The Emperor's Emails

More of the Emperor's emails were released Wednesday night by board member Gloria Heater.

We see a picture emerging of a tragic Nixonian figure, a brilliant man who cannot handle a meeting or understand that he is the main contributor to his own problems.

He sees everyone going off in all directions under his watch, yet is powerless to stop it.

He portrays himself as a brilliant strategist and planner, yet botches the execution of those plans, holding them close to the chest, letting no one else in.

Leadership is partly being in front. It also means that there are followers. Yes, yes, we all know about the board of chosen accomplices. Every dictator through time has had a band of trusted servants. "Followers" refers to more than just the people predisposed to follow you. It means you can rally a diverse group to you.

He hears only one voice. His own.

From: bill hellmann [mailto:bill_hellmannXXXXX@yahoo.com}
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 10:38 AM
To: Heater, Gloria
Cc: bill hellmann
Subject: RE: The truth is
how am i to control the meeting when reithmeyer constantly interrupts and
yonson constantly interrupts and the pro-schoolers speak out of line?
the problem, gloria, is we have to make decisions that are unpopular to a
certain segment that attends the meetings. there is no way out of it. it is
either that or the town goes financially in trouble. yonson, kemp,
reithrneyer and the pro-schoolers have no talent in the area of planning or
financial projections. they do not know what the ramifications of their
voting is. yonson wants to spend unlimited to get scores up. kemp wants a
private school for his kid. reithrneyer wants to be a popular politician and
do nothing except raise taxes extremely high. the pro-schoolers want a
private school for their kids.
NONE OF THEM REALIZE THE FINANCIAL SUFFERING TO COME THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
the old board meetings were chaotic also, even more so, because of the
CONTROVERSY. there is no way out of these raucous meetings. if you can't
take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

More on Homelessness

You're welcome.

Thank you, Save the School, for posting this information about homelessness. Our district serves children who are homeless, more than most people realize, as it must and as it SHOULD. Therefore, board members (who take an oath to uphold quality education for the children they represent) ARE responsible for the education of those children. Many of us would be but a paycheck away from homelessness in these challenging economic times. Surely, no family faces such a crisis by choice.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing this important issue to light.

Comprehending Homelessness, Children, and Education

Thanks to the emailer for the links and research.

Dear Marlys,

We recently saw an email where you expressed some slight uncertainty over responsibility for homeless students.

"I have tried to comprehend Gloria's e-mails to you about the homeless kids and the school boards responsibility to them. Just to let you know I will never, never, ever be responsible for any child because I am a school board member."

We understand your concern. Many people who have a roof over their heads express similar feelings. Unfortunately, in these days of economic uncertainty, more and more families are facing homelessness.

We do not expect for you to personally provide Motel 6 like amenities, although the hot tub does sound like a Jim Dandy idea. Just imagine for a moment the happy squeals of joy from several children who have had almost nothing to laugh about for quite a long time now. Here is some information on what you or any other concerned private citizen can do to help.

The Bucks County Intermediate Unit also has some resources on homelessness and students. Perhaps the BCIU representative from the school board can help you.

As a school board member, you do have a teeny-tiny itsy-bitsy little bit of responsibility. The Pennsylvania Department of Education website has a site search tool.

Here's a bit from the Homeless Children's Education Fund webpage.

A 2008 estimate of homeless children and youth in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is approximately 30,000 (ages birth to 18). 50% are in elementary school, 26% in middle school, and 24% in high school. Pennsylvania ranks 6th nationwide in the number of children and youth identified as homeless (behind California, Florida, Michigan, New York and Texas).

Since a child often spends anywhere from a few days to a few months in a given center, many of the children counted in these surveys are forced to adapt to several different living spaces and schools each year. That exacts a terrible toll on a young mind and spirit.

What about the children's schooling?

Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Act, signed into law in July 1987, included authorization of the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program. A fact sheet provided by the National Coalition for the Homeless (Fact Sheet #10, updated June 2008) includes a summary of amendments to the act. The critically important 1994 amendment "provided local educational authorities with greater flexibility in the use of funds; specified the rights of homeless preschoolers to a free and appropriate public preschool education; gave parents of homeless children and youth a voice regarding their children's school placement; and required educational authorities to coordinate with housing authorities."

* Children must be allowed to remain in the school they were attending before becoming homeless and for the entire time they are homeless, even if they move from place to place
* The school district must arrange transportation for children who choose to remain at their school of origin but have moved outside that school's boundaries
* Children must be enrolled without delay, even if they lack necessary documentation or immunization records
* Children cannot be segregated from peers solely because of their residential status
* School districts are mandated to hire/train a homeless liaison to coordinate services and ensure compliance with federal/state mandates

Links:
National Coalition for the Homeless
Bucks County Housing Group
Bucks County Homeless Shelters
Interfaith Housing Development Corporation of Bucks County

Don't Show Us the Money!

From the BCCT.

Pennsylvania Republicans are moving toward saying "NO" to stimulus money.

Pa. may turn down some stimulus funds
By: Gary Weckselblatt
The Intelligencer

State Republican lawmakers from Bucks County claim federal stimulus money has too many strings and will ultimately leave the state with long-term fiscal problems if it's accepted.

Citing federal mandates that come with portions of the $16 billion and rules that still "haven't been written," the legislators said in some cases it's best to turn the money down.

"We'll take the money for construction and engineering jobs," state Sen. Chuck McIlhinney said. "The shovel-ready projects are the way to go. The other stuff is just social engineering."

