones, about the conduct of public officials except when statements are made with actual malice (with knowledge that they are false or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity). Under this new standard, Sullivan's case collapsed."
Ummm....I'm thinking the immunity flows toward the newspaper and away from the elected official in this case. But I only moonlight as a lawyer. By day, I'm an accountant.
9 This idea sounds vaguely familiar but with a few differences I bet. My guess is you would take K-12 and smoosh them all in the exisiting High School with very little renovations. I’m sorry to sound pessimistic, but I don’t have much faith in the new school board or those that elected them.
Comment by:
Repeat - 4.29.2008 at 3:25 pm
10 Conan, you’re really cool. I’ll bet the people who cheat to taxpayers and students just love you.
Houdini, what were the comments that mysteriously vanished. I missed them. Sounds like possible not so divine intervention to me.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.29.2008 at 3:30 pm
11 “Because I am considered a high public offical, I am granted a high level of immunity for speaking at public meetings on public concerns. ”
I’m wondering when this became law? Is it true that high public officials (like tax collectors and councilmen) have greater immunity and can speak with impunity? I guess the Constitution or the State laws must have been redrafted to create a government “Above The People” instead of “For the People and By The People”.
Comment by:
Borows - 4.29.2008 at 3:50 pm
12 Yes Borrows, oops, Borows. Why don’t you just give your real name? I believe it is referred to as the Sullivan law and it is the law, except when a newspaper sets you up to circumvent such law. You see Borows, this law was created so that public officials can stand up with immunity,(Not impunity) and educate common people like yourself about the truth without fear of reprisals. Of course the Sullivan law is meaningless such as is honor when one is dragged before the good old Republicans club at county court.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.29.2008 at 4:08 pm
13 to stand up as a public official and educate “common people?” … Oh my.
Comment by Burbs Blogger:
Kate Fratti - 4.29.2008 at 4:53 pm
UPDATED April 29, 2008, 6:20 P.M. (see below comment #8)
Steve Worob is posting his explanations directly. I don't think Steve cleared his responses with Mrs. Worob, because while School Board Brenda ran against a K-12 school, Borough Councilman Steve says maybe we need to consider it. Check answer number 6. I bolded it for easy reading.
Anyone want to listen in to THAT secret meeting?
8 Responses to “Insults instead of answers”
1.Hooray for Kate!
It is refreshing to see a journalist trying on our shoes, and using her power of the press to voice the same complaints that have rattled around Morrisville for years.
Namely: for one “Stephen Worob”, all rules and labels apply, except to him.
Going back through the “Worob years” if you could imagine any other school board doing the same things (Nelson, Nestor, Junkins, Gibson) claims of impropriety would dominate the public comment session, and everyone from the State AG to the County Commissioners would be called on to investigate. And if they didnt’ they too would be complicit.
The shoe is on the other foot this time.
Comment by:
Borows - 4.24.2008 at 3:29 pm
2.This is why we need experienced reporters like you to cover Morrisville. A “rookie” reporter would not be able to handle the bullying from Worob.
It’s amazing that the very same things that Worob and the new board complained about, i.e. “You don’t listen” “You are having secret meetings”, are being done by the new board. At least the old board didn’t limit the time for public comment to 45 minutes.
Keep up the good work up the good work Kate. I think that most, if not all, people have accepted that the new school is dead. Now it’s time to move forward and find ways to improve our schools without farming our kids out and/or firing our wonderful administrators.
Comment by:
Cori - 4.24.2008 at 10:03 pm
3.Yes, please keep up the good work. I agree with Cori. Thanks for covering.
Comment by:
Kevin - 4.25.2008 at 7:00 am
4.I regret any insults and am sorry. Anger is counter productive and only serves to taint the message. However, When Ms. Fratti writes about my bias (Anger) towards her newapaper, she’s knows why but isn’t telling you. I worked with the Courier Times and school board members from three different counties where we uncovered a pervasive trail of corruption that involved at least four school districts. I’m not going to get to deep into this other than to say we uncovered a trail of illecit long term bond issues to school districts that were not for the good of the children.(Including Morrisville)
We gave this information to the proper authorities including the media only to have it all buried. I suspect the reason for this was that it involved major banks and we only scratched the surface.
