Budget Meeting
Thursday, February 10, 2011
7:00 p.m.
OMS Multipurpose Room
This is the meeting that was originally scheduled for Wed. Jan. 26, 2011.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Want to run for school board? - Daily Local News 01/25/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Want to run for school board?
Feb. 2 workshop slated to help candidates
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
By Laura Catalano, Special to the Local News
The May primary elections may be months away, but it's not too early to start thinking about running for the school board.
Prospective candidates should start the process of getting on the ballot soon. Unfortunately, many have no idea how to go about running for school board.
The Chester County Intermediate Unit wants to change that by hosting a workshop on how to run for a school board seat. The seminar is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the IU's Educational Service Center, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown.
Participants will learn the basics on how to get on the ballot, including information about deadlines, signature requirements and party affiliation. They will also get a brief overview of the roles, responsibilities and commitments involved in being a school board member.
A representative of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association will discuss the support school boards are given on the state level, and CCIU Executive Director Joseph J. O'Brien will speak.
This is the first time the IU has held a workshop for prospective school board candidates. Administrators decided to hold the meeting, which is not restricted to county residents, at the suggestion of West Vincent resident Rob Johnson.
Johnson organized a similar meeting two years ago for the Owen J. Roberts School District community at a time when many residents were dissatisfied with the board. A parent of two children in the district, Johnson had been hoping to attract new people to the board.
Twenty-one people attended his information session in January 2009, and 17 candidates had their names on the May primary election ballot.
Johnson later helped organize a slate of candidates to run in the regular election.
For the 2011 election, Johnson originally considered holding a series of similar sessions, one for OJR residents and several for other districts, such as Great Valley, which has six open seats. But he quickly found that not all school districts were supportive of the idea, and school administrators and school directors alike questioned his role as organizer.
Johnson then turned to the CCIU and asked if it would be interested in holding a session open to anyone seeking information about running for a school board. Administrators there liked his idea.
"I believe a school board member is an extremely important part of the educational process. They set the direction for the educational program that, for some (Chester County) districts, affects as many as 12,000 students. I think it's important for the community to know how to go about the process of running for that position," said Mary Curley, CCIU communications director.
Curley said it makes sense for the intermediate unit to organize the workshop.
"We're centrally located in the county, so it's convenient for most people in the county to get here," she said. "And we're used to providing workshops on a countywide basis for parents, teachers, community members and administrators."
For his part, Johnson is pleased that area residents will have a forum for learning the basics about becoming a school board candidate.
"It could have a positive impact if we have a pipeline of new people coming through the system," he said. "If the information is out there, I think there will be more people who want to get involved."
With the IU involved, Johnson's primary role has been to help promote the workshop. Nevertheless, he said the workshop could provide interested residents the impetus to be candidates.
"School board members do an important job," he said. "We need to think down the line so we have more people take on that role. As budgets get tighter we need clear-headed people to make decisions about what should be cut. When you have good people, you are more likely to get good decisions."
He said he hopes the session is well attended and perhaps a series of sessions will be held in future years. And he's spoken with the PSBA about introducing the idea to other intermediate units statewide.
The session is free. For more information or to register, call 484-237-5171 or e-mail Kathy Gurnee at kathyg@cciu.org.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/25/news/srv0000010735531.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Want to run for school board?
Feb. 2 workshop slated to help candidates
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
By Laura Catalano, Special to the Local News
The May primary elections may be months away, but it's not too early to start thinking about running for the school board.
Prospective candidates should start the process of getting on the ballot soon. Unfortunately, many have no idea how to go about running for school board.
The Chester County Intermediate Unit wants to change that by hosting a workshop on how to run for a school board seat. The seminar is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the IU's Educational Service Center, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown.
Participants will learn the basics on how to get on the ballot, including information about deadlines, signature requirements and party affiliation. They will also get a brief overview of the roles, responsibilities and commitments involved in being a school board member.
A representative of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association will discuss the support school boards are given on the state level, and CCIU Executive Director Joseph J. O'Brien will speak.
This is the first time the IU has held a workshop for prospective school board candidates. Administrators decided to hold the meeting, which is not restricted to county residents, at the suggestion of West Vincent resident Rob Johnson.
Johnson organized a similar meeting two years ago for the Owen J. Roberts School District community at a time when many residents were dissatisfied with the board. A parent of two children in the district, Johnson had been hoping to attract new people to the board.
Twenty-one people attended his information session in January 2009, and 17 candidates had their names on the May primary election ballot.
Johnson later helped organize a slate of candidates to run in the regular election.
For the 2011 election, Johnson originally considered holding a series of similar sessions, one for OJR residents and several for other districts, such as Great Valley, which has six open seats. But he quickly found that not all school districts were supportive of the idea, and school administrators and school directors alike questioned his role as organizer.
Johnson then turned to the CCIU and asked if it would be interested in holding a session open to anyone seeking information about running for a school board. Administrators there liked his idea.
"I believe a school board member is an extremely important part of the educational process. They set the direction for the educational program that, for some (Chester County) districts, affects as many as 12,000 students. I think it's important for the community to know how to go about the process of running for that position," said Mary Curley, CCIU communications director.
Curley said it makes sense for the intermediate unit to organize the workshop.
"We're centrally located in the county, so it's convenient for most people in the county to get here," she said. "And we're used to providing workshops on a countywide basis for parents, teachers, community members and administrators."
For his part, Johnson is pleased that area residents will have a forum for learning the basics about becoming a school board candidate.
"It could have a positive impact if we have a pipeline of new people coming through the system," he said. "If the information is out there, I think there will be more people who want to get involved."
With the IU involved, Johnson's primary role has been to help promote the workshop. Nevertheless, he said the workshop could provide interested residents the impetus to be candidates.
"School board members do an important job," he said. "We need to think down the line so we have more people take on that role. As budgets get tighter we need clear-headed people to make decisions about what should be cut. When you have good people, you are more likely to get good decisions."
He said he hopes the session is well attended and perhaps a series of sessions will be held in future years. And he's spoken with the PSBA about introducing the idea to other intermediate units statewide.
The session is free. For more information or to register, call 484-237-5171 or e-mail Kathy Gurnee at kathyg@cciu.org.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/25/news/srv0000010735531.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Spring-Ford Area to pursue exceptions enabling tax increase- Daily Local News 01/26/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Spring-Ford Area to pursue exceptions enabling tax increase
School officials facing $10.4 million deficit
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By Phil Ellingsworth Jr., Special to the Local News
ROYERSFORD — With a $10.4 million deficit looming over the Spring-Ford Area School District in its 2011-12 budget, administrators are looking to get exceptions to the state's Act 1 index, preparing in case it would need to raise taxes.
Spring-Ford is looking to get the exceptions because the index currently stands at 1.4 percent, but with the district trying to close a substantial deficit gap, it would like to have the option available, District Business Manager Timothy C. Anspach said during a budget presentation to the public and school board.
Although officials would have the option available, it does not necessarily mean they would utilize those exceptions, Anspach said.
If the district were to take the exceptions, the Pennsylvania Department of Education would allow Spring-Ford to raise taxes to a maximum rate of 7.6 percent, bringing in $6.1 million.
At this time, the district has not set a tax increase because officials have time to balance the budget and work on the deficit before the June 30 final budget deadline, he said.
Administration is exploring the exceptions because of increased costs in certain areas, including more than $778,000 in special education, $2.1 million in instruction, health care costs totaling $1.2 million and more than $837,000 in Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System contributions.
The main expenses Spring-Ford is facing in its 2011-12 budget and must address before the June 30 final budget deadline are increases in several different areas, including $1.4 million in salaries, $3.7 million in benefits and $1.6 million in other expenses, he said.
Compounded to the increased expenditures, the district is also facing the reality of decreasing revenues, such as the end of monies coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and approximately 30 companies based inside Spring-Ford applying to Montgomery County for property reassessment, something that could cost the district much as $4 million, Anspach said.
To address chip away at the deficit, administrators are looking at operational costs, personnel, salary and benefits, he said.
The board plans vote on the proposed preliminary budget at its Feb. 14 board meeting.
All Pennsylvania school districts are required to submit a preliminary proposed budget to the state by Feb. 16.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010737755.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Spring-Ford Area to pursue exceptions enabling tax increase
School officials facing $10.4 million deficit
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By Phil Ellingsworth Jr., Special to the Local News
ROYERSFORD — With a $10.4 million deficit looming over the Spring-Ford Area School District in its 2011-12 budget, administrators are looking to get exceptions to the state's Act 1 index, preparing in case it would need to raise taxes.
Spring-Ford is looking to get the exceptions because the index currently stands at 1.4 percent, but with the district trying to close a substantial deficit gap, it would like to have the option available, District Business Manager Timothy C. Anspach said during a budget presentation to the public and school board.
Although officials would have the option available, it does not necessarily mean they would utilize those exceptions, Anspach said.
If the district were to take the exceptions, the Pennsylvania Department of Education would allow Spring-Ford to raise taxes to a maximum rate of 7.6 percent, bringing in $6.1 million.
At this time, the district has not set a tax increase because officials have time to balance the budget and work on the deficit before the June 30 final budget deadline, he said.
Administration is exploring the exceptions because of increased costs in certain areas, including more than $778,000 in special education, $2.1 million in instruction, health care costs totaling $1.2 million and more than $837,000 in Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System contributions.
The main expenses Spring-Ford is facing in its 2011-12 budget and must address before the June 30 final budget deadline are increases in several different areas, including $1.4 million in salaries, $3.7 million in benefits and $1.6 million in other expenses, he said.
Compounded to the increased expenditures, the district is also facing the reality of decreasing revenues, such as the end of monies coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and approximately 30 companies based inside Spring-Ford applying to Montgomery County for property reassessment, something that could cost the district much as $4 million, Anspach said.
To address chip away at the deficit, administrators are looking at operational costs, personnel, salary and benefits, he said.
The board plans vote on the proposed preliminary budget at its Feb. 14 board meeting.
All Pennsylvania school districts are required to submit a preliminary proposed budget to the state by Feb. 16.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010737755.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Opinions about facilities welcome at Owen J. Roberts town hall meeting - Daily Local News 01/26/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Opinions about facilities welcome at Owen J. Roberts town hall meeting
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By Laura Catalano, Special to the Local News
SOUTH COVENTRY— Owen J. Roberts School District residents will have a chance to voice opinions on the future of district facilities at a town hall meeting this week.
The meeting, set for 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the high school, will focus on a feasibility study being undertaken by the district. Participants will learn about that study, now in its early stages, and work in small groups to provide feedback that will help guide the study.
The district is required by the state to conduct a feasibility study to "gather, analyze and explore various ideas to accommodate future enrollment projections and 21st Century learning opportunities," a district news release says.
At the town hall meeting, people will gather in small groups to discuss how facilities relate to education, community/school partnerships and quality of life. The district hopes not only to consider how its buildings relate to education of students in grades k-12, but also how they might be used by the community for lifelong education programs and recreation.
"We're looking at education, facilities and property as we try to plan out the next 10-15 years of education in this community," explained district Wellness Coordinator Jo-an Rechtin. "We want to create a plan to provide a great education, and while we're at it, determine if there are community needs we can address at the same time."
The feasibility study is being led by Jeffrey D. Chambers, of Chambers & Associates, Inc. He will be working with a steering committee composed of school board members, school personnel, township supervisors, parents and other residents.
They will look at existing facilities, educational needs and enrollment projections to formulate a list of options and make recommendations to the school board by early June. Part of that process involves gathering community input.
"We're hoping for a lot of participation," Rechtin said of the town hall meeting. "This really is an opportunity for our community to enter into the future and talk amongst one another about how that might look."
The district currently has five elementary schools, as well as a recently renovated middle school and a high school building. The feasibility study will examine each of those facilities to determine what is needed for the future.
The committee will also consider how enrollments will impact school use. Recent enrollment projections indicate that elementary attendance boundaries may need to be modified to address enrollment discrepancies, with East Coventry Elementary School already over its 550-student capacity, while French Creek is expected to remain more than 100 students shy of its 650-student capacity.
But the committee won't only be looking at buildings. It will address district property needs as well.
In December, the school board approved the purchase of a 52-acre tract of land abutting the East Coventry Elementary School property, and the committee is expected to come up with a recommendation on how that property should be used.
While district officials have no immediate plans for the property, one option they are considering is partnering with the township or a community group to develop a blended-use park or other shared facility.
Residents attending the town hall will have the opportunity to weigh in on how communities and schools can work together toward lifelong learning opportunities that could include such things as community gardens, libraries and shared parks.
"There are a lot of different ways to look at how a school district and community interact," said Rechtin. "We've had a lot of feedback from surveys that education is important and related to quality of life. Our facilities can be used for adult education and recreation opportunities that go above and beyond what our children need."
The meeting will also have an electronic component, so that participants can answer questions electronically at various points during the meeting.
After the town hall, residents will still have an opportunity to offer input on the feasibility study through an online survey that will be made available on the district's website at www.ojrsd.com.
Residents can also log comments on the OJR forum page found under the community tab on the district website or by going to http://ojrforum.ojrsd.com.
Another opportunity for the community to comment on the feasibility study options as they are being formulated will be held on a meeting set for April 19.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010738607.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Opinions about facilities welcome at Owen J. Roberts town hall meeting
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By Laura Catalano, Special to the Local News
SOUTH COVENTRY— Owen J. Roberts School District residents will have a chance to voice opinions on the future of district facilities at a town hall meeting this week.