Speaking at a Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce breakfast Friday, where members begged for some good news, the lawmakers didn't oblige.

McIlhinney said if the state accepts federal stimulus funds for unemployment compensation, for example, it's mandatory that the Family Leave Act includes 12 weeks of time off with pay.

"That would cripple small business," McIlhinney said. "It's a very noble idea. They're doing it in California and they're in great shape there.

"These are the things we're going to say no to."

Another example McIlhinney cited is the Troubled Asset Relief Program [TARP], where rules for gaining access to the $700 billion kept changing.

"Tell us what you want up front," he said.

"That's the amazing thing about Washington," said state Rep. Kathy Watson, "the money's coming, but the rules for using it haven't been written."

It's possible a portion of the stimulus money could be used to stave off the anticipated school pension spike in 2012 from today's 4.76 percent district contribution rate to one in excess of 30 percent.

State Rep. Bernie O'Neill, co-chair of the House Republican Policy Committee's Education and Job Training Task Force, is looking at giving districts stimulus money to hold in a "secure dedicated fund" to ease the increase.

O'Neill also bemoaned Gov. Ed Rendell's plans to create new education programs while cutting others. "It's going to be a battle," he said.

He cited the state's push for Keystone Exams, a series of 10 state-developed end-of-course exams that area districts had balked at.

"It would cost our school board $42 million," O'Neill said.

State Rep. Paul Clymer said he's "opposed to the direction the governor is moving on these tests."

Clymer, an anti-gambling crusader, also blasted Rendell's proposed expansion of video gambling machines into bars to lower costs for those attending state universities.

"It's an enormous amount of gambling expansion in Pennsylvania," he said. "This is not the way this state should be going."

The same could be said for overall spending, according to State Rep. Scott Petri, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Economic Impact and Infrastructure.

He said that although state revenues decreased by 6.2 percent this fiscal year Rendell plans to increase spending from $28 billion to $29 billion.

"I don't believe another state has proposed higher spending than last year," Petri said. "We've got to buckle down."

Also Friday, state Rep. Marguerite Quinn argued on behalf of Worth & Co., the mechanical contractor from Plumstead that's been hounded by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for paying 19 of its 450 workers $61,516 less than prevailing wage over a four-year period.

She said the state's "draconian measures" could put the company out of business.

"We're told by the governor, we're told by Washington that things are getting better. I'm not seeing it," Quinn said.

She then went on to question the government's commitment to job growth.

Quinn used the illustration of Congressman Patrick Murphy's plan to spend $10 million in flood relief to potentially create 200 jobs and $2 million more for up to 12 jobs at Humanistic Robotics.

"Do the math," she said. "We've got 450 jobs here that pay between $75,000 and $100,000 each. We're going to throw those away for $61,000.

"I'm deeply concerned with this fight. + Scream about this. It's something we should not let happen."

Teen volunteers honored

From the BCCT.

After seeing the selfishness of our school board so well displayed yesterday, it is refreshing to see that the next generation is using a more community based focus.

Congrats to Morrisville honoree Michael Leather!

Teen volunteers honored by Bucks County YWCA
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times

Jazmin Shields spends countless hours volunteering her time to make her world a better place.

The senior at Harry S Truman High School in Bristol Township is the Bucks County NAACP Youth Council president. She’s also a youth ambassador for St. Mary’s stroke awareness initiative and a volunteer with the YWCA and Camp Hidden Falls.

Plus she volunteers with Youth Fighting Against Tobacco, Neighborhood First and the peer mediation program and environmental club at her high school.

For her efforts, Jazmin has been named the Bucks County Teen Volunteer of the Year.

The Truman senior was one of 20 area teens honored by the YWCA of Bucks County recently in conjunction with National Volunteer Week for their service to the community.

The top volunteer is chosen based on a willingness to serve and take on a leadership role or significant responsibility in that service. The teens also are selected based on whether they have a mix of school and community-based volunteer efforts and how their service impacts the lives of others, organizers said.

Other teens recognized during the YWCA awards ceremony at the Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit No. 22 complex in Doylestown on Wednesday are:

Kaitlyn Utermark, Archbishop Wood High School senior, who volunteers at Wood Services and with Aid for Friends and Operation Santa Claus.

Jaison Zachariah, Bensalem High School senior, who serves as a math tutor, a library and hospital volunteer, with the school’s Student Government Association and as vice president of Bensalem’s National Honor Society.

Anikka Grange, Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School senior, who works with the homeless ministry, is a Titus Kitchen instructor and a member of a library club and the Interact Club.

Kristin Sandquist, Central Bucks East High School senior, is a founding member of Team Peru Denmark —Kiya Survivors, a Key Club and Interact Club member and a Special Olympics volunteer.

Thomas Lonergan, Central Bucks South High School senior, who volunteers with Doylestown Hospital patient transport, American Cancer Society Coaches vs. Cancer campaign and with community-based athletic programs in Central Bucks.

Kelly Steelman, Central Bucks West High School senior, is a March of Dimes, NOVA, Relay for Life and soup kitchen volunteer.

Julia Burke, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School senior, is a Community Services Corps vice president, a student council representative and a member of the Key Club.

Joshua Wortzel, Council Rock High School North senior, is the Garden of Giving founder and president, National Honor Society president, a member of the environmental protection and Invisible Children clubs, and Pennsbury Manor Historic Center volunteer.
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Catherine Edwards, Council Rock High School South senior, volunteers at the Churchville Nature Center, Northampton library, St. Mary Medical Center and the Bucks County Association for the Blind.

