From the Jackson (TN) Sun.
What's important in this story is not that the local school board is out of touch, whether in Jackson, Tennessee or Morrisville, Pennsylvania. If it's a Monday, then there's a school board out of touch.
It's about the video links at the end of the story. This is where education needs to be going for the 21st century. For every resident who has bemoaned how the PSSA scores need to rise, watch the videos and see if we, the community, are providing these American children (the same people who are going to be picking out and staffing our nursing homes), the tools to be 21st century global (not just American) citizens.
School board is out of touch By Tom Bohs, February 15, 2009
Thanks to technology, I was able to attend the Jackson-Madison County Board of Education meeting on Thursday night, and I didn't have to leave the comfort of my TV room to do it. Thanks to my own jacksonsun.com streaming webcast, Jackson Energy Authority's E+TV6 and WNWS 101.5 FM radio for providing live coverage of the meeting. It was a great example of technology enabling the public to connect to its elected officials and to see them in action, or inaction, as the case may be. Think of it as our own local version of C-Span.
All day long, rumors flew that some on the board had conspired to fire Superintendent Dr. Nancy Zambito. Fortunately, that didn't happen, which I believe would have been a terrible mistake. In fact, the person who made the most sense during the meeting was Dr. Zambito, though I commend board Chairman Dr. Joe Mays for steering the board through some tense and troubled waters with a steady hand.
I've followed the school board closely for 17 years, and sat through more board meetings than I care to remember. The current board is as bad as I have seen, but it's not any worse than others that have gotten seriously off track. Do I need to remind anyone of the infamous "McMillin Five" that managed to fire perfectly good Superintendent Dr. Lester Beason and shoehorn Buddy McMillan into office? It is painful to recall that at one point, we had five superintendents in seven years, and our school board was the laughingstock of state public education. In my opinion, the current school board crisis is no better or worse than those of the past.
But one important thing has changed since 1992, technology. And that is what makes the current school board infighting more dire and important, and something the community must demand be addressed, if in no other way than in the 2010 election.
Six or seven of our school board members are hopelessly out of touch with what is happening in the world. They think that what is going on in Jackson-Madison County is their chief concern. They are wrong, and hopelessly out of touch with reality. As a result, our kids could be hopelessly left behind. While these school board members argue about who should be superintendent, whether he or she should be black or white, and who screwed up the most since the last "gotcha" school board meeting, the rest of the world is running, and I mean running, away from our local education system, technologically speaking. This is the real tragedy of our current school board.
We have teachers who aren't even proficient at sending e-mails. We have teachers who don't have a clue how to use today's sophisticated education software or how to integrate technology into their classrooms. We are graduating students who don't know how to write decent English or use the Web to do simple research or understand how to use technology to collaborate with others, learn new things and plan for their futures.
Do our students know what a wiki is? Do they know what Web 2.0, let alone Web 3.0 is? There are kids all over America, and India, Western Europe, Japan and China who do. And they outnumber us by a staggering margin. There are more high school top-tier honor students in China, the top 1 percent or 2 percent, than all of our students in this country put together.
While our school board argues over race, personal agendas and other nonsense, the rest of the education world is moving ahead at breakneck speed. Computer capabilities are doubling every 18 months, while we struggle to put the latest technology in our classrooms and train teachers to use them. We are losing this battle, and our school board is missing in action. That is what troubles me.
If you care about this issue, I urge you to watch three You Tube videos. Just go to your Web browser and enter the following links: www.jacksonsun.com/didyouknow; www.jacksonsun.com/machine and www.jacksonsun.com/web2. If you don't "get" what these videos are about, you know what most of our students know. And, oh, by the way, all three videos are two years old.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Pennsbury Tax Increase
From the BCCT.
Pay attention: These are the taxes the Emperor wants you to pay.
Board looks to make budget cuts
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The preliminary spending plan calls for a $441 average tax increase.
Pennsbury board members said they're anxious to slash estimates that point to skyrocketing taxes next year.
The preliminary budget plan passed by the board Thursday night calls for a $441 tax increase for a homeowner with the average assessed property of $31,304.
Residents who attended the meeting said they weren't happy with the prospect of paying an average tax bill of $4,980.
"I can't understand why no one talked about a tax decrease. Workers are being laid off [in other industries]. Why not in the school district? I'd like to see a 10 percent decrease in our taxes," said Leo Cohen.
The budget numbers for the next school year appear high at this point because the district doesn't know how much funding the state will supply, officials said. While local revenues might generate $145.3 million, that's $2.6 million less than last year, they said.
The main local downturn is because of the loss of fees from the Keystone Industrial Port Complex, a tax abatement area which is scheduled to end payments to Pennsbury in lieu of taxes after this year. The complex is on the site of the old U.S. Steel Fairless Works.
Other tax revenues are expected to be down, as are interim taxes on new construction and transfer taxes on real estate. The district also expects lower interest returns on its investments, officials said.
The economic downturn has contributed to a deficit of about $12 million in a $180 million budget, Miller said. Balancing the budget without reducing expenses would mean an increase of 14.1 mills, bringing total millage to 159.1.
Board members have repeatedly stressed that the preliminary budget is just an early estimate that is required by the state. Several spoke against allowing the final tax increase to reach the current projection of a 9.7 percent increase, which is far above the state's mandated maximum tax increase of 4.1 percent.
"I can state that our budget will not increase 4.1 percent. Nine point seven is just a number. It's not a fact," said board member Richard Johnson.
Officials said the district is working on several areas to lower expenditures, including transportation and energy efficiencies and employee attrition at all levels. If one teacher retires and the school can adjust the professional staff to cover that teacher's responsibilities, then the administration would recommend not hiring a replacement, district CEO Paul Long said.
The administration is considering an optional reduction in the number of classes taken by seniors who have fulfilled their graduation requirements. There also might be some reduction in standardized testing and in the Extra-K kindergarten programs. Pulling funding for Odyssey of the Mind is possible. All of those options still need to be explored and worked out, said Long.
Board member Linda Palsky suggested trying to get more private corporations to fund programs and resources.
To keep their promise to limit a tax hike to at or below 4.1 percent, a 5-4 majority of the board defeated a proposal to apply for state exceptions. Proponents of the administration's recommendation to apply for the exemptions said the district would have no insurance against a possible financial shortfall such as zero state subsidies. Exceptions allow school boards to raise taxes above the state-mandated 4.1 percent limit for uncontrollable costs such as special education and grandfathered debt.
Johnson and board members Gene Dolnick, Wayne DeBlasio, Arlene Gordon and Gregory Lucidi voted against the exceptions.
"I cannot vote for a 4.1 [tax increase], so there will be no way that I would vote for exceptions," said Gordon.
The details of the preliminary budget can be found on the Pennsbury Web site at www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us/pennsbury.
Pay attention: These are the taxes the Emperor wants you to pay.
Board looks to make budget cuts
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The preliminary spending plan calls for a $441 average tax increase.
Pennsbury board members said they're anxious to slash estimates that point to skyrocketing taxes next year.
The preliminary budget plan passed by the board Thursday night calls for a $441 tax increase for a homeowner with the average assessed property of $31,304.
Residents who attended the meeting said they weren't happy with the prospect of paying an average tax bill of $4,980.
"I can't understand why no one talked about a tax decrease. Workers are being laid off [in other industries]. Why not in the school district? I'd like to see a 10 percent decrease in our taxes," said Leo Cohen.
The budget numbers for the next school year appear high at this point because the district doesn't know how much funding the state will supply, officials said. While local revenues might generate $145.3 million, that's $2.6 million less than last year, they said.
The main local downturn is because of the loss of fees from the Keystone Industrial Port Complex, a tax abatement area which is scheduled to end payments to Pennsbury in lieu of taxes after this year. The complex is on the site of the old U.S. Steel Fairless Works.
Other tax revenues are expected to be down, as are interim taxes on new construction and transfer taxes on real estate. The district also expects lower interest returns on its investments, officials said.
The economic downturn has contributed to a deficit of about $12 million in a $180 million budget, Miller said. Balancing the budget without reducing expenses would mean an increase of 14.1 mills, bringing total millage to 159.1.
Board members have repeatedly stressed that the preliminary budget is just an early estimate that is required by the state. Several spoke against allowing the final tax increase to reach the current projection of a 9.7 percent increase, which is far above the state's mandated maximum tax increase of 4.1 percent.
"I can state that our budget will not increase 4.1 percent. Nine point seven is just a number. It's not a fact," said board member Richard Johnson.
Officials said the district is working on several areas to lower expenditures, including transportation and energy efficiencies and employee attrition at all levels. If one teacher retires and the school can adjust the professional staff to cover that teacher's responsibilities, then the administration would recommend not hiring a replacement, district CEO Paul Long said.
The administration is considering an optional reduction in the number of classes taken by seniors who have fulfilled their graduation requirements. There also might be some reduction in standardized testing and in the Extra-K kindergarten programs. Pulling funding for Odyssey of the Mind is possible. All of those options still need to be explored and worked out, said Long.
Board member Linda Palsky suggested trying to get more private corporations to fund programs and resources.
To keep their promise to limit a tax hike to at or below 4.1 percent, a 5-4 majority of the board defeated a proposal to apply for state exceptions. Proponents of the administration's recommendation to apply for the exemptions said the district would have no insurance against a possible financial shortfall such as zero state subsidies. Exceptions allow school boards to raise taxes above the state-mandated 4.1 percent limit for uncontrollable costs such as special education and grandfathered debt.
Johnson and board members Gene Dolnick, Wayne DeBlasio, Arlene Gordon and Gregory Lucidi voted against the exceptions.
"I cannot vote for a 4.1 [tax increase], so there will be no way that I would vote for exceptions," said Gordon.
The details of the preliminary budget can be found on the Pennsbury Web site at www.pennsbury.k12.pa.us/pennsbury.
Free Lunch
From the BCCT.
Mark February 28 on your calendar too!
There really is a free lunch
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville School District employees were treated by Chick-fil-A for keeping the students' education going after a furnace blast at one school.
Morrisville staff members received a treat for their recent resourcefulness in a tough time.
Chick-fil-A provided the entire district staff with free boxed lunches Friday for their efforts to continue the educational process with as few disruptions as possible following recent upheavals at M.R. Reiter Elementary. About 140 staff members enjoyed the lunches of sandwiches, wraps, fruit cups, brownies and iced tea.
"I'm overwhelmed. They were so generous. The teachers absolutely loved it," said Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson.
The Chick-fil-A "Eat Mor Chikin" cow stopped by the elementary classrooms to say hello to the students, too.
Chick-Fil-A gives the elementary students a positive character trait of the month as part of its Core Essentials Program. Teachers encourage students to explore and demonstrate that trait through classroom reinforcement and activities. The restaurant also provides supplemental materials for teachers and take-home information for parents.
If students are good at exhibiting the character trait of the month, they earn a free Chick-Fil-A nugget meal.
January's trait was resourcefulness, which district teachers and staff showed abundantly after a December furnace blast made Reiter unusable, said Jodi Hartenstine, the marketing director for Chick-fil-A on Oxford Valley Road in Middletown.
"It's using what you have to get the job done. They were exemplifying the trait there. Everybody was working together, and we wanted to do something to honor them for that, so we came up with the appreciation lunch," said Hartenstine.
Teachers and staff in Morrisville Middle/Senior High School and Grandview Elementary adjusted their activities and spaces to accommodate Reiter students as Reiter teachers worked to help their young students through the crisis.
More than 250 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grades still are displaced and in various district buildings. Grades one and two soon will leave the high school and settle into modular units on the property of Grandview Elementary School. Grade five will stay at the high school for now, and kindergarten, third and fourth grades are sharing space with Grandview's regular population. Pre-kindergarten is at the Morrisville YMCA.
"It's so nice to have something to celebrate," said Diane Woodruff, a Reiter kindergarten teacher who's now in Grandview Elementary School. "We have bounced around this year. This was just an 'Ah-haaah.' You take a deep breath and really appreciate it.
"We've had to be really resourceful. It sort of saluted what we've been doing. It was delicious, and the kids thought the cow was absolutely adorable," she said.
Woodruff said she's been teaching her students to be resourceful.
They think of ways to use materials to substitute for things they sometimes might not have since leaving Reiter.
"We talk about how animals are resourceful in getting and storing food in winter. We have to do things so that if one way doesn't work, come up with a new one. Don't give up," she said.
The Middletown Chick-Fil-A will sponsor a Morrisville School District Spirit Night Feb. 28 during which customers who mention Morrisville School District will get discounts. About 15 percent of proceeds from the event will be given to the district, according to a company press release.
Mark February 28 on your calendar too!
There really is a free lunch
By MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville School District employees were treated by Chick-fil-A for keeping the students' education going after a furnace blast at one school.
Morrisville staff members received a treat for their recent resourcefulness in a tough time.
Chick-fil-A provided the entire district staff with free boxed lunches Friday for their efforts to continue the educational process with as few disruptions as possible following recent upheavals at M.R. Reiter Elementary. About 140 staff members enjoyed the lunches of sandwiches, wraps, fruit cups, brownies and iced tea.
"I'm overwhelmed. They were so generous. The teachers absolutely loved it," said Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson.
The Chick-fil-A "Eat Mor Chikin" cow stopped by the elementary classrooms to say hello to the students, too.
Chick-Fil-A gives the elementary students a positive character trait of the month as part of its Core Essentials Program. Teachers encourage students to explore and demonstrate that trait through classroom reinforcement and activities. The restaurant also provides supplemental materials for teachers and take-home information for parents.
If students are good at exhibiting the character trait of the month, they earn a free Chick-Fil-A nugget meal.
January's trait was resourcefulness, which district teachers and staff showed abundantly after a December furnace blast made Reiter unusable, said Jodi Hartenstine, the marketing director for Chick-fil-A on Oxford Valley Road in Middletown.
"It's using what you have to get the job done. They were exemplifying the trait there. Everybody was working together, and we wanted to do something to honor them for that, so we came up with the appreciation lunch," said Hartenstine.
Teachers and staff in Morrisville Middle/Senior High School and Grandview Elementary adjusted their activities and spaces to accommodate Reiter students as Reiter teachers worked to help their young students through the crisis.
More than 250 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grades still are displaced and in various district buildings. Grades one and two soon will leave the high school and settle into modular units on the property of Grandview Elementary School. Grade five will stay at the high school for now, and kindergarten, third and fourth grades are sharing space with Grandview's regular population. Pre-kindergarten is at the Morrisville YMCA.
"It's so nice to have something to celebrate," said Diane Woodruff, a Reiter kindergarten teacher who's now in Grandview Elementary School. "We have bounced around this year. This was just an 'Ah-haaah.' You take a deep breath and really appreciate it.
"We've had to be really resourceful. It sort of saluted what we've been doing. It was delicious, and the kids thought the cow was absolutely adorable," she said.
Woodruff said she's been teaching her students to be resourceful.
They think of ways to use materials to substitute for things they sometimes might not have since leaving Reiter.
"We talk about how animals are resourceful in getting and storing food in winter. We have to do things so that if one way doesn't work, come up with a new one. Don't give up," she said.
The Middletown Chick-Fil-A will sponsor a Morrisville School District Spirit Night Feb. 28 during which customers who mention Morrisville School District will get discounts. About 15 percent of proceeds from the event will be given to the district, according to a company press release.
Independent or Consolidated?
From the Inquirer.
Note the Emperor: I'll only talk by email and Reiter's closed so kwitcherbellyachin.
Monica Yant Kinney: How a district's small size can magnify its challenges
By Monica Yant Kinney Posted on Sun, Feb. 15, 2009, Inquirer Columnist
If Gov. Rendell intends to push for statewide school consolidation, he should make Morrisville the first stop on a listening tour. Presuming he can handle the drama.
In the itty-bitty Bucks County community, Rendell would find parents who suspect the school board cares more about dismantling the district than educating children.
Plans for a new school for kindergarten through 12th grade crumbled after one board paid $2.5 million in fees to annul a previous board's $30 million construction bond - all in the name of saving taxpayers money.
Some locals love the walkable community's old-timey intimacy. Others, wary of old-timey facilities, desperately want to merge with a larger district - even though previous pleas were rebuffed by suburban snobbery.
Most everyone in Morrisville agrees they got lucky when the boiler exploded at M.R. Reiter Elementary on a December weekend. No children were killed.
But what to make of last week's asbestos scare, which briefly closed Morrisville Middle/Senior High?
