From the BCCT.
No challenges against Morrisville candidates?
Challenges filed against candidates ahead of primary
Bucks County Courier Times
On the final day to object to a candidate on the May 19 primary ballot, a number of challenges were filed in Bucks County court Tuesday.
The filings challenged the candidacy of a number of township and school district office seekers in Lower Bucks.
March 10 was the deadline for filing a petition to run in the primary. The last day to withdraw a nominating petition is March 25.
Board of Elections Director Deena Dean said no hearings on the challenges have been scheduled yet.
council rock
Several Republican Party members and Council Rock residents filed two petitions, asking the court to invalidate the petitions of Marion Leszczynski and John Johnson to run as Republicans for seats on the school board in the primary.
Holland resident Francis W. O'Donnell and Northampton residents Peter and Joan Palestina claim that Leszczynski is a registered Democrat, but circulated a petition to run for school board in Region 4 and executed an Affidavit of Circulator alleging that he's a member of the Republican Party.
For the same reason, Republicans and Northampton residents John and Karen Jim and Bernadette Heenan filed an objection to Johnson's bid to run against incumbent Heenan in Region 3.
Leszczynski responded that he cross-filed, was unaware of the petition and will be consulting an attorney.
"Typical Republican games that they play," he said.
Johnson replied that he needs to talk to the Democratic committee people because he thought he legally filed.
Election code states that a candidate must circulate a petition to run under his or her own party, according to attorney Mike Fitzpatrick, who is representing both sets of petitioners.
"The first test for every candidate for school board + is basic compliance with election code," Fitzpatrick said. "Two Democrat candidates for school board in Council Rock circulated and filed nomination petitions to participate in the Republican primary and they attached false affidavits to those petitions. The court will decide the outcome."
The petitioners are asking a judge to order the Board of Elections to remove the names from the Republican ballot.
Bristol Township
In Bristol Township, Don Mobley asked the court to knock John Monahan off the mayoral ballot for allegedly leaving things off his petition. Two residents filed a similar petition to knock Mobley off the ballot for council.
Mobley, a township councilman, said Monahan failed to list his income as a security guard for the Pennsylvania Legislature in his petition for mayor, calling it a "fatal defect."
All candidates must file a statement of financial interest with their petitions.
Mobley's statement of financial interest also came under scrutiny. In a petition to the court, Bristol Township residents James Sykes and Patricia Koszarek accused Mobley of failing to list his address on a statement of financial interest.
Nominating papers must include a list of people who are members of that candidate's party and who support the petition. Sykes and Koszarek said Mobley's nominating papers didn't specifically list the towns where his supporters live.
Sykes and Koszarek said they believe at least one of those signatures was from a Republican. Mobley is a Democrat.
middletown
Incumbent Republican Charles Benhayon filed a challenge to the nominating petition of Republican constable challenger Todd A. O'Brien. In the petition filed through his attorney, Joseph Cullen, Benhayon claims O'Brien did not file his statement of financial interests with the State Ethics Commission by the March 10 deadline. Benhayon has been a constable for 18 years.
Pennsbury
Lower Makefield resident and registered Democrat Samuel Madeira Jr. filed a challenge to the nominating petition of Democrat Cynthia G. Osofsky, who is running for Pennsbury school board in Region 3.
In the petition filed by attorney Michael Fitzpatrick, Madeira claims that Osofsky, a Lower Makefield resident, filed her statement of financial interest with the school district on March 11, one day past the filing deadline. The statement should have been filed on March 10, the last day for filing a petition to appear on the election ballot, said Fitzpatrick.
"Every candidate has to attach this ethics statement, because you are required to disclose all your direct and indirect sources of income when you run for public office. That deadline is not flexible. We're following the law on this," said Fitzpatrick Tuesday.
Falls
Terry Rooney and Shawn Riley filed a challenge to the nominating petition of Republican constable candidate Jeff Mourey. In the petition, Rooney and Riley claim that Mourey did not file his statement of financial interest with the State Ethics Commission by the deadline.
upper makefield
Thomas Nagle and Karen J. McAllister have challenged the nominating petition of Democratic supervisor candidate Stephen Skip Lane. In the petition, Nagle and McAllister claim Lane was not a registered member of the Democratic Party at the time the petition was signed.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Phila 1% SalesTax Rise
From the Inquirer
Nutter wants to hike sales tax; will save libraries, pools, health centers
By Jennifer Lin, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted on Wed, Mar. 18, 2009
In a bad news-good news press conference today, Mayor Nutter said he wants to impose a temporary one-percent sales tax to raise revenue - but added that he would direct some of the money to keep open libraries, pools, homeless shelters and community health centers.
Nutter said a sales tax for only three years could generate $340 million. He added that the measure would have to be approved by lawmakers in Harrisburg.
Standing on the baseball field at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia, Nutter said, "No one likes to propose raising taxes. It's not the most comfortable place to find myself, but the alternatives are worse."
The proposed sales tax comes on the heels of an announcement Monday by the mayor that he also wants to increase property taxes.
The mayor tempered the news of his proposed sales tax by outlining all the services that the money could save, such as:
Keeping open all libraries;
Maintaining the hours of all recreation centers;
Maintaining all eight community health centers;
Retaining 3,390 slots for after-school programs;
Retaining all services for abused and neglected children;
Maintaining funding for homeless shelters.
Previously, his administration had been examining big cuts in each of those areas.
In addition to asking the General Assembly for approval to impose a three-year sales tax, the city also is asking for relief for how it amortizes the unfunded portion of its pension fund. Under the city's proposal, the timeline for that liablity would be stretched over 40 years instead of 20.
Nutter said if those two measures are not approved, the cuts in essential services would be drastic. "It is absolutely a place where none of us wants to go," Nutter said.
The reaction to the Mayor's announcement was mixed.
A coalition of unions, homeless advocates, churches and anti-poverty groups had mixed reactions to today's announcement.
Many were relieved that there would not be cuts to the city's homeless system or community health centers.
But they saw a sales tax as too punitive to the city's poorest residents.
If the city has to raise revenue via higher taxes, the approach should be more "fair and equitable," said the Rev. Jesse Brown, of the Calvary Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia.
The mayor, Brown said, is not seeking to raise the business or wage taxes. "It should not only be individuals of the city who are responsible for closing the budget with higher taxes, but also businesses."
Nutter wants to hike sales tax; will save libraries, pools, health centers
By Jennifer Lin, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted on Wed, Mar. 18, 2009
In a bad news-good news press conference today, Mayor Nutter said he wants to impose a temporary one-percent sales tax to raise revenue - but added that he would direct some of the money to keep open libraries, pools, homeless shelters and community health centers.
Nutter said a sales tax for only three years could generate $340 million. He added that the measure would have to be approved by lawmakers in Harrisburg.
Standing on the baseball field at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia, Nutter said, "No one likes to propose raising taxes. It's not the most comfortable place to find myself, but the alternatives are worse."
The proposed sales tax comes on the heels of an announcement Monday by the mayor that he also wants to increase property taxes.
The mayor tempered the news of his proposed sales tax by outlining all the services that the money could save, such as:
Keeping open all libraries;
Maintaining the hours of all recreation centers;
Maintaining all eight community health centers;
Retaining 3,390 slots for after-school programs;
Retaining all services for abused and neglected children;
Maintaining funding for homeless shelters.
Previously, his administration had been examining big cuts in each of those areas.
In addition to asking the General Assembly for approval to impose a three-year sales tax, the city also is asking for relief for how it amortizes the unfunded portion of its pension fund. Under the city's proposal, the timeline for that liablity would be stretched over 40 years instead of 20.
Nutter said if those two measures are not approved, the cuts in essential services would be drastic. "It is absolutely a place where none of us wants to go," Nutter said.
The reaction to the Mayor's announcement was mixed.
A coalition of unions, homeless advocates, churches and anti-poverty groups had mixed reactions to today's announcement.
Many were relieved that there would not be cuts to the city's homeless system or community health centers.
But they saw a sales tax as too punitive to the city's poorest residents.
If the city has to raise revenue via higher taxes, the approach should be more "fair and equitable," said the Rev. Jesse Brown, of the Calvary Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia.
The mayor, Brown said, is not seeking to raise the business or wage taxes. "It should not only be individuals of the city who are responsible for closing the budget with higher taxes, but also businesses."
How About the Coffee?
From the Baltimore Sun
Seniors in Mass. town not happy after official suggests cutting doughnuts from senior center
By Associated Press 2:13 PM EDT, March 18, 2009
ASHBURNHAM, Mass. (AP) — Senior citizens in a Massachusetts community told a town official to keep his hands off their doughnuts. Francis "Bill" Johnson, chairman of Ashburnham's advisory board, said at a Council on Aging meeting this week that spending money on doughnuts and pastries for the Senior Center's morning coffee club encourages unhealthy eating habits in a population that already has health issues.