Michael Tantum, Holy Ghost Preparatory School junior, is an elementary school tutor, a Pickering Manor and music volunteer, and did his Boy Scout Eagle Scout project in Middletown’s Community Park.

Michael Leather, Morrisville Middle/Senior High School senior, is a Boy Scout, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact Club, and Mentors in Violence Prevention.

Valentina Souprountchak, Neshaminy High School senior, works with the district’s toy drive, People to People, Fairy Godmothers, Sister Wheeler’s annual Thanksgiving dinner and VITAS Organization for Hospice.

Elizabeth Rowland, New Hope-Solebury High School senior, is a variety camp volunteer, a Girl Scout, a member of the Key Club and a volunteer with the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, Relay for Life and A Woman’s Place.

Colleen Moran, Palisades High School senior, is Key Club president, volunteers with the Delaware River Clean-up Community Project, Kiwanis Club and Students for Social Change and serves as National Honor Society vice president.

Kelsey Detweiler, Pennridge High School senior, volunteers with the Adopt A Highway program, Stand Tall Student Mentoring program, Pennridge Ambassador program and is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society.

Ashley Mullican, Pennsbury High School senior, has volunteered with the American Red Cross Blood Drive, New Orleans Rebuilding Effort, Aid for Friends, Souper Bowl of Caring and at Pickering Manor.

Molly Jamison, Quakertown Community High School senior, has served as a Youth With a Mission director, at Allentown Rescue Mission, Milford homeless shelter, and Quakertown food pantry and is a National Honor Society member.

Brittany Nicole King, Villa Joseph Marie High School junior, works with Canine Companions for Independence.

Geoffrey Eill, William Tennent High School senior, volunteers with a local adoption agency, Doylestown Hospital patient transport, Cat Tales Inc., American Red Cross Blood Drive, and is a Key Club member.

Each honoree received a certificate of appreciation and a monetary award for their volunteer service, organizers said.

Don't Tax Me!

From the Philadephia Daily News

We hate taxes! The teabaggers chant of choice! It's an unsurprising poll finding.

It's easy to say don't tax ME. The harder answer is the one to the question how are WE going to pay for US?

New poll: we hate taxes Posted on Fri, Apr. 24, 2009

ACCORDING TO A NEW poll from the Pew Charitable Trust's Philadelphia Research Initiative.

The 800 Philadelphians contacted for the poll are unsure about how deal with the $1.4 billion hole in the city budget. According to the survey, residents oppose Mayor Nutter's plan to increase the property and sales tax.

But a majority also opposes increasing the wage tax, which has been pushed as an alternative by some members of City Council.

That seems straightforward enough, but the poll also found that many people don't understand the ramifications of not increasing taxes. Sixty-two percent opposed reducing the city workforce by just 250 employees, which is only about 1 percent of the total. That's a major disconnect, since failing to raise taxes will undoubtedly lead to layoffs.

It's particularly puzzling because both Nutter and Council have tried to engage the public. More than 1,700 people attended community budget forums sponsored by the administration, and Council added additional public hearings in neighborhoods. The citizen input from these events runs counter to the poll results.

Part of the reason could be that responding to a poll requires little thinking. Who is going tell a stranger over the telephone that they want to increase taxes? In contrast, the forums actually required citizens to come up with actual solutions.

Ultimately, the findings are also a warning against government by polling. The financial crisis demands that Nutter and Council provide strong leadership. Their decisions should take public input into account, but must also be rooted in sound public policy. Some of the ultimate decisions might make the public unhappy, but it's clear that it's going to take hard choices to get the city through this crisis. *

"I will never, never, ever be responsible for any child because I am a school board member"

Thank you everyone for the overwhelming response. I now have a copy of the emails.

Ladies and gentlemen: Introducing Marlys Mihok, Morrisville Borough School Board Secretary addressing her lord liege, the Emperor.

From: dxxxxxxxaol.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:27 AM
To: Heater, Gloria
Subject: Re: zoning issues

Dear King,
I have tried to comprehend Gloria's e-mails to you about the homeless kids and the school boards responsibility to them. Just to let you know I will never, never, ever be responsible for any child because I am a school board member.
Never had kids of my own and I certainly don't want anyone else's kids. If I have to take kids home and feed and cloth them, tuck them in and send them to school I'm afraid I'll need a pass. Never realized I was responsible to the extent that Gloria is saying. I just volunteered to be a school board member, not a mother. WHERE DOES SHE COME UP WITH STUFF? I hope she takes her medication before tonights meeting.

More Email Released *Your Help Needed*

School board member Gloria Heater provided another exposé on the Emperor's unfortunate email habits Wednesday night.

I have several email requests to see the documents. Alas, I do not have copies of them. If some kind soul would provide copies, I will post them as quickly as possible.

We Saved A TON of Money

From the BCCT.

No tax increase for district
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times

The district saved $1 million by cutting down wasteful practices and installing a new air conditioning system.

The Morrisville school board has approved a zero tax increase and a proposed $18.9 million final budget for next year.

The news came as a relief to many residents at the Wednesday evening meeting. Taxes are expected to remain the same as this year, at $3,371 for an average assessed property of $18,000. Individual taxes may be lower if people take advantage of homestead rebates that the state offers from its gaming revenue. The millage rate is 187.3 mills and the value of a mill in Morrisville is $59,059.

The budget decreased by about $1 million from this year, due to several changes. Among them are a more efficient HVAC system in the high school next year and an effort to cut extraneous paper use and other wasteful practices.