"Parents are in the dark," says Damon Miller, so disgusted he's running for the school board. "Nobody trusts anybody. This town doesn't know what it wants."
Maybe not. But when your child's future is at stake, does Harrisburg know better?
Home, casa
Named after Robert Morris, who financed the American Revolution, Morrisville occupies two square miles hard by the Delaware River across from Trenton.
The 10,000-person borough is 75 percent white, 19 percent African American, 5 percent Latino, and 1 percent Asian. Forty-three percent of all residents rent.
Diversity and transiency define the 831-student school district, which has been known to receive 11 enrollments in a single day.
When Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson arrived four years ago, only 11 percent of 11th graders were proficient in math on state achievement tests. By 2008, the number had jumped to 55 percent.
In 2007, Morrisville third graders topped all test-takers in the county, which still has Yonson beaming.
"You know how wealthy the rest of Bucks County is. My parents can't even afford a quality pre-K."
So she sought grants, and now Morrisville offers preschool. And college-credit courses for teens.
"Last year, one of our grads started Penn State's main campus as a sophomore!" Yonson raves.
All this and more have parents like Ann Perry committed to saving the schools, not scrapping them.
"We don't want to send Emma to private school," Perry says of her first-grade daughter. "Life is not private school."
What now?
Morrisville Mayor Tom Wisnosky can't recall how many consolidation talks have taken place in his lifetime. He just knows they rarely surpass stereotypes of race and class.
"One time, people said that merging with Morrisville would lower their property values," Wisnosky tells me. "That's just one of the lies perpetuated about us."
Since the last letdown in 2004, he and others got behind the idea of building new - only to see that movement halted by a costly changing of the school-board guard.
"So what's the plan?" asks an angry Lisa Castillo as she picks up her daughter from Grandview Elementary, which took in students scattered by the explosion at Reiter. "We don't want our kids educated in trailers for 20 years."
School Board President Bill Hellmann would talk to me only via e-mail. He says that Reiter will remain closed, and that he'd like to renovate the two other schools.
As for Rendell's bold proposal to forcibly squeeze 500 districts across the commonwealth into 100?
Some say the governor is tilting at educational windmills, but Hellmann believes it's the right idea in taxing times.
"Morrisville," he writes, "is really too small to have our own school district."
Contact Monica Yant Kinney at myant@phillynews.com or 215-854-4670. Read her recent work at http://go.philly.com/yantkinney
Note the Emperor: I'll only talk by email and Reiter's closed so kwitcherbellyachin.
Monica Yant Kinney: How a district's small size can magnify its challenges
By Monica Yant Kinney Posted on Sun, Feb. 15, 2009, Inquirer Columnist
If Gov. Rendell intends to push for statewide school consolidation, he should make Morrisville the first stop on a listening tour. Presuming he can handle the drama.
In the itty-bitty Bucks County community, Rendell would find parents who suspect the school board cares more about dismantling the district than educating children.Plans for a new school for kindergarten through 12th grade crumbled after one board paid $2.5 million in fees to annul a previous board's $30 million construction bond - all in the name of saving taxpayers money.
Some locals love the walkable community's old-timey intimacy. Others, wary of old-timey facilities, desperately want to merge with a larger district - even though previous pleas were rebuffed by suburban snobbery.
Most everyone in Morrisville agrees they got lucky when the boiler exploded at M.R. Reiter Elementary on a December weekend. No children were killed.
But what to make of last week's asbestos scare, which briefly closed Morrisville Middle/Senior High?
"Parents are in the dark," says Damon Miller, so disgusted he's running for the school board. "Nobody trusts anybody. This town doesn't know what it wants."
Maybe not. But when your child's future is at stake, does Harrisburg know better?
Home, casa
Named after Robert Morris, who financed the American Revolution, Morrisville occupies two square miles hard by the Delaware River across from Trenton.
The 10,000-person borough is 75 percent white, 19 percent African American, 5 percent Latino, and 1 percent Asian. Forty-three percent of all residents rent.
Diversity and transiency define the 831-student school district, which has been known to receive 11 enrollments in a single day.
When Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson arrived four years ago, only 11 percent of 11th graders were proficient in math on state achievement tests. By 2008, the number had jumped to 55 percent.
In 2007, Morrisville third graders topped all test-takers in the county, which still has Yonson beaming.
"You know how wealthy the rest of Bucks County is. My parents can't even afford a quality pre-K."
So she sought grants, and now Morrisville offers preschool. And college-credit courses for teens.
"Last year, one of our grads started Penn State's main campus as a sophomore!" Yonson raves.
All this and more have parents like Ann Perry committed to saving the schools, not scrapping them.
"We don't want to send Emma to private school," Perry says of her first-grade daughter. "Life is not private school."
What now?
Morrisville Mayor Tom Wisnosky can't recall how many consolidation talks have taken place in his lifetime. He just knows they rarely surpass stereotypes of race and class.
"One time, people said that merging with Morrisville would lower their property values," Wisnosky tells me. "That's just one of the lies perpetuated about us."
Since the last letdown in 2004, he and others got behind the idea of building new - only to see that movement halted by a costly changing of the school-board guard.
"So what's the plan?" asks an angry Lisa Castillo as she picks up her daughter from Grandview Elementary, which took in students scattered by the explosion at Reiter. "We don't want our kids educated in trailers for 20 years."
School Board President Bill Hellmann would talk to me only via e-mail. He says that Reiter will remain closed, and that he'd like to renovate the two other schools.
As for Rendell's bold proposal to forcibly squeeze 500 districts across the commonwealth into 100?
Some say the governor is tilting at educational windmills, but Hellmann believes it's the right idea in taxing times.
"Morrisville," he writes, "is really too small to have our own school district."
Contact Monica Yant Kinney at myant@phillynews.com or 215-854-4670. Read her recent work at http://go.philly.com/yantkinney
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Greenland Schools Moving Forward
From the Fayetteville Morning News. The Greenland school district continues to climb out of their hole after the state DoE took over the district.
The community there is pulling together. How many corporate contributions can Morrisville expect if they are made to a board whose president flatly tells clients not to invest in Morrisville?
Greenland Schools Still Moving Forward With Improving Finances
Cox Communications donates $600 to district's art program
Last updated Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:03 PM CST in News
By Rose Ann Pearce, THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- The Greenland School District continues to make progress toward digging itself out of its financial hole, Superintendent Roland Smith told about 50 employees and patrons Thursday.
In a 60-minute presentation in the Greenland High School cafeteria, Smith touched on a number of issues that have occurred since August, including the success of students in and out of the classroom; volunteers who have stepped up to raise more than $80,000; and school officials and local patrons who spent hours getting the school grounds in order after last month's ice storm.
There were also reports on monthly expenditures on different accounts in the district budget, which show the different is spending $125,211 less from July to January this fiscal year from last fiscal year for salaries and operation.
Smith is making monthly reports to the community since the Arkansas Department of Education took over financial control of the district last July for because of its financial difficulties.
Smith upped his estimated year end balance to $150,000 for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. His previous estimate was $137,000.
Looking ahead to the 2009-10 fiscal year, which begins July 1, Smith projected Greenland should have "a very health $450,000 minimum ending balance." And, he added, by the end of the next fiscal year, by June 30, 2010, Greenland should be in the range of having a reserve fund of 7 percent to 10 percent of the total operating budget, as recommended by the state.
*
Over the past 10 years, Greenland ending year balances have fluctuated from a high of $866,302, in 1998-99 to a low of $1,994 in 2007-08. That figure includes an operating loan of $621,000.
In other reports, athletic director Lee Larkan announced a new program at the high school to encourage students to complete homework assignments in class and at night.
A team of teachers is volunteering to provide additional tutoring in math and literacy before and after school. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the additional time if they need help.
"When you don't do homework, getting a zero is no option," Larkan said. Students who are referred to the tutoring sessions have no option either. If a student misses two sessions, parents are notified. By the fourth absence, the student, parents, teacher and either Larkan or Principal Hope Dorman will have a sit-down conference at the high school.
The district also received a $600 donation from employees at the Cox Communications office in Fayetteville for the district's art program. Elementary art teach Carol Moeller said the money will be used to expand the clay and tile art program.
The community there is pulling together. How many corporate contributions can Morrisville expect if they are made to a board whose president flatly tells clients not to invest in Morrisville?
Greenland Schools Still Moving Forward With Improving Finances
Cox Communications donates $600 to district's art program
Last updated Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:03 PM CST in News
By Rose Ann Pearce, THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE -- The Greenland School District continues to make progress toward digging itself out of its financial hole, Superintendent Roland Smith told about 50 employees and patrons Thursday.
In a 60-minute presentation in the Greenland High School cafeteria, Smith touched on a number of issues that have occurred since August, including the success of students in and out of the classroom; volunteers who have stepped up to raise more than $80,000; and school officials and local patrons who spent hours getting the school grounds in order after last month's ice storm.
There were also reports on monthly expenditures on different accounts in the district budget, which show the different is spending $125,211 less from July to January this fiscal year from last fiscal year for salaries and operation.
Smith is making monthly reports to the community since the Arkansas Department of Education took over financial control of the district last July for because of its financial difficulties.
Smith upped his estimated year end balance to $150,000 for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. His previous estimate was $137,000.
Looking ahead to the 2009-10 fiscal year, which begins July 1, Smith projected Greenland should have "a very health $450,000 minimum ending balance." And, he added, by the end of the next fiscal year, by June 30, 2010, Greenland should be in the range of having a reserve fund of 7 percent to 10 percent of the total operating budget, as recommended by the state.
*
Over the past 10 years, Greenland ending year balances have fluctuated from a high of $866,302, in 1998-99 to a low of $1,994 in 2007-08. That figure includes an operating loan of $621,000.
In other reports, athletic director Lee Larkan announced a new program at the high school to encourage students to complete homework assignments in class and at night.
A team of teachers is volunteering to provide additional tutoring in math and literacy before and after school. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the additional time if they need help.
"When you don't do homework, getting a zero is no option," Larkan said. Students who are referred to the tutoring sessions have no option either. If a student misses two sessions, parents are notified. By the fourth absence, the student, parents, teacher and either Larkan or Principal Hope Dorman will have a sit-down conference at the high school.
The district also received a $600 donation from employees at the Cox Communications office in Fayetteville for the district's art program. Elementary art teach Carol Moeller said the money will be used to expand the clay and tile art program.
Maths, Sciences, and Bizness
From the Inquirer.
Maybe this year, all the Morrisville candidates for the board of education should display their edumakashunal skillz and take the PSSA themselves before saying they they can run a school district and answer the question "Is our children learning?"?
Why the stimulus needed to keep education
By Harold Brubaker, Inquirer Staff Writer, Posted on Fri, Feb. 13, 2009
PNC typically interviews eight job candidates to find one who can pass the math test required for certain jobs at its Eastwick operations center across from the airport.
"It's costly to any corporation when you have to interview that many people to fill one job," Bill Mills, president of PNC Financial Services Group for Philadelphia and South Jersey, said yesterday.
PNC's experience is an example of why advocates say education spending belongs in the $789 billion economic-stimulus package being negotiated in Congress: Ineffective education is a drag on productivity.
C. Kent McGuire, dean of Temple University's College of Education, welcomed the money set aside for education in the compromise between House and Senate leaders - reportedly more than $90 billion - but cautioned that much more thinking needs to go into how to make the U.S. education system meet 21st-century needs.
"It's not a strategy, but it is implicit recognition that these are areas in which we have to invest," said McGuire, referring to the education spending in the bill.
McGuire and other experts said that certain kinds of education spending, such as the support to states that could prevent teachers from losing their jobs and money for school modernization and repair fit the need for short-term economic stimulus.
Spending on infrastructure is considered by many to be a legitimate part of the stimulus package because it puts people to work quickly while generating long-term productivity gains.
Likewise, spending on education is another sort of infrastructure spending because it, if done wisely, builds a productive workforce for the future that can generate faster economic growth, said Eric Thompson, an economics professor at the University of Nebraska.
Some analysts point to U.S. history to back up this argument.
They say that periods of fast U.S. economic growth, measured by increases in per capita gross domestic product, are usually preceded by substantial gains in the overall education level of the populace.
For example, within a generation of the widespread development of the public school system in the second half of the 19th century, the country had the largest literate workforce in the world, said Abby Joseph Cohen, senior U.S. investment strategist at the Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Subsequently, between roughly 1890 and the start of World War I, the United States became the most productive nation in the world, Cohen said.
After World War II, the initial GI bill diverted nearly eight million veterans into higher education, sparing them from the dismal job market.
"It got them off the streets, so they weren't competing for the few available jobs, and it increased their skill levels," said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington and former governor of West Virginia. The nation had "30 years of unprecedented economic growth afterward," Wise said.
But in the last decade or so, the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who completed high school has stagnated to about 86 percent, and the college completion rate has risen only modestly, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
McGuire, of Temple, said what really matters is that the pace of educational advancement in the United States is falling behind that of other nations, particularly India and China.
It is not enough to simply make sure more students make it through college, which is the goal of the proposed $500 increase in the maximum Pell grant and the effort by Gov. Rendell to legalize video poker to raise money for tuition grants, one expert said.
"I think that there is this sort of default belief in this country that going to college means you are going to be better off no matter what you do. The reality is that colleges were not set up for a post-industrial age," said Julian Alssid, executive director of the Workforce Strategy Center, a nonprofit in New York. "We have a lot of people with college degrees who are not prepared to step into the workforce."
Some economists counter McGuire's view that modernizing schools is an important part of improving performance.
"I don't think there is much evidence that if you spruce up our buildings, our kids will learn more and be better prepared for the job market," said Gerhard Glomm, an economics professor at Indiana University in Bloomington. "You might get more bang for the buck if you hire smart teachers."
That is where PNC is putting some of its money, in teachers, funding a professorship in early-childhood education at Temple as part of a $100 million, 10-year commitment to boost education for children from birth to age 5.
"I think it's so important," Mills, of PNC, said, "but also the real challenge is that it doesn't have a pay back for a very, very long time."
Maybe this year, all the Morrisville candidates for the board of education should display their edumakashunal skillz and take the PSSA themselves before saying they they can run a school district and answer the question "Is our children learning?"?
Why the stimulus needed to keep education
By Harold Brubaker, Inquirer Staff Writer, Posted on Fri, Feb. 13, 2009
PNC typically interviews eight job candidates to find one who can pass the math test required for certain jobs at its Eastwick operations center across from the airport.
"It's costly to any corporation when you have to interview that many people to fill one job," Bill Mills, president of PNC Financial Services Group for Philadelphia and South Jersey, said yesterday.
PNC's experience is an example of why advocates say education spending belongs in the $789 billion economic-stimulus package being negotiated in Congress: Ineffective education is a drag on productivity.
C. Kent McGuire, dean of Temple University's College of Education, welcomed the money set aside for education in the compromise between House and Senate leaders - reportedly more than $90 billion - but cautioned that much more thinking needs to go into how to make the U.S. education system meet 21st-century needs.
"It's not a strategy, but it is implicit recognition that these are areas in which we have to invest," said McGuire, referring to the education spending in the bill.
McGuire and other experts said that certain kinds of education spending, such as the support to states that could prevent teachers from losing their jobs and money for school modernization and repair fit the need for short-term economic stimulus.
Spending on infrastructure is considered by many to be a legitimate part of the stimulus package because it puts people to work quickly while generating long-term productivity gains.
Likewise, spending on education is another sort of infrastructure spending because it, if done wisely, builds a productive workforce for the future that can generate faster economic growth, said Eric Thompson, an economics professor at the University of Nebraska.
Some analysts point to U.S. history to back up this argument.
They say that periods of fast U.S. economic growth, measured by increases in per capita gross domestic product, are usually preceded by substantial gains in the overall education level of the populace.
For example, within a generation of the widespread development of the public school system in the second half of the 19th century, the country had the largest literate workforce in the world, said Abby Joseph Cohen, senior U.S. investment strategist at the Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Subsequently, between roughly 1890 and the start of World War I, the United States became the most productive nation in the world, Cohen said.
After World War II, the initial GI bill diverted nearly eight million veterans into higher education, sparing them from the dismal job market.
"It got them off the streets, so they weren't competing for the few available jobs, and it increased their skill levels," said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington and former governor of West Virginia. The nation had "30 years of unprecedented economic growth afterward," Wise said.