Council on Aging board member Lorna Fields said Johnson "overstepped his boundaries."
She said many seniors won't eat "carrot sticks and stuff" and that healthier items, including grapes and cheese, are available.
Betty Bushee, 67, a Senior Center regular, told The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester that no one has the right to tell seniors what to eat.
Seniors in Mass. town not happy after official suggests cutting doughnuts from senior center
By Associated Press 2:13 PM EDT, March 18, 2009
ASHBURNHAM, Mass. (AP) — Senior citizens in a Massachusetts community told a town official to keep his hands off their doughnuts. Francis "Bill" Johnson, chairman of Ashburnham's advisory board, said at a Council on Aging meeting this week that spending money on doughnuts and pastries for the Senior Center's morning coffee club encourages unhealthy eating habits in a population that already has health issues.
Council on Aging board member Lorna Fields said Johnson "overstepped his boundaries."
She said many seniors won't eat "carrot sticks and stuff" and that healthier items, including grapes and cheese, are available.
Betty Bushee, 67, a Senior Center regular, told The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester that no one has the right to tell seniors what to eat.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Contractor ordinance and coincidences
From the BCCT.
Ordinance could have resulted in lost grants
By DANNY ADLER
STAFF WRITER
It all came down to money and one clause.
Morrisville council voted down a responsible-contractor ordinance after its attorney said a clause in the eight-page proposed law could prevent the borough from receiving some federal money.
The ordinance’s downfall was a provision that would have required all public construction and maintenance contracts worth at least $10,000 be awarded to firms that participate in an apprenticeship program.
The council voted 6-1 against the ordinance Monday night after solicitor James Downey warned the board the borough could lose community development block grants with such a provision. He said he received a letter from the Bucks County Department of Community and Business Development after an article about the proposed ordinance appeared in this newspaper earlier this month. The solicitor said he was told that the Department of Housing and Urban Development determined years ago that another borough’s nearly identical ordinance restricted competition. That borough was then disqualified from receiving the grants.
He also noted that neighboring Falls missed out on some of those funds because it would not waive its ordinance for the block grants. Still, Falls Supervisors Chairman Robert Harvie lauded his borough’s ordinance while talking to Morrisville’s council at the Monday night’s meeting.
“We have had nothing but success with this,” Harvie told Morrisville officials.
Council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman Dave Rivella wanted the solicitor to tweak the ordinance to make it work. That could happen or the issue could be dropped entirely at next month’s council meeting.
Others, including a handful of audience members who bashed the proposal within the last week, simply disagreed with the requirement.
Rivella, a union worker, cast a “symbolic” vote in favor of the bill. Councilman Edward Albertson, another union man, was absent from the meeting.
The apprenticeship requirement not only limits work to union shops, opponents say, but it would exclude smaller local businesses from bidding on borough work and push up prices. Supporters of the ordinance disagreed, saying it ensures that companies have qualified, welltrained workers and has no impact on project costs.
The rest of the ordinance would require contractors to confirm they hadn’t defaulted on any project or been prohibited from bidding on any federal, state or local government contracts in the last three years. They also would have had to confirm they’re free of “willful violations” of federal or state safety laws; that all employees are U.S. citizens or legal aliens allowed to work in the country; and that they adhere to prevailing wage rates and fringe benefit requirements, among other things.
Councilman Stephen Worob, who said he was a union chairman in New Jersey for several years, said there’re good things about unions. But sometimes, he said, “they go too far. And I think in this case, you’d almost have to be blind not to see the union influence here. It eliminates competition. And if you eliminate competition, you inevitably are going to raise the cost of projects.”
Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach said she would have considered voting yes if there was no apprenticeship clause, but she didn’t feel that all local contractors should put all their workers through an apprenticeship program.
Councilwoman Kathryn Panzitta didn’t see it the same way. She said apprenticeships create a standard for a qualified worker.
Rivella, who has said that the proposal was not an attempt to promote union work, maintained his support of it.
“I think it’s a good ordinance,” Rivella said. “It has a lot of merit. I would feel even better supporting it if Mr. Downey had the opportunity to tweak it one more time.”
Residents chimed in during public comment, expressing a mixed bag of opinions. Some said the proposal discriminated against contractors and tried to “fix a problem we don’t have.” Others said it ensured that those doing borough work were trained and would prevent flyby-night contractors.
One woman, Morrisville school board member Marlys Mihok, said Sherlock, Rivella and Panzitta should have abstained from voting because the three Democrats were running in the 2007 election when the Morrisville Democratic Club accepted $10,300 in campaign contributions from unions. That was the same year Sherlock introduced the idea in the borough’s ordinance committee.
“There are no coincidences in Morrisville,” she said.
At the end of the meeting, Sherlock said the accusations implied “that these contributions were made by various unions so that the (responsiblecontractor ordinance) would be implemented, which is really further from the truth.”
“Those contributions were made to the party because they believed in the team that was running,” she added.
Sherlock said officials were not approached by union representatives about the ordinance and that some officials became interested in the proposal several years ago when other municipalities were considering a responsible-contractor ordinance.
Ordinance could have resulted in lost grants
By DANNY ADLER
STAFF WRITER
It all came down to money and one clause.
Morrisville council voted down a responsible-contractor ordinance after its attorney said a clause in the eight-page proposed law could prevent the borough from receiving some federal money.
The ordinance’s downfall was a provision that would have required all public construction and maintenance contracts worth at least $10,000 be awarded to firms that participate in an apprenticeship program.
The council voted 6-1 against the ordinance Monday night after solicitor James Downey warned the board the borough could lose community development block grants with such a provision. He said he received a letter from the Bucks County Department of Community and Business Development after an article about the proposed ordinance appeared in this newspaper earlier this month. The solicitor said he was told that the Department of Housing and Urban Development determined years ago that another borough’s nearly identical ordinance restricted competition. That borough was then disqualified from receiving the grants.
He also noted that neighboring Falls missed out on some of those funds because it would not waive its ordinance for the block grants. Still, Falls Supervisors Chairman Robert Harvie lauded his borough’s ordinance while talking to Morrisville’s council at the Monday night’s meeting.
“We have had nothing but success with this,” Harvie told Morrisville officials.
Council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman Dave Rivella wanted the solicitor to tweak the ordinance to make it work. That could happen or the issue could be dropped entirely at next month’s council meeting.
Others, including a handful of audience members who bashed the proposal within the last week, simply disagreed with the requirement.
Rivella, a union worker, cast a “symbolic” vote in favor of the bill. Councilman Edward Albertson, another union man, was absent from the meeting.
The apprenticeship requirement not only limits work to union shops, opponents say, but it would exclude smaller local businesses from bidding on borough work and push up prices. Supporters of the ordinance disagreed, saying it ensures that companies have qualified, welltrained workers and has no impact on project costs.
The rest of the ordinance would require contractors to confirm they hadn’t defaulted on any project or been prohibited from bidding on any federal, state or local government contracts in the last three years. They also would have had to confirm they’re free of “willful violations” of federal or state safety laws; that all employees are U.S. citizens or legal aliens allowed to work in the country; and that they adhere to prevailing wage rates and fringe benefit requirements, among other things.
Councilman Stephen Worob, who said he was a union chairman in New Jersey for several years, said there’re good things about unions. But sometimes, he said, “they go too far. And I think in this case, you’d almost have to be blind not to see the union influence here. It eliminates competition. And if you eliminate competition, you inevitably are going to raise the cost of projects.”
Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach said she would have considered voting yes if there was no apprenticeship clause, but she didn’t feel that all local contractors should put all their workers through an apprenticeship program.
Councilwoman Kathryn Panzitta didn’t see it the same way. She said apprenticeships create a standard for a qualified worker.
Rivella, who has said that the proposal was not an attempt to promote union work, maintained his support of it.
“I think it’s a good ordinance,” Rivella said. “It has a lot of merit. I would feel even better supporting it if Mr. Downey had the opportunity to tweak it one more time.”
Residents chimed in during public comment, expressing a mixed bag of opinions. Some said the proposal discriminated against contractors and tried to “fix a problem we don’t have.” Others said it ensured that those doing borough work were trained and would prevent flyby-night contractors.
One woman, Morrisville school board member Marlys Mihok, said Sherlock, Rivella and Panzitta should have abstained from voting because the three Democrats were running in the 2007 election when the Morrisville Democratic Club accepted $10,300 in campaign contributions from unions. That was the same year Sherlock introduced the idea in the borough’s ordinance committee.
“There are no coincidences in Morrisville,” she said.
At the end of the meeting, Sherlock said the accusations implied “that these contributions were made by various unions so that the (responsiblecontractor ordinance) would be implemented, which is really further from the truth.”
“Those contributions were made to the party because they believed in the team that was running,” she added.
Sherlock said officials were not approached by union representatives about the ordinance and that some officials became interested in the proposal several years ago when other municipalities were considering a responsible-contractor ordinance.