I sent this information to Kate Fratti and she ignored it. I will gladly grant her an interview with documents in hand if she’ll have the courage to print it. I don’t think she will. You see, the people who investigated and lied, and did nothing, now hold some of the higher positions in county, state and federal government. Now back to the Courier Times. Because of my devoted efforts to honor my oath of public office, I was sued in a frivalous lawsuit that if you ask Sandy Gibson, was financed by the Superintendent’s Assoc. of PA. Because I am considered a high public offical, I am granted a high level of immunity for speaking at public meetings on public concerns. However, if I go to the press and talk, I then open myself up to a defamation lawsuit. In Oct. 2003, one week after I was sued, The Courier Times called me as I was enjoying lunch with my wife. The reporter lied and told me she was doing a profile story on the superintendent. Truth is she was setting me up in the lawsuit. She asked for my opinion if the new school board should fire the superintendent. My answer was “I hope they help him to work harder for the children of Morrisville.” The next day, I was quoted to have said “the superintendent is a criminal masquarading as a superintendent.” This misquote came out against me in legal depositions. It didn’t take long for me to learn that the attorney of party who sued me did legal work for the Courier Times. I was then dragged for over two years through the lawsuit only to appear before a member of the good old Republicans club in county court. There, I was given an unfair trial(You’ll have to read the book for details) and the judge took away a big piece of mine and my wife’s future before growling in open court,”if you appeal my decision, I will do everything in my power to stop you.” Odd how this remark failed to appear in the offical court trancript.
I hope now that people will at least understand my anger which I will try to control. I’m humbly awaiting your interview Kate.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.26.2008 at 6:44 am
5.Mr. Worob,
I’ve never received information from you, or even discussed the scenario you describe. What gives? From your writings, I know how dearly you value honesty. Must be an honest mistake.
In the meantime, do you have any comment on the recent Sunday school board gathering at your home?… Or on why the school board is asking for specific information about children requiring special education services. Do you support that? Or would you comment on whether, as a town leader, you support the consolidation of K-12 in the high school building, so the district can let go of the care of the two elementary buildings.
Not as interesting stuff as the weird conspiracy you allege, but no less is important.
Comment by Burbs Blogger:
Kate Fratti - 4.28.2008 at 12:53 pm
6.Ok Kate, thank you for responding. I’ll do my best. Sunday meeting- I am currently restoring a fifty year old termite eaten house in the borough to a much better than new condition. Therefore, I work on Sundays. I did stop home briefly though to get a drink and saw three friends drinking coffee and chatting. I didn’t stay long.
Special education- I can only assume that the concern here is the high cost of special education and the increasing number of students entering that catagory. I believe that number is almost at 20% of the student body. You know that the state sets the mandates here and then fails to fund them. It is especially difficult for a tiny district like Morrisville to keep up with special ed. costs. I guess that board members are educating themselves about special ed. so hopefully they can figure out a way to cope.
K-12 school- I’m not happy about all the students in one building however, this is something that should be explored in the name of survival. You know about the high school taxes in Morrisville and almost five million dollars was just spent for nothing. Yes, a K-12 school may be the only affordable option that we have.
Finally, I did send to you via US mail, a 200 page overview potraying corruption that is hurting public education. Sorry you never received it. I’ll be glad to give you another copy if you’ll give a response to it. I also gave a copy of the document to your co-columist but he never responded. Finally-finally Kate, why didn’t you mention for me to elaborate about when the CT published malicious lies for no other reason than to set me up in a lawsuit. I know I was stepping on some big toes but my wife didn’t deserve that. I’ll never forget when reporter DC explained to me that “Mr. Worob, the quote wasn’t my idea and my editor was the one who put the quotation marks around the word “CRIMINAL.” I believe she was referring to your chief editor. By the way, let her know that when she told me on the telephone that a certain attorney “never performed legal work for the CT,” she was speaking the untruth. Ask Pat W. or attorney Herschinson for the truth about that one. Please let PW know that she made my book.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.28.2008 at 10:52 pm
7.What happened to your comments that were on this page yesterday and mysteriously disappeared, Ms. Fratti? Perhaps you would like to post those again.
Comment by:
Houdini - 4.29.2008 at 7:46 am
8.Hey Steve:
Did Oswald kill Kennedy? Or was the assassination part of a grand conspiracy involving the CIA, Lyndon Johnson and little green men from Mars?
You, sir, need to get a grip.
Comment by:
Conan the Grammarian - 4.29.2008 at 9:42 am
UPDATED 6:20 P.M. (The comments are too good to pass up. The common people need to be led!)
It's not the Sullivan Law that Steve wants to use, but the decision in New York Times v Sullivan 1964. Here's the text of the opinion, but the conclusion of the court was:
"The Court held that the First Amendment protects the publication of all statements, even false ones, about the conduct of public officials except when statements are made with actual malice (with knowledge that they are false or in reckless disregard of their truth or falsity). Under this new standard, Sullivan's case collapsed."
Ummm....I'm thinking the immunity flows toward the newspaper and away from the elected official in this case. But I only moonlight as a lawyer. By day, I'm an accountant.
