From the BCCT.
No new taxes.
Board vows no tax increase
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
District officials continue to pursue an early retirement incentive for teachers and other possible cost-cutting measures.
Bristol school board members committed Thursday night to not raise property taxes for the upcoming school year.
They made the declaration after learning the district had received an approximate $800,000 reimbursement from the state for renovations done a few years ago on the district administrative building.
The reimbursement could be used to help cover a near $1,000,000 revenue deficit projected for the 2009-10 budget, board members said.
That means the owner of the district's average assessed property of $16,000 would pay about $1,920 in the coming year.
President David Chichilitti, Vice President John D'Angelo, Joseph Fusco, John Hill, Jeff Paleafico and James Petrino voted in favor of the no tax concept. Steve Cullen, Mary Jane Paglione and Louis Persichetti Sr. did not attend the meeting.
It's possible that not all of the money from the reimbursement will need to be used because a possible early retirement incentive for Bristol teachers and other cost-cutting measures continue to be pursued, district officials said.
The board has to adopt a final 2009-10 budget by June 30.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Cost of Busing
From the BCCT.
District looks for transportation savings
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Pennsbury School District is looking to save at least $211,100 in transportation costs.
If the school board decides to implement the recommendations of a transportation committee, bus routes could be combined, smaller school buses would replace some full-size ones and advertising could be used inside buses. Those are a few of the 13 recommendations of the committee, made up of residents, board members, a student and district staff and administration.
The transportation budget is about $8 million. District buses serve 15 district schools and 52 private and parochial schools. More than 11,000 students use the district's 137 vehicles.
No action was taken on the recommendations at the Thursday board meeting.
District looks for transportation savings
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Pennsbury School District is looking to save at least $211,100 in transportation costs.
If the school board decides to implement the recommendations of a transportation committee, bus routes could be combined, smaller school buses would replace some full-size ones and advertising could be used inside buses. Those are a few of the 13 recommendations of the committee, made up of residents, board members, a student and district staff and administration.
The transportation budget is about $8 million. District buses serve 15 district schools and 52 private and parochial schools. More than 11,000 students use the district's 137 vehicles.
No action was taken on the recommendations at the Thursday board meeting.
BREAKING NEWS
From the BCCT.
Happy first day of spring! Be sure to check out the Rita's website the the countdown to spring.
Spring tradition
By JACKIE MASSOTT
Bucks County Courier Times
Today is the first day of spring, and to feed your spring fever, Rita's is dishing out free 10-ounce Italian water ice for the 17th straight year. The company said more than 1 million people will scoop up the free treat from noon to 10 p.m. at more than 500 Rita's locations in 17 states.
Also beginning today, the company will launch its new mystery flavor Italian ice. Customers can submit a suggested name for the flavor and then vote for their favorite name at www.ritasice.com. The person whose ice name is voted the best will receive free water ice for a year. The contest ends April 17. The winner will be announced on the Web site April 27.
Rita's Franchise Co. is headquartered in the Trevose section of Bensalem.
Happy first day of spring! Be sure to check out the Rita's website the the countdown to spring.
Spring tradition
By JACKIE MASSOTT
Bucks County Courier Times
Today is the first day of spring, and to feed your spring fever, Rita's is dishing out free 10-ounce Italian water ice for the 17th straight year. The company said more than 1 million people will scoop up the free treat from noon to 10 p.m. at more than 500 Rita's locations in 17 states.
Also beginning today, the company will launch its new mystery flavor Italian ice. Customers can submit a suggested name for the flavor and then vote for their favorite name at www.ritasice.com. The person whose ice name is voted the best will receive free water ice for a year. The contest ends April 17. The winner will be announced on the Web site April 27.
Rita's Franchise Co. is headquartered in the Trevose section of Bensalem.
Who needs options? Just do it!
From the BCCT.
Four options presented for school reorganization
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Centennial School District parents and teachers heard four options to reorganize the district's elementary schools Wednesday evening.