We don't want your merger
From the Lebanon Daily News
W.Pa. school board rejects offer of merger study
The Associated Press Updated: 03/17/2009 09:27:22 AM EDT
ROCKWOOD, Pa.—A western Pennsylvania school board has rejected an offer by the state to pay for a feasibility study that would assess consolidation options.
Rockwood school board members turned down the offer at a meeting Monday, indicating opposition to Gov. Ed Rendell's efforts to eliminate about 400 of the state's 501 districts.
Rockwood is about 15 miles south of Somerset. Rockwood is a rural district serving about 900 students.
Board member Mark Lucas says the study could put the district "on the road to lose local control" and give Rendell "the ammunition he needs to force a merger."
Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District has approved the study. Rockwood and Turkeyfoot have discussed in the past consolidating or sharing resources.
W.Pa. school board rejects offer of merger study
The Associated Press Updated: 03/17/2009 09:27:22 AM EDT
ROCKWOOD, Pa.—A western Pennsylvania school board has rejected an offer by the state to pay for a feasibility study that would assess consolidation options.
Rockwood school board members turned down the offer at a meeting Monday, indicating opposition to Gov. Ed Rendell's efforts to eliminate about 400 of the state's 501 districts.
Rockwood is about 15 miles south of Somerset. Rockwood is a rural district serving about 900 students.
Board member Mark Lucas says the study could put the district "on the road to lose local control" and give Rendell "the ammunition he needs to force a merger."
Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District has approved the study. Rockwood and Turkeyfoot have discussed in the past consolidating or sharing resources.
Show us the money first
From the BCCT.
Pa. lawmakers: Stimulus money must go through us
House GOP leaders want the governor to send a new budget proposal to the Legislature, saying the one unveiled in February is deficient because it was written before Congress passed the stimulus bill.
By MARC LEVY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
HARRISBURG — Republican legislative leaders are urging Gov. Ed Rendell to allow input from legislators on how to spend Pennsylvania’s share of federal economic stimulus money or risk missing a midsummer spending plan deadline.
“It will facilitate our joint goal of starting successful budget deliberations earlier than in the past,” Sens. Joseph Scarnati, Dominic Pileggi and Jake Corman — the top three Republican Senate leaders — wrote in a letter delivered to the Democratic governor Monday.
House GOP leaders said Rendell should send a new budget proposal to the Legislature, saying the $29 billion state budget he unveiled in February is deficient because it was written before Congress passed the stimulus bill.
“It is the responsibility of the General Assembly to appropriate these federal stimulus funds, thus we are anxious to hear your proposals and your goals as they relate to the utilization of this federal aid,” Reps. Sam Smith and Mario Civera wrote in a letter to Rendell released Monday.
Pennsylvania’s new fiscal year begins July 1, the deadline for Rendell and the Legislature to settle on a spending plan for the next 12 months.
The uniqueness and breadth of the federal stimulus package have frustrated administration and legislative officials trying to understand how to handle it. Among the difficulties have been figuring out how much money is coming to Pennsylvania, what strings are attached and how the money is supposed to be distributed.
The administration currently projects that Pennsylvania will get $18 billion — up from its earlier estimate of $16 billion — including $8 billion in tax breaks and other direct benefits for state residents.
Rendell has said little about the Legislature’s role in approval of the billions of dollars that Pennsylvania state and local governments are expected to receive from the stimulus package.
Earlier this month, Rendell did not dispute that he must seek legislative approval to use much of the money. But he sounded no note of urgency, and warned that the federal government has dictated the terms of how the money must be spent, and left even his administration with little decision-making power.
“Probably in July we’re going to have to get appropriation authority for a lot of this money and, again, the Legislature can work with us to help us with the decisions that are made,” Rendell said.
But much of the money simply passes through the state on its way to school districts, housing authorities and other local governments.
For instance, public school boards will decide how to spend the majority of nearly $2.6 billion in education money coming to Pennsylvania, according to the administration.
“We’re working hard with them, we’re giving them advice, but they can thumb their nose at us and use it for anything they want,” Rendell said. “So once I share that information with the Legislature, I think they’ll have a better understanding of where we are.”
Even before July arrives, the Rendell administration plans to spend at least a portion of the money for highways, bridges and water and sewer systems.
Still, lawmakers insisted Tuesday that there is space to negotiate.
Pa. lawmakers: Stimulus money must go through us
House GOP leaders want the governor to send a new budget proposal to the Legislature, saying the one unveiled in February is deficient because it was written before Congress passed the stimulus bill.
By MARC LEVY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
HARRISBURG — Republican legislative leaders are urging Gov. Ed Rendell to allow input from legislators on how to spend Pennsylvania’s share of federal economic stimulus money or risk missing a midsummer spending plan deadline.
“It will facilitate our joint goal of starting successful budget deliberations earlier than in the past,” Sens. Joseph Scarnati, Dominic Pileggi and Jake Corman — the top three Republican Senate leaders — wrote in a letter delivered to the Democratic governor Monday.
House GOP leaders said Rendell should send a new budget proposal to the Legislature, saying the $29 billion state budget he unveiled in February is deficient because it was written before Congress passed the stimulus bill.
“It is the responsibility of the General Assembly to appropriate these federal stimulus funds, thus we are anxious to hear your proposals and your goals as they relate to the utilization of this federal aid,” Reps. Sam Smith and Mario Civera wrote in a letter to Rendell released Monday.
Pennsylvania’s new fiscal year begins July 1, the deadline for Rendell and the Legislature to settle on a spending plan for the next 12 months.
The uniqueness and breadth of the federal stimulus package have frustrated administration and legislative officials trying to understand how to handle it. Among the difficulties have been figuring out how much money is coming to Pennsylvania, what strings are attached and how the money is supposed to be distributed.
The administration currently projects that Pennsylvania will get $18 billion — up from its earlier estimate of $16 billion — including $8 billion in tax breaks and other direct benefits for state residents.
Rendell has said little about the Legislature’s role in approval of the billions of dollars that Pennsylvania state and local governments are expected to receive from the stimulus package.
Earlier this month, Rendell did not dispute that he must seek legislative approval to use much of the money. But he sounded no note of urgency, and warned that the federal government has dictated the terms of how the money must be spent, and left even his administration with little decision-making power.
“Probably in July we’re going to have to get appropriation authority for a lot of this money and, again, the Legislature can work with us to help us with the decisions that are made,” Rendell said.
But much of the money simply passes through the state on its way to school districts, housing authorities and other local governments.
For instance, public school boards will decide how to spend the majority of nearly $2.6 billion in education money coming to Pennsylvania, according to the administration.
“We’re working hard with them, we’re giving them advice, but they can thumb their nose at us and use it for anything they want,” Rendell said. “So once I share that information with the Legislature, I think they’ll have a better understanding of where we are.”
Even before July arrives, the Rendell administration plans to spend at least a portion of the money for highways, bridges and water and sewer systems.
Still, lawmakers insisted Tuesday that there is space to negotiate.
Board Agenda and Committee Meetings tonight
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Education Committee
All Committee meetings will be held in the G Hall Conference Room of the Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School.
Site: HS G Hall Conference Room, 6:30PM
Human Resource Committee
All Committee meetings will be held in the G Hall Conference Room of the Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School.
Site: HS G Hall Conference Room, 7:00PM
Board Agenda Meeting
The monthly Board Agenda Meeting will be held at 7:30PM in the LGI Room of the Morrisville Middle Senior High School, 550 W. Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA.
Site: HS G Hall Conference Room, 7:30PM
Education Committee
All Committee meetings will be held in the G Hall Conference Room of the Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School.
Site: HS G Hall Conference Room, 6:30PM
Human Resource Committee
All Committee meetings will be held in the G Hall Conference Room of the Morrisville Middle/Sr. High School.
Site: HS G Hall Conference Room, 7:00PM
Board Agenda Meeting
The monthly Board Agenda Meeting will be held at 7:30PM in the LGI Room of the Morrisville Middle Senior High School, 550 W. Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA.
Site: HS G Hall Conference Room, 7:30PM
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Neshaminy budget gap
From the BCCT.
Sharing principals is a fine idea. No disrespect to the person, but when the Morrisville high school assistant principal, the principal, and the acting superintendent want to hold a meeting, there's no conference call charges required. Only one chair required too.
Maybe the job of the absent teacher or bus driver has to be done, but like the Emperor says, you gotta learn how to do more with less.
Board searching to trim $14M gap
By RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
As carefully as families are clipping coupons these days, the Neshaminy school board Monday night continued to comb through the rest of a 70-plus item list with suggestions from staff and residents on cutting spending to balance the budget.
Officials are trying to find ways to fill a $14 million gap and avoid a possible $500 average tax hike. The board asked administrators for more information on ideas ranging from limiting substitutes and going paperless, to increasing advertising at sporting events and sharing principals among schools.