9 This idea sounds vaguely familiar but with a few differences I bet. My guess is you would take K-12 and smoosh them all in the exisiting High School with very little renovations. I’m sorry to sound pessimistic, but I don’t have much faith in the new school board or those that elected them.
Comment by:
Repeat - 4.29.2008 at 3:25 pm
10 Conan, you’re really cool. I’ll bet the people who cheat to taxpayers and students just love you.
Houdini, what were the comments that mysteriously vanished. I missed them. Sounds like possible not so divine intervention to me.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.29.2008 at 3:30 pm
11 “Because I am considered a high public offical, I am granted a high level of immunity for speaking at public meetings on public concerns. ”
I’m wondering when this became law? Is it true that high public officials (like tax collectors and councilmen) have greater immunity and can speak with impunity? I guess the Constitution or the State laws must have been redrafted to create a government “Above The People” instead of “For the People and By The People”.
Comment by:
Borows - 4.29.2008 at 3:50 pm
12 Yes Borrows, oops, Borows. Why don’t you just give your real name? I believe it is referred to as the Sullivan law and it is the law, except when a newspaper sets you up to circumvent such law. You see Borows, this law was created so that public officials can stand up with immunity,(Not impunity) and educate common people like yourself about the truth without fear of reprisals. Of course the Sullivan law is meaningless such as is honor when one is dragged before the good old Republicans club at county court.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.29.2008 at 4:08 pm
13 to stand up as a public official and educate “common people?” … Oh my.
Comment by Burbs Blogger:
Kate Fratti - 4.29.2008 at 4:53 pm
BCTHS Funding Formula Discussion
I saw this in the BCCT this morning.
So the auto shop is as expensive as special education? Who knew?
BUCKS COUNTY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Officials to discuss funding formula
Not just special education costs should be considered, but other expenses like the automotive section, a Neshaminy school board member said.
By JOAN HELLYER STAFF WRITER
Joan Hellyer can be reached at 215-949-4048 or jhellyer@phillyBurbs.com.
Bucks County Technical High School’s governing body will meet in May to decide how it wants to proceed with considering a change to the comprehensive high school’s funding formula.
At issue is whether to separate special education costs, which are often more expensive than mainstream expenses, out of the tech school’s current funding formula. If that happens, the expenses would be paid on an actual usage basis instead of being split among the six sending districts as they are now.
The change could have saved Bristol Township about $500,000 this school year, and cost Neshaminy about $450,000 more than it paid in 2007-2008, according to official estimations. In addition, Bensalem could have saved about $65,000 and Pennsbury would have had to shell out about $110,000 more to cover the special education costs for students from its district.
The BCTHS joint board committee, made up of Bensalem, Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury board members, agreed Monday night to discuss the funding situation during a program implementation assessment meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 20.
The move comes a week after the Bristol Township school board declined to approve the tech school’s 2008-2009 budget because it felt there was a lack of movement on the funding formula issue.
Neshaminy is the only one of the tech school’s six sending districts that has indicated it is not in favor of the funding formula revision.
“If you single out special education, then you should also single out the automotive section, because it’s very expensive,” said Ritchie Webb, a Neshaminy board member, after the joint board committee’s meeting Monday night.
The committee will decide what it wants to look at in terms of school expenses before it considers changing the special education portion of the funding formula.
Officials have suggested phasing in the revised formula over a fouryear period beginning in 2009-2010.
So the auto shop is as expensive as special education? Who knew?
BUCKS COUNTY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Officials to discuss funding formula
Not just special education costs should be considered, but other expenses like the automotive section, a Neshaminy school board member said.
By JOAN HELLYER STAFF WRITER
Joan Hellyer can be reached at 215-949-4048 or jhellyer@phillyBurbs.com.
Bucks County Technical High School’s governing body will meet in May to decide how it wants to proceed with considering a change to the comprehensive high school’s funding formula.
At issue is whether to separate special education costs, which are often more expensive than mainstream expenses, out of the tech school’s current funding formula. If that happens, the expenses would be paid on an actual usage basis instead of being split among the six sending districts as they are now.
The change could have saved Bristol Township about $500,000 this school year, and cost Neshaminy about $450,000 more than it paid in 2007-2008, according to official estimations. In addition, Bensalem could have saved about $65,000 and Pennsbury would have had to shell out about $110,000 more to cover the special education costs for students from its district.
The BCTHS joint board committee, made up of Bensalem, Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury board members, agreed Monday night to discuss the funding situation during a program implementation assessment meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 20.
The move comes a week after the Bristol Township school board declined to approve the tech school’s 2008-2009 budget because it felt there was a lack of movement on the funding formula issue.