But in the last decade or so, the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who completed high school has stagnated to about 86 percent, and the college completion rate has risen only modestly, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
McGuire, of Temple, said what really matters is that the pace of educational advancement in the United States is falling behind that of other nations, particularly India and China.
It is not enough to simply make sure more students make it through college, which is the goal of the proposed $500 increase in the maximum Pell grant and the effort by Gov. Rendell to legalize video poker to raise money for tuition grants, one expert said.
"I think that there is this sort of default belief in this country that going to college means you are going to be better off no matter what you do. The reality is that colleges were not set up for a post-industrial age," said Julian Alssid, executive director of the Workforce Strategy Center, a nonprofit in New York. "We have a lot of people with college degrees who are not prepared to step into the workforce."
Some economists counter McGuire's view that modernizing schools is an important part of improving performance.
"I don't think there is much evidence that if you spruce up our buildings, our kids will learn more and be better prepared for the job market," said Gerhard Glomm, an economics professor at Indiana University in Bloomington. "You might get more bang for the buck if you hire smart teachers."
That is where PNC is putting some of its money, in teachers, funding a professorship in early-childhood education at Temple as part of a $100 million, 10-year commitment to boost education for children from birth to age 5.
"I think it's so important," Mills, of PNC, said, "but also the real challenge is that it doesn't have a pay back for a very, very long time."
Superintendent on medical leave
From the BCCT.
Best wishes to Dr. Yonson for a speedy recovery.
This also means that Mr. Ferrara will get to experience those 3:00 A.M. calls telling us another school has another problem.
Superintendent to be on medical leave
Posted in News on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pm by Courier Times reporter Manasee Wagh
Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson will be on medical leave for four to six weeks starting Tuesday. She said she will undergo a surgical procedure. High school Principal William Ferrara will assume some of her responsibilities and interact with parents while she is gone.
“There’s a great team here. That’s really what’s going to make the district run smoothly. I’m just the point person here. We will be in weekly if not daily contact with Dr. Yonson,” he said Friday.
Best wishes to Dr. Yonson for a speedy recovery.
This also means that Mr. Ferrara will get to experience those 3:00 A.M. calls telling us another school has another problem.
Superintendent to be on medical leave
Posted in News on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pm by Courier Times reporter Manasee Wagh
Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson will be on medical leave for four to six weeks starting Tuesday. She said she will undergo a surgical procedure. High school Principal William Ferrara will assume some of her responsibilities and interact with parents while she is gone.
“There’s a great team here. That’s really what’s going to make the district run smoothly. I’m just the point person here. We will be in weekly if not daily contact with Dr. Yonson,” he said Friday.
What's In a Name?
Merged W.Pa. school district selects name
The Associated Press
Posted: 02/13/2009 01:41:52 PM EST
MONACA, Pa.—A merged school district in western Pennsylvania has settled on a name.
The former Center Area and Monaca school districts in Beaver County will be known as Central Valley. Officials from the schools chose the name Thursday evening.
More than 760 suggestions had been made. Many were humorous or even possible criticisms of the merger including District X, United Ninjas, Candyland or the I Don't Care School District.
The merger, which creates Pennsylvania's first new school district in 25 year, becomes official July 1.
Central Valley will combine elementary classes next school year, and middle school and high school classes will follow in the fall of 2010.
The Associated Press
Posted: 02/13/2009 01:41:52 PM EST
MONACA, Pa.—A merged school district in western Pennsylvania has settled on a name.
The former Center Area and Monaca school districts in Beaver County will be known as Central Valley. Officials from the schools chose the name Thursday evening.
More than 760 suggestions had been made. Many were humorous or even possible criticisms of the merger including District X, United Ninjas, Candyland or the I Don't Care School District.
The merger, which creates Pennsylvania's first new school district in 25 year, becomes official July 1.
Central Valley will combine elementary classes next school year, and middle school and high school classes will follow in the fall of 2010.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Bristol Tax Rise
From the BCCT.
Preliminary budget has average $128 tax hike
School board members promised to find a way to eliminate the need for a property tax increase.
By JOAN HELLYER
The owner of Bristol’s average assessed property would pay an extra $128 in taxes in the coming school year should there be no changes to the district’s preliminary budget.
The school board promised Thursday night it is trying to reduce the projected 2009-10 tax increase to $0, but is leaving open the possibility of raising taxes raise taxes if needed, given the current economic climate.
The board wants to find a way to cover an estimated $900,000 revenue shortfall projected for 2009-10. It is trying to do that with a combination of an early retirement incentive for district teachers, the use of reserve funds, and the leasing of classroom space to outside agencies.
But that plan has not been finalized and officials want to make sure they have a backup plan in case all the pieces do not fall in place.
So, as required by the state’s property tax relief law known as Act 1, the board adopted a $20.5 million preliminary budget Thursday night that includes an 8 mill tax increase.
According to a state-designated index, Bristol can raise taxes 5.3 percent or 6.36 mills without asking for voter approval. However, the preliminary budget adopted Thursday night is about 1.4 percent above that limit because the board will seek exemptions for special education and debt service costs.
Should the board move forward with the 8-mill increase, the owner of the average assessed property of $16,000 would pay $2,048 in taxes next school year.
The board has until June 30 to finalize the 2009-10 budget.
Preliminary budget has average $128 tax hike
School board members promised to find a way to eliminate the need for a property tax increase.
By JOAN HELLYER
The owner of Bristol’s average assessed property would pay an extra $128 in taxes in the coming school year should there be no changes to the district’s preliminary budget.
The school board promised Thursday night it is trying to reduce the projected 2009-10 tax increase to $0, but is leaving open the possibility of raising taxes raise taxes if needed, given the current economic climate.
The board wants to find a way to cover an estimated $900,000 revenue shortfall projected for 2009-10. It is trying to do that with a combination of an early retirement incentive for district teachers, the use of reserve funds, and the leasing of classroom space to outside agencies.
But that plan has not been finalized and officials want to make sure they have a backup plan in case all the pieces do not fall in place.
So, as required by the state’s property tax relief law known as Act 1, the board adopted a $20.5 million preliminary budget Thursday night that includes an 8 mill tax increase.
According to a state-designated index, Bristol can raise taxes 5.3 percent or 6.36 mills without asking for voter approval. However, the preliminary budget adopted Thursday night is about 1.4 percent above that limit because the board will seek exemptions for special education and debt service costs.
Should the board move forward with the 8-mill increase, the owner of the average assessed property of $16,000 would pay $2,048 in taxes next school year.
The board has until June 30 to finalize the 2009-10 budget.
Pennsbury School Board Race Opens
From the BCCT.
Campbell running for school board
The founder of StopTeacherStrikes.com says he supports interactive public comment sessions at meetings and more parental access and input.
By MANASEE WAGH
Teachers strike opponent and Pennsbury parent Simon Campbell is running for a seat on the school board.
A proponent of political change in the district and the state, the Republican wants to run in the upcoming election because he wants to see better financial management and improved test scores, he said.
“It’s a critical time at Pennsbury because there’s a lot of pressure on school boards to be fiscally responsible. We don’t believe the board’s being fiscally responsible. We’ve got sleeping students, [inadequate] academic performances, not enough public transparency in the district,” he said.
Campbell supports interactive public comment sessions at board meetings and more parental access and input, he said.
The Lower Makefield resident has raised his voice against teacher strikes in Pennsylvania, one of 13 states that allow them.
He is the founder of StopTeacherStrikes.com, a grassroots organization dedicated to ending strikes and to making the public more aware of what he terms “compulsory unionism,” the fee that non-union teachers have to pay in Pennsbury for union benefits such as contract negotiation.
He has been extremely vocal in the community since 2005, when Pennsbury teachers went on strike for 21 days over a salary and benefits dispute.
Their contracts again are due to expire this summer. At the school board’s request, the Pennsbury Education Association voted to agree to extend the current contract and freeze cost of living increases for one year. Teachers at the top of the pay scale — more than half — would not get raises, though educational attainment and longevity increases still would be in effect.
The board plans to ratify the agreement later this month.
If passed, the contract extension would still cost taxpayers about $1.1 million.
Campbell is against allowing the union to contribute employee contributions to the union’s political action committee. His contention is that teachers unions influence political figures far too much, making it difficult to pass pending legislation to create a new bargaining method preventing strikes.
Originally from England, Campbell recently became a U.S. citizen.
“He’s a very active and visible community member, and I don’t really have an opinion,” said board member Linda Palsky. “I know he’s very informed and active and he has a desire to serve his community. He seems to be a reasonable, intelligent guy and I guess he feels he has something to offer.”
Campbell running for school board
The founder of StopTeacherStrikes.com says he supports interactive public comment sessions at meetings and more parental access and input.
By MANASEE WAGH
Teachers strike opponent and Pennsbury parent Simon Campbell is running for a seat on the school board.
A proponent of political change in the district and the state, the Republican wants to run in the upcoming election because he wants to see better financial management and improved test scores, he said.
“It’s a critical time at Pennsbury because there’s a lot of pressure on school boards to be fiscally responsible. We don’t believe the board’s being fiscally responsible. We’ve got sleeping students, [inadequate] academic performances, not enough public transparency in the district,” he said.
Campbell supports interactive public comment sessions at board meetings and more parental access and input, he said.
The Lower Makefield resident has raised his voice against teacher strikes in Pennsylvania, one of 13 states that allow them.
He is the founder of StopTeacherStrikes.com, a grassroots organization dedicated to ending strikes and to making the public more aware of what he terms “compulsory unionism,” the fee that non-union teachers have to pay in Pennsbury for union benefits such as contract negotiation.
He has been extremely vocal in the community since 2005, when Pennsbury teachers went on strike for 21 days over a salary and benefits dispute.
Their contracts again are due to expire this summer. At the school board’s request, the Pennsbury Education Association voted to agree to extend the current contract and freeze cost of living increases for one year. Teachers at the top of the pay scale — more than half — would not get raises, though educational attainment and longevity increases still would be in effect.
The board plans to ratify the agreement later this month.
If passed, the contract extension would still cost taxpayers about $1.1 million.
Campbell is against allowing the union to contribute employee contributions to the union’s political action committee. His contention is that teachers unions influence political figures far too much, making it difficult to pass pending legislation to create a new bargaining method preventing strikes.
Originally from England, Campbell recently became a U.S. citizen.
“He’s a very active and visible community member, and I don’t really have an opinion,” said board member Linda Palsky. “I know he’s very informed and active and he has a desire to serve his community. He seems to be a reasonable, intelligent guy and I guess he feels he has something to offer.”
Stimulus a Plus for PA
From the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader
Final stimulus bill will deliver for Pa. budget
By MARC LEVY (AP)
A massive new federal economic stimulus bill will deliver billions to Pennsylvania for highways, mass transit and school districts, although it will force Gov. Ed Rendell to plug a relatively small hole in the state's finances.
The news was a relief for Rendell, who had feared the implications of the Senate's version of the stimulus bill after it cut tens of billions of dollars for states. Rendell had based his budget proposal delivered last week on a more generous House bill.
A version expected to pass Congress in the next couple days will restore most of the money in the House bill, but not all. But filling that gap will be far less onerous than what Pennsylvania would have faced under the Senate's bill.
"To add another half a billion in cuts ... would have gone from a moderate level of cuts to a severe level of cuts," Rendell told reporters on a Thursday evening conference call.
Had the state lost $500 million, as the Senate bill would have dictated, state-related universities such as Penn State, museums and educational and health care institutions would have lost some or all their funding. Dollars for school districts and counties also would have plummeted, potentially forcing layoffs, Rendell said.
"So we have pretty much escaped a disaster," Rendell said.
Rendell has already ordered hundreds of millions in spending to be frozen as Pennsylvania faces a $2.3 billion shortfall this fiscal year amid a deepening national recession. He also cut another nearly $1 billion from existing programs in the budget he proposed for the 2009-10 fiscal year that begins July 1.
Rendell said Congress is still writing a funding formula, so it remained unclear exactly how much more money he must cut or find _ he speculated it could be another $60 to $70 million.
The White House and Congress struck a deal on a final $790 billion stimulus bill on Wednesday and details about it began emerging during the day Thursday.
All told, Pennsylvania will get more than $16 billion from the stimulus bill, including about $5 billion in aid for the budget, about $1.5 billion directly to school districts and another $1.7 billion for highways, bridges and mass transit agencies.
Some of the aid will be help for the jobless, such as unemployment benefits, food stamps, health coverage and more. It also includes a tax break of up to $800 for millions of lower- and middle-income taxpayers that would benefit 4.9 million Pennsylvanians, according to White House figures.
Rendell said shovels could begin turning dirt on some of those projects within a matter of four months, while some might take longer, up to nine months, to get contracts awarded.
According to White House estimates, the bill will create or save 143,000 jobs in Pennsylvania over the next two years, sixth-most jobs in the country. Since the recession began just over a year ago, Pennsylvania has lost more than 75,000 jobs.
Many of the jobs to be created will be in construction, Rendell said.
The bill also offers opportunities for the state to compete for money for air, rail and other transportation projects. One such project that Pennsylvania will pitch is for a rail connection between Scranton and the Pocono Mountains to New York City, Rendell said.
Final stimulus bill will deliver for Pa. budget
By MARC LEVY (AP)
A massive new federal economic stimulus bill will deliver billions to Pennsylvania for highways, mass transit and school districts, although it will force Gov. Ed Rendell to plug a relatively small hole in the state's finances.
The news was a relief for Rendell, who had feared the implications of the Senate's version of the stimulus bill after it cut tens of billions of dollars for states. Rendell had based his budget proposal delivered last week on a more generous House bill.
A version expected to pass Congress in the next couple days will restore most of the money in the House bill, but not all. But filling that gap will be far less onerous than what Pennsylvania would have faced under the Senate's bill.
"To add another half a billion in cuts ... would have gone from a moderate level of cuts to a severe level of cuts," Rendell told reporters on a Thursday evening conference call.
Had the state lost $500 million, as the Senate bill would have dictated, state-related universities such as Penn State, museums and educational and health care institutions would have lost some or all their funding. Dollars for school districts and counties also would have plummeted, potentially forcing layoffs, Rendell said.
"So we have pretty much escaped a disaster," Rendell said.
Rendell has already ordered hundreds of millions in spending to be frozen as Pennsylvania faces a $2.3 billion shortfall this fiscal year amid a deepening national recession. He also cut another nearly $1 billion from existing programs in the budget he proposed for the 2009-10 fiscal year that begins July 1.
Rendell said Congress is still writing a funding formula, so it remained unclear exactly how much more money he must cut or find _ he speculated it could be another $60 to $70 million.
The White House and Congress struck a deal on a final $790 billion stimulus bill on Wednesday and details about it began emerging during the day Thursday.
All told, Pennsylvania will get more than $16 billion from the stimulus bill, including about $5 billion in aid for the budget, about $1.5 billion directly to school districts and another $1.7 billion for highways, bridges and mass transit agencies.
Some of the aid will be help for the jobless, such as unemployment benefits, food stamps, health coverage and more. It also includes a tax break of up to $800 for millions of lower- and middle-income taxpayers that would benefit 4.9 million Pennsylvanians, according to White House figures.
Rendell said shovels could begin turning dirt on some of those projects within a matter of four months, while some might take longer, up to nine months, to get contracts awarded.
According to White House estimates, the bill will create or save 143,000 jobs in Pennsylvania over the next two years, sixth-most jobs in the country. Since the recession began just over a year ago, Pennsylvania has lost more than 75,000 jobs.
Many of the jobs to be created will be in construction, Rendell said.
The bill also offers opportunities for the state to compete for money for air, rail and other transportation projects. One such project that Pennsylvania will pitch is for a rail connection between Scranton and the Pocono Mountains to New York City, Rendell said.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Closing school was correct response
From the BCCT.
Who is thinking the decision to close was WRONG? It was absolutely the right thing to do.
Official: Closing school was correct response
Asbestos might have been released when a worker breached a wall at Morrisville Middle/Senior High School. Testing later showed the school was safe.
By MANASEE WAGH
The Morrisville School District did the right thing by closing a school Tuesday, an official said Wednesday.
By making sure no asbestos was present in the air after a contractor accidentally drilled into an asbestos-containing wall, the school followed federal regulations, said borough code enforcement officer Robert Seward.
“We communicated with each other to make sure everything was done,” he said.
After discovering that asbestos may have escaped from behind a wall that had been breached by a worker, students in the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School were sent home until further tests by Environmental Connection of Trenton revealed no danger.