The meeting, set for 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the high school, will focus on a feasibility study being undertaken by the district. Participants will learn about that study, now in its early stages, and work in small groups to provide feedback that will help guide the study.
The district is required by the state to conduct a feasibility study to "gather, analyze and explore various ideas to accommodate future enrollment projections and 21st Century learning opportunities," a district news release says.
At the town hall meeting, people will gather in small groups to discuss how facilities relate to education, community/school partnerships and quality of life. The district hopes not only to consider how its buildings relate to education of students in grades k-12, but also how they might be used by the community for lifelong education programs and recreation.
"We're looking at education, facilities and property as we try to plan out the next 10-15 years of education in this community," explained district Wellness Coordinator Jo-an Rechtin. "We want to create a plan to provide a great education, and while we're at it, determine if there are community needs we can address at the same time."
The feasibility study is being led by Jeffrey D. Chambers, of Chambers & Associates, Inc. He will be working with a steering committee composed of school board members, school personnel, township supervisors, parents and other residents.
They will look at existing facilities, educational needs and enrollment projections to formulate a list of options and make recommendations to the school board by early June. Part of that process involves gathering community input.
"We're hoping for a lot of participation," Rechtin said of the town hall meeting. "This really is an opportunity for our community to enter into the future and talk amongst one another about how that might look."
The district currently has five elementary schools, as well as a recently renovated middle school and a high school building. The feasibility study will examine each of those facilities to determine what is needed for the future.
The committee will also consider how enrollments will impact school use. Recent enrollment projections indicate that elementary attendance boundaries may need to be modified to address enrollment discrepancies, with East Coventry Elementary School already over its 550-student capacity, while French Creek is expected to remain more than 100 students shy of its 650-student capacity.
But the committee won't only be looking at buildings. It will address district property needs as well.
In December, the school board approved the purchase of a 52-acre tract of land abutting the East Coventry Elementary School property, and the committee is expected to come up with a recommendation on how that property should be used.
While district officials have no immediate plans for the property, one option they are considering is partnering with the township or a community group to develop a blended-use park or other shared facility.
Residents attending the town hall will have the opportunity to weigh in on how communities and schools can work together toward lifelong learning opportunities that could include such things as community gardens, libraries and shared parks.
"There are a lot of different ways to look at how a school district and community interact," said Rechtin. "We've had a lot of feedback from surveys that education is important and related to quality of life. Our facilities can be used for adult education and recreation opportunities that go above and beyond what our children need."
The meeting will also have an electronic component, so that participants can answer questions electronically at various points during the meeting.
After the town hall, residents will still have an opportunity to offer input on the feasibility study through an online survey that will be made available on the district's website at www.ojrsd.com.
Residents can also log comments on the OJR forum page found under the community tab on the district website or by going to http://ojrforum.ojrsd.com.
Another opportunity for the community to comment on the feasibility study options as they are being formulated will be held on a meeting set for April 19.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010738607.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
School board rejects proposed projects budgets (West Chester) - Daily Local News 01/26/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
School board rejects proposed projects budgets
Spending plans revert back to West Chester Area committees
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By ERIC S. SMITH, Staff Writer
WEST GOSHEN — The West Chester Area School Board on Monday night rejected proposed 2011-12 school year budgets for capital fund and general fund projects.
Both budgets will be discussed again in committee meetings.
Board members who voted against the budgets said they wanted to ensure that all budgeted items were necessary and that they were trying to be as fiscally responsible as possible.
The proposed $1.04 million budget for capital projects was rejected in a 5-3 vote, with members Sean Carpenter, Maria Pimley, Terri Clark, Heidi Adsett and John Wingerter opposed. Board President Ricky Swalm and members Jeffrey Seagraves and James Smith voted in favor; board member James Davison was absent.
"We seem to have a lot on this list that we should question what is necessary at this point and what can wait," Carpenter said.
The board did vote to pass two items on the originally proposed budget so that the process for those projects could begin immediately. Those projects were the removal of above-ground oil-storage tanks at three elementary schools and the replacement of water-service valves and a pit at Glen Acres Elementary. Those two projects total $300,000. Smith was the lone board member to dissent on that vote.
Carpenter and Pimley both raised concerns over the proposed costs of construction management fees that were in the originally proposed budget. The estimated total for those fees are about $430,000.
Seagraves said the money for the capital projects was already borrowed and that the district had those funds in place. He said the district cannot transfer any money out of the capital fund for any other uses.
Suzanne Moore, director of business affairs for the district, said the money is in the budget and the debt service has been phased into the district's budget.
Pimley said that if the district spends less of the bond now, it could delay the necessity of future borrowing.
The proposed general fund budget was rejected after a 4-4 vote, with Carpenter, Pimley, Clark and Adsett opposed.
Carpenter said he voted against that budget because he had questions about two projects: a roof repair at Hillsdale Elementary and a districtwide energy initiative.
Carpenter said the roof could be repaired rather than replaced, especially because the district is planning to renovate Hillsdale. But Kevin Campbell, director of facilities, said the renovation is not planned until 2021 and the roof "will not last."
Carpenter said the energy initiative was matter of choice for him. "I don't think it's wise to throw away light bulbs for other light bulbs," he said.
Pimley said she voted against the proposed budget in part because of proposed districtwide flooring replacements. The replacements proposed for district schools totaled more than $126,000. She specifically objected to $10,000 proposed to replace carpet in the library at Glen Acres,
"I think we have to learn to work within the economic constraints," Pimley said.
Seagraves said avoiding projects such as the roof replacement could put the safety of students and faculty at risk. He said the facilities department is "an easy dollar to go after in the short run but can be costly in the long run."
The board unanimously approved a $68,000 design fee for the Hillsdale roof project that was part of the district's 2009-10 budget.
Both budgets are slated to be discussed again at the school board's property and finance committee meeting Feb. 21.
To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, send an e-mail to esmith@dailylocal.com.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010748393.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
School board rejects proposed projects budgets
Spending plans revert back to West Chester Area committees
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
By ERIC S. SMITH, Staff Writer
WEST GOSHEN — The West Chester Area School Board on Monday night rejected proposed 2011-12 school year budgets for capital fund and general fund projects.
Both budgets will be discussed again in committee meetings.
Board members who voted against the budgets said they wanted to ensure that all budgeted items were necessary and that they were trying to be as fiscally responsible as possible.
The proposed $1.04 million budget for capital projects was rejected in a 5-3 vote, with members Sean Carpenter, Maria Pimley, Terri Clark, Heidi Adsett and John Wingerter opposed. Board President Ricky Swalm and members Jeffrey Seagraves and James Smith voted in favor; board member James Davison was absent.
"We seem to have a lot on this list that we should question what is necessary at this point and what can wait," Carpenter said.
The board did vote to pass two items on the originally proposed budget so that the process for those projects could begin immediately. Those projects were the removal of above-ground oil-storage tanks at three elementary schools and the replacement of water-service valves and a pit at Glen Acres Elementary. Those two projects total $300,000. Smith was the lone board member to dissent on that vote.
Carpenter and Pimley both raised concerns over the proposed costs of construction management fees that were in the originally proposed budget. The estimated total for those fees are about $430,000.
Seagraves said the money for the capital projects was already borrowed and that the district had those funds in place. He said the district cannot transfer any money out of the capital fund for any other uses.
Suzanne Moore, director of business affairs for the district, said the money is in the budget and the debt service has been phased into the district's budget.
Pimley said that if the district spends less of the bond now, it could delay the necessity of future borrowing.
The proposed general fund budget was rejected after a 4-4 vote, with Carpenter, Pimley, Clark and Adsett opposed.
Carpenter said he voted against that budget because he had questions about two projects: a roof repair at Hillsdale Elementary and a districtwide energy initiative.
Carpenter said the roof could be repaired rather than replaced, especially because the district is planning to renovate Hillsdale. But Kevin Campbell, director of facilities, said the renovation is not planned until 2021 and the roof "will not last."
Carpenter said the energy initiative was matter of choice for him. "I don't think it's wise to throw away light bulbs for other light bulbs," he said.
Pimley said she voted against the proposed budget in part because of proposed districtwide flooring replacements. The replacements proposed for district schools totaled more than $126,000. She specifically objected to $10,000 proposed to replace carpet in the library at Glen Acres,
"I think we have to learn to work within the economic constraints," Pimley said.
Seagraves said avoiding projects such as the roof replacement could put the safety of students and faculty at risk. He said the facilities department is "an easy dollar to go after in the short run but can be costly in the long run."
The board unanimously approved a $68,000 design fee for the Hillsdale roof project that was part of the district's 2009-10 budget.
Both budgets are slated to be discussed again at the school board's property and finance committee meeting Feb. 21.
To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, send an e-mail to esmith@dailylocal.com.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/26/news/srv0000010748393.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
POSTPONED**Octorara Special Budget Presentation for tonight **POSTPONED
POSTPONED**Octorara Special Budget Presentation for tonight **POSTPONED
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Eastern Lancaster County School District plans to lay off 15 teachers -Lancaster Online 12/24/2011
Eastern Lancaster County School District plans to lay off 15 teachers
Tries to close $1.3 million budget deficit
Lancaster New Era
Updated Jan 24, 2011 21:53
By BRIAN WALLACE, Staff Writer
Eastern Lancaster County School District is planning to lay off 15 teachers to help fill a $1.3 million gap in next year's budget.
The teachers, who currently work at New Holland Elementary School and Garden Spot middle and high schools, will be furloughed at the end of the school year.
The affected teachers work in the physical education, music, science, math, language arts, technical education, agriculture and family and consumer sciences departments at the three schools. A library position also is included in the furloughs.
In all, one part-time and 14 full-time teachers will be laid off, and another teacher's workload will be reduced. The staff reductions, which will be based on seniority, could result in increased class sizes, superintendent Robert Hollister said.
The layoffs are believed to be the first across-the-board teacher furloughs to be implemented in Lancaster County as a result of the economic downturn.
Hollister notified the teachers of the layoffs last week, and the school board is expected to vote on the cuts in February.
State law prohibits school boards from laying off teachers solely for economic reasons, but districts can cut their teaching staff if enrollment drops by 10 percent or more, Hollister said.
Teachers also may be furloughed if a program is cut or eliminated.
Elanco's enrollment has declined from about 3,700 pupils a decade ago to 3,200 today, a drop of about 13 percent, he said.
"That triggers the threshold for a one-time furlough option," Hollister said.
The savings from the layoffs, estimated at $1.1 million, will help the district bridge a funding gap in the 2011-2012 budget caused by declining revenue and rising labor, health care and operating costs.
"It's not good news," Hollister said of the layoffs. "But I think we're trying to be responsible. Bankrupting the school district is not an option."
Last month, Elanco furloughed about 20 evening custodians and hired an outside company, Jani-King, to take over their duties. That move will save the district about $125,000 per year, Hollister said.
Elanco also has reduced the hours of seven secretaries and did not replace two secretaries who left at the end of last year.
Hollister said the teacher layoffs were announced now rather than later in the school year to eliminate anxiety among staff about who might be laid off and to give the affected teachers more time to look for jobs.
The early notification also will help the district as it plans its course offerings for next year, he said.
Elanco is not alone in implementing spending cuts.
Several other school districts plan to cut or freeze administrators' pay next year and have offered employees early-retirement incentives in a bid to reduce their labor costs.
All 17 districts enrolling county students are considering cuts in a variety of expenditures, from bus routes and middle school sports programs to textbooks and teachers' aides.
District revenue from investments, earned income taxes and real estate transfer taxes is down across the county, and districts face the loss of millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds.
Meanwhile, state funding for education is expected to decline or remain flat, and pension costs are soaring. Districts also are facing strict limits on their ability to raise taxes.
"These are unprecedented times in education — down revenues, limited taxing ability and very limited money coming from the state," Hollister said. "It's sort of the perfect storm."
bwallace@lnpnews.com
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/342145#ixzz1C4HrIoLd
Tries to close $1.3 million budget deficit
Lancaster New Era
Updated Jan 24, 2011 21:53
By BRIAN WALLACE, Staff Writer
Eastern Lancaster County School District is planning to lay off 15 teachers to help fill a $1.3 million gap in next year's budget.
The teachers, who currently work at New Holland Elementary School and Garden Spot middle and high schools, will be furloughed at the end of the school year.
The affected teachers work in the physical education, music, science, math, language arts, technical education, agriculture and family and consumer sciences departments at the three schools. A library position also is included in the furloughs.
In all, one part-time and 14 full-time teachers will be laid off, and another teacher's workload will be reduced. The staff reductions, which will be based on seniority, could result in increased class sizes, superintendent Robert Hollister said.
The layoffs are believed to be the first across-the-board teacher furloughs to be implemented in Lancaster County as a result of the economic downturn.
Hollister notified the teachers of the layoffs last week, and the school board is expected to vote on the cuts in February.
State law prohibits school boards from laying off teachers solely for economic reasons, but districts can cut their teaching staff if enrollment drops by 10 percent or more, Hollister said.
Teachers also may be furloughed if a program is cut or eliminated.
Elanco's enrollment has declined from about 3,700 pupils a decade ago to 3,200 today, a drop of about 13 percent, he said.
"That triggers the threshold for a one-time furlough option," Hollister said.
The savings from the layoffs, estimated at $1.1 million, will help the district bridge a funding gap in the 2011-2012 budget caused by declining revenue and rising labor, health care and operating costs.