One person recommended limiting substitutes for teacher training, which costs about $1.3 million a year, and improving staff attendance. But business administrator Joseph Paradise pointed out that if an educator or bus driver is absent, their job still needs to be done.
Another suggested that elementary schools share specialist teachers for art, music and gym. Herbert Hoover and Albert Schweitzer elementary schools are already doing so, and administrators are looking at consolidating even further, said Jacqueline Rattigan, director of elementary and secondary education.
Officials will also be finding out more on increasing advertising at sporting events. One item that administrators and board members wanted to push to a back burner was splitting principals among schools.
Acting Superintendent Lou Muenker pointed out that a different level of support is needed at each school level, especially the alternative program. A few board members, including President Ritchie Webb, said that they're sure principal swapping can be done, but they'd rather use that option as a last resort.
The board also discussed reducing the pre-first program, which costs $80,000 per course, and eliminating three safety aides at the high school for almost $140,000 since that facility will have an updated security system.
Answering the suggestion of reducing the work week to four days, Paradise explained that while other districts have done so, Neshaminy hasn't because of the way attendance is kept.
Responding to another concept, administrators said they're already working on going paperless by soliciting e-mail addresses from parents. Officials will also be using Global Connect, an automatic call alert system that costs roughly $2 per child for Neshaminy's almost 9,000 students.
Board members also asked for principals' recommendations on having students either bring supplies to school, or purchase kits from PTOs.
One person suggested that elementary schools share specialist teachers for art, music and gym. However, sharing principals wasn't a popular idea.
Sharing principals is a fine idea. No disrespect to the person, but when the Morrisville high school assistant principal, the principal, and the acting superintendent want to hold a meeting, there's no conference call charges required. Only one chair required too.
Maybe the job of the absent teacher or bus driver has to be done, but like the Emperor says, you gotta learn how to do more with less.
Board searching to trim $14M gap
By RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
As carefully as families are clipping coupons these days, the Neshaminy school board Monday night continued to comb through the rest of a 70-plus item list with suggestions from staff and residents on cutting spending to balance the budget.
Officials are trying to find ways to fill a $14 million gap and avoid a possible $500 average tax hike. The board asked administrators for more information on ideas ranging from limiting substitutes and going paperless, to increasing advertising at sporting events and sharing principals among schools.
One person recommended limiting substitutes for teacher training, which costs about $1.3 million a year, and improving staff attendance. But business administrator Joseph Paradise pointed out that if an educator or bus driver is absent, their job still needs to be done.
Another suggested that elementary schools share specialist teachers for art, music and gym. Herbert Hoover and Albert Schweitzer elementary schools are already doing so, and administrators are looking at consolidating even further, said Jacqueline Rattigan, director of elementary and secondary education.
Officials will also be finding out more on increasing advertising at sporting events. One item that administrators and board members wanted to push to a back burner was splitting principals among schools.
Acting Superintendent Lou Muenker pointed out that a different level of support is needed at each school level, especially the alternative program. A few board members, including President Ritchie Webb, said that they're sure principal swapping can be done, but they'd rather use that option as a last resort.
The board also discussed reducing the pre-first program, which costs $80,000 per course, and eliminating three safety aides at the high school for almost $140,000 since that facility will have an updated security system.
Answering the suggestion of reducing the work week to four days, Paradise explained that while other districts have done so, Neshaminy hasn't because of the way attendance is kept.
Responding to another concept, administrators said they're already working on going paperless by soliciting e-mail addresses from parents. Officials will also be using Global Connect, an automatic call alert system that costs roughly $2 per child for Neshaminy's almost 9,000 students.
Board members also asked for principals' recommendations on having students either bring supplies to school, or purchase kits from PTOs.
One person suggested that elementary schools share specialist teachers for art, music and gym. However, sharing principals wasn't a popular idea.
Bristol Township elementary redistricting
From the BCCT.
If we're only talking about a hundred students or so, close one of the schools. It will save a TON OF MONEY!
Redistricting meeting set for March 25
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The Bristol Township school board will host a public meeting March 25 to discuss details about a suggested redistricting of some elementary school students.
The proposed redistricting involves about 40 students in an attendance area currently assigned to Lafayette Elementary School, officials said.
Attendance area 44A was moved from Maple Shade Elementary School to Lafayette a few years ago during a realignment of several district attendance zones.
But now the Maple Shade enrollment has declined and Lafayette's has increased, according to district officials.
In an effort to better distribute the student enrollment between the two schools, a district committee suggested the board split attendance area 44A into two parts.
The one part would be made up of the 40 students designated for the transfer to take effect in 2009-10. These students live within walking distance of Maple Shade, district officials said.
Students within that area who currently attend Lafayette would be allowed to continue attending that school if they choose, but newly enrolled students and kindergarten students would have to attend Maple Shade, officials said.
The other 73 students who are in the attendance area would continue to be assigned to Lafayette, according to the proposal.
The committee was charged with examining the issue after district officials promised in June 2008 to review the attendance zones.
Committee members included district administrators and two parents who live within walking distance of Maple Shade.
The board was scheduled to vote on the proposed redistricting Monday night, but held off after some board members said they've heard from residents who have questions about the plan.
The March 25 meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Lafayette Elementary School off Fayette Drive, school board President Earl Bruck said.
If we're only talking about a hundred students or so, close one of the schools. It will save a TON OF MONEY!
Redistricting meeting set for March 25
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The Bristol Township school board will host a public meeting March 25 to discuss details about a suggested redistricting of some elementary school students.
The proposed redistricting involves about 40 students in an attendance area currently assigned to Lafayette Elementary School, officials said.
Attendance area 44A was moved from Maple Shade Elementary School to Lafayette a few years ago during a realignment of several district attendance zones.
But now the Maple Shade enrollment has declined and Lafayette's has increased, according to district officials.
In an effort to better distribute the student enrollment between the two schools, a district committee suggested the board split attendance area 44A into two parts.
The one part would be made up of the 40 students designated for the transfer to take effect in 2009-10. These students live within walking distance of Maple Shade, district officials said.
Students within that area who currently attend Lafayette would be allowed to continue attending that school if they choose, but newly enrolled students and kindergarten students would have to attend Maple Shade, officials said.
The other 73 students who are in the attendance area would continue to be assigned to Lafayette, according to the proposal.
The committee was charged with examining the issue after district officials promised in June 2008 to review the attendance zones.
Committee members included district administrators and two parents who live within walking distance of Maple Shade.
The board was scheduled to vote on the proposed redistricting Monday night, but held off after some board members said they've heard from residents who have questions about the plan.
The March 25 meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Lafayette Elementary School off Fayette Drive, school board President Earl Bruck said.
Contractor ordinance fails
From the BCCT.
Now that this is behind us, how about you find ways to bring some commerce back to Morrisville instead of finding more ways to drive it away.
Morrisville's contractor plan falls flat
By STEPHEN ROBB
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville's council denied a proposed responsible-contractor ordinance in a 6-1 vote Monday night. Councilman Dave Rivella was the lone vote in favor of the ordinance. Councilman Edward Albertson was absent.
Some council members seemed to outright oppose the ordinance that would've required all public construction and maintenance projects worth at least $10,000 to be awarded to contractors who participate in an apprenticeship program, among numerous other requirements.
Others wanted the borough solicitor to tweak the ordinance after hearing that it may preclude the borough from some federal government funding.
Officials said the council will decide at its meetings next month whether it wants the borough's attorney to refine the ordinance or if the issue is dead.
Now that this is behind us, how about you find ways to bring some commerce back to Morrisville instead of finding more ways to drive it away.
Morrisville's contractor plan falls flat
By STEPHEN ROBB
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville's council denied a proposed responsible-contractor ordinance in a 6-1 vote Monday night. Councilman Dave Rivella was the lone vote in favor of the ordinance. Councilman Edward Albertson was absent.
Some council members seemed to outright oppose the ordinance that would've required all public construction and maintenance projects worth at least $10,000 to be awarded to contractors who participate in an apprenticeship program, among numerous other requirements.
Others wanted the borough solicitor to tweak the ordinance after hearing that it may preclude the borough from some federal government funding.
Officials said the council will decide at its meetings next month whether it wants the borough's attorney to refine the ordinance or if the issue is dead.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Borough Council Hot Seat
Reminder that the borough council meets tonight 7:30 P.M. at 35 Union Street.
Kids show they have what it takes
From the BCCT.
Kids show they have what it takes
By CHRIS ENGLISH
Bucks County Courier Times
Two special education students do a good job cleaning bathrooms and also "bring a whole new life into the building," one township employee said.
Two special education students from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit get valuable work experience.
And Middletown gets clean bathrooms in the township municipal center.
So, what's not to like, IU special education teacher Nick Nastasi asked about the cooperative program he said benefits both parties.
"They do great quality work," said Nastasi of the two students, Ken Kalczewski, 21, and Chuks Ahia, 19. Nastasi teaches them at Neshaminy's Tawanka Learning Center.