Seven board members selected the options from a longer list of 13 choices that architects presented to the public earlier this month. Six elementary schools currently serve more than 2,600 students in Upper Southampton, Warminster and Ivyland.
The district predicts budget shortfalls in the coming years if the aging elementary schools are allowed to continue as is. Major problems in the schools include underutilized space, renovation and replacement of original systems, and a lack of equivalent educational programs and resources across all schools.
The four current options are:
* Create two K-1 schools and two grade 2-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $61.8 million
* Create two K-2 schools and two grade 3-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $70.9 million
* Build one consolidated K-5 educational center to serve the entire district; sell all six existing schools. Cost of plan: $91 million
* Renovate four K-5 schools; close and sell two others. Cost of plan: $55.3 million
Each option will produce long-term savings in operating costs and the money from selling any schools will go into renovations and construction.
Some board members at the meeting gravitated toward selling all the existing schools and building an elementary campus in a single location. It would separate grade levels into individual areas. This option would save the most money in yearly operating costs and provide a fair and equal educational experience for all students, said Superintendent Sandy Homel.
Four options presented for school reorganization
By Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
Centennial School District parents and teachers heard four options to reorganize the district's elementary schools Wednesday evening.
Seven board members selected the options from a longer list of 13 choices that architects presented to the public earlier this month. Six elementary schools currently serve more than 2,600 students in Upper Southampton, Warminster and Ivyland.
The district predicts budget shortfalls in the coming years if the aging elementary schools are allowed to continue as is. Major problems in the schools include underutilized space, renovation and replacement of original systems, and a lack of equivalent educational programs and resources across all schools.
The four current options are:
* Create two K-1 schools and two grade 2-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $61.8 million
* Create two K-2 schools and two grade 3-5 schools; sell two schools. Cost of plan: $70.9 million
* Build one consolidated K-5 educational center to serve the entire district; sell all six existing schools. Cost of plan: $91 million
* Renovate four K-5 schools; close and sell two others. Cost of plan: $55.3 million
Each option will produce long-term savings in operating costs and the money from selling any schools will go into renovations and construction.
Some board members at the meeting gravitated toward selling all the existing schools and building an elementary campus in a single location. It would separate grade levels into individual areas. This option would save the most money in yearly operating costs and provide a fair and equal educational experience for all students, said Superintendent Sandy Homel.
Divide and Conquer?
From the BCCT.
Board offers administrators deal similar to teachers
By RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
The school board is hoping a deal with the administrators will force the teachers to acquiesce as well.
The Neshaminy school board has offered the district's nearly three dozen administrators a deal identical to the package the teachers union rejected, officials said Wednesday.
Board members said they're hoping that if the proposal's accepted, the educators will follow suit.
That offer includes a 3 percent annual salary increase and a requirement that employees pay 15 percent toward health care premiums the first year of the three-year deal, 16 percent the second year, and 17 percent the third year, board members said in a statement.
Like the teachers, administrators do not contribute to their insurance premiums. This contract would save taxpayers $250,000 next year, officials said.
"If the administrators take it, we'll expect the teachers to take it," said board President Ritchie Webb.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching teacher union President Louise Boyd Wednesday for comment. The board has been holding "meet-and-discuss" dialogues with the administrators' organization since February to negotiate a new agreement to replace the one that expires June 30.
Paul Minotti, director of facilities and president of the administrators' association, confirmed the preliminary proposal. He added that he'll be meeting with the 30-plus members of the group early next week to discuss the offer.
"We're making headway," Minotti said. "We should have something done shortly."
If approved, the contract would change the medical plan from Blue Cross PC15 to a less expensive PC 20/30/70 and the drug plan from Rx 5/20 to a cheaper Rx 5/30. But administrators still would have the option of a Keystone HMO, according to the board's statement.