School was back on schedule Wednesday morning.
According to a report by the firm, all surface samples came back showing zero detection of asbestos. The 21 air samples taken at various locations throughout the high school revealed far lower asbestos levels than the Environmental Protection Agency’s safe clearance levels, said Richard Beach, the company’s vice president.
Licensed asbestos abatement contractor Bristol Environmental isolated and cleaned up the affected area Tuesday afternoon. The team performed “proactive” cleaning, including vacuuming areas adjacent to the work site with a special filter and wet-wiping surfaces, according to Environmental Connection’s report.
“However, in the future, renovations should be performed in such a manner as to eliminate impact to (asbestos-containing material),” the firm’s report concludes. It also advises using a licensed abatement contractor to perform future tasks that would impact any asbestos-containing material.
The report is posted on the district Web site at www.mv.org and is available for public viewing at the district business office, at 550 West Palmer Street in Morrisville, Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said Tuesday.
Beach said he wants parents to know that federal regulations mandate that all school districts adhere to strict rules when it comes to dealing with asbestos, a hazardous substance linked to cancer.
“I found it somewhat hard to believe it’s been 21 years since the inception of the AHERA program and yet many parents are unaware that this program is out there and there are (asbestos) management plans for every school district throughout the country,” said Beach.
The federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 requires all school districts to perform periodic surveillance and inspection of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material. They also must provide yearly notification to parents, teachers and employee organizations about the district’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement planned in a school.
Numerous old buildings contain the fibrous natural mineral, which was used as insulation for many years before its dangers were known. If microscopic particles become airborne, they can lodge in the lungs and cause cancer, although that is most common among people who have worked with the substance for an extended period.
“The thing with asbestos is that it’s fine as long as it’s not airborne,” Beach said.
Seward said, “The biggest worry you’d have to watch out for is your older boilers and things of that nature. Hot water pipes are wrapped with asbestos. You have to make sure they’re not flaking off.”
This summer, the high school is set to undergo boiler renovations. If asbestos is found, workers would have to encapsulate or remove it, following strict procedures, and transport it safely to a landfill, said Beach.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Yonson on Wednesday for comment.
Who is thinking the decision to close was WRONG? It was absolutely the right thing to do.
Official: Closing school was correct response
Asbestos might have been released when a worker breached a wall at Morrisville Middle/Senior High School. Testing later showed the school was safe.
By MANASEE WAGH
The Morrisville School District did the right thing by closing a school Tuesday, an official said Wednesday.
By making sure no asbestos was present in the air after a contractor accidentally drilled into an asbestos-containing wall, the school followed federal regulations, said borough code enforcement officer Robert Seward.
“We communicated with each other to make sure everything was done,” he said.
After discovering that asbestos may have escaped from behind a wall that had been breached by a worker, students in the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School were sent home until further tests by Environmental Connection of Trenton revealed no danger.
School was back on schedule Wednesday morning.
According to a report by the firm, all surface samples came back showing zero detection of asbestos. The 21 air samples taken at various locations throughout the high school revealed far lower asbestos levels than the Environmental Protection Agency’s safe clearance levels, said Richard Beach, the company’s vice president.
Licensed asbestos abatement contractor Bristol Environmental isolated and cleaned up the affected area Tuesday afternoon. The team performed “proactive” cleaning, including vacuuming areas adjacent to the work site with a special filter and wet-wiping surfaces, according to Environmental Connection’s report.
“However, in the future, renovations should be performed in such a manner as to eliminate impact to (asbestos-containing material),” the firm’s report concludes. It also advises using a licensed abatement contractor to perform future tasks that would impact any asbestos-containing material.
The report is posted on the district Web site at www.mv.org and is available for public viewing at the district business office, at 550 West Palmer Street in Morrisville, Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said Tuesday.
Beach said he wants parents to know that federal regulations mandate that all school districts adhere to strict rules when it comes to dealing with asbestos, a hazardous substance linked to cancer.
“I found it somewhat hard to believe it’s been 21 years since the inception of the AHERA program and yet many parents are unaware that this program is out there and there are (asbestos) management plans for every school district throughout the country,” said Beach.
The federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 requires all school districts to perform periodic surveillance and inspection of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material. They also must provide yearly notification to parents, teachers and employee organizations about the district’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement planned in a school.
Numerous old buildings contain the fibrous natural mineral, which was used as insulation for many years before its dangers were known. If microscopic particles become airborne, they can lodge in the lungs and cause cancer, although that is most common among people who have worked with the substance for an extended period.
“The thing with asbestos is that it’s fine as long as it’s not airborne,” Beach said.
Seward said, “The biggest worry you’d have to watch out for is your older boilers and things of that nature. Hot water pipes are wrapped with asbestos. You have to make sure they’re not flaking off.”
This summer, the high school is set to undergo boiler renovations. If asbestos is found, workers would have to encapsulate or remove it, following strict procedures, and transport it safely to a landfill, said Beach.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Yonson on Wednesday for comment.
Merger Talk: Eastampton
From the BCCT.
This is from New Jersey, but could be written from downtown Morrisville.
Eastampton eyes school regionalization
By MARK ZIMMARO
Burlington County Times
EASTAMPTON — At a Township Council meeting on Monday, school board members informed residents of the possibility their district could be one of many statewide to be regionalized and consolidated in the near future.
About 150 residents gathered at the Eastampton Community School to listen
to updates on the regionalization plan that is to be completed by Executive County Superintendent Lester Richens by March 2010. The meeting was moved to the school from the Eastampton Manor House to accommodate the large crowd.
Eastampton Board of Education President Sue Taylor led the discussion at
the council meeting to inform residents about the plan, which is in its early stages.
The council did not take any action on the matter, since the presentation was intended to inform the public about the possibility that the district could be consolidated, Taylor said.
“The reason for the meeting [Monday] night was to talk to council and the public and encourage people to get out and be informed of what’s going on,” she said.
Taylor was chosen to participate on a task force organized by Richens. One member from each of the county’s 42 school districts was selected to participate on the task force, which will consult directly with Richens regarding the process.
According to Taylor, Richens’ objective is to develop a plan that will create prekindergarten to grade 12 school districts throughout the county, each housing approximately 5,000 students.
According to Richens, only Burlington Township, Moorestown, Pemberton
Township and Willingboro fit that model. The plan is expected to provide an overall cost savings in the operation of the schools but it hasn’t been determined which districts would be affected.
Richens will submit his plan to Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy by March 2010. The plan then will be accepted, rejected or amended and sent back to
each town. Voters will determine if they feel the plan best suits their town.
“For instance, if they want to combine the [Rancocas Valley] district, all five sending towns would have to agree or it won’t go through,” Taylor said.
The concern among Eastampton residents is the Eastampton Community
School, which is less than two years old and is the only school in the district.
“We just fought for the new school and we’re paying a lot of taxes on it,” said resident Tracy Fitzgerald. “We also don’t want to have to bus our kids out of the community to go to school. We have an awesome little town here where everybody knows everybody and we want to keep it that way.”
The school board is encouraging residents to attend a regionalization meeting next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Eastampton Community School cafetorium.
“We’re trying to get the word out there to people and try to let other towns know that this is going on,” Taylor said. “I think other neighboring towns like Lumberton and Hainesport are starting to hear about this and it will be interesting to see what other sending districts have to say.”
This is from New Jersey, but could be written from downtown Morrisville.
Eastampton eyes school regionalization
By MARK ZIMMARO
Burlington County Times
EASTAMPTON — At a Township Council meeting on Monday, school board members informed residents of the possibility their district could be one of many statewide to be regionalized and consolidated in the near future.
About 150 residents gathered at the Eastampton Community School to listen
to updates on the regionalization plan that is to be completed by Executive County Superintendent Lester Richens by March 2010. The meeting was moved to the school from the Eastampton Manor House to accommodate the large crowd.
Eastampton Board of Education President Sue Taylor led the discussion at
the council meeting to inform residents about the plan, which is in its early stages.
The council did not take any action on the matter, since the presentation was intended to inform the public about the possibility that the district could be consolidated, Taylor said.
“The reason for the meeting [Monday] night was to talk to council and the public and encourage people to get out and be informed of what’s going on,” she said.
Taylor was chosen to participate on a task force organized by Richens. One member from each of the county’s 42 school districts was selected to participate on the task force, which will consult directly with Richens regarding the process.
According to Taylor, Richens’ objective is to develop a plan that will create prekindergarten to grade 12 school districts throughout the county, each housing approximately 5,000 students.
According to Richens, only Burlington Township, Moorestown, Pemberton
Township and Willingboro fit that model. The plan is expected to provide an overall cost savings in the operation of the schools but it hasn’t been determined which districts would be affected.
Richens will submit his plan to Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy by March 2010. The plan then will be accepted, rejected or amended and sent back to
each town. Voters will determine if they feel the plan best suits their town.
“For instance, if they want to combine the [Rancocas Valley] district, all five sending towns would have to agree or it won’t go through,” Taylor said.
The concern among Eastampton residents is the Eastampton Community
School, which is less than two years old and is the only school in the district.
“We just fought for the new school and we’re paying a lot of taxes on it,” said resident Tracy Fitzgerald. “We also don’t want to have to bus our kids out of the community to go to school. We have an awesome little town here where everybody knows everybody and we want to keep it that way.”
The school board is encouraging residents to attend a regionalization meeting next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Eastampton Community School cafetorium.
“We’re trying to get the word out there to people and try to let other towns know that this is going on,” Taylor said. “I think other neighboring towns like Lumberton and Hainesport are starting to hear about this and it will be interesting to see what other sending districts have to say.”
Merger Talk: Pottstown/Pottsgrove
From the Pottstown Mercury.
Replace Pottstown and Pottsgrove with Morrisville and Pennsbury, in whatever direction you want. Wouldn't the story be the same?
Pottsgrove cool to merging with Pottstown
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:53 PM EST
By Evan Brandt
The Pottsgrove School Board has no immediate interest in having talks with their Pottstown counterparts about consolidating the two school districts.
As part of his budget proposal, Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed consolidating Pennsylvania's 501 school districts down to 100.
The issue had been raised locally on both sides of the border in connection with the fact that both districts are embarking on expensive school renovation programs.
Last Thursday, Pottstown School Board member Robert Hartman said he contacted Pottsgrove School Board President Michael Neiffer so see if there was any interest in having a joint meeting to explore the possibility of consolidation.
The Pottsgrove board's response? Essentially, "let's wait and see what the state does."
Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of pottsmerc.com.
rciffo wrote on Feb 11, 2009 7:48 PM:
" All a merger will do is cause a smaller group to manage a larger organization. Big mistake...loss of local autonomy. When I last checked Pottstown spent ~$15K/student and Pottsgrove ~$13.5K/student. All you rocket scientists out there...guess what will happen to Pottsgrove spending. Yep, it'll be raised to match Pottstown's. And guess how much of it will go to solve Pottstown issues? Probably all of it. (And all of you whiners who like to write your complaints in crayon, I'm not saying Pottsgrove is perfect...far from it.) Here's hoping Fast Eddie Rendell doesn't figure out a way to ram it down our collective throats. "
Replace Pottstown and Pottsgrove with Morrisville and Pennsbury, in whatever direction you want. Wouldn't the story be the same?
Pottsgrove cool to merging with Pottstown
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 1:53 PM EST
By Evan Brandt
The Pottsgrove School Board has no immediate interest in having talks with their Pottstown counterparts about consolidating the two school districts.
As part of his budget proposal, Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed consolidating Pennsylvania's 501 school districts down to 100.
The issue had been raised locally on both sides of the border in connection with the fact that both districts are embarking on expensive school renovation programs.
Last Thursday, Pottstown School Board member Robert Hartman said he contacted Pottsgrove School Board President Michael Neiffer so see if there was any interest in having a joint meeting to explore the possibility of consolidation.
The Pottsgrove board's response? Essentially, "let's wait and see what the state does."
Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of pottsmerc.com.
rciffo wrote on Feb 11, 2009 7:48 PM:
" All a merger will do is cause a smaller group to manage a larger organization. Big mistake...loss of local autonomy. When I last checked Pottstown spent ~$15K/student and Pottsgrove ~$13.5K/student. All you rocket scientists out there...guess what will happen to Pottsgrove spending. Yep, it'll be raised to match Pottstown's. And guess how much of it will go to solve Pottstown issues? Probably all of it. (And all of you whiners who like to write your complaints in crayon, I'm not saying Pottsgrove is perfect...far from it.) Here's hoping Fast Eddie Rendell doesn't figure out a way to ram it down our collective throats. "
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Now More Than Ever: Join the PTO
Consider it posted: February 23, 2009. Grandview at 7:00 P.M.
A bunch of parents got together last night to discuss the Move up ceremonies for the 4th and 5th graders, since they will BOTH be moving to the HS next year. I was very impressed with the turnout. The conversation, as you can imagine, turned quickly towards what WE can do as parents to organize this community. Personally, I think the PTO is a good start. I’m hoping there are other parents that read your blog with the same thoughts. SOOOO The next PTO meeting is February 23 at 7pm in Grandview . Can you post something?
A bunch of parents got together last night to discuss the Move up ceremonies for the 4th and 5th graders, since they will BOTH be moving to the HS next year. I was very impressed with the turnout. The conversation, as you can imagine, turned quickly towards what WE can do as parents to organize this community. Personally, I think the PTO is a good start. I’m hoping there are other parents that read your blog with the same thoughts. SOOOO The next PTO meeting is February 23 at 7pm in Grandview . Can you post something?
Vitetta Chooses Grandview
From buckslocalnews.com
Firm concludes Grandview is better than Reiter
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Vitetta, an architectural and engineering firm, recently concluded a study of M.R. Reiter and Grand-view elementary schools in Morrisville School District.
A recommendation was made at a special public hearing on Jan. 29: if any school is going to be used for an elementary school, Grandview Elementary School is the better choice from a physical standpoint.
Bill Corfield, a regional director of Vitetta, said his firm was directed to conduct a study, comparing M.R. Reiter and Grandview in order to determine which school is in "better condition."
The auditorium at the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School was sparsely filled with parents, mostly who were asking if the Morrisville School Board has any long-range plans about displaced schoolchildren from M.R. Reiter Elementary School. A public hearing was held to give the community a chance to voice their opinions.
Reiter was closed in mid-December after a furnace exploded on the weekend. The Morrisville School Board is considering whether to close the school permanently.
As a result, the children who were displaced from M.R. Reiter were sent either to Grandview or the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.
Vitetta's study was conducted prior to the explosion. At M.R. Reiter, the firm had checked the heating units, boilers, electric, plumbing, exhaust fans and lighting.
According to Vitetta's Corfield, M. R. Reiter does not have handicap accessibility. He noted that Reiter is 2 1/2 stories high and that it is "hard to get around the building." Grandview is one floor.
"When planning an elementary school, it is always advantageous to have it on one floor," Corfield said.
He noted there is a water problem in the multi-purpose room at Reiter. "We have some major concerns about the amount of water and how to stop it," he said, noting the source of the water is unknown. The floor had to be replaced once because of the problem.
Corfield explained, "because of the water entry, the building is settling. Major cracks have been there. They're not getting any better."
"The Grandview School is in better condition," he said. "We did not see cracks or water infiltration in Grand-view."
Reiter sits on about three acres at the corner of Harper and Clymer avenues. The square footage for the entire building is 46,200 and it is zoned CS-1 (Community Service District.)
The current estimated insurance loss due to the furnace explosion is $1.15 million. "It's growing as we speak," said Paul DeAngelo, business manager for the school district.
"They're still in the process of cleaning the building," he said.
Meanwhile, he said after the meeting that the Morrisville School District entered into an appraisal agreement on Dec. 7 with Gleason Real Estate.
The value of the building and the land at Reiter is estimated at $995,000.
DeAngelo gave some history about Reiter, which previously was the site of the Robert Morris High School and was built on the site in 1924.
In 1959, the school was destroyed by fire. Later, it was rebuilt as M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
DeAngelo said the last record about the furnace was recorded in 1959. "They're well over 40 years old. They should have been replaced twice," he said.
The clean-up at Reiter continues. Teachers have received the supplies and materials from their classrooms. The clean-up company is focusing on the content first and the building last.
"What's still there are desks and filing cabinets," DeAngelo said. They are being cleaned and will be taken to the modular classrooms at Grandview Elementary by Feb. 20.