Neshaminy is the only one of the tech school’s six sending districts that has indicated it is not in favor of the funding formula revision.
“If you single out special education, then you should also single out the automotive section, because it’s very expensive,” said Ritchie Webb, a Neshaminy board member, after the joint board committee’s meeting Monday night.
The committee will decide what it wants to look at in terms of school expenses before it considers changing the special education portion of the funding formula.
Officials have suggested phasing in the revised formula over a fouryear period beginning in 2009-2010.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Special Board Meeting this Friday May 2
Thanks to the emailer who found this on the mv.org website. Anyone know what the subject is?
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
The Board of School Directors of Borough of Morrisville will hold a special board meeting at 6:30 pm on Friday, May 2, 2008 in the LGI room located in the Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School, 550 W. Palmer St., Morrisville, PA.
UPDATED: MAY 1, 2008
Confirmation it is for the new solicitor.
N O T I C E
Notice is hereby given that the School District of Borough of Morrisville, Morrisville, PA, will hold a special meeting on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 6:30 pm in the LGI Room of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School, 550 W. Palmer St., Morrisville, PA. Purpose of the meeting is to hire a new Solicitor.
Marlys Mihok, Secretary
Appeared in: Bucks County Courier Times on Wednesday, 04/30/2008
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
The Board of School Directors of Borough of Morrisville will hold a special board meeting at 6:30 pm on Friday, May 2, 2008 in the LGI room located in the Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School, 550 W. Palmer St., Morrisville, PA.
UPDATED: MAY 1, 2008
Confirmation it is for the new solicitor.
N O T I C E
Notice is hereby given that the School District of Borough of Morrisville, Morrisville, PA, will hold a special meeting on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 6:30 pm in the LGI Room of the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School, 550 W. Palmer St., Morrisville, PA. Purpose of the meeting is to hire a new Solicitor.
Marlys Mihok, Secretary
Appeared in: Bucks County Courier Times on Wednesday, 04/30/2008
openeducation.net
As the result of linking to an article on college readiness from the Boston Globe on Saturday, I was contacted by the webmaster at openeducation.net. He informed me that their group recently reviewed that BG article and the confusion that occurs because of NCLB and the lack of a formal delineation of proficiency.
http://www.openeducation.net/2008/04/25/no-child-left-behind-act-deters-high-standards/
I've been browsing through the website and there's a lot of good information there. I've linked to it in the Education Links section on the left.
Does anyone see any articles or information there that can be put to some good use here in Morrisville?
http://www.openeducation.net/2008/04/25/no-child-left-behind-act-deters-high-standards/
I've been browsing through the website and there's a lot of good information there. I've linked to it in the Education Links section on the left.
Does anyone see any articles or information there that can be put to some good use here in Morrisville?
Sunday, April 27, 2008
What is a blog?
I received this piece of criticism today:
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Secret Meeting Agenda Revealed": This is not a true blog whereas the blogmaster is clearly biased towards his own agenda. He is selective in his publications and it's ok to publish if the criticizm points to the other side. Like it or not, he should publish both sides. If he wants to have a real blog, he should get real.
My quick response was simple:
Save The School has left a new comment on your post "Secret Meeting Agenda Revealed": Of course I'm biased. I do not have to be fair and balanced. But if you want to put together a defense for the secret meeting, be my guest. I'll post it.
For the record, no one has posted a defense of the school board actions. I post almost everything that is sent. There have been a few really vicious personal attacks that I have deleted. Other than that, what you see is what I see.
So, "What is a blog?" Google provides several answers and you can feel free to read them at your leisure.
This blog is my opinion. That's it. I'm grateful to have people who read it and comment, and I welcome all contributions. But, once your three minutes are up, I also reserve the right for comment and response.
I recognize the writing, misspellings and all. I believe this is the same anonymous commenter who was the reference for this post and this post.
They never followed through with my request to send something...anything...to back up their story. Their silence was my cue to ignore them and move on.
I'll print items that do support the Emperor and his Court of Toadies. Don't expect me to do so silently. If you want someone to print your stuff without comment, contact the BCCT to submit your guest opinion. This is not the place.
I do give voice to the dissenters. Take a look at Steve Worob's letter from the BCCT. I reprinted it completely. I also commented on it, and most of his arguments fell by the wayside once examined. Even the commenters at the BCCT website saw through his claims, however I note that Steve has responded with offers for copies of his book.
Steve: I will print any of your claims, excerpts from your book or writings, or other items. Send it off to me in printable form with some sort of proof or research. I'll clearly label it as your personal work, take no responsibility for publishing other than to provide the digital ink, and off we go.
Anonymous commenter(s): Ditto.