The agreement would remove the full benefits package and a $27,000 incentive upon retirement, as well as the single source item, which allows employees to pay a $5 generic fee for $20 brand name drugs when generics aren't available, the same as proposed to the teachers union. The proposal also calls for reducing opt-out sharing from 37 percent to 25 percent; that's the amount of the premiums the district pays to employees who use their spouse's insurance, said Webb.
And, finally, the deal would eliminate any future annual, long-term service bonuses, which are $1,750 for employees with 20 to 24 years, $2,150 for 25 to 29 years, $2,550 for 30 to 34 years and $3,000 for 35 years or more, officials said.
The district's 500-plus support staff contract is also scheduled to expire in June. Officials are working out the details for a new proposal, but they said support staff members, who tend to make less than teachers, also will be asked to contribute to their health care premiums.
While the support staff belongs to a union with striking power just like the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, the administrators' group does not, officials said.
And, although that organization - the Neshaminy School District Administrators Association - meets to discuss bargaining, it excludes cabinet members like the superintendent, business manager and directors of human resources and secondary education, said Webb.
Those administrators can negotiate their own deal, but the highlights often mimic the association's, officials said.
Administrators' salaries, excluding cabinet members, can range from about $100,000 to $124,000. For example, an assistant principal at the high school could earn about $100,000 for a 10.5-month spot, or roughly $108,000 for 12 months, according to acting Superintendent Lou Muenker.
After three years, that same assistant could be making $120,000. An elementary school principal might begin at about $111,000, while a middle school principal could earn $112,000 to start and $124,000 after three years, Muenker said.
The teachers union counter-offered a 6 percent annual salary increase, including steps, and a requirement for no change in the medical insurance package. No further bargaining sessions have been scheduled, administrators said.
Neshaminy, which operates 14 public schools in Middletown, Lower Southampton, Penndel, Langhorne Manor and Hulmeville, is the only district in Bucks County where employees pay nothing toward health insurance premiums. Union members pay $15 for doctor visits and $5 and $20 for generic and brand-name drugs through Personal Choice, the district's human resources department reported.
The district pays at least $22,000 per year to cover a family of four's health care. The average employer contribution for a similar package is roughly $12,700, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.
District educator salaries start at an average of $51,976 and top out at roughly $95,923. The average Neshaminy teacher's salary is $76,000, administrators said. The salary and benefits for the district's staff, which includes more than 700 teachers, accounts for more than 80 percent of Neshaminy's budget, officials said.
District officials are still trying to figure out how to balance a potential $14 million deficit and avoid a possible $500 tax increase. And the teachers have been working without a contract since June, administrators said.
Board offers administrators deal similar to teachers
By RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
The school board is hoping a deal with the administrators will force the teachers to acquiesce as well.
The Neshaminy school board has offered the district's nearly three dozen administrators a deal identical to the package the teachers union rejected, officials said Wednesday.
Board members said they're hoping that if the proposal's accepted, the educators will follow suit.
That offer includes a 3 percent annual salary increase and a requirement that employees pay 15 percent toward health care premiums the first year of the three-year deal, 16 percent the second year, and 17 percent the third year, board members said in a statement.
Like the teachers, administrators do not contribute to their insurance premiums. This contract would save taxpayers $250,000 next year, officials said.
"If the administrators take it, we'll expect the teachers to take it," said board President Ritchie Webb.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching teacher union President Louise Boyd Wednesday for comment. The board has been holding "meet-and-discuss" dialogues with the administrators' organization since February to negotiate a new agreement to replace the one that expires June 30.
Paul Minotti, director of facilities and president of the administrators' association, confirmed the preliminary proposal. He added that he'll be meeting with the 30-plus members of the group early next week to discuss the offer.
"We're making headway," Minotti said. "We should have something done shortly."
If approved, the contract would change the medical plan from Blue Cross PC15 to a less expensive PC 20/30/70 and the drug plan from Rx 5/20 to a cheaper Rx 5/30. But administrators still would have the option of a Keystone HMO, according to the board's statement.