As usual, salaries and benefits make up a large percentage of expenditures. Total staff salaries are expected to cost $9.22 million and total benefits should be $2.35 million.

"That's pretty consistent with where we were last year," said business administrator Paul DeAngelo.

Residents asked if the reduced budget means education will be affected.

"I can assure you all the cuts will not change any of the programs we have been doing," said Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson.

Some residents pointed to the disruption of M.R. Reiter Elementary School's operation as well as the loss of two elementary principals and a high school principal as a sign that education has been affected.

After Reiter Elementary closed several months ago due to a furnace explosion, the district ended up saving money in daily operational costs for the school. Students have been placed in other district buildings and eight modular units, which are paid for by insurance. There are no plans to replace three principals who left for various reasons, including a new job and retirement.

Although their jobs have been temporarily covered by other capable staff and administration, the board should think about replacing the principals, said board member Robin Reithmeyer.

In his 2009-10 budget calculations, DeAngelo assumed that Reiter would remain a non-operational district property. If the board decides this summer to sell it, the revenue could be used toward planned or future renovations for the district's middle/high school and other elementary school.

The budget appears balanced for now, but the future could bring uncontrollable expenditures to the district, said DeAngelo. One of the most damaging could be the anticipated sharp rise in future retirement pension contributions, up to 30 percent higher by 2013, according to the state. After next year, DeAngelo wants Morrisville to place $500,000 annually in a fund to avoid asking taxpayers to dig deep for retirement pensions.

The board plans to hear a public response to the proposed final budget on May 13 and adopt the budget on May 27. Details are available on the business page of Morrisville schools' Web site at www.mv.org/district.cfm?subpage=537779 and in district offices at 550 West Palmer St.

Pa. coalition favors testing high school seniors

From the Inquirer.

Pa. coalition favors testing high school seniors
By Dan Hardy Posted on Thu, Apr. 23, 2009

Inquirer Staff Writer
A newly formed statewide coalition added its voice yesterday to the debate about whether Pennsylvania should develop statewide tests that some high school students would have to pass to get a diploma.

The group - which includes teachers' unions, parent groups, advocates for special education and the gifted, school administrators' organizations, and the Pennsylvania NAACP - said it favored the voluntary use of proposed state tests by school districts as final exams in 10 subjects.

But it said it opposed a state Education Department proposal that would make passing such tests a condition for graduation.

Some of the tests, the group said, might also be used in the future to replace Pennsylvania's 11th grade math and reading PSSAs - the state's No Child Left Behind competency tests. But the state test could count for no more than 20 percent of any final course grade, it said.

The group - Coalition for Effective and Responsible Testing (CERT) - announced its proposals at a news conference in Harrisburg.

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D, Chester), the minority chair of the Education Committee, joined the coalition members, saying the proposal "provides local teachers and school boards some degree of control over the test."

In a statement, Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey Piccola (R., Dauphin) said this was "another positive development in the conversation and ongoing debate to enact a system of strengthened assessments that can be supported by everyone."

Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak said in a statement that "we have seen nearly every state-level education association acknowledge the limitations of the status quo and the need for reform." But under CERT's proposal, he said, "you lose the assurance that any student in any school is actually able to show they are meeting high school academic standards."

The CERT plan is the latest round in a contentious exchange about whether Pennsylvania should beef up graduation requirements, which now are determined mainly by school districts with little uniformity across the state.

Since early 2008, the state Board of Education, the Department of Education, and the Rendell administration have pushed for comprehensive state tests, saying thousands of graduates lack the skills needed to succeed in college and the workforce. Any change would be phased in over several years and would not affect current high school students.

The state now requires that to graduate from high school, students must complete a senior project and either pass the math or reading PSSAs or pass graduation assessments set by their districts. Most districts use their own measures to set graduation eligibility.

Critics complain that a district's assessments often have not been evaluated by any outside group to see whether they really meet state standards. For example, a required course such as Algebra 1 in one district could be very different from another district's version of it - and both could differ from state standards.

This year, a study by two Pennsylvania State University researchers said most districts could not show that their local assessments met state benchmarks.

The debate over graduation requirements began last year when the Board of Education and the Education Department proposed the adoption of 10 math, reading, writing, science and social studies tests that would be offered in all school districts.

Students who failed the 11th grade math and reading PSSAs would have to pass the equivalent state tests to graduate, pass a similar local test or pass the equivalent Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests.

Special education students would only have to meet individualized requirements set by local teams of educators and parents.

The plan faced widespread opposition from school boards and lawmakers. They said that students should not have to take more tests, and that standardized exams were poor indicators of student proficiency and students who do not do well on that kind of test would be denied a diploma. Last July, legislators shelved the plan for a year.

In March, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the Board of Education and the Education Department proposed a compromise: the 10 tests could be developed and used as graduation requirements, starting in 2015, but it would be up to school districts whether to give them and whether to use them for graduation requirements even if they did give them. They plan to introduce the revised proposal in July.

The three groups agreed to strengthen local graduation assessments. A committee of experts would set guidelines for them and all the assessments would be evaluated.

Yesterday, CERT also proposed a review of local graduation assessments by a committee of experts, parents, educators and students.

Bulldogs Have a New Place to Play

From BucksLocalNews.com

Everyone says "Let the dogs play". When do they say "tax relief is on the way"?