The ball's in your court now, and unless something gets submitted, I'm not going to revisit this issue again. [NOTE: Sorry to let the "parent" side of me come out, but this is like talking to a teenager for the umpteenth time today about the same subject. The softly spoken and nicely phrased correction speech from the first time around becomes quite a bit blunter by the fourth recitation. Parents, please tell me you have the same issues with your kids. :) ]
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Secret Meeting Agenda Revealed": This is not a true blog whereas the blogmaster is clearly biased towards his own agenda. He is selective in his publications and it's ok to publish if the criticizm points to the other side. Like it or not, he should publish both sides. If he wants to have a real blog, he should get real.
My quick response was simple:
Save The School has left a new comment on your post "Secret Meeting Agenda Revealed": Of course I'm biased. I do not have to be fair and balanced. But if you want to put together a defense for the secret meeting, be my guest. I'll post it.
For the record, no one has posted a defense of the school board actions. I post almost everything that is sent. There have been a few really vicious personal attacks that I have deleted. Other than that, what you see is what I see.
So, "What is a blog?" Google provides several answers and you can feel free to read them at your leisure.
This blog is my opinion. That's it. I'm grateful to have people who read it and comment, and I welcome all contributions. But, once your three minutes are up, I also reserve the right for comment and response.
I recognize the writing, misspellings and all. I believe this is the same anonymous commenter who was the reference for this post and this post.
They never followed through with my request to send something...anything...to back up their story. Their silence was my cue to ignore them and move on.
I'll print items that do support the Emperor and his Court of Toadies. Don't expect me to do so silently. If you want someone to print your stuff without comment, contact the BCCT to submit your guest opinion. This is not the place.
I do give voice to the dissenters. Take a look at Steve Worob's letter from the BCCT. I reprinted it completely. I also commented on it, and most of his arguments fell by the wayside once examined. Even the commenters at the BCCT website saw through his claims, however I note that Steve has responded with offers for copies of his book.
Steve: I will print any of your claims, excerpts from your book or writings, or other items. Send it off to me in printable form with some sort of proof or research. I'll clearly label it as your personal work, take no responsibility for publishing other than to provide the digital ink, and off we go.
Anonymous commenter(s): Ditto.
The ball's in your court now, and unless something gets submitted, I'm not going to revisit this issue again. [NOTE: Sorry to let the "parent" side of me come out, but this is like talking to a teenager for the umpteenth time today about the same subject. The softly spoken and nicely phrased correction speech from the first time around becomes quite a bit blunter by the fourth recitation. Parents, please tell me you have the same issues with your kids. :) ]
Uniformity
Let's not forget that another hot button topic is the use of school uniforms. While defeasement, farming, and other larger more pressing issues have stolen the spotlight, the idea of wearing a school uniform is being discussed.
So, do clothes make the man? Or should you not judge a book by it's cover?
There's an article in the BCCT today that suggests uniforms are a good idea and will raise test scores. However, a quick Google of school uniforms and performance show a different conclusion: I dunno!
Isn't this the same argument that raged over the new school itself? Will a new school raise student performance?
Studies divided on effects of school uniform: But studies have revealed mixed results. And many Bay Area school officials acknowledged in interviews that they have never tried to measure whether the uniforms are working.
Are uniform policies controversial? Sure. So is implementation.
E-mail fires up Florida parents: Parents have complained saying they can’t afford the new clothing..."Everyone can afford Wal-Mart and if they can't they need to think about turning off their cable TV or stop buying alcohol or cigarettes and spend their money on their children." Ouch!
I'm generally for uniforms myself. I'm tired of clothing being a coolness factor in school and the kids who can afford $25 dollar sneakers being judged harshly against the cool kid with the $200 dollar superstar endorsed "performance athletic footwear". Let the kids all go with the same $20 dollar polo and $40 dollar khakis and get back to the real issue: education.
Academic benefits seen with uniforms
Parental support is key to a successful uniform policy, according to officials.
By JOAN HELLYER STAFF WRITER
Melissa Buchanan is glad she goes to a school where all the students wear uniforms.
“It’s really good that people don’t wear inappropriate things. Everyone looks the same,” said Melissa, a fourth-grader at School Lane Charter School in Bensalem.
A mandatory uniform policy went into effect at School Lane in 2007. The kids wear light blue shirts and dark or khaki bottoms.
“It was a good idea to do,” Melissa, 9, said. “It makes me feel good.”
School Lane is one of three local school systems to move toward uniformity in the past year:
The charter school implemented the policy after parents urged its governing board to require uniforms as allowed by Pennsylvania’s public school code, school officials said.
The Bristol school board also made a move to uniforms at the urging of district parents. The board did not implement an official policy but rather a procedure for students at Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary School to wear uniforms beginning this academic year.