The agreement would remove the full benefits package and a $27,000 incentive upon retirement, as well as the single source item, which allows employees to pay a $5 generic fee for $20 brand name drugs when generics aren't available, the same as proposed to the teachers union. The proposal also calls for reducing opt-out sharing from 37 percent to 25 percent; that's the amount of the premiums the district pays to employees who use their spouse's insurance, said Webb.
And, finally, the deal would eliminate any future annual, long-term service bonuses, which are $1,750 for employees with 20 to 24 years, $2,150 for 25 to 29 years, $2,550 for 30 to 34 years and $3,000 for 35 years or more, officials said.
The district's 500-plus support staff contract is also scheduled to expire in June. Officials are working out the details for a new proposal, but they said support staff members, who tend to make less than teachers, also will be asked to contribute to their health care premiums.
While the support staff belongs to a union with striking power just like the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, the administrators' group does not, officials said.
And, although that organization - the Neshaminy School District Administrators Association - meets to discuss bargaining, it excludes cabinet members like the superintendent, business manager and directors of human resources and secondary education, said Webb.
Those administrators can negotiate their own deal, but the highlights often mimic the association's, officials said.
Administrators' salaries, excluding cabinet members, can range from about $100,000 to $124,000. For example, an assistant principal at the high school could earn about $100,000 for a 10.5-month spot, or roughly $108,000 for 12 months, according to acting Superintendent Lou Muenker.
After three years, that same assistant could be making $120,000. An elementary school principal might begin at about $111,000, while a middle school principal could earn $112,000 to start and $124,000 after three years, Muenker said.
The teachers union counter-offered a 6 percent annual salary increase, including steps, and a requirement for no change in the medical insurance package. No further bargaining sessions have been scheduled, administrators said.
Neshaminy, which operates 14 public schools in Middletown, Lower Southampton, Penndel, Langhorne Manor and Hulmeville, is the only district in Bucks County where employees pay nothing toward health insurance premiums. Union members pay $15 for doctor visits and $5 and $20 for generic and brand-name drugs through Personal Choice, the district's human resources department reported.
The district pays at least $22,000 per year to cover a family of four's health care. The average employer contribution for a similar package is roughly $12,700, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.
District educator salaries start at an average of $51,976 and top out at roughly $95,923. The average Neshaminy teacher's salary is $76,000, administrators said. The salary and benefits for the district's staff, which includes more than 700 teachers, accounts for more than 80 percent of Neshaminy's budget, officials said.
District officials are still trying to figure out how to balance a potential $14 million deficit and avoid a possible $500 tax increase. And the teachers have been working without a contract since June, administrators said.
Trashes and Grasses and Snow. Oh my.
From the BCCT.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Morrisville School District is requesting sealed bids for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifications may be obtained from the Morrisville School District, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067, to the attention of Paul W. DeAngelo, Business Administrator, 215-736-5933. The individual items and bid opening times are as follows:
Bus Contracted Service 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Trash Removal 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Grass Cutting and Snow Plowing 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Bids must be received before the above listed deadline at which time they will be opened publicly in Conference Room F-10 of the Middle/Senior High School. The owner reserves the right to waive information and to accept or reject any/all bids in its best interest.
Marlys Mihok
Board Secretary
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Morrisville School District is requesting sealed bids for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifications may be obtained from the Morrisville School District, 550 West Palmer Street, Morrisville, PA 19067, to the attention of Paul W. DeAngelo, Business Administrator, 215-736-5933. The individual items and bid opening times are as follows:
Bus Contracted Service 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Trash Removal 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Grass Cutting and Snow Plowing 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009
Bids must be received before the above listed deadline at which time they will be opened publicly in Conference Room F-10 of the Middle/Senior High School. The owner reserves the right to waive information and to accept or reject any/all bids in its best interest.
Marlys Mihok
Board Secretary
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ballot Challenges
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.
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.
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
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