"It's not good news," Hollister said of the layoffs. "But I think we're trying to be responsible. Bankrupting the school district is not an option."
Last month, Elanco furloughed about 20 evening custodians and hired an outside company, Jani-King, to take over their duties. That move will save the district about $125,000 per year, Hollister said.
Elanco also has reduced the hours of seven secretaries and did not replace two secretaries who left at the end of last year.
Hollister said the teacher layoffs were announced now rather than later in the school year to eliminate anxiety among staff about who might be laid off and to give the affected teachers more time to look for jobs.
The early notification also will help the district as it plans its course offerings for next year, he said.
Elanco is not alone in implementing spending cuts.
Several other school districts plan to cut or freeze administrators' pay next year and have offered employees early-retirement incentives in a bid to reduce their labor costs.
All 17 districts enrolling county students are considering cuts in a variety of expenditures, from bus routes and middle school sports programs to textbooks and teachers' aides.
District revenue from investments, earned income taxes and real estate transfer taxes is down across the county, and districts face the loss of millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds.
Meanwhile, state funding for education is expected to decline or remain flat, and pension costs are soaring. Districts also are facing strict limits on their ability to raise taxes.
"These are unprecedented times in education — down revenues, limited taxing ability and very limited money coming from the state," Hollister said. "It's sort of the perfect storm."
bwallace@lnpnews.com
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/342145#ixzz1C4HrIoLd
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Plan would give some students vouchers for tuition - Lancaster News 01/19/2011
Plan would give some students vouchers for tuition
Bill pits public vs. private
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Updated Jan 19, 2011 22:47
By BRIAN WALLACE, Staff Writer
A proposal to establish a state-funded school voucher program has drawn opposition from Lancaster County public school officials and support from private school administrators.
State Sens. Jeffrey Piccola of York and Anthony Williams of Philadelphia announced last week they will introduce a state-funded school voucher plan into the General Assembly.
Senate Bill 1 would allow students from low-income families to use the state subsidy that would have gone to their public school to pay tuition to a private school or another public school outside their attendance area.
Called the Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act, the bill would affect only students in the state's lowest-performing schools in the first year.
Four county schools are among the 144 schools on that list — McCaskey and McCaskey East high schools and Phoenix Academy in Lancaster, and Washington Educational Center in Ephrata.
In the second year, vouchers would be expanded to all low-income students living in a district with a low-achieving school. In the third year, the program would be offered to all low-income students, regardless of where they live.
The legislation would provide tuition vouchers averaging about $5,000 per student, depending on the state subsidy in the district in which the pupil lives. The money could be transferred to another public school or used to pay private school tuition.
A family of four would qualify for the aid with a household income of $28,665 per year or less.
In School District of Lancaster, about 70 percent of students would be eligible for vouchers, said Matt Stem, coordinator of student services.
•••
Private school officials have lauded S.B. 1, saying it would give families more options for providing the best education possible for their children.
But public school officials consider the voucher plan "ill-conceived" and "bordering on outright malice." Giving public money to private schools that don't have to meet the same state and federal mandates as public schools is "seriously misguided," they said.
Paul Thibault, president of Lancaster Catholic High School, said he "couldn't be more pleased to see the Legislature take up a subject that we all recognize as a matter of simple justice: that children be educated to the very best of their abilities, regardless of the specific educational setting."
Thibault, in an e-mail, said the bill would benefit Lancaster Catholic, although he could not estimate how it would affect enrollment.
The school charges $6,630 a year for tuition, he said, although the actual cost of educating a student is about $8,400.
The Rev. Monsignor William King, vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, also has supported the plan, according to published reports.
So has Richard Thomas, superintendent of the Lancaster Mennonite School system.
In addition to providing state-funded vouchers, S.B. 1 would add $25 million to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, which gives tax cuts to businesses that contribute to private schools and public school foundations.
•••
Richard Caplan, president of the School District of Lancaster board, opposes the legislation, saying it's based on "the false presumption that private is better."
"The latest studies indicate that the number of highly performing private and charter schools is below 50 percent," he said.
Caplan called the logic behind the legislation "mind-boggling," given that Pennsylvania now provides improvement grants to schools that struggle academically.
"On the one hand, they're giving schools money, and on the other they're taking it away," he said. "The state wants to run away from the obligation to make sure the public education system is working."
Hempfield School District superintendent Brenda Becker said she welcomes competition with private schools, but the playing field needs to be level.
The legislation would not require that any school, private or public, accept a student who qualifies for a voucher.
Public schools, on the other hand, must enroll all students who live in their attendance areas and provide all the specialized services they might need, regardless of cost.
"If we are not doing our job as public schools, by all means, hold us accountable," she said in an e-mail. "But to assume this will represent a panacea is ideologically hopeful at best and seriously misguided otherwise."
Gerald Huesken, superintendent of Conestoga Valley School District, said he fears the bill would lead to even more public dollars going to private education.
The last time the Legislature pushed for vouchers, he said, the state approved a charter school law that has cost local public schools millions of dollars in cybercharter school tuition.
In 2009-2010, county school districts paid $9.7 million in charter school tuition, according to the state, with most of the money going to cyber schools.
•••
Other superintendents warned that the legislation could cause enrollment fluctuations that would wreak havoc on school budgets and could result in parents "shopping districts" for the best athletic teams for their children, in violation of interscholastic rules.
The vouchers would, they said, be far less, in general, than the tuition they now charge — averaging about $8,000 in Lancaster County — to enroll students from other districts in their schools.
Solanco superintendent Martin Hudacs questioned whether the program would have the desired effect, given the lack of oversight of nonpublic schools.
"Will there be accountability for the success of these students' achievement in the private school, as there is in public schools?" he said in an e-mail.
"Who is going to be sure this initiative is accomplishing its purpose?"
In a news release, Williams likened opposition to the voucher program to "Gov. George Wallace standing in the doorway of a classroom to continue the segregation of the '60s."
"Why would we block access to great schools for children in need? All kids deserve access to a great education — regardless of race, income or ZIP code," he said in the release.
•••
With Republicans controlling both the state House and Senate, and with Republican Gov. Tom Corbett supporting the voucher concept, the legislation has a better chance of approval in 2011 than it would have had just a few months ago.
But the bill, which is scheduled to be introduced in the General Assembly this week, is likely to face an immediate legal challenge.
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association considers S.B. 1 unconstitutional because it would violate a ban on providing state funds to parents to pay for their children's pre-college education.
There's also the question of whether the legislation, by supporting religious schools, would violate the separation of church and state mandated by the U.S Constitution.
"If you accept voucher students, you're accepting public dollars," said Timothy Allwein, PSBA assistant executive director.
S.B. 1 stipulates that the state Supreme Court "will have exclusive jurisdiction over challenges, with the ability to render a declaratory judgment on the law's constitutionality," according to a summary of the bill.
bwallace@lnpnews.com
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/340151#ixzz1BbSypcqg
Bill pits public vs. private
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Updated Jan 19, 2011 22:47
By BRIAN WALLACE, Staff Writer
A proposal to establish a state-funded school voucher program has drawn opposition from Lancaster County public school officials and support from private school administrators.
State Sens. Jeffrey Piccola of York and Anthony Williams of Philadelphia announced last week they will introduce a state-funded school voucher plan into the General Assembly.
Senate Bill 1 would allow students from low-income families to use the state subsidy that would have gone to their public school to pay tuition to a private school or another public school outside their attendance area.
Called the Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act, the bill would affect only students in the state's lowest-performing schools in the first year.
Four county schools are among the 144 schools on that list — McCaskey and McCaskey East high schools and Phoenix Academy in Lancaster, and Washington Educational Center in Ephrata.
In the second year, vouchers would be expanded to all low-income students living in a district with a low-achieving school. In the third year, the program would be offered to all low-income students, regardless of where they live.
The legislation would provide tuition vouchers averaging about $5,000 per student, depending on the state subsidy in the district in which the pupil lives. The money could be transferred to another public school or used to pay private school tuition.
A family of four would qualify for the aid with a household income of $28,665 per year or less.
In School District of Lancaster, about 70 percent of students would be eligible for vouchers, said Matt Stem, coordinator of student services.
•••
Private school officials have lauded S.B. 1, saying it would give families more options for providing the best education possible for their children.
But public school officials consider the voucher plan "ill-conceived" and "bordering on outright malice." Giving public money to private schools that don't have to meet the same state and federal mandates as public schools is "seriously misguided," they said.
Paul Thibault, president of Lancaster Catholic High School, said he "couldn't be more pleased to see the Legislature take up a subject that we all recognize as a matter of simple justice: that children be educated to the very best of their abilities, regardless of the specific educational setting."
Thibault, in an e-mail, said the bill would benefit Lancaster Catholic, although he could not estimate how it would affect enrollment.
The school charges $6,630 a year for tuition, he said, although the actual cost of educating a student is about $8,400.
The Rev. Monsignor William King, vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, also has supported the plan, according to published reports.
So has Richard Thomas, superintendent of the Lancaster Mennonite School system.
In addition to providing state-funded vouchers, S.B. 1 would add $25 million to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, which gives tax cuts to businesses that contribute to private schools and public school foundations.
•••
Richard Caplan, president of the School District of Lancaster board, opposes the legislation, saying it's based on "the false presumption that private is better."
"The latest studies indicate that the number of highly performing private and charter schools is below 50 percent," he said.
Caplan called the logic behind the legislation "mind-boggling," given that Pennsylvania now provides improvement grants to schools that struggle academically.
"On the one hand, they're giving schools money, and on the other they're taking it away," he said. "The state wants to run away from the obligation to make sure the public education system is working."
Hempfield School District superintendent Brenda Becker said she welcomes competition with private schools, but the playing field needs to be level.
The legislation would not require that any school, private or public, accept a student who qualifies for a voucher.
Public schools, on the other hand, must enroll all students who live in their attendance areas and provide all the specialized services they might need, regardless of cost.
"If we are not doing our job as public schools, by all means, hold us accountable," she said in an e-mail. "But to assume this will represent a panacea is ideologically hopeful at best and seriously misguided otherwise."
Gerald Huesken, superintendent of Conestoga Valley School District, said he fears the bill would lead to even more public dollars going to private education.
The last time the Legislature pushed for vouchers, he said, the state approved a charter school law that has cost local public schools millions of dollars in cybercharter school tuition.
In 2009-2010, county school districts paid $9.7 million in charter school tuition, according to the state, with most of the money going to cyber schools.
•••
Other superintendents warned that the legislation could cause enrollment fluctuations that would wreak havoc on school budgets and could result in parents "shopping districts" for the best athletic teams for their children, in violation of interscholastic rules.
The vouchers would, they said, be far less, in general, than the tuition they now charge — averaging about $8,000 in Lancaster County — to enroll students from other districts in their schools.
Solanco superintendent Martin Hudacs questioned whether the program would have the desired effect, given the lack of oversight of nonpublic schools.
"Will there be accountability for the success of these students' achievement in the private school, as there is in public schools?" he said in an e-mail.
"Who is going to be sure this initiative is accomplishing its purpose?"
In a news release, Williams likened opposition to the voucher program to "Gov. George Wallace standing in the doorway of a classroom to continue the segregation of the '60s."
"Why would we block access to great schools for children in need? All kids deserve access to a great education — regardless of race, income or ZIP code," he said in the release.
•••
With Republicans controlling both the state House and Senate, and with Republican Gov. Tom Corbett supporting the voucher concept, the legislation has a better chance of approval in 2011 than it would have had just a few months ago.
But the bill, which is scheduled to be introduced in the General Assembly this week, is likely to face an immediate legal challenge.
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association considers S.B. 1 unconstitutional because it would violate a ban on providing state funds to parents to pay for their children's pre-college education.
There's also the question of whether the legislation, by supporting religious schools, would violate the separation of church and state mandated by the U.S Constitution.
"If you accept voucher students, you're accepting public dollars," said Timothy Allwein, PSBA assistant executive director.
S.B. 1 stipulates that the state Supreme Court "will have exclusive jurisdiction over challenges, with the ability to render a declaratory judgment on the law's constitutionality," according to a summary of the bill.
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/340151#ixzz1BbSypcqg
Spring-Ford District looking at huge deficit - The Daily Local 1/19/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
WEB ONLY: Spring-Ford District looking at huge deficit
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
By PHIL ELLINGSWORTH JR.
Special to the Local News
ROYERSFORD - Spring-Ford School District officials have unveiled a proposed preliminary budget showing an uphill climb to chip away at a $10.4 million deficit in its 2011-12 budget.
District Business Manager Timothy C. Anspach said the main expenses the district is facing going into budget season are increases on several fronts, including a $1.4 million in salaries, $3.7 million in benefits, and $1.6 million in other categories.
Spring-Ford recently changed its healthcare plan for employees from a two-tier to a three-tier system with higher co-pays, but cost savings have not been realized yet because it is based on the amount of claims filed. Anspach said a lot of claims are being filed by younger and older teachers.
The district is facing a total $6.1 million in expenses in a time when investments and funds are down, including the ending of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Anspach said.
That loss of revenue and increased expenses has district officials exploring different ways to eliminate the $10.4 million deficit before it is required to submit a final budget to the state by the June 30 deadline.
Anspach said the district is looking at operational costs, personnel, salary and benefits.
Currently, Spring-Ford has not set a tax increase because the district officials have time to balance the budget and work on its deficit before June, Anspach said.