Parents also were the catalyst in getting Bristol Township to implement a voluntary uniform policy that will begin in September for students in its nine elementary schools, district officials said. The school board’s legal representatives suggested the policy be voluntary, so the district would not face any legal challenges to it.
Kyong Growney, of Curtin & Heefner, LLP in Morrisville, is one of the attorneys who developed Bristol Township’s policy. Growney said she and board solicitor David Truelove encouraged the board to go the voluntary route to avoid potential constitutional challenges involving freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
However, a constitutional law expert at Temple University in Philadelphia, said neither of those constitutional freedoms apply to the uniform issue. Statutory law, not constitutional law, covers the religious aspect of the issue, said Mark Rahdert, a constitutional expert.
SUPREME COURT DECISION
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision about 20 years ago, ruled that religious practices that contradict an established law are not federal constitutional issues, he said.
The decision was based on the case of Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith. It involved two members of the Native American Church who were fired from their counselor jobs at a private drug rehabilitation organization after they ingested peyote, a powerful hallucinogen, during religious ceremonies. The former counselors filed suit after being denied unemployment compensation.
The high court’s majority found that an individual’s religious beliefs does not excuse him or her from complying with a law prohibiting conduct the government is entitled to regulate, wrote Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the majority opinion.
The same standard can be applied to the school uniform issue, Rahdert said.
“As long as the [uniform policy] is neutral with respect to religion and is generally applicable to all students in the school, it is usually upheld,” Rahdert said.
In addition, freedom of expression or speech is not a consideration with the uniform issue, the professor said. Instead, it’s an issue of conduct in the schools.
“In a school setting, students have diminished first amendment rights, partly because they are children and partly because they are in a school setting in which the state must maintain order and provide a conducive learning environment,” Rahdert said.
Growney declined further comment about the Bristol Township policy and the volunteer policy recommendation her firm made to the district.
Rahdert said the voluntary policy is sometimes implemented not just to avoid challenges that will be lost, but because school systems want to avoid the expense and distraction from a challenge.
He said even if a school opts for a mandatory uniform policy, it should provide for exceptions, including religious attire.
“[A district] should base its choice on what’s best for the school environment, and not based on constitutional principles, because I don’t think the constitution dictates one outcome or the other,” Rahdert said.
CHALLENGES RARE
There have been a few instances where the U.S. Supreme Court has heard cases about whether a uniform policy violates equal protection or discriminates against the poor, Rahdert said. However, those challenges are rare, because generally speaking, uniform policies are designed to be affordable, he said.
In recent years, a few other Bucks districts, including Bensalem and Central Bucks, as well as North Penn, and Upper Moreland in Eastern Montgomery County, have tossed around the uniform issue. However, they abandoned the idea, generally speaking, because the initiative did not have enough support from school board members, administrators or parents.
Other local districts also have not experienced a groundswell of support for uniforms, officials said.
For school systems that are considering a uniform policy, the U.S. Department of Education produced a manual to provide guidelines on how to implement such a policy. The first step is to get parents involved from the beginning of the process, according to the manual posted at www.ed.gov.
“Parental support of a uniform policy is critical for success. Indeed, the strongest push for school uniforms in recent years has come from parental groups who want better discipline in their children’s schools,” education officials said in the manual.
Melanie Scott, a School Lane parent, said the charter school’s uniform policy definitely has her backing.
“It’s a great idea,” Scott said. “Now it’s about school and not about who is cool.”
The push for uniforms began in the mid-1990s when the Long Beach, Calif., school system started requiring all elementary and middle school students to wear uniforms. The school board made the move after a statewide voucher initiative failed, according to Carl A. Cohn, who was the Long Beach superintendent during the move to uniforms.
During debate over the initiative, board members had promised residents and particularly parents that they would look for ways to improve the school environment, according to Cohn.
The district already had uniform policies in place on a pilot basis in 11 of its 70 elementary and middle schools, Cohn said. Those schools reported a better climate in terms of learning and safety than others where there was no uniform policy in place.
The district moved ahead with implementing the policy in all of its schools in 1994. Within a year, overall school crime dropped 36 percent, including a decrease of 51 percent in fights and 74 percent in sexual offenses, according to the federal education department.
VOLUNTARY VS. MANDATORY
Since then, school systems throughout the country have followed Long Beach’s lead and implemented their own uniform policies. Some are mandatory. Others are voluntary.
Not all of the policies have remained in effect, usually because parents were not supportive of the effort. For instance, Maymont Elementary School in Richmond, Va., implemented a uniform policy in the mid-1990s. The school reported improved behavior, increased attendance rates and higher student achievement, according to the U.S. education department.