"I want my kids to be treated like any other employee, no favors, no nothing," Nastasi continued. "They try to be better and more consistent than the average person and, when they make mistakes, they are corrected."
Jamison resident Kalczewski has Down syndrome and Ahia, who lives in Lower Makefield, has autism. Since September, the two students have been coming in Tuesday and Thursday mornings to clean several bathrooms in the administrative side of the municipal center. The police side has its own cleaning arrangement.
Kalczewski and Ahia are paid $25 a week by the township, but their overall contribution is invaluable, said township Community Outreach Officer Terry Field.
"Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because of them," she said. "They are well behaved and do a fabulous job. They come in and pretty much change the whole environment of the building with their uplifting spirits. I would advise any township or business to hire them because they bring a whole new life into the building."
So far, Middletown is the only Bucks County municipality to employ IU special education students, Nastasi said. However, students are employed at area private businesses, including Nationwide Insurance in Bensalem, General Partition in Bristol Township and Curves in Middletown. Special education students also are employed at the IU's alternative school in Bristol Township, Nastasi said.
The arrangement in Middletown started when the township's full-time custodian on the administrative side of the municipal center left last year.
Township recreation programs coordinator Paul Kopera, who used to work at the IU and had experience with the outside work programs there, suggested hiring special education students for Middletown. The deal was struck and, though the township has since hired a part-time custodian, the arrangement has continued.
"Our goal is to train kids to be able to do these kind of jobs so as they turn 21, with some community support, they will be able to continue doing meaningful work," said IU special education supervisor Jane Strawley. "I think it's been win-win in Middletown, beneficial to both the employer and employees."
To find out how to hire IU special education students or for more information, call 800-770-4822, 215-322-6871 or e-mail nnastasi@bucks.iu.org.
Kids show they have what it takes
By CHRIS ENGLISH
Bucks County Courier Times
Two special education students do a good job cleaning bathrooms and also "bring a whole new life into the building," one township employee said.
Two special education students from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit get valuable work experience.
And Middletown gets clean bathrooms in the township municipal center.
So, what's not to like, IU special education teacher Nick Nastasi asked about the cooperative program he said benefits both parties.
"They do great quality work," said Nastasi of the two students, Ken Kalczewski, 21, and Chuks Ahia, 19. Nastasi teaches them at Neshaminy's Tawanka Learning Center.
"I want my kids to be treated like any other employee, no favors, no nothing," Nastasi continued. "They try to be better and more consistent than the average person and, when they make mistakes, they are corrected."
Jamison resident Kalczewski has Down syndrome and Ahia, who lives in Lower Makefield, has autism. Since September, the two students have been coming in Tuesday and Thursday mornings to clean several bathrooms in the administrative side of the municipal center. The police side has its own cleaning arrangement.
Kalczewski and Ahia are paid $25 a week by the township, but their overall contribution is invaluable, said township Community Outreach Officer Terry Field.
"Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because of them," she said. "They are well behaved and do a fabulous job. They come in and pretty much change the whole environment of the building with their uplifting spirits. I would advise any township or business to hire them because they bring a whole new life into the building."
So far, Middletown is the only Bucks County municipality to employ IU special education students, Nastasi said. However, students are employed at area private businesses, including Nationwide Insurance in Bensalem, General Partition in Bristol Township and Curves in Middletown. Special education students also are employed at the IU's alternative school in Bristol Township, Nastasi said.
The arrangement in Middletown started when the township's full-time custodian on the administrative side of the municipal center left last year.
Township recreation programs coordinator Paul Kopera, who used to work at the IU and had experience with the outside work programs there, suggested hiring special education students for Middletown. The deal was struck and, though the township has since hired a part-time custodian, the arrangement has continued.
"Our goal is to train kids to be able to do these kind of jobs so as they turn 21, with some community support, they will be able to continue doing meaningful work," said IU special education supervisor Jane Strawley. "I think it's been win-win in Middletown, beneficial to both the employer and employees."
To find out how to hire IU special education students or for more information, call 800-770-4822, 215-322-6871 or e-mail nnastasi@bucks.iu.org.
PSSA Hot Seat
From the Inquirer.
PSSAs put kids, schools on hot seat
By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Write. Posted on Sun, Mar. 15, 2009
Fourth grader Maurice Daniels knows why tomorrow is a big, big day.
"It's the PSSAs," said Maurice, 9, a fourth grader at John Welsh Elementary in North Philadelphia. "It's really important. We've practiced for a long time, and it shows how many skills you know, how good your school is."
Around the state, thousands of third through eighth graders, plus 11th graders, will spend the next several days taking their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams in math and reading. Beginning next month, fourth, eighth, and 11th graders will take state science exams.
The state has given the PSSAs since the 1990s, but the federal No Child Left Behind law of 2002 raised the stakes: Results determine whether a school is deemed passing or failing. Failure means intense oversight and sanctions that could include total staff replacement.
Critics say the law puts too much pressure on schools to drill students and teach only to the state tests. Supporters say it keeps standards high for all children.
In ways large and small, Pennsylvania students have been preparing for the exams for months.
At James Buchanan Elementary School in Levittown, an all-school pep rally last week revved up students for the test. And on the last school day before the exam, Welsh devoted classes to analyzing PSSA reading passages, reviewing math facts, and playing PSSA bingo.
"In math, these types of lines run side by side and never cross or intersect," Welsh teacher Denise McCaig prompted her fourth graders, who held markers poised above bingo sheets.
"Parallel lines!" Maurice shouted, waving his hand excitedly.
Welsh - a school of 620 kindergartners through eighth graders, about 90 percent of whom live in poverty - has passed state tests seven years running. To extend the streak, the staff began exam prep early, said Mike Reardon, the school's testing coordinator.
"We start preparing in September," he said, "but it becomes more intense as the year goes on."
There is teacher training, with videos of veteran teachers modeling effective PSSA prep methods for newer teachers. Struggling students are given extra support in small groups.
"And parents know what the test means," said Jeanette Fernandez, Welsh's principal. "We stress attendance, getting enough sleep . . . the night before the test," and a good breakfast.
Evy Clark, principal of Buchanan, a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in the Bristol Township School District, stood on the sideline as the school staged its massive PSSA pep rally. There were cheerleaders, an original PSSA song and dance, karate and gymnastics demonstrations, video testimonials, and younger students waving signs rooting for older ones.
Over the top? You bet. But Buchanan has never failed the state exam, and students know the pressure is on to keep standards up.
"Everyone's working so hard all year toward this goal of achieving proficiency," said Clark, using the state's term for hitting grade level. "Let's have some fun. Let's cheer each other on."
Keeping kids' attention focused on the test in a positive way is important, and the pep rally goes a long way, she said.
Other Buchanan PSSA strategies include extra reading and writing practice, a longer recess on test day, and permission for students to keep typically forbidden water bottles on their desks during the exam.
"We do a lot of positive reinforcement, telling them that they can do this, that they've got lots of strategies to solve problems," Clark said.
It's necessary, she said, because "for the most part, students are stressed out over the test. They take it seriously, and they know it's the same test everyone all over the state is taking."
At Samuel Fels High in Philadelphia, just juniors will take the exam. But PSSA-themed posters line the hallways, and everyone knows the test is looming.
Principal Greg Hailey uses incentives such as discounted prom tickets and Class of 2010 T-shirts to make sure students attend on test days.
"We do snacks for students throughout the day," he said. "We make sure they have water. We want them to be confident and comfortable."
At Welsh, fourth grader Shyann Martinez said she was ready to go. She flipped through a stack of well-worn photocopied test prep papers and nodded gravely.
"I feel a little bit nervous," Shyann said. "There could be something on the test that I need to work on. What if I do bad on the PSSA?"
PSSAs put kids, schools on hot seat
By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Write. Posted on Sun, Mar. 15, 2009
Fourth grader Maurice Daniels knows why tomorrow is a big, big day.
"It's the PSSAs," said Maurice, 9, a fourth grader at John Welsh Elementary in North Philadelphia. "It's really important. We've practiced for a long time, and it shows how many skills you know, how good your school is."
Around the state, thousands of third through eighth graders, plus 11th graders, will spend the next several days taking their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams in math and reading. Beginning next month, fourth, eighth, and 11th graders will take state science exams.
The state has given the PSSAs since the 1990s, but the federal No Child Left Behind law of 2002 raised the stakes: Results determine whether a school is deemed passing or failing. Failure means intense oversight and sanctions that could include total staff replacement.
Critics say the law puts too much pressure on schools to drill students and teach only to the state tests. Supporters say it keeps standards high for all children.
In ways large and small, Pennsylvania students have been preparing for the exams for months.
At James Buchanan Elementary School in Levittown, an all-school pep rally last week revved up students for the test. And on the last school day before the exam, Welsh devoted classes to analyzing PSSA reading passages, reviewing math facts, and playing PSSA bingo.