Another problem looming is approximately 30 companies in the district are applying to Montgomery County for property reassessment, something that could potentially affect taxpayers and the district's bottom line, he said.
Assessment appeals could total as much as $4 million, but the district is fighting those requests, so that money is not lost, he said.
Some of the companies appealing their assessments are GlaxoSmithKline, Quest Diagnostics, Spring- Ford Country Club and more.
A PowerPoint presentation Anspach made to the audience and the board outlined different revenue sources and what would happen if they were lost.
One revenue source was property tax assessments, showing if the district lost that money, it could mean a 3.72 percent tax increase in property taxes, according to the presentation.
"Not to say we're going to raise taxes that high," he said.
Anspach said the budget also reflects the fact the district has a lot of unanswered questions about funding sources.
Spring-Ford does not know how much money it will receive from the state at this time, especially since Gov. Tom Corbett was sworn into office Tuesday afternoon.
"We don't know that yet," Anspach said.
The district also does not have budgets from Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center.
"There's many questions we don't have answers to," he said.
Superintendent of Schools Marsha R. Hurda said there are costs the district has no control over like salary and benefits, also in a time when there are decreases in revenue and companies going for reassessment mixed in.
"Our expenses continue to grow," Hurda said.
Hurda reaffirmed Anspach's statements, saying the budget that was presented to the board is just a projection, and the final budget will not need to be approved until June.
In other board news, members voted 8-0 to publicly advertise the budget for 20 days. Board member David R. Shafer was absent from the voting.
The board will vote on the proposed preliminary budget at its Feb. 14 board meeting.
All Pennsylvania districts are required to submit a preliminary proposed budget to the state by Feb. 16.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/19/news/doc4d379fd6c1463152822014.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
WEB ONLY: Spring-Ford District looking at huge deficit
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
By PHIL ELLINGSWORTH JR.
Special to the Local News
ROYERSFORD - Spring-Ford School District officials have unveiled a proposed preliminary budget showing an uphill climb to chip away at a $10.4 million deficit in its 2011-12 budget.
District Business Manager Timothy C. Anspach said the main expenses the district is facing going into budget season are increases on several fronts, including a $1.4 million in salaries, $3.7 million in benefits, and $1.6 million in other categories.
Spring-Ford recently changed its healthcare plan for employees from a two-tier to a three-tier system with higher co-pays, but cost savings have not been realized yet because it is based on the amount of claims filed. Anspach said a lot of claims are being filed by younger and older teachers.
The district is facing a total $6.1 million in expenses in a time when investments and funds are down, including the ending of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Anspach said.
That loss of revenue and increased expenses has district officials exploring different ways to eliminate the $10.4 million deficit before it is required to submit a final budget to the state by the June 30 deadline.
Anspach said the district is looking at operational costs, personnel, salary and benefits.
Currently, Spring-Ford has not set a tax increase because the district officials have time to balance the budget and work on its deficit before June, Anspach said.
Another problem looming is approximately 30 companies in the district are applying to Montgomery County for property reassessment, something that could potentially affect taxpayers and the district's bottom line, he said.
Assessment appeals could total as much as $4 million, but the district is fighting those requests, so that money is not lost, he said.
Some of the companies appealing their assessments are GlaxoSmithKline, Quest Diagnostics, Spring- Ford Country Club and more.
A PowerPoint presentation Anspach made to the audience and the board outlined different revenue sources and what would happen if they were lost.
One revenue source was property tax assessments, showing if the district lost that money, it could mean a 3.72 percent tax increase in property taxes, according to the presentation.
"Not to say we're going to raise taxes that high," he said.
Anspach said the budget also reflects the fact the district has a lot of unanswered questions about funding sources.
Spring-Ford does not know how much money it will receive from the state at this time, especially since Gov. Tom Corbett was sworn into office Tuesday afternoon.
"We don't know that yet," Anspach said.
The district also does not have budgets from Montgomery County Intermediate Unit and Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center.
"There's many questions we don't have answers to," he said.
Superintendent of Schools Marsha R. Hurda said there are costs the district has no control over like salary and benefits, also in a time when there are decreases in revenue and companies going for reassessment mixed in.
"Our expenses continue to grow," Hurda said.
Hurda reaffirmed Anspach's statements, saying the budget that was presented to the board is just a projection, and the final budget will not need to be approved until June.
In other board news, members voted 8-0 to publicly advertise the budget for 20 days. Board member David R. Shafer was absent from the voting.
The board will vote on the proposed preliminary budget at its Feb. 14 board meeting.
All Pennsylvania districts are required to submit a preliminary proposed budget to the state by Feb. 16.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/19/news/doc4d379fd6c1463152822014.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
In education, budget cuts must be done with care - Lancaster News 1/17/2011
In education, budget cuts must be done with care Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Updated Jan 17, 2011 20:40
By JEFF HAWKES, Staff Writer
At an Hourglass Foundation forum on school funding, state Rep. Scott Boyd warned of cuts.
He said Tom Corbett ran for governor on a no-tax-increase pledge and savings will have to come from every department, education included, to close a $4 billion deficit.
"We have a spending problem," the Lampeter Republican said, adding that the mood of the new Republican-controlled Legislature is "enough is enough."
One can just imagine Chinese leaders smiling at the news of a major industrial state deciding that rather than close tax loopholes or tax the Marcellus shale windfall, it's going to invest less in school children.
But if cut and cut some more is to be the new mantra, let's at least be smart about it.
Ways to save
Before schools end up stuffing more kids into a classroom and eliminating AP chemistry, there are other ways to effect savings that the Legislature ought to consider first.
For instance, with 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, including 16 in Lancaster County, wouldn't some consolidation make sense?
And what about a statewide health plan for teachers instead of each district fending for itself? A 2004 study calculated savings approaching $600 million.
And while we're at it, wouldn't regional teacher contracts, or a statewide contract, offer savings and have the added benefit of drawing highly qualified teachers to all parts of the state, not just the better-off suburbs?
All of the above would, of course, require hearings and draw heavy fire. They offer no quick fix to the imperative of balancing the budget by June 30. So with Republicans clamoring for cuts, cuts there will be.
But before the ax is swung, the Philadelphia-based Education Law Center will urge lawmakers to be fair about it, making cuts in a way that does the least harm to school districts with the weakest tax bases and greatest needs.
"It would be very unfair for the schools in Lancaster to have to severely increase class size when other (less distressed) districts won't have to," said Baruch Kintisch, staff attorney for the legal advocacy organization.
How to achieve fairness? Kintisch thinks there are two ways.
Unfair subsidy
First, if there are cuts, they should be run through the funding formula passed in 2008. Weighted to favor districts with weak tax bases and high poverty rates, the formula seeks to put all districts on an equal plane.
Second, aim the greatest cuts at the districts that have received undeserved increases in state funding.
Undeserved? Yes, that's right. There are scores of districts for which lawmakers wrangled so-called "minimum" increases even though the districts might have seen enrollment fall, their tax base strengthen or their poverty rate decline.
According to Education Law Center, 151 school districts last year got a 2-percent increase totaling $19.8 million even though the formula said they should get a smaller increase or no increase. Of those, 32 districts should actually have had state funding cut.
Many districts receive undeserved increases year after year, with the laddering of largess since 2001-02 totaling $384 million.
That's real money — 6.7 percent of total state funding for basic education. And that unearned subsidy is where Kintisch hopes budget cutters give special attention.
The bottom line is we can save money by remedying an unfairness that benefits some districts at the expense of the needy.
In words Republicans will understand: enough is enough.
jhawkes@lnpnews.com
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/339030#ixzz1BU5rshc7
Lancaster New Era
Updated Jan 17, 2011 20:40
By JEFF HAWKES, Staff Writer
At an Hourglass Foundation forum on school funding, state Rep. Scott Boyd warned of cuts.
He said Tom Corbett ran for governor on a no-tax-increase pledge and savings will have to come from every department, education included, to close a $4 billion deficit.
"We have a spending problem," the Lampeter Republican said, adding that the mood of the new Republican-controlled Legislature is "enough is enough."
One can just imagine Chinese leaders smiling at the news of a major industrial state deciding that rather than close tax loopholes or tax the Marcellus shale windfall, it's going to invest less in school children.
But if cut and cut some more is to be the new mantra, let's at least be smart about it.
Ways to save
Before schools end up stuffing more kids into a classroom and eliminating AP chemistry, there are other ways to effect savings that the Legislature ought to consider first.
For instance, with 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, including 16 in Lancaster County, wouldn't some consolidation make sense?
And what about a statewide health plan for teachers instead of each district fending for itself? A 2004 study calculated savings approaching $600 million.
And while we're at it, wouldn't regional teacher contracts, or a statewide contract, offer savings and have the added benefit of drawing highly qualified teachers to all parts of the state, not just the better-off suburbs?
All of the above would, of course, require hearings and draw heavy fire. They offer no quick fix to the imperative of balancing the budget by June 30. So with Republicans clamoring for cuts, cuts there will be.
But before the ax is swung, the Philadelphia-based Education Law Center will urge lawmakers to be fair about it, making cuts in a way that does the least harm to school districts with the weakest tax bases and greatest needs.
"It would be very unfair for the schools in Lancaster to have to severely increase class size when other (less distressed) districts won't have to," said Baruch Kintisch, staff attorney for the legal advocacy organization.
How to achieve fairness? Kintisch thinks there are two ways.
Unfair subsidy
First, if there are cuts, they should be run through the funding formula passed in 2008. Weighted to favor districts with weak tax bases and high poverty rates, the formula seeks to put all districts on an equal plane.
Second, aim the greatest cuts at the districts that have received undeserved increases in state funding.
Undeserved? Yes, that's right. There are scores of districts for which lawmakers wrangled so-called "minimum" increases even though the districts might have seen enrollment fall, their tax base strengthen or their poverty rate decline.
According to Education Law Center, 151 school districts last year got a 2-percent increase totaling $19.8 million even though the formula said they should get a smaller increase or no increase. Of those, 32 districts should actually have had state funding cut.
Many districts receive undeserved increases year after year, with the laddering of largess since 2001-02 totaling $384 million.
That's real money — 6.7 percent of total state funding for basic education. And that unearned subsidy is where Kintisch hopes budget cutters give special attention.
The bottom line is we can save money by remedying an unfairness that benefits some districts at the expense of the needy.
In words Republicans will understand: enough is enough.
jhawkes@lnpnews.com
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/339030#ixzz1BU5rshc7
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Board Meeting 01/17/2011
OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
January 17, 2011– 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
AGENDA
1. Lord’s Prayer
2.Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
3. Roll Call
All Present
4. Approval of Minutes from the Reorganization Meeting of December 6, 2010, the Work Session of December 6, 2010, and the Regular Meeting of December 13, 2010.
Approved
5. Presentations
A. Budget - Dan Carsley
Mr. Carsley presented the multi-year model they will use through the budget process. The standard going forward will be to look at the effect of the budget you are working on has on future budgets.
There are 4 years of actual, the current year, the preliminary budget & 4 years going forward. It give a good summary of where you are coming from & where you are headed. The model is currently based on an adjusted index of 1.8%. There are different scenarios included in the model.
They can put changes into the model as they move through the process to see how the discussion will change the budget.
Mr. McCartney asked if it took into account the changes in the PSERS funding. Mr. Carsely said that the future year amounts of 12.19%, 16.6% and 21% are in there. He had not made the adjustment for next year, as the preliminary budget as presented needs to be approved per state law.
Mr. McCartney wanted to know if amounts of property tax increases in future years were included. Mr. Carsley said they aren't, because the budget as it is now, will not be the final product. The future years are based on very conservative numbers.
Dr. Newcome presented potential budget reductions in seven (7) areas.
Potential Budget Reductions
Downingtown is looking at cyber charter school students. They would like to use Brandywine Virtual Academy (which is what Octorara uses for our Alternative Ed students). The problem with this is while it would initially decrease costs, if current Octorara students decided they wanted to use it, it could end up costing us more.
Dr. Newcome asked the Board for more suggestions.;
Mr. Norris asked what the athletic budget is. Answer: approx. $350,000
Mr. Carsley made the changes that were being discussed to the model. Where we had a negative fund balance in the 3rd future year, it was now positive.
Mr. Norris asked about an item that had been presented at the Finance Committee during the audit report. The auditors stated that the district needs a policy that states what the floor of the fund balance needs to be.
Mr. Carsley said that the bond rating had been increased from A to A+. Part of the reason for the increase was the management of the fund balance. He prefers not to go below $3 million in the fund balance. They will work on a policy that puts in a floor. They need a fund balance of that much to cover the summer months before property taxes start coming in.
Mr. McCartney asked if the model included guesses as to what will come out of Harrisburg.
Mr. Carsley stated that he had decreased state funding by $600,000 based on things he had heard.
Mr. Ganow had a couple of comments about #4 & #6:
#4 - wanted to clarify that the projections for the cyber charter students was based on students currently attending a cyber charter and that we would attempt to get some of them back.
#6 - the decrease for athletics seems like a larger percentage than the other cuts.
Dr. Newcome said that the idea is to hit non-required items harder.
Ms. Bowman wanted to know if this would be an accurate characterization of the budget: Revenues are declining. So if we do nothing, we will be in the red. If we raise taxes to the index (with no exceptions), we will still have an issue. We need to decrease expenses.
Mr. Carsley said that it was accurate.
Ms. Bowman said that the preliminary budget that is being voted on does not contain any of these adjustments.