However, the policy was discontinued several years ago, a school spokeswoman said, because parents were no longer in favor of the uniforms.
Other schools across the country report better success. Douglass Elementary School in Memphis, Tenn., is one of them.
Douglass implemented a voluntary uniform policy in the mid-1990s. The maroon or white shirt and khaki bottoms initiative became a mandatory policy about four years ago at the inner city kindergarten through seventh-grade school, said guidance counselor Aron Wyatt.
“[The students] are able to focus more. They are not being teased about their clothes,” Wyatt said. “It keeps you on task a little more.”
He also noted student academic performance has increased over the last few years, due in part to the uniforms.
The only challenge the school has faced because of the uniforms is from parents who said they could not afford the moderately priced clothes, Wyatt said. “We have a clothes closet to help out with that, if they don’t have the resources, so they can send their kids in the proper uniform,” he said.
Wyatt has some advice for schools planning to implement a uniform policy.
“Enforce it. Don’t just start it up and then let the kids come some days in their uniforms and some days [in regular clothes]. If you enforce it, you show them that you are serious about it. The kids will conform and the parents will conform,” the guidance counselor said.
Bristol Township officials said they went with the voluntary policy because they believe enforcement of the practice will not be necessary. Most district families will adhere to it as the district seeks to provide students with a better and safer learning environment, they said.
So, do clothes make the man? Or should you not judge a book by it's cover?
There's an article in the BCCT today that suggests uniforms are a good idea and will raise test scores. However, a quick Google of school uniforms and performance show a different conclusion: I dunno!
Isn't this the same argument that raged over the new school itself? Will a new school raise student performance?
Studies divided on effects of school uniform: But studies have revealed mixed results. And many Bay Area school officials acknowledged in interviews that they have never tried to measure whether the uniforms are working.
Are uniform policies controversial? Sure. So is implementation.
E-mail fires up Florida parents: Parents have complained saying they can’t afford the new clothing..."Everyone can afford Wal-Mart and if they can't they need to think about turning off their cable TV or stop buying alcohol or cigarettes and spend their money on their children." Ouch!
I'm generally for uniforms myself. I'm tired of clothing being a coolness factor in school and the kids who can afford $25 dollar sneakers being judged harshly against the cool kid with the $200 dollar superstar endorsed "performance athletic footwear". Let the kids all go with the same $20 dollar polo and $40 dollar khakis and get back to the real issue: education.
Academic benefits seen with uniforms
Parental support is key to a successful uniform policy, according to officials.
By JOAN HELLYER STAFF WRITER
Melissa Buchanan is glad she goes to a school where all the students wear uniforms.
“It’s really good that people don’t wear inappropriate things. Everyone looks the same,” said Melissa, a fourth-grader at School Lane Charter School in Bensalem.
A mandatory uniform policy went into effect at School Lane in 2007. The kids wear light blue shirts and dark or khaki bottoms.
“It was a good idea to do,” Melissa, 9, said. “It makes me feel good.”
School Lane is one of three local school systems to move toward uniformity in the past year:
The charter school implemented the policy after parents urged its governing board to require uniforms as allowed by Pennsylvania’s public school code, school officials said.
The Bristol school board also made a move to uniforms at the urging of district parents. The board did not implement an official policy but rather a procedure for students at Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary School to wear uniforms beginning this academic year.
Parents also were the catalyst in getting Bristol Township to implement a voluntary uniform policy that will begin in September for students in its nine elementary schools, district officials said. The school board’s legal representatives suggested the policy be voluntary, so the district would not face any legal challenges to it.
Kyong Growney, of Curtin & Heefner, LLP in Morrisville, is one of the attorneys who developed Bristol Township’s policy. Growney said she and board solicitor David Truelove encouraged the board to go the voluntary route to avoid potential constitutional challenges involving freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
However, a constitutional law expert at Temple University in Philadelphia, said neither of those constitutional freedoms apply to the uniform issue. Statutory law, not constitutional law, covers the religious aspect of the issue, said Mark Rahdert, a constitutional expert.
SUPREME COURT DECISION
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision about 20 years ago, ruled that religious practices that contradict an established law are not federal constitutional issues, he said.
The decision was based on the case of Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith. It involved two members of the Native American Church who were fired from their counselor jobs at a private drug rehabilitation organization after they ingested peyote, a powerful hallucinogen, during religious ceremonies. The former counselors filed suit after being denied unemployment compensation.
The high court’s majority found that an individual’s religious beliefs does not excuse him or her from complying with a law prohibiting conduct the government is entitled to regulate, wrote Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the majority opinion.