"The clean up is going pretty much as we thought," he said. "It's a slow process because it's the entire building.
The insurance claim is for $1.15 million. DeAngelo said a big chunk is the modular classrooms. Leasing eight modular classrooms with bathrooms will cost $500,000, he noted.
The insurance company sent a forensic engineer. "His recommendation is to replace the boilers," DeAn-gelo explained. "The school district will put it out to bid to determine the costs-we're estimating $300,000 for two boilers."
Other big-ticket items, he said, include the clean up for $93,000. Some computers are being tested, which will cost $134,000.
"We have a whole list of miscellaneous items from staff time, to the windows that got blown out to cleaning and inspection," DeAngelo added.
The cost to renovate and install a new furnace at Reiter would be $4 million. Meanwhile, the cost to renovate Grandview Elementary School is $2.6 million.
The modulars are being installed and will be finished Feb. 20, according to DeAngelo. "The snow and ice put us behind."
He said the immediate priority is getting the modular classrooms installed at Grandview, where some of the Reiter children are going since the blast.
In the summer, the school district could "look at the possibility of bringing the fourth grade to the high school," DeAngelo indicated, stressing that plan could be contingent upon the board's decision whether or not to close M.R. Reiter.
DeAngelo also talked about what could happen if the board ultimately votes to close Reiter. The long-term plan, according to the business manager, could be to create an intermediate high school for fourth-to eighth-grade. That group could be sectioned off from 9th-to 12th-graders. K-3 could be at Grandview.
Firm concludes Grandview is better than Reiter
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Vitetta, an architectural and engineering firm, recently concluded a study of M.R. Reiter and Grand-view elementary schools in Morrisville School District.
A recommendation was made at a special public hearing on Jan. 29: if any school is going to be used for an elementary school, Grandview Elementary School is the better choice from a physical standpoint.
Bill Corfield, a regional director of Vitetta, said his firm was directed to conduct a study, comparing M.R. Reiter and Grandview in order to determine which school is in "better condition."
The auditorium at the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School was sparsely filled with parents, mostly who were asking if the Morrisville School Board has any long-range plans about displaced schoolchildren from M.R. Reiter Elementary School. A public hearing was held to give the community a chance to voice their opinions.
Reiter was closed in mid-December after a furnace exploded on the weekend. The Morrisville School Board is considering whether to close the school permanently.
As a result, the children who were displaced from M.R. Reiter were sent either to Grandview or the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School.
Vitetta's study was conducted prior to the explosion. At M.R. Reiter, the firm had checked the heating units, boilers, electric, plumbing, exhaust fans and lighting.
According to Vitetta's Corfield, M. R. Reiter does not have handicap accessibility. He noted that Reiter is 2 1/2 stories high and that it is "hard to get around the building." Grandview is one floor.
"When planning an elementary school, it is always advantageous to have it on one floor," Corfield said.
He noted there is a water problem in the multi-purpose room at Reiter. "We have some major concerns about the amount of water and how to stop it," he said, noting the source of the water is unknown. The floor had to be replaced once because of the problem.
Corfield explained, "because of the water entry, the building is settling. Major cracks have been there. They're not getting any better."
"The Grandview School is in better condition," he said. "We did not see cracks or water infiltration in Grand-view."
Reiter sits on about three acres at the corner of Harper and Clymer avenues. The square footage for the entire building is 46,200 and it is zoned CS-1 (Community Service District.)
The current estimated insurance loss due to the furnace explosion is $1.15 million. "It's growing as we speak," said Paul DeAngelo, business manager for the school district.
"They're still in the process of cleaning the building," he said.
Meanwhile, he said after the meeting that the Morrisville School District entered into an appraisal agreement on Dec. 7 with Gleason Real Estate.
The value of the building and the land at Reiter is estimated at $995,000.
DeAngelo gave some history about Reiter, which previously was the site of the Robert Morris High School and was built on the site in 1924.
In 1959, the school was destroyed by fire. Later, it was rebuilt as M.R. Reiter Elementary School.
DeAngelo said the last record about the furnace was recorded in 1959. "They're well over 40 years old. They should have been replaced twice," he said.
The clean-up at Reiter continues. Teachers have received the supplies and materials from their classrooms. The clean-up company is focusing on the content first and the building last.
"What's still there are desks and filing cabinets," DeAngelo said. They are being cleaned and will be taken to the modular classrooms at Grandview Elementary by Feb. 20.
"The clean up is going pretty much as we thought," he said. "It's a slow process because it's the entire building.
The insurance claim is for $1.15 million. DeAngelo said a big chunk is the modular classrooms. Leasing eight modular classrooms with bathrooms will cost $500,000, he noted.
The insurance company sent a forensic engineer. "His recommendation is to replace the boilers," DeAn-gelo explained. "The school district will put it out to bid to determine the costs-we're estimating $300,000 for two boilers."
Other big-ticket items, he said, include the clean up for $93,000. Some computers are being tested, which will cost $134,000.
"We have a whole list of miscellaneous items from staff time, to the windows that got blown out to cleaning and inspection," DeAngelo added.
The cost to renovate and install a new furnace at Reiter would be $4 million. Meanwhile, the cost to renovate Grandview Elementary School is $2.6 million.
The modulars are being installed and will be finished Feb. 20, according to DeAngelo. "The snow and ice put us behind."
He said the immediate priority is getting the modular classrooms installed at Grandview, where some of the Reiter children are going since the blast.
In the summer, the school district could "look at the possibility of bringing the fourth grade to the high school," DeAngelo indicated, stressing that plan could be contingent upon the board's decision whether or not to close M.R. Reiter.
DeAngelo also talked about what could happen if the board ultimately votes to close Reiter. The long-term plan, according to the business manager, could be to create an intermediate high school for fourth-to eighth-grade. That group could be sectioned off from 9th-to 12th-graders. K-3 could be at Grandview.
Pennsbury says 'no' to Morrisville kids
From buckslocalnews.com
Pennsbury says 'no' to Morrisville kids
Pennsbury School District rejected taking Morrisville high school students.
By Petra Chesner Schlatter Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Morrisville School District is searching for another school district to take its high school students on a tuition basis.When asked to comment on the issue, Elizabeth Yonson, superintendent of Morrisville School District, deferred the question to Morrisville Borough Council Solicitor Mike Fitzpatrick and School Board President Bill Hellman. Neither could be reached for comment.
Pennsbury CEO Paul Long said "the Pennsbury solicitor, Michael Kristofco, has recently communicated with the Morrisville solicitor on this topic.
"Also, the Pennsbury School Board and administration are aware of the difficulties that the Borough of Morrisville School District face," Long said. "However, as far as I know there are not any official initiatives or proposals to consider at this time."
Greg Lucidi, president of the Pennsbury School Board, responded via e-mail on Jan. 27 about Morrisville's invitation for Pennsbury to accept the borough's 9th-to 12th-graders.
"Morrisville is in an extremely difficult situation and I really wish we could help, but Pennsbury is not in the position to absorb 300 additional students at our high school," Lucidi responded.
The Pennsbury High School campus has room for 3,414 students and is approaching that limit with roughly 3,400 students currently enrolled.
"I really do not believe this idea is feasible at Pennsbury," he continued. "We have our own set of problems and issues and we are working very hard to solve them. We simply cannot add to our list of challenges right now."
The question is whether Pennsbury facilities can handle the additional students. Space constraints are a concern, according to the school board president.
"Prior to the addition and renovations at Pennsbury High School West, we were experiencing space problems," Lucidi explained. "We added to the school and our student population now fits comfortably in the space available.
"Adding 300 students to the school would in my opinion cause us to be right back where we were before the additional space was added," he wrote.
When asked whether the issue should go to voter referendum, Lucidi said, "Unfortunately, we cannot use voter referendum to make our decisions for us. We were elected by the public to make and enforce school policy.
"We do take public comments into consideration when making decisions, but ultimately it's based upon what we believe to be in the best interests of both our students and our taxpayers," he maintained.
"If our state representatives want to get involved in this issue, they should work directly with Morrisville to help them solve their problems instead of shifting the burden to neighboring districts," he wrote.
The cost to educate a secondary-level student in Pennsbury School District is $12,011. In Morrisville, it is $14,215.
Pennsbury says 'no' to Morrisville kids
Pennsbury School District rejected taking Morrisville high school students.
By Petra Chesner Schlatter Posted on Wed, Feb 4, 2009
Morrisville School District is searching for another school district to take its high school students on a tuition basis.When asked to comment on the issue, Elizabeth Yonson, superintendent of Morrisville School District, deferred the question to Morrisville Borough Council Solicitor Mike Fitzpatrick and School Board President Bill Hellman. Neither could be reached for comment.
Pennsbury CEO Paul Long said "the Pennsbury solicitor, Michael Kristofco, has recently communicated with the Morrisville solicitor on this topic.
"Also, the Pennsbury School Board and administration are aware of the difficulties that the Borough of Morrisville School District face," Long said. "However, as far as I know there are not any official initiatives or proposals to consider at this time."
Greg Lucidi, president of the Pennsbury School Board, responded via e-mail on Jan. 27 about Morrisville's invitation for Pennsbury to accept the borough's 9th-to 12th-graders.
"Morrisville is in an extremely difficult situation and I really wish we could help, but Pennsbury is not in the position to absorb 300 additional students at our high school," Lucidi responded.
The Pennsbury High School campus has room for 3,414 students and is approaching that limit with roughly 3,400 students currently enrolled.
"I really do not believe this idea is feasible at Pennsbury," he continued. "We have our own set of problems and issues and we are working very hard to solve them. We simply cannot add to our list of challenges right now."
The question is whether Pennsbury facilities can handle the additional students. Space constraints are a concern, according to the school board president.
"Prior to the addition and renovations at Pennsbury High School West, we were experiencing space problems," Lucidi explained. "We added to the school and our student population now fits comfortably in the space available.
"Adding 300 students to the school would in my opinion cause us to be right back where we were before the additional space was added," he wrote.
When asked whether the issue should go to voter referendum, Lucidi said, "Unfortunately, we cannot use voter referendum to make our decisions for us. We were elected by the public to make and enforce school policy.
"We do take public comments into consideration when making decisions, but ultimately it's based upon what we believe to be in the best interests of both our students and our taxpayers," he maintained.
"If our state representatives want to get involved in this issue, they should work directly with Morrisville to help them solve their problems instead of shifting the burden to neighboring districts," he wrote.
The cost to educate a secondary-level student in Pennsbury School District is $12,011. In Morrisville, it is $14,215.
Asbestos? Yes. Is there a Danger? Um...
From the BCCT.
School is open today.
School will be open for students at MSHS
February 10, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Today, I closed the Middle/Senior High School when I was informed that an electrical contractor working in the building may have drilled into asbestos above the ceiling tiles in two different areas of the school. I took this proactive move because I felt it was important to bring in our environmental consultant to test the surface and air quality in the building.
This evening around 8:45 p.m. I spoke with our environmental consultants who reported that all air samples taken within the impacted areas revealed concentrations well less than the clearance criteria established by the EPA. Additionally, surface samples collected in the same impact areas revealed levels of none detected for asbestos content.
Based on the discussion with our environmental consultant, the Middle/Senior High School will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11.
The environmental consultant will provide a written report tomorrow by noon. You will be able to review the document in the business office. I will also have the report posted on the district’s website.
I am very sorry for any inconvenience that you experienced today because of the closing. I appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth Hammond Yonson Superintendent Morrisville School District
Three schools built in the 1950's? It's a pretty certain bet that there's asbestos present. Let's see the district's asbestos management plan.
Ask the board members themselves at the Infrastructure Committee meeting tonight. The meeting is only a few doors away from the administration offices. They should be able to pull out that plan in a jiffy.
Asbestos concern sends students home early
By MANASEE WAGH
The high school will reopen today, one day after it was discovered that electrical work in the building has dislodged asbestos. The district superintendent said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
Morrisville students had to deal with another interruption to their educations Tuesday.
The kids were sent home early after electrical work in the high school dislodged asbestos within the building's walls.
A contractor doing wiring work in Morrisville Middle/Senior High School bored six small holes high inside walls he reached behind ceiling tiles in two hallways Monday night.
The incident came to light during a construction meeting Tuesday morning. The contractor told officials he didn't tell anyone Monday because he didn't know he had penetrated the asbestos-containing material.
After a precautionary test by the Trenton firm Environmental Connections showed positive for asbestos later Tuesday morning, the school district dismissed students for the day. Parents were notified by phone and e-mail of the early dismissal.
Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said late Tuesday night the school will reopen today after further air and surface test reports by Environmental Connections revealed no asbestos danger in the building.
Yonson said the school district also contacted an asbestos specialist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bucks County Health Department and Bob Seward, the code official for the borough.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Seward, health department or EPA officials for comment Tuesday.
"The environmental guy says it's nothing," Yonson said, because it appears the asbestos fibers didn't migrate from inside the wall. Because of that, she said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
She also said it couldn't have gotten into the ventilation system because the building uses unit ventilators in each room, and there was no ductwork involved. Yonson said the school was evacuated and a contractor started cleaning the area as a precaution.
The EPA started doing surface and air testing Tuesday afternoon, said Tim Lastichen, the school district's director of facilities.
"We have taken a very proactive approach. The health and welfare of our students and staff are very important to us and we have done everything possible to ensure that the building is safe," Yonson said Tuesday afternoon.
Asbestos is a fibrous natural mineral that was used as insulation for many years before its dangers were known.
It becomes dangerous when microscopic particles flake off and become airborne, lodging in the lungs.
Asbestos exposure can lead to lung scarring and lung cancers, although that is most common among people who have worked with the substance for an extended period.
Dave May, the school district's head of public safety, said the evacuation went quickly and smoothly and children were dispatched home safely.
Some elementary students were also in the building, where they've been placed for the rest of the school year after M.R. Reiter Elementary was closed due to a December furnace explosion.
Pam Scott, the parent of an eighth-grade student attending classes in the high school, was distressed after hearing that the district didn't discover the asbestos problem until Tuesday morning.
She has four other children who will attend the high school in the future.
"This involves small children. I'm so upset [about asbestos] just being in the building. The contractors should know this stuff; they should be aware of it," she said.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools, many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools,many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
THE ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT RULES REQUIRE SCHOOLS WHERE ASBESTOS MATERIALS ARE PRESENT TO TAKE ACTIONS TO:
Perform an original inspection and re-inspection every three years of asbestos-containing material
Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school
Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented
Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
Ensure that properly accredited professionals perform inspections and response actions and prepare management plans
Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training
Schools also must comply with the Asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants which requires that owners or operators of facilities notify the appropriate authority (usually the state air pollution control agency) before demolishing or renovating facilities.
If minimum amounts of regulated asbestos will be removed or disturbed, the owner/operator must adequately wet and carefully remove the asbestos components, keeping them wet until collected for disposal, and then disposing of the asbestos waste in accordance with the regulations.
Parents, teachers, and school employees, or their representatives, have the right to inspect the school’s asbestos management plan. The school must make the plan available within a reasonable amount of time.
The asbestos management plan must be updated with information collected during periodic surveillance every 6 months, re-inspections every 3 years, and every time a response action is taken within the school.Also, records of annual notifications to parents, teachers, and staff concerning the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan must be included within the asbestos management plan files.
Federal law only requires testing following an asbestos repair or removal activity to determine whether the activity has been properly completed. This is done by measuring the amount of asbestos in the air where the repair or removal activity has taken place.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
School is open today.
School will be open for students at MSHS
February 10, 2009
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Today, I closed the Middle/Senior High School when I was informed that an electrical contractor working in the building may have drilled into asbestos above the ceiling tiles in two different areas of the school. I took this proactive move because I felt it was important to bring in our environmental consultant to test the surface and air quality in the building.
This evening around 8:45 p.m. I spoke with our environmental consultants who reported that all air samples taken within the impacted areas revealed concentrations well less than the clearance criteria established by the EPA. Additionally, surface samples collected in the same impact areas revealed levels of none detected for asbestos content.
Based on the discussion with our environmental consultant, the Middle/Senior High School will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11.
The environmental consultant will provide a written report tomorrow by noon. You will be able to review the document in the business office. I will also have the report posted on the district’s website.
I am very sorry for any inconvenience that you experienced today because of the closing. I appreciate your continued support.
Sincerely, Dr. Elizabeth Hammond Yonson Superintendent Morrisville School District
Three schools built in the 1950's? It's a pretty certain bet that there's asbestos present. Let's see the district's asbestos management plan.