Posted on Thu, Apr 23, 2009
Morrisville Council OKs new dog park
The new dog park received unanimous approval by council.
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Staff Editor

The canine population in Morrisville Borough now has something else to bark about.In an 8-0 vote, the Morrisville Borough Council approved Morrisville Dog Park on April 20. The park will be situated at Delmorr and Philadelphia avenues in the southern part of the borough - not far from the Delaware River.

About 20 proponents of the park attended the meeting. The Friends of Morrisville Dog Park and council members have had long discussions about using a piece of borough-owned land for a dog park. The land is earmarked as open space.

"This gives us the go-ahead," said Ellen Stieve after the meeting. "It's been a long road. It's like having a baby. It's been nine months!"

Stieve said the unanimous decision is "a turning point to move forward."
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After the meeting, Nancy Sherlock, council president, noted "the vote authorizes the borough manager to proceed with the dog park based on the borough engineer's specifications and dimensions as approved by borough council."

Sherlock said the dog park is "another amenity for the town. This is a group of people who were willing to work for a goal, to come out and assist with the fencing."

To expedite the process, the project will be completed in two phases, the later portion dealing with parking. For now, there will be only off-street parking. Council decided to ask the fire company whether its vacant lot could be used by visitors of the dog park. Borough Manager George Mount had warned it would be better not to use off-street parking.

Talks are underway to determine how many parking spaces are allowed on the site; given the land is part of the borough's open space plan. Five spaces would be allowed. The group wants 20. Another concern was the location of the proposed parking area and whether drivers would be more apt to park on the grass. On the plan, the gates will be moved closer to the proposed parking area to avoid a potential problem.

The Friends of Morrisville Dog Park incorporated as a non-profit organization. They hosted a popular dog wash to raise funds to build a fence and are planning some other fund raisers.

Stieve had given an update and presented the project's final site plan to council on April 16. Council's unanimous vote means the site plan has been approved. Several revisions to the site plan were made to address the council's concerns. A memorandum of understanding will be signed later, spelling out the responsibilities for the borough and the dog park proponents.

She noted some council members recently visited the site. One of the requests from the council was to move the lot line by 15 feet at Delmorr Avenue "to accommodate a picnic area and recreation area," Stieve explained.

Before the meeting, Stieve said since she first presented the idea to the council, the dog park's square footage has gotten "smaller and smaller."

The caged section for small dogs will be 77' x 73' while the larger one will be 220' x 115'.

Stieve noted her group has worked with the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC).

The EAC has opposed allowing commercial signs to line the fencing around the park's perimeter.

The dog park proponents said they would have used proceeds to pay for fencing for the park. The EAC maintained the signs are not allowed in designated open space areas. The EAC has said the Bucks County Planning Commission does not allow signage like that.

A compromise was made to have something like a kiosk in one area near the dog park where sponsors could be listed.

The EAC had also been concerned about protecting three large trees, which were originally proposed to be inside the dog park. Park proponents had said the trees would provide shade. However, the trees will now be located outside the fence.

To contribute to the Morrisville Dog Park, make checks payable to Friends of Morrisville Dog Park, c/o Ellen Stieve, 421 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Morrisville, Pa. 19067.

PTO Fundraiser

Thanks to the emailer who sent me this.

There's still a lot of bulldog spirit out there. Keep it up!

Tonight, [Thursday] the Morrisville PTO held a fundraiser at Barnes & Noble in Oxford Valley and it was a success! I hope all walked away with a renewed sense of pride for our district and even more gratitude for our teachers than before. There was a great turnout by parents and teachers alike and all kids had a fun time listening to the teachers read and participating in a scavenger hunt. It was nice seeing new faces and familiar ones, too and even better to see so many smiles! Thanks to everyone's generosity we will find out soon how much money was raised.
Thank you to all who helped make it a great event!

Business Meeting Recap

Any news from the business meeting?

Bristol Twp: No to Tech School Budget

From the BCCT.

School board rejects budget
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times

About one-third of students attending the technical training school come from Bristol Township.

The Bristol Township school board has rejected Bucks County Technical High School's proposed $22.4 million budget for 2009-10 to protest the added costs the district will be charged in the coming school year.

The township's share is scheduled to go up 15 percent over 2008-09 figures while overall costs at the comprehensive technical high school will increase 2.9 percent from the current year, officials said.

According to the tech school's funding formula, Bristol Township's added cost share is needed to cover increased enrollments from that district in recent years, officials said. Bristol Township sends about one third of the 1,500 students enrolled in the tech school, which also serves the Bensalem, Bristol, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts.

"I don't think there's a single member on this board that is at all against the tech school," Bristol Township school board President W. Earl Bruck said Monday night after board voted 0-8-1 to reject the 2009-10 proposed budget. Board members would like to see Bristol Township's increase closer to the 2.9 percent figure.

Bruck, who voted no, said he realizes that despite the vote, enough of the other governing bodies from the sending districts will approve and enact the budget.

To make that happen, at least four boards from the sending districts and at least 28 board members of the governing bodies have to approve the proposed budget.

As of today, the Bristol and Morrisville boards have approved the tech school financial plan and 17 members of those two governing bodies have voted in favor of it.

Pennsbury's board is set to vote on it tonight. The Neshaminy and Bensalem boards are scheduled next week to vote on the proposed tech school budget.

Bensalem and Bristol also will pay more next year while Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury will pay less than in 2008-09, according to the funding formula, tech school officials said.

Local school districts cover the bulk of the operating budget for the school on Wistar Road in Bristol Township. State and federal funds and other sources make up the difference in the $22.4 budget.