Dr. Newcome said that there will be pain. Failure to reach the goal will have bad long term effects.
Mr. Norris asked about the time frame for #2 and what legwork had been done.
Dr. Newcome said the timing is still being worked on . Recommendations from the Board will be part of the process. He hopes to have something by April to give the district a 2-month lead time. It will be part of the RFP to keep the current staff.
Mr. Hume wanted to know who is setting the policy for the fund balance. Mr. Carsley said it was the auditors' recommendation. Mr. Hume thinks it sounds good to an auditor, but it is taxpayer money. We are taxed above the limit. He is opposed to putting money aside. He thinks if the district needs cash, they should borrow it.
He also had a question about the public utility tax line item.Mr. Carsley said that it compensates schools for lost revenue.
Ms. Bowman stated that starting in July, they need money to get through the summer. In order to borrow at a good rate, we need an adequate fund balance (also to maintain bond rating).
B. High School Program of Studies – Scott Rohrer
Mr. Rohrer passed out a copy of the Program of Study for 2011/12. He said that the renovation project has created new opportunities. Students in Mr. Lauletta's classes put together the books. Eventually, they will be put online.
There will be some small changes in graduation requirements. A few years ago, based on guidelines from the state, we changed our math and science requirements. Now, based on the Keystone exams, we are going back to the way it was. With the Keystone exams, students will need to pass 2 of 3 math exams (Algebra 1, Geometry, and/or Algebra 2). It will be a graduation requirement that students pass Algebra 1. The HS needs to be able to remediate students, if necessary. The State is saying that by 2015, a student must pass state identified Keystone exams in order to graduate. All 9th graders will take Algebra 1 and will be assigned a study hall in case they need help.
Dr. Rutledge talked about "College in High School". We used to have an agreement with Delaware County Community College. They dropped their program, but we were able to affiliate with Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). We have the potential for 3 courses for next year. These are courses that we teach and where the teacher is qualified to be an adjunct professor. The student fills out an application and pays a fee to get college credit.
Octorara Course: Financial Accounting
HACC Course: Principals of Accounting
Octorara Course: Academic Government & Politics
HACC Course: The National Political System
Octorara Course: AP US Government
HACC Course: The National Political System
Technical College/High School
We are developing some of our own programs. We have a co-op program and 2 of our Ag programs are state approved. We will be able to offer more programs. We have teachers with the proper certifications.
Example: Drafting technology will be a 3 year course of study. The student can take a test to be certified. They may also be eligible for college credits.
Mr. Norris said it is refreshing to see what is going on. The booklet was put together well.
Ms. Bowman said that with the focus on the budget we have to remember we have a job to do - prepare our students. She asked that for the 3yr programs, does that mean students who will be juniors next year can't participate. Mr. Rohrer said they could take the classes if there is room, but they wouldn't be eligible for certification.
Ms. Bowman said that with the pathways, they had visited other school and saw what they had. There has been a lot of work put into developing these programs. It is amazing how much has been accomplished.
6. Information Items
A. The Octorara Middle School softball coaches will be eliminated from the supplemental contract list that was approved on August 16, 2010.
No middle school softball team this year.
7. Treasurer’s Report
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the General Fund Report for period ending December 31, 2010.
Mr. Malone gave the report.
8. Business Manager’s Report
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the list of bills for payment.
Mr. Norris asked Mr. Carsley to check on check # 171549. The amount seemed high. Mr. Carsley gave the report. Approved.
9. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only
Joe Reilly (Parkesburg) wanted to remind the board that in this economy many people have been laid off, had salary reductions & increases in health insurance premiums. He works for a healthcare company & pays 50% of his premium. The district should look at reducing healthcare benefits for the staff and increasing co-pays like other industries. It is hard to increase taxes when unemployment is not going down. People have tight budgets at home.
10.Recommended Action Items: (Italicized items are new; they were not on the January 10, 2011 agenda.)
A -D 7 yes 2 no Approved.
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the proposed preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the District administration to apply for Act 1 exemptions for the 2011-2012 budget.
C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the 2011-2012 school calendar.
D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the “Sportsmanship Agreement” for parents of athletes who participate in District athletic programs.
E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve change order number 007 for Bristol Environmental, Inc. for 1st floor hallway pipe insulation abatement (Sections 1 & 2) and light tube disposal in the amount of $26,650.00.
Mr. Ganow questioned this. He thinks it is a ridiculous amount. He wondered if they could get someone else to do the work. Mr. Carsley said that the tubes have already been removed and are looking at other contractors for the future.
4 yes (Malone, Bicking, Bowman & Stoltzfus) 5 no (Norris, Ganow, Hume, Johnson, McCartney).Not approved.
F-P Approved. Mr. Ganow did ask for what the OMS Shakespeare Advisor did. It has been held since 1996. A group from the MS presents a play in competition with other schools.
F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes from regular substitute pay to long term substitute pay at the rate of $140 per day:
Alice Lohr – 18 days
Meredith Benson – 20.5 days
G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the student activity request for the “Music Club” at the Octorara Area High School.
H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the job descriptions for the position of Access Coordinator and Access Assistant.
Resignation Approvals:
I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental contract resignations:
Mike Mundy –Middle School Academic Team Advisor
Beth Hrincevich –Elementary School Talent Show/Musical Co-Director
Scott Conaghan –High School Assistant Track Coach
Mark Pedersen – Middle School Assistant Football Coach
Nicholas Kluge – High School Junior Varsity Baseball Coach
J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resignation of Ms. Katie Allison as cafeteria cashier in the Octorara Area High School effective January 2, 2011. (Hired November 1, 2010)
K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the termination of employee “A” effective January 3, 2011.
Hiring Approvals:
L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute teachers for the 2010-2011 school year:
Marian Green (Special Education)
Cara Patti (Elementary)
M. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support personnel for the 2010-2011 school year:
Wayne Wharton (Custodian, maintenance)
N. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental contracts for the 2010-2011 school year:
Nina Thwaites OES Talent Show/Musical 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Andrew Baumgardner OMS Football Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Matthew Smith OMS Wrestling Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Michelle Moran Mentor Jennifer Bower 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Donna Edwards Mentor Jan D’Angelo 1 pt @ $570 $ 570
Tabitha Wallace Advisor OMS Shakespeare 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Matt Livingood OHS Asst. Track Coach 6 pts @ $570 $3,420
O. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Kendal Dixon and Mr. Bruce Davis as volunteer coaches for the Octorara Area High School boys’ basketball program.
P. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:
Michelle Lofgren From M+45 ($76,348) to M+60 ($78,780) Step 15
Q. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the agreement between Chesconet and the Octorara Area School District for internet service for July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
Approved.
R. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Kay Ralston as a classroom volunteer pending completion of clearances required by law and the District.
Ms. Bowman asked why a volunteer was brought to the board. Dr. Newcome said that Ms. Ralston will be in the classroom on a regular basis several times per week. Approved.
S. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the annual financial audit report of the District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 as prepared by the auditing firm of Herbein & Company.
Mr. Ganow wanted to know if there had been any major findings. There weren't. Mr. Malone said the financial statements were presented fairly. Approved.
T. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the changes to the Octorara Area High School 2011-2012 Program of Studies.
Mr. Ganow said he was impressed with the document. Approved.
11. I.U./C.A.T. Board Representative’s Report
Mr. Stoltzfus said they will meet on Wednesday.
12. Old Business
None
13. New Business
Mr. Malone went over the audit report items: statements presented fairly; need fund balance policy; increase in bond rating. This could save approx. $5000 in interest.
14. Other Items and Announcements
Dr. Newcome presented the Board members with certificates for their service in recognition of School Board Directors Month..
He let the audience know that there would be a 2hr delay on Tues.
He asked that if the Board had further questions on items discussed at the work session that they let Ms. Bowman or him know so they didn't do block approvals.
15. Visitors’ Comments – General
I apologize that I didn't catch everyone's names.
Thomas C. (Kinzer) Asked if the CTE College courses are required by State law. He also had a question regarding cutting the budget, yet using buses on Sundays. It needs to stop. Is there a way to consolidate with other districts?
Donna (Sadsbury Twp) - She wanted to follow-up on a question from a few months ago concerning teacher contract negotiations. Will this cause more stress in the budget process?
Hank (West Sadsbury) - Thanked the board for their service.
He asked: Have negotiations started?
When will they start?
Which school boad members are included?
Are there administrators included?
What other participants are there?
Who do you negotiate with?
Also, - how are the budget numbers derived if you don't have the contract in place?
Thomas C. - Any consideration as to freezing admin salaries like Manheim did?
16.Board Comments
Mr. Ganow asked Dr. Newcome to answer the questions.
Dr. Newcome answered as follows:
The courses are not required, however, since we have a rigorous course of study & the students are taking the course, they might as well get college credit if they pay for it.
As for consolidating, group purchasing is done.
He referred to the budget cut list & the $1 million in salaries & benefits they are looking to cut.
The contract expires 6/30.
Negotiations have started (by law in Jan.)
There are no administrators and no community members.
There are board members.
Negotiate with teachers' union reps.
Negotiations are never easy. In the early '90's they were tenuous. More positive in the 2000's.
Reminded audience members that there are 2 meetings per month. There will be a special budget meeting on 1/26 with presentations by Dr. Newcome & Mr. Carsley.
Mr. Ganow said that salaries & benefits are by contract.
Mr. McCartney mentioned working with other districts. Harrisburg did study, which they published in a 2007 report. Nothing has happened with the recommendations. Contact your representatives.
Mr. Hume is still concerned about 9th grade retention. Progress has been made, but he is still concerned.
17. Adjournment
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Executive Session for personnel – Monday, January 17, 2011 – Following the Regular Meeting in the Octorara District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, February 14, 2011 – 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Work Session – Monday, February 14, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011– 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
January 17, 2011– 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
AGENDA
1. Lord’s Prayer
2.Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
3. Roll Call
All Present
4. Approval of Minutes from the Reorganization Meeting of December 6, 2010, the Work Session of December 6, 2010, and the Regular Meeting of December 13, 2010.
Approved
5. Presentations
A. Budget - Dan Carsley
Mr. Carsley presented the multi-year model they will use through the budget process. The standard going forward will be to look at the effect of the budget you are working on has on future budgets.
There are 4 years of actual, the current year, the preliminary budget & 4 years going forward. It give a good summary of where you are coming from & where you are headed. The model is currently based on an adjusted index of 1.8%. There are different scenarios included in the model.
They can put changes into the model as they move through the process to see how the discussion will change the budget.
Mr. McCartney asked if it took into account the changes in the PSERS funding. Mr. Carsely said that the future year amounts of 12.19%, 16.6% and 21% are in there. He had not made the adjustment for next year, as the preliminary budget as presented needs to be approved per state law.
Mr. McCartney wanted to know if amounts of property tax increases in future years were included. Mr. Carsley said they aren't, because the budget as it is now, will not be the final product. The future years are based on very conservative numbers.
Dr. Newcome presented potential budget reductions in seven (7) areas.
Potential Budget Reductions
Dr. Newcome asked the Board for more suggestions.;
Mr. Norris asked what the athletic budget is. Answer: approx. $350,000
Mr. Carsley made the changes that were being discussed to the model. Where we had a negative fund balance in the 3rd future year, it was now positive.
Mr. Norris asked about an item that had been presented at the Finance Committee during the audit report. The auditors stated that the district needs a policy that states what the floor of the fund balance needs to be.
Mr. Carsley said that the bond rating had been increased from A to A+. Part of the reason for the increase was the management of the fund balance. He prefers not to go below $3 million in the fund balance. They will work on a policy that puts in a floor. They need a fund balance of that much to cover the summer months before property taxes start coming in.
Mr. McCartney asked if the model included guesses as to what will come out of Harrisburg.
Mr. Carsley stated that he had decreased state funding by $600,000 based on things he had heard.
Mr. Ganow had a couple of comments about #4 & #6:
#4 - wanted to clarify that the projections for the cyber charter students was based on students currently attending a cyber charter and that we would attempt to get some of them back.
#6 - the decrease for athletics seems like a larger percentage than the other cuts.
Dr. Newcome said that the idea is to hit non-required items harder.
Ms. Bowman wanted to know if this would be an accurate characterization of the budget: Revenues are declining. So if we do nothing, we will be in the red. If we raise taxes to the index (with no exceptions), we will still have an issue. We need to decrease expenses.
Mr. Carsley said that it was accurate.
Ms. Bowman said that the preliminary budget that is being voted on does not contain any of these adjustments.
Dr. Newcome said that there will be pain. Failure to reach the goal will have bad long term effects.
Mr. Norris asked about the time frame for #2 and what legwork had been done.
Dr. Newcome said the timing is still being worked on . Recommendations from the Board will be part of the process. He hopes to have something by April to give the district a 2-month lead time. It will be part of the RFP to keep the current staff.
Mr. Hume wanted to know who is setting the policy for the fund balance. Mr. Carsley said it was the auditors' recommendation. Mr. Hume thinks it sounds good to an auditor, but it is taxpayer money. We are taxed above the limit. He is opposed to putting money aside. He thinks if the district needs cash, they should borrow it.
He also had a question about the public utility tax line item.Mr. Carsley said that it compensates schools for lost revenue.
Ms. Bowman stated that starting in July, they need money to get through the summer. In order to borrow at a good rate, we need an adequate fund balance (also to maintain bond rating).