"In math, these types of lines run side by side and never cross or intersect," Welsh teacher Denise McCaig prompted her fourth graders, who held markers poised above bingo sheets.
"Parallel lines!" Maurice shouted, waving his hand excitedly.
Welsh - a school of 620 kindergartners through eighth graders, about 90 percent of whom live in poverty - has passed state tests seven years running. To extend the streak, the staff began exam prep early, said Mike Reardon, the school's testing coordinator.
"We start preparing in September," he said, "but it becomes more intense as the year goes on."
There is teacher training, with videos of veteran teachers modeling effective PSSA prep methods for newer teachers. Struggling students are given extra support in small groups.
"And parents know what the test means," said Jeanette Fernandez, Welsh's principal. "We stress attendance, getting enough sleep . . . the night before the test," and a good breakfast.
Evy Clark, principal of Buchanan, a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in the Bristol Township School District, stood on the sideline as the school staged its massive PSSA pep rally. There were cheerleaders, an original PSSA song and dance, karate and gymnastics demonstrations, video testimonials, and younger students waving signs rooting for older ones.
Over the top? You bet. But Buchanan has never failed the state exam, and students know the pressure is on to keep standards up.
"Everyone's working so hard all year toward this goal of achieving proficiency," said Clark, using the state's term for hitting grade level. "Let's have some fun. Let's cheer each other on."
Keeping kids' attention focused on the test in a positive way is important, and the pep rally goes a long way, she said.
Other Buchanan PSSA strategies include extra reading and writing practice, a longer recess on test day, and permission for students to keep typically forbidden water bottles on their desks during the exam.
"We do a lot of positive reinforcement, telling them that they can do this, that they've got lots of strategies to solve problems," Clark said.
It's necessary, she said, because "for the most part, students are stressed out over the test. They take it seriously, and they know it's the same test everyone all over the state is taking."
At Samuel Fels High in Philadelphia, just juniors will take the exam. But PSSA-themed posters line the hallways, and everyone knows the test is looming.
Principal Greg Hailey uses incentives such as discounted prom tickets and Class of 2010 T-shirts to make sure students attend on test days.
"We do snacks for students throughout the day," he said. "We make sure they have water. We want them to be confident and comfortable."
At Welsh, fourth grader Shyann Martinez said she was ready to go. She flipped through a stack of well-worn photocopied test prep papers and nodded gravely.
"I feel a little bit nervous," Shyann said. "There could be something on the test that I need to work on. What if I do bad on the PSSA?"
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Tax Delinquents
From the Inquirer.
Let's post a list of Morrisville delinquents.
2d list of firms behind on taxes
Mayor Nutter stepped up his campaign to shame delinquent taxpayers yesterday as his office published a second list of businesses that he claims owe the city money.
"We want our money. You owe it. Pay it," Nutter said at a City Hall news conference where the list was announced. Nutter published an initial list of tax-delinquent businesses in November. Since then, the city has collected $1.4 million in delinquent business-privilege taxes from firms on the list and has repayment agreements totaling another $1.4 million.
On Wednesday, the mayor held a news conference outside the office of a tax-delinquent law firm and got into a sidewalk confrontation with one of the firm's principals alleged to owe money. A list of delinquent taxpayers has been posted on the city Web site at www.phila.gov. - Patrick Kerkstra
Let's post a list of Morrisville delinquents.
2d list of firms behind on taxes
Mayor Nutter stepped up his campaign to shame delinquent taxpayers yesterday as his office published a second list of businesses that he claims owe the city money.
"We want our money. You owe it. Pay it," Nutter said at a City Hall news conference where the list was announced. Nutter published an initial list of tax-delinquent businesses in November. Since then, the city has collected $1.4 million in delinquent business-privilege taxes from firms on the list and has repayment agreements totaling another $1.4 million.
On Wednesday, the mayor held a news conference outside the office of a tax-delinquent law firm and got into a sidewalk confrontation with one of the firm's principals alleged to owe money. A list of delinquent taxpayers has been posted on the city Web site at www.phila.gov. - Patrick Kerkstra
Bensalem Paperless
From the BCCT.
Board hopes cutting paper helps cut costs
District officials are tallying up how much the cost-cutting suggestions will reduce expenses.
By JOAN HELLYER
The Bensalem school board is going “high tech” in the district’s continuing effort to trim expenses.
Board members used spare laptop computers Wednesday night to access information about items brought before them for approval.
Gone are the days when board members will plow through voluminous paper packets of information before deciding an issue, officials said.
The board agreed to use the spare Classroom for the Future laptops as part of the school system’s ongoing effort to trim expenses.
The laptops are one tip the district received after Superintendent James Lombardo asked staff and community members in February for cost-cutting suggestions to implement over the next few years.
Lombardo made the plea in anticipation of expected revenue concerns in the coming years because of the recession. Everything except salary and benefits is up for consideration, the superintendent said.
Another submitted costcutting suggestion being implemented includes fewer pages in the printed copies of the board packet handed out to people who attend the meetings.
Previously, each packet would be 30 pages or more, including separate pages to designate when the superintendent’s report, the solicitor’s report and the treasurer’s report came up in the meeting. Now, the three reports are listed in small print on the same page as other items on the board’s agenda. Other areas also are condensed to reduce the average paper packet to 12 pages or less.
In addition to the board’s packet, non-essential travel not already approved by the board and other reductions in staff paper consumption and energy usage have been put in place, Lombardo said.
No word yet on how much the operational changes will save the district.
District officials are reviewing dozens of other suggestions received in the last few weeks, the superintendent said. They’ll present the ideas to school board members during the governing body’s April 7 committee meeting.
Board hopes cutting paper helps cut costs
District officials are tallying up how much the cost-cutting suggestions will reduce expenses.
By JOAN HELLYER
The Bensalem school board is going “high tech” in the district’s continuing effort to trim expenses.
Board members used spare laptop computers Wednesday night to access information about items brought before them for approval.
Gone are the days when board members will plow through voluminous paper packets of information before deciding an issue, officials said.
The board agreed to use the spare Classroom for the Future laptops as part of the school system’s ongoing effort to trim expenses.
The laptops are one tip the district received after Superintendent James Lombardo asked staff and community members in February for cost-cutting suggestions to implement over the next few years.
Lombardo made the plea in anticipation of expected revenue concerns in the coming years because of the recession. Everything except salary and benefits is up for consideration, the superintendent said.
Another submitted costcutting suggestion being implemented includes fewer pages in the printed copies of the board packet handed out to people who attend the meetings.
Previously, each packet would be 30 pages or more, including separate pages to designate when the superintendent’s report, the solicitor’s report and the treasurer’s report came up in the meeting. Now, the three reports are listed in small print on the same page as other items on the board’s agenda. Other areas also are condensed to reduce the average paper packet to 12 pages or less.
In addition to the board’s packet, non-essential travel not already approved by the board and other reductions in staff paper consumption and energy usage have been put in place, Lombardo said.
No word yet on how much the operational changes will save the district.
District officials are reviewing dozens of other suggestions received in the last few weeks, the superintendent said. They’ll present the ideas to school board members during the governing body’s April 7 committee meeting.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time for lunch
From the BCCT.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
BOROUGH OF MORRISVILLE
SCHOOL DISTRICT
The School District of Borough of Morrisvile is requesting bids for Food Service Management Service for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifications may be obtained from the Business Office, School District of Borough of Morrisville, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067, 215-736-5933. Proposals are to be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the item being bid to the attention of Paul W. DeAngelo, Business Administrator.
Bids must be received no later than 9:00 Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at which time they will be opened publicly in Conference Room F-10 of the Middle/Senior High School. A mandatory Walk-Thru Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room F-10 of the High School.
Marlys Mihok
Board Secretary
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
BOROUGH OF MORRISVILLE
SCHOOL DISTRICT
The School District of Borough of Morrisvile is requesting bids for Food Service Management Service for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifications may be obtained from the Business Office, School District of Borough of Morrisville, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067, 215-736-5933. Proposals are to be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the item being bid to the attention of Paul W. DeAngelo, Business Administrator.
Bids must be received no later than 9:00 Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at which time they will be opened publicly in Conference Room F-10 of the Middle/Senior High School. A mandatory Walk-Thru Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room F-10 of the High School.
Marlys Mihok
Board Secretary
"Public education must be a top priority"
From the Inquirer.
Editorial: Obama's Plan
Fixing the schools
Posted on Fri, Mar. 13, 2009
President Obama may have the right lesson plan to finally fix the country's failing schools. In his first major speech on education, Obama fulfilled a campaign pledge to initiate a long-overdue overhaul of the public education system.
The president put all stakeholders on notice that he plans to make sweeping changes at every level, from kindergarten to college.