Sharing the costs

Below is the proposed payment schedule per sending school district to balance the budget for the Bucks County Technical High School in the 2009-10 school year.

Bensalem $3,135,268 ($2,998,665 for 2008-9)
Bristol $733,313 ($691,360)
Bristol Township $6,503,272 ($5,646,491
Morrisville $528,077 ($607,612)
Neshaminy $3,921,993 ($4,048,804)
Pennsbury $3,643,532 ($3,950,799)

Bensalem: New Staff Contract Approved

From the BCCT.

Split board approves support staff contract
By: Joan Hellyer

Bensalem School District support staff employees will receive annual pay raises and contribute more toward their healthcare benefits, according to a new contract recently approved by the school board.

The four-year deal calls for members of the Bensalem Township Educational Support Professional Association to receive salary increases of three percent each of the first two years, a 3.5 percent increase in the third year and a four-percent pay hike in the fourth year, Superintendent James Lombardo said.

The agreement also includes equity adjustments of 50 cents per hour in the second year and 75 cents per hour in the third year for playground and cafeteria aides to make their salaries comparable to similar employees in other districts, Lombardo said.

The employees also agreed to go to the 10/20/70 insurance plan offered by Personal Choice to help reduce district expenses, the superintendent said. It is less expensive than the provider’s Option 15 plan previously available to the staff members.

In addition, the BTESPA members also agreed to pay $22 per month toward their healthcare premium if they have the Personal Choice plan and $17 per month if they have the less costly Keystone Point of Service plan, Lombardo said.

The new deal is retroactive to September 2008 and runs through August 2012.
The association represents 156 non-teaching assistants, registered nurses, personal care assistants, and cafeteria and library aides who work in the district’s nine schools.

With the new contract, starting salaries range from about $11 per hour to just under $19 per hour depending on the position, Lombardo said.

The board originally voted on the proposed agreement during its Feb. 25 meeting, but fell one “yes” vote short of approving the deal.

The deal was brought back before the board during its April 7 meeting after Carol McGuire, who was not present during the February meeting, asked that it be reconsidered.

It was approved 5-4 with McGuire, James Bodnar, Rose Jacobs, Carol Jones and Stephen Nowmos voting in favor of the pact. President Harry Kramer, Vice President Eugene Rothenberg, Dr. Lewis Brandt and Heather Nicholas voted against.

Budget Q (Minus the A)

Here's a series of budget questions posed by one of our indefatigable commenters.

Will answers ever be found? Perhaps we'll know tonight at 7:30 when the monthly business meeting of the Court of Emperor William I is held.

Jon has left a new comment on your post "George Mount Retiring":

This belongs further down, but below are some Budget Thoughts & Questions, based on looking at the 4/8/09 Powerpoint presentation in the 2009-2010 Budget Links.

Revenues

1. Overall, budgeted revenues are up $124k over last year ($18,895k vs. $18,771k).

2. Where’s the extra revenue coming from? The Federal government.

3. Local revenues are down $211k ($11,962k vs. $12,173k).

4. State revenues are essentially flat (+2k, $5,553k vs. $5,551k).

5. Federal revenues are up $332k ($1,231k vs. $899k).

6. Why are Local revenues down $211k?

Even thought the millage rate stays the same as last year (187.3 mils), this budget assumes a $102k reduction in Real Estate Tax revenues ($10,617k vs. $10,719k). That and a $147.5k (50%) drop in Investment Earnings ($147.5k vs. $295k) overwhelm a $67k increase ($102k vs. 35k) in “Rentals”.

Question: How is this near-tripling of Rental revenue going to be achieved?

7. Why are State revenues flat (+2k)?

A $338k increase in basic education funding ($3,265k vs. $2,926k) is virtually wiped out by the loss of a $102k EAP Grant for Tutoring, and a $201k drop in Extra Grant funding ($530k vs. $329k).

Question: Why did we lose this $303k in grant funding? Hopefully it wasn’t from prior cuts in grant writing resources.

8. Why are Federal revenues up (+$331k)?

Mostly from a $297k increase in 21st Century Grant funding ($919k vs. $622k).

Question: Isn’t this grant funding targeted to certain programs, and not for basic education, so it doesn't necessarily replace lost Local & State revenue?

9. Conclusions: Overall revenues are up, but mostly from higher Federal 21st Century Grant funding. But this grant funding is likely "earmarked" for certain programs, so it doesn't necessarily replace lost Local & State revenue. That means overall basic education revenues look down.


Expenses

1. Overall, expenses are down $988k ($18,895k vs. 19,883k).

2. Where are the expenses dropping?

The 6 areas with changes > $50k are:

a. 1200 (Special Programs) is down $429k ($3,454k vs. $3,883k). Salaries are up $223k ($1,211k vs. $988k), but “Purchased Professional & Technical Services” dropped a whopping $694k ($1,205k vs. $1,899k).

Questions: What makes up these Purchased Professional & Technical Services? Why such a drastic drop?Is something being deferred until next year? Why? Was something pricey bought last year that isn't being bought this year?

b. 1300 (Vocational Education) is down $81k ($758k vs. $839k), mostly from an $89k drop in “Other Purchased Services ($537k vs. $626k).

Question: Is this from Morrisville’s reduced Tech School share under the funding formula this year?

c. 2100 (Support Services) is down $119k. Salaries are up $56k ($419k vs. $363k), but “Purchased Professional & Technical Services” dropped $176.5k (from $182k to $5.5k, a 97% drop).