Ask the board members themselves at the Infrastructure Committee meeting tonight. The meeting is only a few doors away from the administration offices. They should be able to pull out that plan in a jiffy.
Asbestos concern sends students home early
By MANASEE WAGH
The high school will reopen today, one day after it was discovered that electrical work in the building has dislodged asbestos. The district superintendent said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
Morrisville students had to deal with another interruption to their educations Tuesday.
The kids were sent home early after electrical work in the high school dislodged asbestos within the building's walls.
A contractor doing wiring work in Morrisville Middle/Senior High School bored six small holes high inside walls he reached behind ceiling tiles in two hallways Monday night.
The incident came to light during a construction meeting Tuesday morning. The contractor told officials he didn't tell anyone Monday because he didn't know he had penetrated the asbestos-containing material.
After a precautionary test by the Trenton firm Environmental Connections showed positive for asbestos later Tuesday morning, the school district dismissed students for the day. Parents were notified by phone and e-mail of the early dismissal.
Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson said late Tuesday night the school will reopen today after further air and surface test reports by Environmental Connections revealed no asbestos danger in the building.
Yonson said the school district also contacted an asbestos specialist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Bucks County Health Department and Bob Seward, the code official for the borough.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Seward, health department or EPA officials for comment Tuesday.
"The environmental guy says it's nothing," Yonson said, because it appears the asbestos fibers didn't migrate from inside the wall. Because of that, she said it's "highly unlikely" any children would have breathed in the toxic substance.
She also said it couldn't have gotten into the ventilation system because the building uses unit ventilators in each room, and there was no ductwork involved. Yonson said the school was evacuated and a contractor started cleaning the area as a precaution.
The EPA started doing surface and air testing Tuesday afternoon, said Tim Lastichen, the school district's director of facilities.
"We have taken a very proactive approach. The health and welfare of our students and staff are very important to us and we have done everything possible to ensure that the building is safe," Yonson said Tuesday afternoon.
Asbestos is a fibrous natural mineral that was used as insulation for many years before its dangers were known.
It becomes dangerous when microscopic particles flake off and become airborne, lodging in the lungs.
Asbestos exposure can lead to lung scarring and lung cancers, although that is most common among people who have worked with the substance for an extended period.
Dave May, the school district's head of public safety, said the evacuation went quickly and smoothly and children were dispatched home safely.
Some elementary students were also in the building, where they've been placed for the rest of the school year after M.R. Reiter Elementary was closed due to a December furnace explosion.
Pam Scott, the parent of an eighth-grade student attending classes in the high school, was distressed after hearing that the district didn't discover the asbestos problem until Tuesday morning.
She has four other children who will attend the high school in the future.
"This involves small children. I'm so upset [about asbestos] just being in the building. The contractors should know this stuff; they should be aware of it," she said.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools, many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
All about asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber, once widely used in building materials for its thermal insulating properties and fire resistance. Although the removal of asbestos from school buildings is an option for schools,many schools and local education agencies have chosen to manage some asbestos-containing building material in place. A number of building materials still in use today contain asbestos. Asbestos remains in use as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fire proofing, roofing, flooring and other materials.
Exposure Risk: Intact, undisturbed asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health risk. These materials may become hazardous and pose increased risk if they are damaged, are disturbed or deteriorate over time and release asbestos fibers into building air.
Friable asbestos, or asbestos that can be broken by hand pressure, is of greatest concern because these fibers can most easily be released into the air and inhaled into the lungs. Examples of potentially hazardous materials include: friable asbestos-containing boiler wrap, pipe wrap insulation, ceiling tiles, and wallboard.
Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), and mesothelioma (cancer of the lung cavity lining). There is a long latency period for these diseases. It could be 30 years after exposure before symptoms of disease begin. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke.
THE ASBESTOS HAZARD EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT RULES REQUIRE SCHOOLS WHERE ASBESTOS MATERIALS ARE PRESENT TO TAKE ACTIONS TO:
Perform an original inspection and re-inspection every three years of asbestos-containing material
Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations regarding the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement actions taken or planned in the school
Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the local education agency are properly implemented
Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
Ensure that properly accredited professionals perform inspections and response actions and prepare management plans
Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training
Schools also must comply with the Asbestos National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants which requires that owners or operators of facilities notify the appropriate authority (usually the state air pollution control agency) before demolishing or renovating facilities.
If minimum amounts of regulated asbestos will be removed or disturbed, the owner/operator must adequately wet and carefully remove the asbestos components, keeping them wet until collected for disposal, and then disposing of the asbestos waste in accordance with the regulations.
Parents, teachers, and school employees, or their representatives, have the right to inspect the school’s asbestos management plan. The school must make the plan available within a reasonable amount of time.
The asbestos management plan must be updated with information collected during periodic surveillance every 6 months, re-inspections every 3 years, and every time a response action is taken within the school.Also, records of annual notifications to parents, teachers, and staff concerning the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan must be included within the asbestos management plan files.
Federal law only requires testing following an asbestos repair or removal activity to determine whether the activity has been properly completed. This is done by measuring the amount of asbestos in the air where the repair or removal activity has taken place.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Bristol Township School District asbestos abatement project
From the BCCT.
Ironic?
Bristol Township School District to begin five-year asbestos abatement project
Posted in News on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm by Joan Hellyer
The Bristol Township School District plans this summer to begin a five-year asbestos-removal effort in several of its schools, a district spokeswoman said today.
The school system did most of its asbestos abatement in the 1970s by removing all asbestos insulation and some tile flooring, Spokeswoman Eileen Kelliher said. However, some asbestos-containing tiles remain in the floors of Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School and the district’s nine elementary schools.
The asbestos, once widely used in building materials, can become hazardous and pose an increased health risk if its fibers become airborne, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“[In Bristol Township’s case], the tiles are less than one percent asbestos and are only a concern when they are cracked or broken,” Kelliher said. “Nevertheless, we will be treating their removal with the utmost care, using the services and advice of experts in this field.”
The plan is to do two schools each summer break over the next five years. Clara Barton and Maple Shade elementary schools are set to undergo the asbestos removal this summer, officials said.
It should cost about $52,000 to do the abatement at Barton and about $120,000 for the older Maple Shade, said district officials during the school board’s planning session Monday night
The board will be asked during its Feb. 23 meeting to let administrators solicit bids for the project, according to an agenda reviewed by board members Monday night.
Ironic?
Bristol Township School District to begin five-year asbestos abatement project
Posted in News on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm by Joan Hellyer
The Bristol Township School District plans this summer to begin a five-year asbestos-removal effort in several of its schools, a district spokeswoman said today.
The school system did most of its asbestos abatement in the 1970s by removing all asbestos insulation and some tile flooring, Spokeswoman Eileen Kelliher said. However, some asbestos-containing tiles remain in the floors of Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School and the district’s nine elementary schools.
The asbestos, once widely used in building materials, can become hazardous and pose an increased health risk if its fibers become airborne, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
“[In Bristol Township’s case], the tiles are less than one percent asbestos and are only a concern when they are cracked or broken,” Kelliher said. “Nevertheless, we will be treating their removal with the utmost care, using the services and advice of experts in this field.”
The plan is to do two schools each summer break over the next five years. Clara Barton and Maple Shade elementary schools are set to undergo the asbestos removal this summer, officials said.
It should cost about $52,000 to do the abatement at Barton and about $120,000 for the older Maple Shade, said district officials during the school board’s planning session Monday night
The board will be asked during its Feb. 23 meeting to let administrators solicit bids for the project, according to an agenda reviewed by board members Monday night.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Asbestos Confirmed
Check out the Channel 6 story and video.
MORRISVILLE, Pa. - February 10, 2009 - (WPVI) -- Investigators confirmed Tuesday that asbestos was found inside Morrisville High School in Bucks County.
Now, students and parents wait for word of how serious the threat may be.
Air tests are underway to find out how much of the asbestos is airborne. That will go a long way to determining how long the school wil be closed.
Parents were alerted right around noon that Morrisville High School was under an evacuation order.
It turns out construction workers inside the school came upon a sizable amout of an exposed substance they believed to be asbestos.
The concern over the finding forced an early dismissal at Morrisville Middle-Senior High Tuesday.
But here's the twist: This past December, M.R. Reiter Elementary School's boiler broke down and it has yet to be repaired.
So, the students from Reiter Elementary were already scattered to other schools in the district, including the first, second, and fifth graders who've been going to the high school for class since last month.
Now, Morrisville is two schools down, and parents are getting frustrated.
"It's just ridiculous. The state needs to do something, somebody needs to do something for us. It's just crazy. My hands are tied. What am I going to do?" said parent Kathleen Wetheril.
"We're probably going to head to the next school board meeting and voice our concerns, and from there, if nothing else happens, we'll take it further up," said parent Katlyn Dunstan.
MORRISVILLE, Pa. - February 10, 2009 - (WPVI) -- Investigators confirmed Tuesday that asbestos was found inside Morrisville High School in Bucks County.
Now, students and parents wait for word of how serious the threat may be.
Air tests are underway to find out how much of the asbestos is airborne. That will go a long way to determining how long the school wil be closed.
Parents were alerted right around noon that Morrisville High School was under an evacuation order.
It turns out construction workers inside the school came upon a sizable amout of an exposed substance they believed to be asbestos.
The concern over the finding forced an early dismissal at Morrisville Middle-Senior High Tuesday.
But here's the twist: This past December, M.R. Reiter Elementary School's boiler broke down and it has yet to be repaired.
So, the students from Reiter Elementary were already scattered to other schools in the district, including the first, second, and fifth graders who've been going to the high school for class since last month.
Now, Morrisville is two schools down, and parents are getting frustrated.
"It's just ridiculous. The state needs to do something, somebody needs to do something for us. It's just crazy. My hands are tied. What am I going to do?" said parent Kathleen Wetheril.
"We're probably going to head to the next school board meeting and voice our concerns, and from there, if nothing else happens, we'll take it further up," said parent Katlyn Dunstan.
Action News LIVE at 5:30
Channel 6 has a teaser for a live report from the high school at 5:30 tonight
MHS Closed for Asbestos
Thanks to all the emailers with this breaking information.From the school website.
That's two down. How is Grandview doing these days?
February 10, 2009
The Morrisville Middle/Senior High School has been closed as of 12:15 pm today, February 10, 2009. The Middle/Senior High School will remain closed on Wednesday due to an environmental situation. The district has an electrical contractor performing work in the evening as not to disturb the educational process. They reported to us this morning that suspected asbestos containing materials were impacted during their work. As a result, the district contacted our environmental consultant. Samples were taken immediately. The samples were sent to a nationally accredited laboratory and results were received at 11:15 am. Accordingly, we are dismissing the students. Subsequent to the students’ release, air and surface sampling will be performed to determine what, if any, impact may have occurred within specific areas of the school. When we receive the results I will again do a phone blast to give you an update. However, the students who attend the Morrisville Middle/Senior High School will not have school tomorrow, February 11, 2009.
Keeping up to code proving costly
From the BCCT.
What's the lesson here for the Morrisville renovations?
No, "let Pennsbury deal with it" was not the lesson. Try again.
Keeping up to code proving costly
By ANNIE TASKER
Upper Moreland School District officials took care to plan a large-scale, $34.5 million high school renovation project.
They didn’t expect to be caught off guard by extra exit signs.
Halfway through the project, some district officials are frustrated by the mounting cost of last-minute township code inspector requirements.
Unexpected mandates for additional signage, security equipment and other fire safety initiatives have cost nearly $75,000 to date, said district business manager Michael Braun. School board member Donald Warner, who said he sought an architect’s second opinion on some of the extra measures, said some of his irritation stems from the fact that the previous township fire marshal signed off on the renovation plans before construction began.
The school district will always err on the side of caution, and every township safety order will be followed to the letter, Braun said.
“We just wish we’d known about this ahead of time so we could have designed better,” he said.
That $75,000 is not much in the scheme of the multimillion-dollar project, especially considering that the district has used only about a quarter of its $1.5 million project contingency fund. The change orders aren’t breaking the bank, “but it’s still frustrating,” Warner said.
Braun said different township inspectors have been sent to review the construction progress, and each had an eye out for something a little different. An extra $27,522 for fire alarms was required at one point; the district learned late in the game that exit signs were required above every classroom door in the science wing, which added another $10,250 to the tab.
Had the extra materials been included in the bid specifications, the district may have been able to buy them at a better price, Braun said — but the piecemeal change orders have started to add up.
To date, renovations have included a new science wing and renovations to classrooms, a multipurpose wrestling room and an administrative suite. More classroom work is set for the second half of the project. Upper Moreland waived permit fees for the Terwood Road school project.
Warner said he wants someone in charge at the township to start rattling some cages, since the money funding the change orders comes out of the same taxpayer pockets.
But the people in charge said they didn’t know there were cages to rattle.
Upper Moreland township Manager David Dodies said he hadn’t heard about the district’s issues with the inspections, and Commissioner President Stacey Efkowitz said she knew of some conflicts around the time school started, but thought they’d been resolved.
What's the lesson here for the Morrisville renovations?
No, "let Pennsbury deal with it" was not the lesson. Try again.
Keeping up to code proving costly
By ANNIE TASKER
Upper Moreland School District officials took care to plan a large-scale, $34.5 million high school renovation project.
They didn’t expect to be caught off guard by extra exit signs.
Halfway through the project, some district officials are frustrated by the mounting cost of last-minute township code inspector requirements.
Unexpected mandates for additional signage, security equipment and other fire safety initiatives have cost nearly $75,000 to date, said district business manager Michael Braun. School board member Donald Warner, who said he sought an architect’s second opinion on some of the extra measures, said some of his irritation stems from the fact that the previous township fire marshal signed off on the renovation plans before construction began.
The school district will always err on the side of caution, and every township safety order will be followed to the letter, Braun said.
“We just wish we’d known about this ahead of time so we could have designed better,” he said.
That $75,000 is not much in the scheme of the multimillion-dollar project, especially considering that the district has used only about a quarter of its $1.5 million project contingency fund. The change orders aren’t breaking the bank, “but it’s still frustrating,” Warner said.
Braun said different township inspectors have been sent to review the construction progress, and each had an eye out for something a little different. An extra $27,522 for fire alarms was required at one point; the district learned late in the game that exit signs were required above every classroom door in the science wing, which added another $10,250 to the tab.
Had the extra materials been included in the bid specifications, the district may have been able to buy them at a better price, Braun said — but the piecemeal change orders have started to add up.
To date, renovations have included a new science wing and renovations to classrooms, a multipurpose wrestling room and an administrative suite. More classroom work is set for the second half of the project. Upper Moreland waived permit fees for the Terwood Road school project.
Warner said he wants someone in charge at the township to start rattling some cages, since the money funding the change orders comes out of the same taxpayer pockets.
But the people in charge said they didn’t know there were cages to rattle.
Upper Moreland township Manager David Dodies said he hadn’t heard about the district’s issues with the inspections, and Commissioner President Stacey Efkowitz said she knew of some conflicts around the time school started, but thought they’d been resolved.
Pennsbury contract extension
From the BCCT.
It looks like our new school district overlords are annoying the BCCT editorial board.
Pennsbury contract extension
Information freeze
Before approving a tentative teacher contract extension, officials should have asked taxpayers what they think.
The pay freeze that isn’t really a pay freeze will come up for a vote at Pennsbury’s Feb. 19 school board meeting.
Otherwise known as a teacher contract extension, the pact, if extended, will grow the payroll nearly $2 million. Lucky for taxpayers, who are facing a whopping 10 percent tax hike, the expected retirements of 20 teachers could cut that increase down to about $1.1 million.
Still, the pay freeze will hardly stunt salary increases.
That’s because so-called step increases for years of service and educational attainment will still result in raises for more than half the teachers not at the top of the pay scale, which peaks at $98,222. What’s frozen is the annual acrossthe-board percentage increase.
This has not been the subject of public discussion and won’t be until the teachers ratify the secret agreement. Two points: Why weren’t taxpayers asked what they think before board members decided behind the public’s back to pursue a contract extension? And why is it OK for teachers to discuss the issue but not taxpayers?
District CEO Paul Long, the de facto superintendent, refused to talk to our reporter until teachers ratify the tentative agreement. Nice.
Here’s our suggestion.