The same standard can be applied to the school uniform issue, Rahdert said.
“As long as the [uniform policy] is neutral with respect to religion and is generally applicable to all students in the school, it is usually upheld,” Rahdert said.
In addition, freedom of expression or speech is not a consideration with the uniform issue, the professor said. Instead, it’s an issue of conduct in the schools.
“In a school setting, students have diminished first amendment rights, partly because they are children and partly because they are in a school setting in which the state must maintain order and provide a conducive learning environment,” Rahdert said.
Growney declined further comment about the Bristol Township policy and the volunteer policy recommendation her firm made to the district.
Rahdert said the voluntary policy is sometimes implemented not just to avoid challenges that will be lost, but because school systems want to avoid the expense and distraction from a challenge.
He said even if a school opts for a mandatory uniform policy, it should provide for exceptions, including religious attire.
“[A district] should base its choice on what’s best for the school environment, and not based on constitutional principles, because I don’t think the constitution dictates one outcome or the other,” Rahdert said.
CHALLENGES RARE
There have been a few instances where the U.S. Supreme Court has heard cases about whether a uniform policy violates equal protection or discriminates against the poor, Rahdert said. However, those challenges are rare, because generally speaking, uniform policies are designed to be affordable, he said.
In recent years, a few other Bucks districts, including Bensalem and Central Bucks, as well as North Penn, and Upper Moreland in Eastern Montgomery County, have tossed around the uniform issue. However, they abandoned the idea, generally speaking, because the initiative did not have enough support from school board members, administrators or parents.
Other local districts also have not experienced a groundswell of support for uniforms, officials said.
For school systems that are considering a uniform policy, the U.S. Department of Education produced a manual to provide guidelines on how to implement such a policy. The first step is to get parents involved from the beginning of the process, according to the manual posted at www.ed.gov.
“Parental support of a uniform policy is critical for success. Indeed, the strongest push for school uniforms in recent years has come from parental groups who want better discipline in their children’s schools,” education officials said in the manual.
Melanie Scott, a School Lane parent, said the charter school’s uniform policy definitely has her backing.
“It’s a great idea,” Scott said. “Now it’s about school and not about who is cool.”
The push for uniforms began in the mid-1990s when the Long Beach, Calif., school system started requiring all elementary and middle school students to wear uniforms. The school board made the move after a statewide voucher initiative failed, according to Carl A. Cohn, who was the Long Beach superintendent during the move to uniforms.
During debate over the initiative, board members had promised residents and particularly parents that they would look for ways to improve the school environment, according to Cohn.
The district already had uniform policies in place on a pilot basis in 11 of its 70 elementary and middle schools, Cohn said. Those schools reported a better climate in terms of learning and safety than others where there was no uniform policy in place.
The district moved ahead with implementing the policy in all of its schools in 1994. Within a year, overall school crime dropped 36 percent, including a decrease of 51 percent in fights and 74 percent in sexual offenses, according to the federal education department.
VOLUNTARY VS. MANDATORY
Since then, school systems throughout the country have followed Long Beach’s lead and implemented their own uniform policies. Some are mandatory. Others are voluntary.
Not all of the policies have remained in effect, usually because parents were not supportive of the effort. For instance, Maymont Elementary School in Richmond, Va., implemented a uniform policy in the mid-1990s. The school reported improved behavior, increased attendance rates and higher student achievement, according to the U.S. education department.
However, the policy was discontinued several years ago, a school spokeswoman said, because parents were no longer in favor of the uniforms.
Other schools across the country report better success. Douglass Elementary School in Memphis, Tenn., is one of them.
Douglass implemented a voluntary uniform policy in the mid-1990s. The maroon or white shirt and khaki bottoms initiative became a mandatory policy about four years ago at the inner city kindergarten through seventh-grade school, said guidance counselor Aron Wyatt.
“[The students] are able to focus more. They are not being teased about their clothes,” Wyatt said. “It keeps you on task a little more.”
He also noted student academic performance has increased over the last few years, due in part to the uniforms.
The only challenge the school has faced because of the uniforms is from parents who said they could not afford the moderately priced clothes, Wyatt said. “We have a clothes closet to help out with that, if they don’t have the resources, so they can send their kids in the proper uniform,” he said.
Wyatt has some advice for schools planning to implement a uniform policy.
“Enforce it. Don’t just start it up and then let the kids come some days in their uniforms and some days [in regular clothes]. If you enforce it, you show them that you are serious about it. The kids will conform and the parents will conform,” the guidance counselor said.
Bristol Township officials said they went with the voluntary policy because they believe enforcement of the practice will not be necessary. Most district families will adhere to it as the district seeks to provide students with a better and safer learning environment, they said.
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