Questions: Again, what makes up these Purchased Professional & Technical Services? Why such a drastic drop? Is something being deferred until next year? Why? Was something pricey bought last year that isn't being bought this year?

d. 2300 (Administration) is down $208k, mostly from a $164k drop in Salaries ($495k vs. $659k), and a $21k drop in Benefits ($148k vs. $169k).

Question: Is this from the loss of Kate Taylor and Karen Huggins, and not replacing Asst. Principals? If so, I just hope this 3.5 mil savings is worth it in the long run.

e. 2600 (Maintenance) is down $112k ($1,622k vs. $1,734k, mostly from reduced Purchased Property Services (-$53k) and reduced Supplies (-$59k).

Question: Is this from not having to maintain MR Reiter as much? If so, it isn’t that big of a drop in overall maintenance spending (< 1.9 mils, < 6.5% drop in Maint. budget, but 1 out of 3 buildings is 33.3%, and MR Reiter’s 47,397 ft2 is 20% of the combined 237,689 ft2 of all 3 buildings). At < 1.9 mils, it’s certainly not the FORTUNE Bill Hellmann said we’d save.

f. 5100 (Debt Service) is up $67k ($997k vs. $930k).

Questions: Does this year's installment on paying off the $2.5 million in Bond Defeasement Expenses Hellmann didn't tell anybody about factor into this? Otherwise, why is Debt Sevice up when most of the bond money was defeased – didn’t that drastically reduce the debt?

3. Conclusions: reduced Administration and Maintenance cut expenses by $320k, about 1/3rd of the total $988k drop in expenses. Special Programs, Vocational Education, and Support Services dropped a combined $629k. Salaries are generally still rising, so a concern is that the cuts are coming from items that effect educational delivery.

Other Misc. Comments

1. p.6 --> some of the bar graph heights look wrong, based on other data in the presentation. For example, the 2008-09 Local Revenue is $12.17 million, but the bar height is over $14 million. State Revenues for 2008-09 ($5.551 million) and 2009-10 ($5.553 million) are virtually the same, but the bar is significantly higher for 2009-10.

2. p. 14 - Note that starting in 2005-06, everybody's property tax assessment was increased by a factor of 4, and the corresponding tax millage rate was reduced by a factor of 4. So if you really want to compare apples-to-apples on millage rates, you need to divide the years prior to 2005-06 by 4 - or multiply 2005-06 on by 4. Otherwise, some might be tempted to think that Sandy Gibson is really a hero because she presided over an astonishingly drastic cut in school taxes.

3. p. 38 - Looks like last year’s budget was helped by depleting the Fund Balance by $1.112 million (from $2.793 million to $1.681 million). Assuming 1 tax mil is about $60k, without this depletion of the Fund Balance, it looks like there would have been a 19 mil (~10%) tax increase last year.

So last year, the 2 main things the board did to balance the budget/hold the line on taxes were:

a. Get a ~$1+ million one-shot-deal from defeasing most of the bond money (at a long-term cost of $2.5 million);

b. Dip into the piggy bank to the tune of $1.112 million - money that was left to them by those evil "prior boards".

The budget projections from 2010-13 show the Fund Balance being further depleted by $1.456 million by 2013, all the way down to a mere $225k.

4. p. 38 - these budget figures show a Real Estate Tax collection rate of 93.5% throughout, but the earlier slides all seem based on a 94% collection rate (see p. 5). Why the difference? Which figure is right/more accurate?

Bristol Twp: New Business

From the BCCT.

Board backs KOZ designation
A drug distribution company promises to pay the school district a minimum of $195,000 a year if it’s approved.
By JOAN HELLYER
STAFF WRITER

The Bristol Township school board is backing Express Scripts’ effort to have its new distribution center site designated a Keystone Opportunity Zone.

The board unanimously threw its support behind the proposal Monday night after representatives of the pharmaceutical company promised it would pay the school district a minimum $195,000 a year in lieu of taxes.

That’s about $15,000 more than what the school district receives in tax revenue from the site off Route 413 near I-95, board solicitor David Truelove said.

The drug distribution company wants to move next year from its current location in Bensalem into the 241,000 square-foot building off Rittenhouse Circle in Bristol Township that formerly housed Jones New York. The KOZ designation would provide the company with tax relief through 2020.

The township council threw its support behind the proposal last week. The company still needs to secure county and state approval for the site to receive the KOZ designation.

A KOZ generally allows companies to pay no property taxes on future development, but Express Scripts representatives promised the annual payment.

The company also would consider paying more if the property’s assessment called for taxes in excess of $195,000, said Paul Acker, Express Scripts senior director of operations and project manager.

If the designation is approved, Express Scripts will hire at least 60 new employees, company officials said.

The new hires would be a mix of pharmacists, pharmaceutical technicians, data entry and shipping department workers, Acker said.

Trying to calm board concerns before the vote, the company representative said he didn’t expect Express Scripts to pack up and leave Bristol Township once its KOZ designation expires.

“We don’t want to do that,” Acker said.

Stay in School

From the BCCT.

Dropouts tell at-risk students to stay in school
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times

Daniel Harris feels he had a life-changing moment Monday as he listened to area residents talk about the challenges they’ve faced since they dropped out of school.

“I need to step up my game. No more bad grades,” said Daniel, 15, a student at the Benjamin Franklin Freshman Academy, after listening to the speakers with the “Stay in School for Success!” campaign.

“I don’t want to be like that when I grow up,” said Katie Morrisey, 15, a freshman at the academy.

They were among more than two dozen Bristol Township freshmen at risk academically who were invited to listen to the speakers, school representatives said.