Maybe Long won’t talk about the proposed contract extension, but that shouldn’t stop taxpayers from showing up at the next meeting and offering their thoughts. Turns out the next meeting is Feb. 12, this Thursday, at which board members will vote on a revised version of the preliminary budget that includes the pay increase for teachers — which, you know, isn’t really a pay increase.
Can’t make the meeting? Call Long at 215-428-4100, extension 10001, and tell him what you think. Or show up at Fallsington Elementary School, 8 p.m., this Thursday.
Keep this in mind. Not only are real pay freezes happening in the private sector, workers are being hit with pay cuts and layoffs. And every year the cost of health insurance goes up, with most workers now covering 25 to 30 percent of the cost of employer-provided health benefits. At 10 percent, Pennsbury teachers are in a rarified category.
School board members may not be doing taxpayers any favors by extending such a generous deal.
It looks like our new school district overlords are annoying the BCCT editorial board.
Pennsbury contract extension
Information freeze
Before approving a tentative teacher contract extension, officials should have asked taxpayers what they think.
The pay freeze that isn’t really a pay freeze will come up for a vote at Pennsbury’s Feb. 19 school board meeting.
Otherwise known as a teacher contract extension, the pact, if extended, will grow the payroll nearly $2 million. Lucky for taxpayers, who are facing a whopping 10 percent tax hike, the expected retirements of 20 teachers could cut that increase down to about $1.1 million.
Still, the pay freeze will hardly stunt salary increases.
That’s because so-called step increases for years of service and educational attainment will still result in raises for more than half the teachers not at the top of the pay scale, which peaks at $98,222. What’s frozen is the annual acrossthe-board percentage increase.
This has not been the subject of public discussion and won’t be until the teachers ratify the secret agreement. Two points: Why weren’t taxpayers asked what they think before board members decided behind the public’s back to pursue a contract extension? And why is it OK for teachers to discuss the issue but not taxpayers?
District CEO Paul Long, the de facto superintendent, refused to talk to our reporter until teachers ratify the tentative agreement. Nice.
Here’s our suggestion.
Maybe Long won’t talk about the proposed contract extension, but that shouldn’t stop taxpayers from showing up at the next meeting and offering their thoughts. Turns out the next meeting is Feb. 12, this Thursday, at which board members will vote on a revised version of the preliminary budget that includes the pay increase for teachers — which, you know, isn’t really a pay increase.
Can’t make the meeting? Call Long at 215-428-4100, extension 10001, and tell him what you think. Or show up at Fallsington Elementary School, 8 p.m., this Thursday.
Keep this in mind. Not only are real pay freezes happening in the private sector, workers are being hit with pay cuts and layoffs. And every year the cost of health insurance goes up, with most workers now covering 25 to 30 percent of the cost of employer-provided health benefits. At 10 percent, Pennsbury teachers are in a rarified category.
School board members may not be doing taxpayers any favors by extending such a generous deal.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Consolidation debated
From the Scranton Times-Tribune.
Consolidation debated
BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL
Published: Monday, February 09, 2009
Updated: Monday, February 9, 2009 4:13 AM EST
The 28,250 students in Lackawanna County are enrolled in 10 school districts — each with its own superintendent and administration.
Those superintendents’ salaries total more than $1 million, and the salaries of other administrators — such as business managers, human resource directors and special education supervisors — total millions more.
Gov. Ed Rendell wants to dramatically change that.
In his 2009-10 budget released last week, the governor proposed creating a commission to study how to consolidate the state’s 500 school districts into no more than 100.
Area educators, while not totally opposed to saving money and sharing resources, are questioning the scope of the plan. Others say the benefits would outweigh any costs.
“There’s no doubt there are definite cost savings and benefits for consolidation,” William King, Scranton School District acting superintendent, said. “But ultimately, I think the question is, ‘What is the optimal size so you can deliver the highest-quality education?’ ”
This is not the first time consolidation has been discussed in Pennsylvania. In 1955, there were 2,700 school districts before the Legislature authorized consolidations. By 1962, there were 600. After the Center Area and Monaca school districts in western Pennsylvania voluntarily merge July 1, there will be 500.
Under the governor’s proposal to create a legislative commission to study consolidation, he touts that merging districts would relieve local property tax burdens.
Only 10 states in the country have more school districts, and more than 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s districts have fewer than 2,000 students. Eighty percent educate fewer than 5,000 students.
Reducing the number of districts would not necessarily mean schools would close, but could “instead improve the effectiveness and efficiency of education through other means,” according to the Department of Education.
The proposed commission would have 12 voting members appointed by the General Assembly and would have one year to develop a plan, including optimal enrollment size, boundaries and a plan for implementation.
After two merger plans are adopted by the commission, the Legislature will vote. If the Legislature rejects both plans, the state Board of Education would have authority to implement a plan.
The response to the governor’s proposal has been positive, said Michael Race, Department of Education spokesman.
“It taps into a sentiment out there that there are too many school districts and too much bureaucracy,” he said.
When school districts are bigger entities, they will have larger negotiating powers for contracts from vendors — which equals savings in the budget, Mr. Race added.
District concerns
Area superintendents are concerned with the state making quick decisions and not involving enough people with the planning.
“For us to be disbanded would be overwhelming and an enormous concern to our community,” Michael Mahon, Ph.D., Abington Heights superintendent, said. “If a hypothetical district has taken good care of its buildings, has made prudent financial decisions over time ... for that district to be shut down, and perhaps combined with districts who have done none of that, brings up the question of equity.”
Mr. King said while he thinks there is a “definite need for consolidation,” the size of new school districts must be manageable.
“They’re always preaching, ‘every child by name.’ When you’re running a school district of 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 students, that takes away that possibility,” Mr. King said.
If only 100 school districts are created — the number Mr. Rendell wants — the average district would have 17,000 students.
Joseph Daley, Valley View School District superintendent, said many things need to be analyzed before a consolidation happens, from equalizing employee salaries and who owns school buildings and equipment, to what happens to district athletic teams.
Timothy Allwein, assistant executive director for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said the issue of consolidation often rises when budgets are tight.
The association is researching the idea, but warns “larger school districts give you a larger bureaucracy,” Mr. Allwein said. While only one superintendent may be needed, there will be a need for more supervisors and directors, he added.
Research by the PSBA has shown little benefit to consolidation, Mr. Allwein said.
In 2007, Standard & Poor’s made a presentation to the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on school consolidation. The research group found districts with no more than 3,000 students may be more likely to save money than if districts had more than 3,000 students.
Possible benefits
Many states, including North Carolina and Maryland, have school districts on a county-wide basis.
“It’s certainly not a foreign concept, and it’s a step in the right direction,” said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Wilkes-Barre-based Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. “I just hope it’s taken seriously and moved forward. I’m really a firm believer that this is a more positive thing for this region.”
Schools would still be able to keep their own identities, and it would bring the opportunities and benefits that are occurring in the wealthier school districts to the others, she said.
Along with cost-sharing, local real estate values would equalize, said John Cognetti, president of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate.
When buying a home, many parents consider the school district in which home is located. If all of the county, or other large area is one school district, home values in an area with what is now a better district will equalize to those homes now located in poorer districts, Mr. Cognetti said.
“It equalizes the whole county, revitalizes all areas,” he said. “It’s long overdue.”
Consolidation debated
BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL
Published: Monday, February 09, 2009
Updated: Monday, February 9, 2009 4:13 AM EST
The 28,250 students in Lackawanna County are enrolled in 10 school districts — each with its own superintendent and administration.
Those superintendents’ salaries total more than $1 million, and the salaries of other administrators — such as business managers, human resource directors and special education supervisors — total millions more.
Gov. Ed Rendell wants to dramatically change that.
In his 2009-10 budget released last week, the governor proposed creating a commission to study how to consolidate the state’s 500 school districts into no more than 100.
Area educators, while not totally opposed to saving money and sharing resources, are questioning the scope of the plan. Others say the benefits would outweigh any costs.
“There’s no doubt there are definite cost savings and benefits for consolidation,” William King, Scranton School District acting superintendent, said. “But ultimately, I think the question is, ‘What is the optimal size so you can deliver the highest-quality education?’ ”
This is not the first time consolidation has been discussed in Pennsylvania. In 1955, there were 2,700 school districts before the Legislature authorized consolidations. By 1962, there were 600. After the Center Area and Monaca school districts in western Pennsylvania voluntarily merge July 1, there will be 500.
Under the governor’s proposal to create a legislative commission to study consolidation, he touts that merging districts would relieve local property tax burdens.
Only 10 states in the country have more school districts, and more than 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s districts have fewer than 2,000 students. Eighty percent educate fewer than 5,000 students.
Reducing the number of districts would not necessarily mean schools would close, but could “instead improve the effectiveness and efficiency of education through other means,” according to the Department of Education.
The proposed commission would have 12 voting members appointed by the General Assembly and would have one year to develop a plan, including optimal enrollment size, boundaries and a plan for implementation.
After two merger plans are adopted by the commission, the Legislature will vote. If the Legislature rejects both plans, the state Board of Education would have authority to implement a plan.
The response to the governor’s proposal has been positive, said Michael Race, Department of Education spokesman.
“It taps into a sentiment out there that there are too many school districts and too much bureaucracy,” he said.
When school districts are bigger entities, they will have larger negotiating powers for contracts from vendors — which equals savings in the budget, Mr. Race added.
District concerns
Area superintendents are concerned with the state making quick decisions and not involving enough people with the planning.
“For us to be disbanded would be overwhelming and an enormous concern to our community,” Michael Mahon, Ph.D., Abington Heights superintendent, said. “If a hypothetical district has taken good care of its buildings, has made prudent financial decisions over time ... for that district to be shut down, and perhaps combined with districts who have done none of that, brings up the question of equity.”
Mr. King said while he thinks there is a “definite need for consolidation,” the size of new school districts must be manageable.
“They’re always preaching, ‘every child by name.’ When you’re running a school district of 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 students, that takes away that possibility,” Mr. King said.
If only 100 school districts are created — the number Mr. Rendell wants — the average district would have 17,000 students.
Joseph Daley, Valley View School District superintendent, said many things need to be analyzed before a consolidation happens, from equalizing employee salaries and who owns school buildings and equipment, to what happens to district athletic teams.
Timothy Allwein, assistant executive director for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said the issue of consolidation often rises when budgets are tight.
The association is researching the idea, but warns “larger school districts give you a larger bureaucracy,” Mr. Allwein said. While only one superintendent may be needed, there will be a need for more supervisors and directors, he added.
Research by the PSBA has shown little benefit to consolidation, Mr. Allwein said.
In 2007, Standard & Poor’s made a presentation to the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on school consolidation. The research group found districts with no more than 3,000 students may be more likely to save money than if districts had more than 3,000 students.
Possible benefits
Many states, including North Carolina and Maryland, have school districts on a county-wide basis.
“It’s certainly not a foreign concept, and it’s a step in the right direction,” said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Wilkes-Barre-based Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. “I just hope it’s taken seriously and moved forward. I’m really a firm believer that this is a more positive thing for this region.”
Schools would still be able to keep their own identities, and it would bring the opportunities and benefits that are occurring in the wealthier school districts to the others, she said.
Along with cost-sharing, local real estate values would equalize, said John Cognetti, president of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate.
When buying a home, many parents consider the school district in which home is located. If all of the county, or other large area is one school district, home values in an area with what is now a better district will equalize to those homes now located in poorer districts, Mr. Cognetti said.
“It equalizes the whole county, revitalizes all areas,” he said. “It’s long overdue.”
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Creative Funding for Schools
From Education Week.
Creative Solutions Eyed in Bids to Avoid Layoffs, Spare Crucial Programs
By Michele McNeil
At a time when states, collectively, face more than $30 billion in budget gaps, school districts are scrounging for money and for creative ideas they hope will allow them to hold on until the economy recovers.
In an effort to avoid, or mitigate, teacher layoffs and drastic cuts to politically sensitive programs, districts are aggressively raising money from private sources, upping their fees, and squeezing savings from existing budgets.
High schools in Daytona Beach later this year are going to charge $1 per ticket and $5 per car for parking at graduation. A donation of $3,000 from a dental office paid for this year’s science fair at Vista Magnet Middle School for Technology, Science & Math near San Diego. And the Clark County, Nev., school board, in Las Vegas, is debating whether to charge students an activity fee to take part in sports and other extracurricular activities.
In perhaps one of the more dire reports of a school in need, the Academy of the Americas school in the Detroit district has sent a letter asking for donations for school staples: light bulbs, pencils—and even toilet paper.
But some educators warn that there may be a limit to the utility of such methods that, while often more palatable to the public, may not generate as much money or do so as quickly as more-drastic measures.
“I know school districts are doing everything they can to raise funds,” said Daniel A. Domenech, the executive director of the Arlington, Va.-based American Association of School Administrators. “Revenue generation will help in some areas, but it’s not going to raise money to the level that we need, given that this is by far the worst economic situation that I can recall.”
As Mr. Domenech pointed out, these are “one-shot deals. ... The money isn’t going to be there next year.”
Forecast Darkens
Next school year, the fiscal situation could get worse. Already, 31 states face $30 billion in fiscal 2009 budget gaps and are cutting spending, including on K-12 education. Thirteen states have already made a total of $3.6 billion in midyear cuts to their fiscal 2009 budgets. ("Budget Pain Dampening K-12 Efforts," Jan. 7, 2009.)
In Florida, for example, education will be among the program areas most heavily hit by the $1.2 billion in budget cuts approved by state lawmakers on Wednesday to help plug the state’s projected $2.3 billion deficit. Although lawmakers backed off on the possibility of pay cuts for teachers and other employees, the cuts will reduce per-pupil spending statewide by an average of about 2 percent overall.
For districts facing significant cuts, every penny in savings is important.
The Sarasota County school system in Florida will likely have to slice $40 million—or nearly 10 percent—out of its $425 million general fund budget next school year.
With such a deep cut to the 42,000-student Sarasota County district, a mixture of staff cuts, budget savings, and revenue-raising measures will be needed, said Scott Lempe, the chief operating officer.
So far, the district is squeezing $3 million in savings, or 30 percent, from its energy budget by putting in automated thermostats and even taking the light bulbs out of the front of vending machines.
“We’re spending $10 million a year on energy; that’s too big a piece of the budget to not say there’s a better way,” Mr. Lempe said.
To help cut its custodial budget by nearly $3 million over the last three years, the district bought a special cleaning machine that allows custodians to spray down and clean an entire multi-stall school restroom in seven minutes.
Over the past year, the district has saved $1.5 million in construction fees by negotiating with city and county governments to waive fees for building permits, water hookups, and other add-ons. And, the district saved $250,000 on criminal-background checks on volunteers by purchasing a subscription to a national crime database and doing the checks in-house, rather than having the state run a background check on every volunteer, every year.
On the revenue side, the district raised its rates, by as much as triple, for private groups’ rental of facilities such as cafeterias and auditoriums. And in the 2007-08 school year, the Sarasota County Schools Education Foundation raised $1.2 million for the district to fund innovative classroom projects.
Such revenue-raising measures will be central to weathering the fiscal storm, said John Musso, the executive director of the Association of School Business Officials International, based in Reston, Va.
“We’re telling people they need to look at revenue generation in addition to spending cuts,” he said. That includes school fees, whether they be charges for parking, athletics, parking, or textbooks, Mr. Musso said.
“At this point, nothing is sacred,” he said.
His organization, ASBO, is working on a tool kit for school business officers, with ideas on how to bring in new revenue rather than make across-the-board cuts to programs. One emphasis will be on venture philanthropy, which supports targeted programs with a hands-on approach.
Calling on Parents
Sometimes, the situation calls for an emergency appeal.
When the 15,000-student Capistrano Unified School District in Southern California sent out 266 pink slips last spring to teachers, threatening to drive up class sizes, parents rallied. A fundraising drive by the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation, which asked parents to donate $400 per child to the cause, raised a whopping $1 million in two weeks—money explicitly used to keep teachers on staff for one more year.
“A lot of people were skeptical about whether parents and the community should really be offsetting the budget like this,” said Stacey Flynn, the foundation’s executive director. “But I felt like this was an emergency situation.”
She said the foundation tries not to rely too much on parents. It also holds community fundraisers such as golf tournaments or raffles to pay for such costs as music programs and teacher supplies.
Faced with a threat of teacher layoffs, however, the foundation felt compelled to appeal directly to parents to raise money aimed at keeping class sizes stable for their children. Ms. Flynn cautioned, though, that the foundation can’t sustain such fundraising momentum.