In his boldest moves, Obama wants to link teachers' pay to student performance and expand the number of charter schools. Those issues go to the heart of what is wrong with the public education system: Too many schools are straddled with bad teachers and too many students with no other choice are stuck in failing schools.
His positions on merit pay and charters put Obama at odds with many in the Democratic Party and with one of its most powerful constituents, the teachers unions, which have cautiously endorsed the plan, for now.
The plan announced Tuesday offered few specifics on what performance pay would mean for teachers. It should mean rewarding the best teachers with more money when they improve student achievement.
Republicans will like Obama's support for more charters but are likely to oppose spending $5 billion to expand early childhood education, even though preschool and kindergarten have yielded proven results.
Obama is on point in calling for states to lift rules that limit the number of charter schools. Philadelphia's experience, with some charters being investigated for mismanagement and misspending, shows oversight is critical. But charters do offer students a viable alternative when regular schools are sorry.
Obama's education speech didn't sit well with critics who say he should focus solely on trying to jump-start the recession economy. But the president is right to not put off an education agenda that is less about politics and more about doing what is best for students.
Public schools will get about $100 billion in new funding under the economic-stimulus package. Obama's education plan stresses accountability and urges states to set more rigorous, uniform academic standards.
The president also suggested longer school days and an extended school year. That would bring the United States in line with Asian countries, where students are performing better academically.
In making his remarks at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Obama acknowledged the obstacles facing Latino students, who have a 50-percent dropout rate in most cities, including Philadelphia. Black students are leaving school prematurely at a similar alarming rate.
Obama must still deal with the 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law, which was not addressed in his speech. The law should either be reauthorized with some changes, including adequate funding, or replaced with another measure that similarly holds schools accountable and requires states to test students annually in language arts and math.
Even in difficult economic times, public education must be a top priority. It's good to see Obama knows that.
Editorial: Obama's Plan
Fixing the schools
Posted on Fri, Mar. 13, 2009
President Obama may have the right lesson plan to finally fix the country's failing schools. In his first major speech on education, Obama fulfilled a campaign pledge to initiate a long-overdue overhaul of the public education system.
The president put all stakeholders on notice that he plans to make sweeping changes at every level, from kindergarten to college.
In his boldest moves, Obama wants to link teachers' pay to student performance and expand the number of charter schools. Those issues go to the heart of what is wrong with the public education system: Too many schools are straddled with bad teachers and too many students with no other choice are stuck in failing schools.
His positions on merit pay and charters put Obama at odds with many in the Democratic Party and with one of its most powerful constituents, the teachers unions, which have cautiously endorsed the plan, for now.
The plan announced Tuesday offered few specifics on what performance pay would mean for teachers. It should mean rewarding the best teachers with more money when they improve student achievement.
Republicans will like Obama's support for more charters but are likely to oppose spending $5 billion to expand early childhood education, even though preschool and kindergarten have yielded proven results.
Obama is on point in calling for states to lift rules that limit the number of charter schools. Philadelphia's experience, with some charters being investigated for mismanagement and misspending, shows oversight is critical. But charters do offer students a viable alternative when regular schools are sorry.
Obama's education speech didn't sit well with critics who say he should focus solely on trying to jump-start the recession economy. But the president is right to not put off an education agenda that is less about politics and more about doing what is best for students.
Public schools will get about $100 billion in new funding under the economic-stimulus package. Obama's education plan stresses accountability and urges states to set more rigorous, uniform academic standards.
The president also suggested longer school days and an extended school year. That would bring the United States in line with Asian countries, where students are performing better academically.
In making his remarks at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Obama acknowledged the obstacles facing Latino students, who have a 50-percent dropout rate in most cities, including Philadelphia. Black students are leaving school prematurely at a similar alarming rate.
Obama must still deal with the 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law, which was not addressed in his speech. The law should either be reauthorized with some changes, including adequate funding, or replaced with another measure that similarly holds schools accountable and requires states to test students annually in language arts and math.
Even in difficult economic times, public education must be a top priority. It's good to see Obama knows that.
"A strong commitment to save their schools"
From The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
Greenland Schools Continue To Work Toward Fiscal Stability
New sales tax revenue will help restore long-term year-end balance
Last updated Wednesday, March 11, 2009 7:22 PM CDT in News
By Rose Ann Pearce
THE MORNING NEWS
GREENLAND -- The sales tax revenue earmarked for the Greenland School District will help stabilize the district finances beyond 2010 but probably won't get the school district off the state's fiscal distress list any sooner.
Julie Johnson Thompson, public information director for the Arkansas Department of Education, said voter support of the sales tax issue will have a positive impact when the state education department staff and the State Board of Education receive another quarterly report from Greenland in April.
Greenland Superintendent Roland Smith said it was doubtful the state would remove the district from fiscal distress earlier than the two-year timeframe allowed by state law. The state removed the Greenland School Board and took control of the district in June 2008. Once in fiscal distress, a school district is expected to get its finances in order in two years.
Smith has consistently said he believes Greenland can do that.
While voters wrapped up voting Tuesday, Smith met with about 60 patrons at Greenland High School, telling them he continues to believe the district will end the current fiscal year on June 30 with a balance of $150,000 and projected that could climb to about $400,000 by the end of the next fiscal year on June 30, 2010.
The goal for the district is to get the ending balance back to $800,000, the same level as 10 years ago before the district began sliding financially. The state education department generally recommends a school district have an ending balance between 7 percent and 10 percent of its budget.
"We have no intention to spend the sales tax. It will be put in reserve to build it back," Smith said, noting the sales tax proposal has not been a part of the district's financial planning.
The district is expected to receive about $100,000 a year for two years from the sales tax approved Tuesday. By a margin of 134 to 28, voters extended by two years a sales tax, set to expire in June. The tax was originally used for sewer improvement.
Smith noted voters in the city and the school district have, in the last nine months, approved a sales tax, a millage increase and a bond refinancing for building repairs and new buses.
"That indicates a strong commitment to save their schools," he said.
Greenland Schools Continue To Work Toward Fiscal Stability
New sales tax revenue will help restore long-term year-end balance
Last updated Wednesday, March 11, 2009 7:22 PM CDT in News
By Rose Ann Pearce
THE MORNING NEWS
GREENLAND -- The sales tax revenue earmarked for the Greenland School District will help stabilize the district finances beyond 2010 but probably won't get the school district off the state's fiscal distress list any sooner.
Julie Johnson Thompson, public information director for the Arkansas Department of Education, said voter support of the sales tax issue will have a positive impact when the state education department staff and the State Board of Education receive another quarterly report from Greenland in April.
Greenland Superintendent Roland Smith said it was doubtful the state would remove the district from fiscal distress earlier than the two-year timeframe allowed by state law. The state removed the Greenland School Board and took control of the district in June 2008. Once in fiscal distress, a school district is expected to get its finances in order in two years.
Smith has consistently said he believes Greenland can do that.
While voters wrapped up voting Tuesday, Smith met with about 60 patrons at Greenland High School, telling them he continues to believe the district will end the current fiscal year on June 30 with a balance of $150,000 and projected that could climb to about $400,000 by the end of the next fiscal year on June 30, 2010.
The goal for the district is to get the ending balance back to $800,000, the same level as 10 years ago before the district began sliding financially. The state education department generally recommends a school district have an ending balance between 7 percent and 10 percent of its budget.
"We have no intention to spend the sales tax. It will be put in reserve to build it back," Smith said, noting the sales tax proposal has not been a part of the district's financial planning.
The district is expected to receive about $100,000 a year for two years from the sales tax approved Tuesday. By a margin of 134 to 28, voters extended by two years a sales tax, set to expire in June. The tax was originally used for sewer improvement.
Smith noted voters in the city and the school district have, in the last nine months, approved a sales tax, a millage increase and a bond refinancing for building repairs and new buses.
"That indicates a strong commitment to save their schools," he said.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fix special ed funding
From the Philadelphia Public Schools Notebook.
35 advocacy groups ask legislators to fix special education funding
by Brett Schaeffer
Pennsylvania last year adopted a landmark funding formula for basic education, putting more dollars into the neediest schools and implementing rigorous accountability measures for school districts.
However, special education students have been left out of the equation.
A coalition of groups is now sending the message that it’s time for the General Assembly to approach special education funding with the same sharp eye its members approached basic education funding in 2008.
The state’s new basic education funding formula was based on a 2007 “costing-out” study, conducted by the private education policy consulting firm Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, Inc. Though the study recommended that special education be funded based on student and district needs, a new funding system for students with disabilities was not part of the 2008 reforms.
Now, using the findings from a new February 2009 Augenblick report, more than 35 disabilities advocacy groups throughout Pennsylvania are rallying support for a bill to reform special education funding.
“In 2008, the General Assembly and the Governor reformed state funding for basic education, based on the 2007 ‘costing-out’ study. Similar improvements are now needed for special education funding if the education finance system is to be whole,” said Janis Risch, executive director of Good Schools Pennsylvania, in the new report.