B. High School Program of Studies – Scott Rohrer
Mr. Rohrer passed out a copy of the Program of Study for 2011/12. He said that the renovation project has created new opportunities. Students in Mr. Lauletta's classes put together the books. Eventually, they will be put online.
There will be some small changes in graduation requirements. A few years ago, based on guidelines from the state, we changed our math and science requirements. Now, based on the Keystone exams, we are going back to the way it was. With the Keystone exams, students will need to pass 2 of 3 math exams (Algebra 1, Geometry, and/or Algebra 2). It will be a graduation requirement that students pass Algebra 1. The HS needs to be able to remediate students, if necessary. The State is saying that by 2015, a student must pass state identified Keystone exams in order to graduate. All 9th graders will take Algebra 1 and will be assigned a study hall in case they need help.
Dr. Rutledge talked about "College in High School". We used to have an agreement with Delaware County Community College. They dropped their program, but we were able to affiliate with Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). We have the potential for 3 courses for next year. These are courses that we teach and where the teacher is qualified to be an adjunct professor. The student fills out an application and pays a fee to get college credit.
Octorara Course: Financial Accounting
HACC Course: Principals of Accounting
Octorara Course: Academic Government & Politics
HACC Course: The National Political System
Octorara Course: AP US Government
HACC Course: The National Political System
Technical College/High School
We are developing some of our own programs. We have a co-op program and 2 of our Ag programs are state approved. We will be able to offer more programs. We have teachers with the proper certifications.
Example: Drafting technology will be a 3 year course of study. The student can take a test to be certified. They may also be eligible for college credits.
Mr. Norris said it is refreshing to see what is going on. The booklet was put together well.
Ms. Bowman said that with the focus on the budget we have to remember we have a job to do - prepare our students. She asked that for the 3yr programs, does that mean students who will be juniors next year can't participate. Mr. Rohrer said they could take the classes if there is room, but they wouldn't be eligible for certification.
Ms. Bowman said that with the pathways, they had visited other school and saw what they had. There has been a lot of work put into developing these programs. It is amazing how much has been accomplished.
6. Information Items
A. The Octorara Middle School softball coaches will be eliminated from the supplemental contract list that was approved on August 16, 2010.
No middle school softball team this year.
7. Treasurer’s Report
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the General Fund Report for period ending December 31, 2010.
Mr. Malone gave the report.
8. Business Manager’s Report
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the list of bills for payment.
Mr. Norris asked Mr. Carsley to check on check # 171549. The amount seemed high. Mr. Carsley gave the report. Approved.
9. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only
Joe Reilly (Parkesburg) wanted to remind the board that in this economy many people have been laid off, had salary reductions & increases in health insurance premiums. He works for a healthcare company & pays 50% of his premium. The district should look at reducing healthcare benefits for the staff and increasing co-pays like other industries. It is hard to increase taxes when unemployment is not going down. People have tight budgets at home.
10.Recommended Action Items: (Italicized items are new; they were not on the January 10, 2011 agenda.)
A -D 7 yes 2 no Approved.
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the proposed preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the District administration to apply for Act 1 exemptions for the 2011-2012 budget.
C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the 2011-2012 school calendar.
D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the “Sportsmanship Agreement” for parents of athletes who participate in District athletic programs.
E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve change order number 007 for Bristol Environmental, Inc. for 1st floor hallway pipe insulation abatement (Sections 1 & 2) and light tube disposal in the amount of $26,650.00.
Mr. Ganow questioned this. He thinks it is a ridiculous amount. He wondered if they could get someone else to do the work. Mr. Carsley said that the tubes have already been removed and are looking at other contractors for the future.
4 yes (Malone, Bicking, Bowman & Stoltzfus) 5 no (Norris, Ganow, Hume, Johnson, McCartney).Not approved.
F-P Approved. Mr. Ganow did ask for what the OMS Shakespeare Advisor did. It has been held since 1996. A group from the MS presents a play in competition with other schools.
F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes from regular substitute pay to long term substitute pay at the rate of $140 per day:
Alice Lohr – 18 days
Meredith Benson – 20.5 days
G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the student activity request for the “Music Club” at the Octorara Area High School.
H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the job descriptions for the position of Access Coordinator and Access Assistant.
Resignation Approvals:
I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental contract resignations:
Mike Mundy –Middle School Academic Team Advisor
Beth Hrincevich –Elementary School Talent Show/Musical Co-Director
Scott Conaghan –High School Assistant Track Coach
Mark Pedersen – Middle School Assistant Football Coach
Nicholas Kluge – High School Junior Varsity Baseball Coach
J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resignation of Ms. Katie Allison as cafeteria cashier in the Octorara Area High School effective January 2, 2011. (Hired November 1, 2010)
K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the termination of employee “A” effective January 3, 2011.
Hiring Approvals:
L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute teachers for the 2010-2011 school year:
Marian Green (Special Education)
Cara Patti (Elementary)
M. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support personnel for the 2010-2011 school year:
Wayne Wharton (Custodian, maintenance)
N. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental contracts for the 2010-2011 school year:
Nina Thwaites OES Talent Show/Musical 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Andrew Baumgardner OMS Football Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Matthew Smith OMS Wrestling Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Michelle Moran Mentor Jennifer Bower 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Donna Edwards Mentor Jan D’Angelo 1 pt @ $570 $ 570
Tabitha Wallace Advisor OMS Shakespeare 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Matt Livingood OHS Asst. Track Coach 6 pts @ $570 $3,420
O. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Kendal Dixon and Mr. Bruce Davis as volunteer coaches for the Octorara Area High School boys’ basketball program.
P. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:
Michelle Lofgren From M+45 ($76,348) to M+60 ($78,780) Step 15
Q. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the agreement between Chesconet and the Octorara Area School District for internet service for July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
Approved.
R. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Kay Ralston as a classroom volunteer pending completion of clearances required by law and the District.
Ms. Bowman asked why a volunteer was brought to the board. Dr. Newcome said that Ms. Ralston will be in the classroom on a regular basis several times per week. Approved.
S. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the annual financial audit report of the District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 as prepared by the auditing firm of Herbein & Company.
Mr. Ganow wanted to know if there had been any major findings. There weren't. Mr. Malone said the financial statements were presented fairly. Approved.
T. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the changes to the Octorara Area High School 2011-2012 Program of Studies.
Mr. Ganow said he was impressed with the document. Approved.
11. I.U./C.A.T. Board Representative’s Report
Mr. Stoltzfus said they will meet on Wednesday.
12. Old Business
None
13. New Business
Mr. Malone went over the audit report items: statements presented fairly; need fund balance policy; increase in bond rating. This could save approx. $5000 in interest.
14. Other Items and Announcements
Dr. Newcome presented the Board members with certificates for their service in recognition of School Board Directors Month..
He let the audience know that there would be a 2hr delay on Tues.
He asked that if the Board had further questions on items discussed at the work session that they let Ms. Bowman or him know so they didn't do block approvals.
15. Visitors’ Comments – General
I apologize that I didn't catch everyone's names.
Thomas C. (Kinzer) Asked if the CTE College courses are required by State law. He also had a question regarding cutting the budget, yet using buses on Sundays. It needs to stop. Is there a way to consolidate with other districts?
Donna (Sadsbury Twp) - She wanted to follow-up on a question from a few months ago concerning teacher contract negotiations. Will this cause more stress in the budget process?
Hank (West Sadsbury) - Thanked the board for their service.
He asked: Have negotiations started?
When will they start?
Which school boad members are included?
Are there administrators included?
What other participants are there?
Who do you negotiate with?
Also, - how are the budget numbers derived if you don't have the contract in place?
Thomas C. - Any consideration as to freezing admin salaries like Manheim did?
16.Board Comments
Mr. Ganow asked Dr. Newcome to answer the questions.
Dr. Newcome answered as follows:
The courses are not required, however, since we have a rigorous course of study & the students are taking the course, they might as well get college credit if they pay for it.
As for consolidating, group purchasing is done.
He referred to the budget cut list & the $1 million in salaries & benefits they are looking to cut.
The contract expires 6/30.
Negotiations have started (by law in Jan.)
There are no administrators and no community members.
There are board members.
Negotiate with teachers' union reps.
Negotiations are never easy. In the early '90's they were tenuous. More positive in the 2000's.
Reminded audience members that there are 2 meetings per month. There will be a special budget meeting on 1/26 with presentations by Dr. Newcome & Mr. Carsley.
Mr. Ganow said that salaries & benefits are by contract.
Mr. McCartney mentioned working with other districts. Harrisburg did study, which they published in a 2007 report. Nothing has happened with the recommendations. Contact your representatives.
Mr. Hume is still concerned about 9th grade retention. Progress has been made, but he is still concerned.
17. Adjournment
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Executive Session for personnel – Monday, January 17, 2011 – Following the Regular Meeting in the Octorara District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, February 14, 2011 – 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Work Session – Monday, February 14, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011– 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Districts' Cyberbills growing - LancasterOnline (Lancaster Sunday News) 01/16/2011
Districts' Cyberbills growing
Superintendents, facing deficits, say they pay too much per student to online and charter schools. Their opposites and a student challenge that.
Sunday News
Updated Jan 15, 2011 18:16
By GIL SMART, Associate Editor
As the school year began, officials in the Eastern Lancaster County School District could practically see the money walking out the door.
During the 2009-10 school year, 49 students living within the district attended cyberschools, requiring Elanco to remit more than $656,000 to those schools. But when school reconvened in September, Elanco officials discovered that the number of cyberstudents more than doubled, to 106.
District officials plan to investigate the reasons for the exodus, Superintendent Robert Hollister said. But in the meantime, as students leave, district costs skyrocket. Elanco officials now must budget an additional $638,000 next year in tuition for cyber- and charter students. It's a big reason, they say, for the district's projected $1.1 million deficit.
And what's frustrating, Hollister said, is that Elanco, like other school districts, has few options to stem the flow of students — and money.
Pennsylvania cyber- and charter schools, authorized by the state Legislature more than a decade ago, are booming. The schools are tuition-free; the money to operate the schools comes from each student's "home" district, which is required by state law to remit its average annual cost per student. In Elanco, for example, it costs an estimated $9,311 to educate every nonspecial education student (and $15,356 per special education student). If 11 students leave, or never attend Elanco schools, the district has to shell out more than $100,000 to the cyber- or charter school of the student's choice.
School districts are reimbursed some of this funding by the state, though that reimbursement rate has fallen. And as districts here and across the state face fiscal crises, there are growing concerns that the Legislature needs to do something to stem the districts' rising cyber- and charter school costs.
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner issued a stinging report in October, asserting that the funding formula is unfair both to public school districts and charter schools. But beyond this, there has been no action in Harrisburg, and school officials aren't holding their breath.
Money follows pupil?
Cyber- and charter school officials say they understand the public schools' predicament, but say growing enrollment figures are a testament to their success, and the fact that parents want school competition, and a choice. They resent being blamed for the public schools' fiscal problems: "The real philosophical question is, whose money is it?" asked Dr. James Hanak, CEO of the West Chester-based PA Leadership Cyber Charter School, an online institution that serves about 100 students from Lancaster County. "Does it belong to the school districts, or should it follow the students?"
But local school officials say that for all the talk of how cyber- and charter schools offer competition, the reality is that public schools — with their legacy costs and union contracts — are forced to play on an unlevel field.
"My concern," Hempfield Superintendent Dr. Brenda Becker said, "is that we're not all playing by the same rules."
Pennsylvania's first charter schools opened in 1997. According to information from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there are now 145 charter schools, and 12 cyberschools, operating in the state.
Just one charter school, La Academia, is based in Lancaster County. It has an enrollment of 105 — and 100 of those students come from the School District of Lancaster, according to state figures.
By contrast, in 2007-08 (the latest year for which comprehensive state figures are available), 847 students from Lancaster County attended the state's 12 cyberschools.
At charter schools, students physically attend classes. With cyberschools, it's all done online — students log on to a school website to access courses and interact with teachers via e-mail or videoconferencing applications like Skype. Students can log on any time of the day, although multimedia chats between students and teachers may take place at a set time.
Cybergrad's experience
"Cyberschool gave me more flexibility," said Hope Frick, of Elizabethtown, who graduated from Commonwealth Connections cyberschool last year; she's now a student at Waynesburg University.
She transferred from Elizabethtown Area High School to Commonwealth Connections when she was in 10th grade. "My high school was very cliquey," she said via e-mail. "I was succeeding in my academic school life, but I was having trouble dealing with the drama high school brings."
Cyberschool wound up being a bit more challenging than she expected: "In a traditional school, you have teachers right there to ask questions if you don't understand something, to show you a math problem on the board," she said. "In cyberschool, you essentially are your own teacher. It's up to you to show yourself how to do things because the teacher is not right there — this is why I struggled with the online courses for math," she said.
"However, this also was a positive because I could work at my own pace and work ahead if I wanted to. ... I had to hone my self-discipline and responsibility." And that, she said, helped prepare her for college.
"Everyone has a different situation, and cyberschool is a great way to accommodate everyone," she said.
Taking more students
Cyberschools in particular are accommodating more and more students from Lancaster County.
In Penn Manor, for example, cyberschool enrollment grew from 31 students in the 2001-02 school year to 78 this year. Superintendent Dr. Michael Leichliter noted that as the number of cyber- and charter kids has gone up, the number of home-schooled students has fallen; there's a direct correlation, he said. "While some [cyber]students have left the Penn Manor schools they attended, at least half have never set foot in Penn Manor," Leichliter said.