“I can run around and raise money like a madwoman,” she said, “but it’s just a Band-Aid.”
Creative Solutions Eyed in Bids to Avoid Layoffs, Spare Crucial Programs
By Michele McNeil
At a time when states, collectively, face more than $30 billion in budget gaps, school districts are scrounging for money and for creative ideas they hope will allow them to hold on until the economy recovers.
In an effort to avoid, or mitigate, teacher layoffs and drastic cuts to politically sensitive programs, districts are aggressively raising money from private sources, upping their fees, and squeezing savings from existing budgets.
High schools in Daytona Beach later this year are going to charge $1 per ticket and $5 per car for parking at graduation. A donation of $3,000 from a dental office paid for this year’s science fair at Vista Magnet Middle School for Technology, Science & Math near San Diego. And the Clark County, Nev., school board, in Las Vegas, is debating whether to charge students an activity fee to take part in sports and other extracurricular activities.
In perhaps one of the more dire reports of a school in need, the Academy of the Americas school in the Detroit district has sent a letter asking for donations for school staples: light bulbs, pencils—and even toilet paper.
But some educators warn that there may be a limit to the utility of such methods that, while often more palatable to the public, may not generate as much money or do so as quickly as more-drastic measures.
“I know school districts are doing everything they can to raise funds,” said Daniel A. Domenech, the executive director of the Arlington, Va.-based American Association of School Administrators. “Revenue generation will help in some areas, but it’s not going to raise money to the level that we need, given that this is by far the worst economic situation that I can recall.”
As Mr. Domenech pointed out, these are “one-shot deals. ... The money isn’t going to be there next year.”
Forecast Darkens
Next school year, the fiscal situation could get worse. Already, 31 states face $30 billion in fiscal 2009 budget gaps and are cutting spending, including on K-12 education. Thirteen states have already made a total of $3.6 billion in midyear cuts to their fiscal 2009 budgets. ("Budget Pain Dampening K-12 Efforts," Jan. 7, 2009.)
In Florida, for example, education will be among the program areas most heavily hit by the $1.2 billion in budget cuts approved by state lawmakers on Wednesday to help plug the state’s projected $2.3 billion deficit. Although lawmakers backed off on the possibility of pay cuts for teachers and other employees, the cuts will reduce per-pupil spending statewide by an average of about 2 percent overall.
For districts facing significant cuts, every penny in savings is important.
The Sarasota County school system in Florida will likely have to slice $40 million—or nearly 10 percent—out of its $425 million general fund budget next school year.
With such a deep cut to the 42,000-student Sarasota County district, a mixture of staff cuts, budget savings, and revenue-raising measures will be needed, said Scott Lempe, the chief operating officer.
So far, the district is squeezing $3 million in savings, or 30 percent, from its energy budget by putting in automated thermostats and even taking the light bulbs out of the front of vending machines.
“We’re spending $10 million a year on energy; that’s too big a piece of the budget to not say there’s a better way,” Mr. Lempe said.
To help cut its custodial budget by nearly $3 million over the last three years, the district bought a special cleaning machine that allows custodians to spray down and clean an entire multi-stall school restroom in seven minutes.
Over the past year, the district has saved $1.5 million in construction fees by negotiating with city and county governments to waive fees for building permits, water hookups, and other add-ons. And, the district saved $250,000 on criminal-background checks on volunteers by purchasing a subscription to a national crime database and doing the checks in-house, rather than having the state run a background check on every volunteer, every year.
On the revenue side, the district raised its rates, by as much as triple, for private groups’ rental of facilities such as cafeterias and auditoriums. And in the 2007-08 school year, the Sarasota County Schools Education Foundation raised $1.2 million for the district to fund innovative classroom projects.
Such revenue-raising measures will be central to weathering the fiscal storm, said John Musso, the executive director of the Association of School Business Officials International, based in Reston, Va.
“We’re telling people they need to look at revenue generation in addition to spending cuts,” he said. That includes school fees, whether they be charges for parking, athletics, parking, or textbooks, Mr. Musso said.
“At this point, nothing is sacred,” he said.
His organization, ASBO, is working on a tool kit for school business officers, with ideas on how to bring in new revenue rather than make across-the-board cuts to programs. One emphasis will be on venture philanthropy, which supports targeted programs with a hands-on approach.
Calling on Parents
Sometimes, the situation calls for an emergency appeal.
When the 15,000-student Capistrano Unified School District in Southern California sent out 266 pink slips last spring to teachers, threatening to drive up class sizes, parents rallied. A fundraising drive by the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation, which asked parents to donate $400 per child to the cause, raised a whopping $1 million in two weeks—money explicitly used to keep teachers on staff for one more year.
“A lot of people were skeptical about whether parents and the community should really be offsetting the budget like this,” said Stacey Flynn, the foundation’s executive director. “But I felt like this was an emergency situation.”
She said the foundation tries not to rely too much on parents. It also holds community fundraisers such as golf tournaments or raffles to pay for such costs as music programs and teacher supplies.
Faced with a threat of teacher layoffs, however, the foundation felt compelled to appeal directly to parents to raise money aimed at keeping class sizes stable for their children. Ms. Flynn cautioned, though, that the foundation can’t sustain such fundraising momentum.
“I can run around and raise money like a madwoman,” she said, “but it’s just a Band-Aid.”
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Exemption Junction, What's Your Function?
From the BCCT.
It looks like Centennial and Pennsbury may need the lifelines that the Morrisville school board cut away.
That leaves the question: Are you happier having a low or no tax increase, or an above index raise? If we were part of Pennsbury today [Hail Pennsbury! The salvation of Morrisville!], we'd be preparing for our wallets for a major hull breach. Red Alert, Mr. Sulu!
See? Being part of Pennsbury isn't the magic cure-all for what ails us. It's merely trading one set of problems for a completely new set.
Do you want the Morrisville school district being handled right here in Morrisville, with Sandy Gibson, Bill Hellmann, or the next president running things where nine of your neighbors are representing you? Or do you want maybe one school board seat [maybe even NONE!] representing you?
Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Districts will decide on state exemptions
By MANASEE WAGH
This week, the Centennial and Pennsbury school boards will vote on applying for state exemptions to allow them to raise the tax increase past the Act 1 mandate of 4.1 percent.
Applying for exemptions allows districts to prevent possible financial emergencies in next year's budget if unforeseen emergencies arise, such as unexpected high special education costs or a lack of state funding, said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Bristol Township, Council Rock and Morrisville School Districts have passed resolutions promising not to raise property taxes for 2009-10 more than the limit. They no longer can apply for exemptions.
Lucidi stressed that Pennsbury is dedicated to keeping taxes at or below the limit. The board will get a look at the revised preliminary budget on Thursday and work on looking at all areas of district operations to trim expenditures, he said.
Centennial board members have made similar statements about the desire to keep taxes lower than the state limit. On Tuesday, the board will vote on adopting its 2009-2010 preliminary budget.
It looks like Centennial and Pennsbury may need the lifelines that the Morrisville school board cut away.
That leaves the question: Are you happier having a low or no tax increase, or an above index raise? If we were part of Pennsbury today [Hail Pennsbury! The salvation of Morrisville!], we'd be preparing for our wallets for a major hull breach. Red Alert, Mr. Sulu!
See? Being part of Pennsbury isn't the magic cure-all for what ails us. It's merely trading one set of problems for a completely new set.
Do you want the Morrisville school district being handled right here in Morrisville, with Sandy Gibson, Bill Hellmann, or the next president running things where nine of your neighbors are representing you? Or do you want maybe one school board seat [maybe even NONE!] representing you?
Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Districts will decide on state exemptions
By MANASEE WAGH
This week, the Centennial and Pennsbury school boards will vote on applying for state exemptions to allow them to raise the tax increase past the Act 1 mandate of 4.1 percent.
Applying for exemptions allows districts to prevent possible financial emergencies in next year's budget if unforeseen emergencies arise, such as unexpected high special education costs or a lack of state funding, said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Bristol Township, Council Rock and Morrisville School Districts have passed resolutions promising not to raise property taxes for 2009-10 more than the limit. They no longer can apply for exemptions.
Lucidi stressed that Pennsbury is dedicated to keeping taxes at or below the limit. The board will get a look at the revised preliminary budget on Thursday and work on looking at all areas of district operations to trim expenditures, he said.
Centennial board members have made similar statements about the desire to keep taxes lower than the state limit. On Tuesday, the board will vote on adopting its 2009-2010 preliminary budget.
So, HAVING Money is Bad Too?
From the BCCT
School district sees huge losses
By JOAN HELLYER
The district could lose as much as $2.2 million in interest income alone during the coming school year.
The recession likely will cost Council Rock between $5.4 million and $7.3 million in lost revenue during the coming school year, a district official told the school board.
The funds would have come from four areas where the district had experienced annual financial gains, said Robert Schoch, district business administration director.
This is the second year district officials are projecting a smaller revenue growth percentage than previously for its real estate and local income taxes, realty transfers and interest income, he said Thursday.
The real estate tax revenue, for example, will increase just a half percent over its current rate, instead of the normal 2 percent the district experienced prior to the recession, Schoch said.
He gave "best case" and "worst case" scenarios of the potential loss for each revenue source:
? The best case scenario for real estate revenue losses is about $900,000 and the worst case is $1.5 million.
? Lost interest income will be between $2 million and $2.2 million.
? Realty transfers will be between $1.7 million and $2.3 million less than what would have previously been collected.
? In terms of local income tax revenue, the best case scenario is a loss of $750,000 and the worst case is $1.27 million.
District officials are trying to figure out how the revenue losses will impact the 2009-10 budget, Schoch said.
In an effort to offset that impact, the district is trying to keep as many contracts as possible at the same rate as the current year, Schoch said.
School district sees huge losses
By JOAN HELLYER
The district could lose as much as $2.2 million in interest income alone during the coming school year.
The recession likely will cost Council Rock between $5.4 million and $7.3 million in lost revenue during the coming school year, a district official told the school board.
The funds would have come from four areas where the district had experienced annual financial gains, said Robert Schoch, district business administration director.
This is the second year district officials are projecting a smaller revenue growth percentage than previously for its real estate and local income taxes, realty transfers and interest income, he said Thursday.
The real estate tax revenue, for example, will increase just a half percent over its current rate, instead of the normal 2 percent the district experienced prior to the recession, Schoch said.
He gave "best case" and "worst case" scenarios of the potential loss for each revenue source:
? The best case scenario for real estate revenue losses is about $900,000 and the worst case is $1.5 million.
? Lost interest income will be between $2 million and $2.2 million.
? Realty transfers will be between $1.7 million and $2.3 million less than what would have previously been collected.
? In terms of local income tax revenue, the best case scenario is a loss of $750,000 and the worst case is $1.27 million.
District officials are trying to figure out how the revenue losses will impact the 2009-10 budget, Schoch said.
In an effort to offset that impact, the district is trying to keep as many contracts as possible at the same rate as the current year, Schoch said.
Pennsbury Teacher Contract
From the BCCT.
Why do I keep hearing the same John Williams music in the background that I hear when I'm taking a swim at the shore?
Vote to extend teachers contract coming
By MANASEE WAGH
The board says it's determined to keep next year's tax hike to a maximum of 4.1 percent, said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Teachers and board members will soon vote on extending the current teacher contract in Pennsbury for another year, which would cost taxpayers an additional $1.1 million.
If the board and more than 800 Pennsbury teacher union members ratify the tentative agreement, it would mean freezing cost-of-living raises for a year. Teachers would still get longevity and educational attainment pay increases dictated by the pay scale. They also would retain a benefit package that requires them to contribute 10 percent toward their health care benefits.
The board plans to vote on the contract extension Feb. 19, some time after the teachers act on it, officials said.
At an average teacher salary of $77,524, Pennsbury ranks in the top 10 of 501 school districts in the state. Teacher salaries start at about $41,176 and peak at roughly $98,222.
"The people at the top of the scale - between 54 and 56 percent - would not receive an increase," said board President Gregory Lucidi on Friday about longevity and educational attainment pay increases.
Based on previous estimates, the rough additional costs in the coming school year under an extended contract would be an average of about $1.4 million for longevity, and educational attainment increases would count for about $500,000, he said.
Lucidi said the district expects about 20 retirements, which would save it $800,000, assuming it hires replacements at the lowest salary level. So the net effect would be a $1.1 million increase, he said.
Pennsbury's business administrator, Isabel Miller, wasn't in the office Friday to answer questions about how much of the total budget goes to teacher salaries and benefits. District CEO Paul Long said he didn't want to comment on teacher contracts before the tentative agreement is ratified, he said.
According to an initial budget draft, the district is facing a $12.2 million deficit - not including a 10 percent tax increase. The board will be approving a revised version of the preliminary $180 million budget at a Feb. 12 special meeting.
Without knowing if the district could face an emergency between now and the June 30 deadline for final budget approval, the administration recommends following through with the Act 1 budget process, including applying for exemptions to raise taxes above the state-imposed limit of 4.1 percent.
That doesn't mean the district will necessarily use the exemptions. Applying for them prevents possible financial emergencies that could arise later, Lucidi said. The board is likely to approve applying for exemptions at the Feb. 12 meeting, he said.
The Bristol Township, Council Rock and Morrisville School Districts have passed resolutions promising not to raise property taxes for 2009-10 more than the 4.1 percent limit.
Lucidi stressed that Pennsbury is also determined to keep taxes at or below the limit. The district is looking at all areas of district operations to trim the budget, he said.
"We're required by Act 1 to approve a preliminary budget. It's nothing more than an estimate. There is absolutely no way the board would approve a 10 percent tax hike. The maximum tax increase would be the index. And we're trying to get it well below that," he said.
Why do I keep hearing the same John Williams music in the background that I hear when I'm taking a swim at the shore?
Vote to extend teachers contract coming
By MANASEE WAGH
The board says it's determined to keep next year's tax hike to a maximum of 4.1 percent, said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Teachers and board members will soon vote on extending the current teacher contract in Pennsbury for another year, which would cost taxpayers an additional $1.1 million.
If the board and more than 800 Pennsbury teacher union members ratify the tentative agreement, it would mean freezing cost-of-living raises for a year. Teachers would still get longevity and educational attainment pay increases dictated by the pay scale. They also would retain a benefit package that requires them to contribute 10 percent toward their health care benefits.
The board plans to vote on the contract extension Feb. 19, some time after the teachers act on it, officials said.
At an average teacher salary of $77,524, Pennsbury ranks in the top 10 of 501 school districts in the state. Teacher salaries start at about $41,176 and peak at roughly $98,222.
"The people at the top of the scale - between 54 and 56 percent - would not receive an increase," said board President Gregory Lucidi on Friday about longevity and educational attainment pay increases.
Based on previous estimates, the rough additional costs in the coming school year under an extended contract would be an average of about $1.4 million for longevity, and educational attainment increases would count for about $500,000, he said.
Lucidi said the district expects about 20 retirements, which would save it $800,000, assuming it hires replacements at the lowest salary level. So the net effect would be a $1.1 million increase, he said.
Pennsbury's business administrator, Isabel Miller, wasn't in the office Friday to answer questions about how much of the total budget goes to teacher salaries and benefits. District CEO Paul Long said he didn't want to comment on teacher contracts before the tentative agreement is ratified, he said.
According to an initial budget draft, the district is facing a $12.2 million deficit - not including a 10 percent tax increase. The board will be approving a revised version of the preliminary $180 million budget at a Feb. 12 special meeting.
Without knowing if the district could face an emergency between now and the June 30 deadline for final budget approval, the administration recommends following through with the Act 1 budget process, including applying for exemptions to raise taxes above the state-imposed limit of 4.1 percent.
That doesn't mean the district will necessarily use the exemptions. Applying for them prevents possible financial emergencies that could arise later, Lucidi said. The board is likely to approve applying for exemptions at the Feb. 12 meeting, he said.
The Bristol Township, Council Rock and Morrisville School Districts have passed resolutions promising not to raise property taxes for 2009-10 more than the 4.1 percent limit.
Lucidi stressed that Pennsbury is also determined to keep taxes at or below the limit. The district is looking at all areas of district operations to trim the budget, he said.
"We're required by Act 1 to approve a preliminary budget. It's nothing more than an estimate. There is absolutely no way the board would approve a 10 percent tax hike. The maximum tax increase would be the index. And we're trying to get it well below that," he said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)