The report indicates that nearly 400 school districts are inadequately funding special education, averaging an annual shortfall of almost $1 million per district. Statewide, the total gap in annual funding for special education is $380 million. The average per pupil shortfall is $1,947, based on a total of 195,000 students in the districts that have a funding gap.
The report, which was funded by the Education Law Center, the Disability Rights Network, and The Arc of Pennsylvania, identifies fundamental needs that often go underserved, such as proper teacher training, investment in assistive technology devices and materials, and support programs.
The report also underscores the importance of finishing the funding reforms begun last year and outlines the broader benefits special education funding reform would provide to the entire school community, including reduced teacher turnover, improved classroom culture, and stronger overall education programs.
The School District of Philadelphia, which educates the greatest number of special education students in Pennsylvania, had a special education funding gap of more than $17 million in 2006-07, the year analyzed in the report.
While Philadelphia’s per student funding gap – approximately $500 – is certainly not as wide as special education funding shortfalls in other districts, figures from the Pennsylvania State Data Center show that Philadelphia is coming up short in its outcomes for special education students.
Data Center numbers reveal a 30 percent dropout rate for Philadelphia’s special education high school students – more than double the statewide average. And while more than 300 of the state’s 501 districts have met their Adequate Yearly Progress targets for special education students under the No Child Left Behind law, Philadelphia has not.
Put simply, reforming the special education funding formula can help Philadelphia improve its outcomes. All students benefit when special education students receive instruction that prepares them for meaningful employment, higher education, and self-sufficiency.
To see the full February 2009 report and data on Pennsylvania special education funding, including those for the School District of Philadelphia, go to www.reformspecialedfunding.org.
35 advocacy groups ask legislators to fix special education funding
by Brett Schaeffer
Pennsylvania last year adopted a landmark funding formula for basic education, putting more dollars into the neediest schools and implementing rigorous accountability measures for school districts.
However, special education students have been left out of the equation.
A coalition of groups is now sending the message that it’s time for the General Assembly to approach special education funding with the same sharp eye its members approached basic education funding in 2008.
The state’s new basic education funding formula was based on a 2007 “costing-out” study, conducted by the private education policy consulting firm Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, Inc. Though the study recommended that special education be funded based on student and district needs, a new funding system for students with disabilities was not part of the 2008 reforms.
Now, using the findings from a new February 2009 Augenblick report, more than 35 disabilities advocacy groups throughout Pennsylvania are rallying support for a bill to reform special education funding.
“In 2008, the General Assembly and the Governor reformed state funding for basic education, based on the 2007 ‘costing-out’ study. Similar improvements are now needed for special education funding if the education finance system is to be whole,” said Janis Risch, executive director of Good Schools Pennsylvania, in the new report.
The report indicates that nearly 400 school districts are inadequately funding special education, averaging an annual shortfall of almost $1 million per district. Statewide, the total gap in annual funding for special education is $380 million. The average per pupil shortfall is $1,947, based on a total of 195,000 students in the districts that have a funding gap.
The report, which was funded by the Education Law Center, the Disability Rights Network, and The Arc of Pennsylvania, identifies fundamental needs that often go underserved, such as proper teacher training, investment in assistive technology devices and materials, and support programs.
The report also underscores the importance of finishing the funding reforms begun last year and outlines the broader benefits special education funding reform would provide to the entire school community, including reduced teacher turnover, improved classroom culture, and stronger overall education programs.
The School District of Philadelphia, which educates the greatest number of special education students in Pennsylvania, had a special education funding gap of more than $17 million in 2006-07, the year analyzed in the report.
While Philadelphia’s per student funding gap – approximately $500 – is certainly not as wide as special education funding shortfalls in other districts, figures from the Pennsylvania State Data Center show that Philadelphia is coming up short in its outcomes for special education students.
Data Center numbers reveal a 30 percent dropout rate for Philadelphia’s special education high school students – more than double the statewide average. And while more than 300 of the state’s 501 districts have met their Adequate Yearly Progress targets for special education students under the No Child Left Behind law, Philadelphia has not.
Put simply, reforming the special education funding formula can help Philadelphia improve its outcomes. All students benefit when special education students receive instruction that prepares them for meaningful employment, higher education, and self-sufficiency.
To see the full February 2009 report and data on Pennsylvania special education funding, including those for the School District of Philadelphia, go to www.reformspecialedfunding.org.
Board members to phone it in
From the BCCT.
Panel to review phone policy again
Posted in News on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 9:11 am by Education Reporter Rachel Canelli
A proposed policy that would allow directors to participate in meetings by phone got a busy signal Tuesday night when officials debated the rule’s language.
So, instead of voting on the procedure, Neshaminy school board members agreed to let the policy committee review and revise it again.
As written, the process would let no more than one director per meeting call into a public board meeting and vote via phone. And each board member would be able to make such a request only once a year and at the board president’s discretion.
But board member William O’Connor, who requested the policy so that he wouldn’t have to miss too many board meetings for unexpected business trips, disagreed with the wording. The original draft permitted two people each meeting twice per year, and did not require the president’s permission, administrators said.
“This is to allow a person to participate,” said O’Connor. “It’s not meant as a convenience to phone in from home. And none of us needs permission from the board president to come here. It’s our ability based on the people who elected us.”
Jacqueline Rattigan, director of elementary and secondary education, said the committee made those changes so people wouldn’t abuse the policy.
Board member Irene Boyle said she didn’t understand the big deal.
“When you start something new, you go slow,” she said.
The wording was supposed to mean that directors should request to participate in a meeting via phone, not ask the president’s consent, said board member Susan Cummings.
Board members Kim Koutsouradis and Ritchie Webb said they’re concerned that the rule would encourage people not to come to meetings, or meetings could be moved to the auditorium, where it’s hard to hear on a phone.
“I have no idea why we’re trying to make this so hard,” said board member William Spitz. “What’s the harm in allowing it? If abuse happens, we could change the policy.”
The concept already is used in some districts including Council Rock, where a board member recently participated by phone for more than one meeting after having surgery, officials said. Neshaminy also allowed board member Joseph Blasch to attend an executive session by phone, Blasch said.
After not allowing a councilman who was on military duty overseas to vote from his post, the Tullytown council later agreed to let members on active military duty vote by phone early last year.
But board member Frank Koziol argued that he’s against it because if only five votes out of more than 200 in the past few years failed due to a director’s absence, the procedure’s not necessary.
“When you run for office, you know if you’re elected you’re accepting the responsibility of attending meetings to represent people,” said Koziol. “It’s impossible to feel the passion of a speaker, or the mood of an audience over the telephone. Attendance is not mandatory, it’s expected.”
Panel to review phone policy again
Posted in News on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 9:11 am by Education Reporter Rachel Canelli
A proposed policy that would allow directors to participate in meetings by phone got a busy signal Tuesday night when officials debated the rule’s language.
So, instead of voting on the procedure, Neshaminy school board members agreed to let the policy committee review and revise it again.
As written, the process would let no more than one director per meeting call into a public board meeting and vote via phone. And each board member would be able to make such a request only once a year and at the board president’s discretion.
But board member William O’Connor, who requested the policy so that he wouldn’t have to miss too many board meetings for unexpected business trips, disagreed with the wording. The original draft permitted two people each meeting twice per year, and did not require the president’s permission, administrators said.
“This is to allow a person to participate,” said O’Connor. “It’s not meant as a convenience to phone in from home. And none of us needs permission from the board president to come here. It’s our ability based on the people who elected us.”
Jacqueline Rattigan, director of elementary and secondary education, said the committee made those changes so people wouldn’t abuse the policy.
Board member Irene Boyle said she didn’t understand the big deal.
“When you start something new, you go slow,” she said.
The wording was supposed to mean that directors should request to participate in a meeting via phone, not ask the president’s consent, said board member Susan Cummings.
Board members Kim Koutsouradis and Ritchie Webb said they’re concerned that the rule would encourage people not to come to meetings, or meetings could be moved to the auditorium, where it’s hard to hear on a phone.
“I have no idea why we’re trying to make this so hard,” said board member William Spitz. “What’s the harm in allowing it? If abuse happens, we could change the policy.”
The concept already is used in some districts including Council Rock, where a board member recently participated by phone for more than one meeting after having surgery, officials said. Neshaminy also allowed board member Joseph Blasch to attend an executive session by phone, Blasch said.
After not allowing a councilman who was on military duty overseas to vote from his post, the Tullytown council later agreed to let members on active military duty vote by phone early last year.
But board member Frank Koziol argued that he’s against it because if only five votes out of more than 200 in the past few years failed due to a director’s absence, the procedure’s not necessary.
“When you run for office, you know if you’re elected you’re accepting the responsibility of attending meetings to represent people,” said Koziol. “It’s impossible to feel the passion of a speaker, or the mood of an audience over the telephone. Attendance is not mandatory, it’s expected.”
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