The School District of Lancaster has the highest number of students attending cyberschools. Elanco now has the second-highest total.
A growing number of districts, staring at big budget holes next year, have fingered the increasing cost of cyber- and charter students as a factor.
The state has reimbursed public school districts up to 30 percent of their cost for cyber- and charter schools. That, Auditor General Wagner noted in his report, added an entire new line item — which totaled $228 million in 2008-09 — to Pennsylvania's budget.
The state reimbursement rate fell last year to 23 percent. There are rumors, say some local officials, that it may be on the chopping block again this year — even as cyberschool enrollment continues to increase.
Elanco is projecting its costs to rise from $657,000 this year to nearly $1.3 million in the 2011-12 school year. Donegal officials said last week that cyberschool costs are expected to rise from $650,000 to an estimated $990,000 next year.
"It is serious," said Cocalico Superintendent Bruce Sensenig, whose district has seen cyber- and charter school costs increase by $333,630 over the past four years.
"I am personally not necessarily opposed to the cyber option," Sensenig said. "It does work for some students, and in education, you do need to have options.
"What's really upsetting to schools is the formula [used] to get to that expense."
A district's actual expenses are divided by the number of pupils; that is the cost each district must remit to a cyber- or charter school for each pupil — regardless of what it actually costs that cyber- or charter school to educate the child.
For example, the average cost of educating a student in the Columbia Borough School District is $9,779, according to Pennsylvania Department of Education figures; if a child living in Columbia opts to attend a cyber- or charter school, that's how much the district must pay to that school.
But in Warwick, the average cost of educating a child is $7,752 per year; that is the amount Warwick would pay to the same school, for the same program.
And in any event, say local school officials, cyber- and charter schools can educate students for far less than school districts. Public schools, said Sensenig, have higher costs for maintenance and personnel, for energy and transportation, for extracurricular activities like football teams or band.
"We're paying what it costs to educate one of our kids with all these 'legacy' costs," he said. "We're trying to compete. We can't."
A new model
Meanwhile, cyber- and charter schools look like the sleek, new model; the Lamborghini versus the Model T.
At the PA Leadership Cyber Charter School, every student gets a state-of-the-art computer, a printer-scanner-copier and wireless headset at no cost to the family. The school reimburses parents for Internet access. And without as many "legacy" costs, without teachers unions, "we can make changes, and we can make wholesale changes if we have to, and we can do it much quicker than any public school," CEO Hanak said.
The school, with an annual budget of $24 million, has an enrollment of 2,230 — and counting. "We have some students who are here because of violence problems in Philly [at Philadelphia schools], we get a lot of that," Hanak said. "We have a lot of special-education students who are not getting the attention they should be, or think they should be.
"They come here, they are successful, and they spread the word."
Pennsylvania's largest cyber school is The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, also known as PA Cyber. Based in Midland, it has offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg — and an enrollment this year of 10,000 students, said CEO Nick Trombetta.
"We do have buildings," housing teachers and administrators, said Trombetta, whose school has a budget of $110 million and employs 600. "I don't have buses, bands or ballfields, but I do have Internet access to every home.
"We all have to get better, leaner and smarter," said Trombetta, who questions why public school districts are "squirreling away" millions in fund balances, or savings, while they "want to point to cyberschools as the problem."
Money in the bank
In his report, however, Auditor General Wagner noted that while public schools are limited in the amount they can keep in undesignated, unreserved fund balances, cyber/charter schools are not — and Pennsylvania cyber- and charter schools have retained $108 million in reserve funds.
Wagner has called for a moratorium on new cyber- and charter schools, and for state officials to limit cyber- and charter schools' fund balances. His report also recommended that the state come up with a new funding formula, one based on the actual cost of educating students at cyber- and charter schools rather than what it costs the "home" district to educate a pupil.
If state officials followed his suggestions, "there would be no need for a reimbursement formula," and the state could eliminate that line item from its budget and save several hundred million dollars each year, Wagner said in an interview last week.
"But so far the governor and General Assembly have not shown the fortitude to change that formula," Wagner said. "And the loser here is the taxpayer."
Can't beat 'em ...
In an attempt to compete, some school districts have started their own cyberschools — and several others are considering doing so.
Solanco was the first local district, establishing the Solanco Virtual Academy in 2005 "after getting a cyberschool bill of $600,000," said Thomas Brackbill, academy director. The academy initially served kids in grades kindergarten through six; just last year, "we got to grade 12," Brackbill said.
Students from Conestoga Valley and Pequea Valley also attend the academy; total enrollment has fluctuated around 45, Brackbill said. Like other cyber- and charter schools, the academy has provided free computers and printer/scanners, and reimbursed families for Internet costs.
Brackbill said the idea was to provide education in a format that a growing number of students appear to want or need. But saving money was absolutely a factor; if districts could keep students at a district-run cyberschool, they would lose less revenue.
Around the state, Intermediate Units have helped establish cyber/charter schools; Allegheny (County) IU 3 coordinated the founding of the PA Learners Online, founded by 10 school districts in the county. IU 13, representing schools in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, is looking into doing something similar.
"Our hope is that we can leverage economies of scale to help school districts save money," said Brian Barnhart, IU 13 assistant executive director. "We're trying to put together a comprehensive package, with costs well south" of what schools must now pay for cyber- and charter students, "with the real goal of preventing more students from leaving." The school could be rolled out as early as next fall, he said.
Cyber- and charter school officials say they welcome the competition — but note that if districts decide to offer online education merely to save money, they're doing it for the wrong reason.
"Sometimes it's, 'Let's get the money back,' rather than, 'Let's provide for our students,' " said Carolyn Fell, director of communications for PA Leadership. "If I were the superintendent of a district where a lot of the kids were leaving, I'd be calling the parents and asking — 'How can we better serve your needs?' "
Gil Smart is associate editor of the Sunday News. E-mail him at gsmart@lnpnews.com, or phone 291-8817.
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/338235#ixzz1BDPH6I6X
Superintendents, facing deficits, say they pay too much per student to online and charter schools. Their opposites and a student challenge that.
Sunday News
Updated Jan 15, 2011 18:16
By GIL SMART, Associate Editor
As the school year began, officials in the Eastern Lancaster County School District could practically see the money walking out the door.
During the 2009-10 school year, 49 students living within the district attended cyberschools, requiring Elanco to remit more than $656,000 to those schools. But when school reconvened in September, Elanco officials discovered that the number of cyberstudents more than doubled, to 106.
District officials plan to investigate the reasons for the exodus, Superintendent Robert Hollister said. But in the meantime, as students leave, district costs skyrocket. Elanco officials now must budget an additional $638,000 next year in tuition for cyber- and charter students. It's a big reason, they say, for the district's projected $1.1 million deficit.
And what's frustrating, Hollister said, is that Elanco, like other school districts, has few options to stem the flow of students — and money.
Pennsylvania cyber- and charter schools, authorized by the state Legislature more than a decade ago, are booming. The schools are tuition-free; the money to operate the schools comes from each student's "home" district, which is required by state law to remit its average annual cost per student. In Elanco, for example, it costs an estimated $9,311 to educate every nonspecial education student (and $15,356 per special education student). If 11 students leave, or never attend Elanco schools, the district has to shell out more than $100,000 to the cyber- or charter school of the student's choice.
School districts are reimbursed some of this funding by the state, though that reimbursement rate has fallen. And as districts here and across the state face fiscal crises, there are growing concerns that the Legislature needs to do something to stem the districts' rising cyber- and charter school costs.
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner issued a stinging report in October, asserting that the funding formula is unfair both to public school districts and charter schools. But beyond this, there has been no action in Harrisburg, and school officials aren't holding their breath.
Money follows pupil?
Cyber- and charter school officials say they understand the public schools' predicament, but say growing enrollment figures are a testament to their success, and the fact that parents want school competition, and a choice. They resent being blamed for the public schools' fiscal problems: "The real philosophical question is, whose money is it?" asked Dr. James Hanak, CEO of the West Chester-based PA Leadership Cyber Charter School, an online institution that serves about 100 students from Lancaster County. "Does it belong to the school districts, or should it follow the students?"
But local school officials say that for all the talk of how cyber- and charter schools offer competition, the reality is that public schools — with their legacy costs and union contracts — are forced to play on an unlevel field.
"My concern," Hempfield Superintendent Dr. Brenda Becker said, "is that we're not all playing by the same rules."
Pennsylvania's first charter schools opened in 1997. According to information from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, there are now 145 charter schools, and 12 cyberschools, operating in the state.
Just one charter school, La Academia, is based in Lancaster County. It has an enrollment of 105 — and 100 of those students come from the School District of Lancaster, according to state figures.
By contrast, in 2007-08 (the latest year for which comprehensive state figures are available), 847 students from Lancaster County attended the state's 12 cyberschools.
At charter schools, students physically attend classes. With cyberschools, it's all done online — students log on to a school website to access courses and interact with teachers via e-mail or videoconferencing applications like Skype. Students can log on any time of the day, although multimedia chats between students and teachers may take place at a set time.
Cybergrad's experience
"Cyberschool gave me more flexibility," said Hope Frick, of Elizabethtown, who graduated from Commonwealth Connections cyberschool last year; she's now a student at Waynesburg University.
She transferred from Elizabethtown Area High School to Commonwealth Connections when she was in 10th grade. "My high school was very cliquey," she said via e-mail. "I was succeeding in my academic school life, but I was having trouble dealing with the drama high school brings."
Cyberschool wound up being a bit more challenging than she expected: "In a traditional school, you have teachers right there to ask questions if you don't understand something, to show you a math problem on the board," she said. "In cyberschool, you essentially are your own teacher. It's up to you to show yourself how to do things because the teacher is not right there — this is why I struggled with the online courses for math," she said.
"However, this also was a positive because I could work at my own pace and work ahead if I wanted to. ... I had to hone my self-discipline and responsibility." And that, she said, helped prepare her for college.
"Everyone has a different situation, and cyberschool is a great way to accommodate everyone," she said.
Taking more students
Cyberschools in particular are accommodating more and more students from Lancaster County.
In Penn Manor, for example, cyberschool enrollment grew from 31 students in the 2001-02 school year to 78 this year. Superintendent Dr. Michael Leichliter noted that as the number of cyber- and charter kids has gone up, the number of home-schooled students has fallen; there's a direct correlation, he said. "While some [cyber]students have left the Penn Manor schools they attended, at least half have never set foot in Penn Manor," Leichliter said.
The School District of Lancaster has the highest number of students attending cyberschools. Elanco now has the second-highest total.
A growing number of districts, staring at big budget holes next year, have fingered the increasing cost of cyber- and charter students as a factor.
The state has reimbursed public school districts up to 30 percent of their cost for cyber- and charter schools. That, Auditor General Wagner noted in his report, added an entire new line item — which totaled $228 million in 2008-09 — to Pennsylvania's budget.
The state reimbursement rate fell last year to 23 percent. There are rumors, say some local officials, that it may be on the chopping block again this year — even as cyberschool enrollment continues to increase.
Elanco is projecting its costs to rise from $657,000 this year to nearly $1.3 million in the 2011-12 school year. Donegal officials said last week that cyberschool costs are expected to rise from $650,000 to an estimated $990,000 next year.
"It is serious," said Cocalico Superintendent Bruce Sensenig, whose district has seen cyber- and charter school costs increase by $333,630 over the past four years.
"I am personally not necessarily opposed to the cyber option," Sensenig said. "It does work for some students, and in education, you do need to have options.
"What's really upsetting to schools is the formula [used] to get to that expense."
A district's actual expenses are divided by the number of pupils; that is the cost each district must remit to a cyber- or charter school for each pupil — regardless of what it actually costs that cyber- or charter school to educate the child.
For example, the average cost of educating a student in the Columbia Borough School District is $9,779, according to Pennsylvania Department of Education figures; if a child living in Columbia opts to attend a cyber- or charter school, that's how much the district must pay to that school.
But in Warwick, the average cost of educating a child is $7,752 per year; that is the amount Warwick would pay to the same school, for the same program.
And in any event, say local school officials, cyber- and charter schools can educate students for far less than school districts. Public schools, said Sensenig, have higher costs for maintenance and personnel, for energy and transportation, for extracurricular activities like football teams or band.
"We're paying what it costs to educate one of our kids with all these 'legacy' costs," he said. "We're trying to compete. We can't."
A new model
Meanwhile, cyber- and charter schools look like the sleek, new model; the Lamborghini versus the Model T.
At the PA Leadership Cyber Charter School, every student gets a state-of-the-art computer, a printer-scanner-copier and wireless headset at no cost to the family. The school reimburses parents for Internet access. And without as many "legacy" costs, without teachers unions, "we can make changes, and we can make wholesale changes if we have to, and we can do it much quicker than any public school," CEO Hanak said.
The school, with an annual budget of $24 million, has an enrollment of 2,230 — and counting. "We have some students who are here because of violence problems in Philly [at Philadelphia schools], we get a lot of that," Hanak said. "We have a lot of special-education students who are not getting the attention they should be, or think they should be.
"They come here, they are successful, and they spread the word."
Pennsylvania's largest cyber school is The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, also known as PA Cyber. Based in Midland, it has offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg — and an enrollment this year of 10,000 students, said CEO Nick Trombetta.
"We do have buildings," housing teachers and administrators, said Trombetta, whose school has a budget of $110 million and employs 600. "I don't have buses, bands or ballfields, but I do have Internet access to every home.