Each speaker left school for a different reason: John Simmons did not return to Bristol Township’s Harry S Truman High School in 2007 after he was arrested. Michon Darnell left Truman after putting a job before her studies. Lindsey Sierra dropped out of Pennsbury High School a year ago while battling a drug addition and going through rehab.

Each regrets dropping out. They now are pursuing their high school GED through the Pennsylvania CareerLink Bucks County Youth Center in the Bucks County Office Center off Veterans Highway in Bristol Township.

All are planning to go to college or secure a steady well-paying job once they receive their GED.

A high school diploma or the equivalency will improve a person’s earning ability by about $3 per hour compared with someone who has dropped out, according to CareerLink statistics. Plus, it likely will reduce the amount of time a person will be unemployed during their working years, campaign organizers said.

The speakers also includ- ed Oklahoma native Ken Perry who is working through CareerLink to secure gainful employment. All four said: Stay in school.

“I know it sounds corny, but staying in school will probably be the best decision you’ll ever make,” Lindsey, 17, said.

The workforce investment boards of Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties and Regional Career Education Partnership partners are sponsoring the Stay in School effort.

The project also includes an online resource guide to services for dropouts in the greater Philadelphia area. There will be a “Re-Engaging Disconnected Youth Symposium” at Bucks County Technical High School on Friday. The brain-storming session is for community and faith-based organizations serving students at risk of not finishing school.

The initiative is necessary, even in Bucks County, where the dropout rate is generally less than 1 percent, because those who have dropped out are seeking resources in greater numbers, organizers said.

Dropouts cost the state on average $32,000 per person during their lifetime in welfare, food stamps, Medicare and other costs, officials said.

The biggest setback is a lack of well-paying jobs. Plus, dropouts miss out on the many social memories from the high school years, said Lindsey, who would have gone to her senior prom and graduated from Pennsbury this year had she stayed in school. “It’s really upsetting not being there,” she said.

George Mount Retiring

From the BCCT.

Best wishes to you and thank you for your service.

Borough manager stepping down
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times

Morrisville's top administrator for the borough and the Morrisville Municipal Authority is retiring later this spring.

But borough council voted unanimously Monday night to pay George Mount III, the 12-year part-time borough manager and 17-year executive director of the municipal authority, $75 an hour if the borough needs to consult him after his retirement, effective June 1.

Both the borough and the authority will look to fill Mount's posts - but it's unclear if it will be the same person doing both jobs, such as it is with Mount.

Councilwoman Jane Burger asked Mount to consider staying on as borough manager until someone is hired to fill his spot, worrying that there are certain documents and contracts that need to be signed by him.

Mount didn't say yes or no. Council President Nancy Sherlock said such a question at the meeting was "putting him on the spot."

Borough solicitor James Downey noted that assistant borough secretary Dorothy Gaydula has the authority to sign a "fair percentage" of borough documents.

"My offer was just to help in the event that you don't get anyone, to help with the transition," Mount told the council during Monday's meeting. He added, "I want to see a very smooth transition."

Earlier in the day, Mount's colleagues had nothing but good things to say.

"He really has been very efficient," municipal authority Chairman John Warenda said Monday afternoon. "He's been an excellent director and manager for a long time."

"We will miss him," said Sherlock before the meeting. "He's done a very good job for us."

Mount was a 3rd Ward borough councilman from 1981 to 1992, when he resigned to take the executive director gig with the municipal authority. He was hired as borough manager in 1997. Mount also has served on the Bucks County Enterprise Zone committee and the Landmark Towns of Bucks County board of directors.

According to a press release by the municipal authority, Mount is hoping to use his new-found time to travel more.

Mount, who graduated from Morrisville High School in 1962, lives in the borough with his wife, Margaret.

It's Much Easier With the Answer Key

From the BCCT.

Pa. boy orders secret state tests to 'play school'
The Associated Press

The Pennsylvania Education Department plans to tighten security after a fifth-grader who wanted to "play school" ordered a batch of secret state school assessment tests from his western Pennsylvania home.

The shrink-wrapped tests were delivered to the Hempfield Area School District's warehouse, not to the 10-year-old boy's home, which department spokeswoman Leah Harris said shows the existing security system works.

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests, which are administered annually to youngsters in fourth, eighth and 11th grades, are automatically shipped to districts or individuals schools and "can't be shipped anywhere else," Harris said.

The boy, whom officials did not identify, wasn't trying to cheat, said the district's director of pupil services, Rebecca Costello.

"He wants to be a teacher. He wanted to play school," she said.

The boy even requested that the exams be delivered on the last day of testing so that he wouldn't see it before he took it in March, she said.

The incident was the first of its kind. Because of it, the department plans to require people ordering tests, which measure student achievement and how well schools are educating students, to enter a personal identification code, Harris said.

"We take security breaches very seriously," Harris said.

The boy completed an order form on the Education Department Web site, where he found two codes needed to complete the transaction _ one identifying the school district, the other identifying Bovard Elementary School, where he is in the fifth grade. He listed his home address and the names of his school and teacher, officials said.

He faxed the form to Data Recognition Corp., of Maple Grove, Minn., the company that produces the exams for Pennsylvania several other states, Costello said.

District officials traced the order to the boy when they discovered they received more tests than they had ordered, said Barbara Marin, assistant superintendent for elementary education.

Officials declined to say if the boy faced discipline as a result.

"The child was upset. He meant no harm. The parents were upset with the child," Costello said.