"We all have to get better, leaner and smarter," said Trombetta, who questions why public school districts are "squirreling away" millions in fund balances, or savings, while they "want to point to cyberschools as the problem."
Money in the bank
In his report, however, Auditor General Wagner noted that while public schools are limited in the amount they can keep in undesignated, unreserved fund balances, cyber/charter schools are not — and Pennsylvania cyber- and charter schools have retained $108 million in reserve funds.
Wagner has called for a moratorium on new cyber- and charter schools, and for state officials to limit cyber- and charter schools' fund balances. His report also recommended that the state come up with a new funding formula, one based on the actual cost of educating students at cyber- and charter schools rather than what it costs the "home" district to educate a pupil.
If state officials followed his suggestions, "there would be no need for a reimbursement formula," and the state could eliminate that line item from its budget and save several hundred million dollars each year, Wagner said in an interview last week.
"But so far the governor and General Assembly have not shown the fortitude to change that formula," Wagner said. "And the loser here is the taxpayer."
Can't beat 'em ...
In an attempt to compete, some school districts have started their own cyberschools — and several others are considering doing so.
Solanco was the first local district, establishing the Solanco Virtual Academy in 2005 "after getting a cyberschool bill of $600,000," said Thomas Brackbill, academy director. The academy initially served kids in grades kindergarten through six; just last year, "we got to grade 12," Brackbill said.
Students from Conestoga Valley and Pequea Valley also attend the academy; total enrollment has fluctuated around 45, Brackbill said. Like other cyber- and charter schools, the academy has provided free computers and printer/scanners, and reimbursed families for Internet costs.
Brackbill said the idea was to provide education in a format that a growing number of students appear to want or need. But saving money was absolutely a factor; if districts could keep students at a district-run cyberschool, they would lose less revenue.
Around the state, Intermediate Units have helped establish cyber/charter schools; Allegheny (County) IU 3 coordinated the founding of the PA Learners Online, founded by 10 school districts in the county. IU 13, representing schools in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, is looking into doing something similar.
"Our hope is that we can leverage economies of scale to help school districts save money," said Brian Barnhart, IU 13 assistant executive director. "We're trying to put together a comprehensive package, with costs well south" of what schools must now pay for cyber- and charter students, "with the real goal of preventing more students from leaving." The school could be rolled out as early as next fall, he said.
Cyber- and charter school officials say they welcome the competition — but note that if districts decide to offer online education merely to save money, they're doing it for the wrong reason.
"Sometimes it's, 'Let's get the money back,' rather than, 'Let's provide for our students,' " said Carolyn Fell, director of communications for PA Leadership. "If I were the superintendent of a district where a lot of the kids were leaving, I'd be calling the parents and asking — 'How can we better serve your needs?' "
Gil Smart is associate editor of the Sunday News. E-mail him at gsmart@lnpnews.com, or phone 291-8817.
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/338235#ixzz1BDPH6I6X
Board (Kennett) struggles with looming tax increase-Daily Local News 01/16/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Board struggles with looming tax increase
Kennett Consolidated officials anticipate budget shortfall of more than $1.1 million
Sunday, January 16, 2011
By WM. SHAWN WEIGEL, Special to the Local News
KENNETT SQUARE — The Kennett Consolidated School District's finance committee is working to keep a proposed tax increase as low as possible.
In his report to the board of school directors on Monday night, board member and finance committee Chairman Mike Finnegan said the committee has made several recommendations to that end, including dipping into some existing fund balances.
"Essentially, we've been very successful in keeping our expenses at a minimal increase over the current year, but our income from various federal, state and local sources continues to decrease dramatically," Finnegan said. "To help to cover some of this gap, we proposed appropriating an additional $1.5 million from fund balances."
He said stimulus funds received through state and federal sources were eliminated, contributing another $1 million in lost revenues.
"Under this scenario, next year's budget deficit is currently $1,192,979," Finnegan said. "Every year, more and more of the burden of funding the district falls on the local taxpayer."
He added that a 3.84 percent property tax increase would be required unless the board can find places for additional cuts in the 2011-12 budget.
A preliminary budget will be developed based on a recommendation not to exceed a 3.84 percent increase, Finnegan said.
At the 3.84 rate, the tax rate would increase from 24.7781 to 25.7293 mills, or roughly 0.95 mills.
A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed real estate value.
A 3.84 percent increase means an average increase of $185 on next year's school property tax bill.
In his report, Finnegan said district Business Manager Mark Tracy estimates the budgeted expenditures are likely to increase 1.3 percent over the current budget.
"Cost saving initiatives such as the early retirement incentive and variable rate financing for Bancroft Elementary were main contributing factors to the low increase in expenses," Finnegan said.
But Finnegan said in an e-mailed statement that an increase above the 1.4 percent allowed by state law might be unavoidable with the preliminary budget.
"Keeping even with last year due to decreases in real estate assessments alone would require us to exceed the index," he said. "We need to be conservatoire in our estimates and plan for the worse."
He said the process was made difficult because of the delayed state budget schedule, which is not due until March and, Finnegan said, will likely include additional cuts in state funding.
"Last year, we called for a preliminary tax increase of 4.8 percent in January, but were able to reduce that to 3.4 percent by the June final budget," Finnegan said. "We anticipate that the final increase this year will be less than 3.84 percent, but it is impossible to tell at this point just where it will be. It is an ongoing refinement process for the next six months."
As far as any additional cuts, Finnegan said that there isn't much left to trim that wouldn't begin to affect student services.
"Even with the opening of Bancroft Elementary School and the conversion of Mary D. Lang into a full-day kindergarten center, we have limited the growth in expenditures to less than 1 percent for next year," he said. "The required tax increase is almost entirely warranted to recover dwindling revenue sources. It took a lot of work to get us where we currently academically, and we would not want to go backwards."
The deadline for the 2011-12 preliminary budget to be available for public review is Jan. 27.
The preliminary budget will be reviewed in detail at the Feb. 7 finance committee meeting at the district office.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/16/news/srv0000010602791.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Board struggles with looming tax increase
Kennett Consolidated officials anticipate budget shortfall of more than $1.1 million
Sunday, January 16, 2011
By WM. SHAWN WEIGEL, Special to the Local News
KENNETT SQUARE — The Kennett Consolidated School District's finance committee is working to keep a proposed tax increase as low as possible.
In his report to the board of school directors on Monday night, board member and finance committee Chairman Mike Finnegan said the committee has made several recommendations to that end, including dipping into some existing fund balances.
"Essentially, we've been very successful in keeping our expenses at a minimal increase over the current year, but our income from various federal, state and local sources continues to decrease dramatically," Finnegan said. "To help to cover some of this gap, we proposed appropriating an additional $1.5 million from fund balances."
He said stimulus funds received through state and federal sources were eliminated, contributing another $1 million in lost revenues.
"Under this scenario, next year's budget deficit is currently $1,192,979," Finnegan said. "Every year, more and more of the burden of funding the district falls on the local taxpayer."
He added that a 3.84 percent property tax increase would be required unless the board can find places for additional cuts in the 2011-12 budget.
A preliminary budget will be developed based on a recommendation not to exceed a 3.84 percent increase, Finnegan said.
At the 3.84 rate, the tax rate would increase from 24.7781 to 25.7293 mills, or roughly 0.95 mills.
A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed real estate value.
A 3.84 percent increase means an average increase of $185 on next year's school property tax bill.
In his report, Finnegan said district Business Manager Mark Tracy estimates the budgeted expenditures are likely to increase 1.3 percent over the current budget.
"Cost saving initiatives such as the early retirement incentive and variable rate financing for Bancroft Elementary were main contributing factors to the low increase in expenses," Finnegan said.
But Finnegan said in an e-mailed statement that an increase above the 1.4 percent allowed by state law might be unavoidable with the preliminary budget.
"Keeping even with last year due to decreases in real estate assessments alone would require us to exceed the index," he said. "We need to be conservatoire in our estimates and plan for the worse."
He said the process was made difficult because of the delayed state budget schedule, which is not due until March and, Finnegan said, will likely include additional cuts in state funding.
"Last year, we called for a preliminary tax increase of 4.8 percent in January, but were able to reduce that to 3.4 percent by the June final budget," Finnegan said. "We anticipate that the final increase this year will be less than 3.84 percent, but it is impossible to tell at this point just where it will be. It is an ongoing refinement process for the next six months."
As far as any additional cuts, Finnegan said that there isn't much left to trim that wouldn't begin to affect student services.
"Even with the opening of Bancroft Elementary School and the conversion of Mary D. Lang into a full-day kindergarten center, we have limited the growth in expenditures to less than 1 percent for next year," he said. "The required tax increase is almost entirely warranted to recover dwindling revenue sources. It took a lot of work to get us where we currently academically, and we would not want to go backwards."
The deadline for the 2011-12 preliminary budget to be available for public review is Jan. 27.
The preliminary budget will be reviewed in detail at the Feb. 7 finance committee meeting at the district office.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/16/news/srv0000010602791.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Saturday, January 15, 2011
District (Downingtown) eliminates technology course Daily Local News 1/15/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
District eliminates technology course
Saturday, January 15, 2011
By ERIC S. SMITH
EAST CALN — The Downingtown Area School District eliminated a half-credit technology course requirement for the class of 2015 on Wednesday night.
The school board voted 6-1, with Jane Bertone dissenting and William Fagan absent, to eliminate the software applications course as a requirement for all freshmen within the district. The students will now have an additional half credit for electives. Bertone said she wanted the requirement to be for any technology course offered by the district.
"My concern is if you take out the requirement, some students will miss the opportunities that are out there," Bertone said.
Assistant Superintendent Tony Watson, who made the proposal to eliminate the course, said at an earlier curriculum committee meeting that the course was made a requirement in 1997 and since then technology and how students use it has changed. The software applications course teaches students about the Microsoft office suite including programs like PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
Teachers from the business department that teach the course opposed the change.
"Failing to have a technology requirement is a disservice to the students," said East High School business teacher Diana Millerick. "Keeping technology as a requirement is necessary to keeping kids competitive in a global marketplace."
Board member Thomas Ost-Prisco said that he would like to see a course like that offered as early as sixth grade.
"I agree with the teachers that this is where the jobs will be, and kids need to understand how to utilize technology," Ost-Prisco said. "But they need to do it earlier."
Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline said the district integrates technology into classes throughout every grade level. The district has created a chart for which technology skills are taught at a certain grade level and in which subjects they are taught for kindergarten through fifth grade. They have not charted it out for grades six through 12. Board member Barbara Hurt-Simmons said she would like to see that done in the near future.
Board member Suzanne Simmonelli said she knows that technology is being taught at an early age based solely on what her kids bring home from school. She added that the additional elective will offer more flexibility for students.
The district will begin to redesign its curriculum in the spring and may have other technology courses that could become requirements, Watson said.
To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, send an e-mail to esmith@dailylocal.com.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/15/news/srv0000010630647.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
District eliminates technology course
Saturday, January 15, 2011
By ERIC S. SMITH
EAST CALN — The Downingtown Area School District eliminated a half-credit technology course requirement for the class of 2015 on Wednesday night.
The school board voted 6-1, with Jane Bertone dissenting and William Fagan absent, to eliminate the software applications course as a requirement for all freshmen within the district. The students will now have an additional half credit for electives. Bertone said she wanted the requirement to be for any technology course offered by the district.
"My concern is if you take out the requirement, some students will miss the opportunities that are out there," Bertone said.
Assistant Superintendent Tony Watson, who made the proposal to eliminate the course, said at an earlier curriculum committee meeting that the course was made a requirement in 1997 and since then technology and how students use it has changed. The software applications course teaches students about the Microsoft office suite including programs like PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
Teachers from the business department that teach the course opposed the change.
"Failing to have a technology requirement is a disservice to the students," said East High School business teacher Diana Millerick. "Keeping technology as a requirement is necessary to keeping kids competitive in a global marketplace."
Board member Thomas Ost-Prisco said that he would like to see a course like that offered as early as sixth grade.
"I agree with the teachers that this is where the jobs will be, and kids need to understand how to utilize technology," Ost-Prisco said. "But they need to do it earlier."
Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline said the district integrates technology into classes throughout every grade level. The district has created a chart for which technology skills are taught at a certain grade level and in which subjects they are taught for kindergarten through fifth grade. They have not charted it out for grades six through 12. Board member Barbara Hurt-Simmons said she would like to see that done in the near future.
Board member Suzanne Simmonelli said she knows that technology is being taught at an early age based solely on what her kids bring home from school. She added that the additional elective will offer more flexibility for students.
The district will begin to redesign its curriculum in the spring and may have other technology courses that could become requirements, Watson said.
To contact staff writer Eric S. Smith, send an e-mail to esmith@dailylocal.com.
URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/01/15/news/srv0000010630647.prt
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Administrators recommend dropping OJR's full-day kindergarten-Daily Local News 1/13/2011
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Administrators recommend dropping OJR's full-day kindergarten
Thursday, January 13, 2011
SOUTH COVENTRY — Administrators are recommending that the Owen J. Roberts School Board discontinue a full-day kindergarten pilot program, and institute a permanent program that incorporates full-day kindergarten only for the district's neediest students.
Superintendent Joel DiBartolomeo made the recommendation at a board committee of the whole meeting Monday night. The board will vote on it at the regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 24.
DiBartolomeo's recommendation outlined three instructional opportunities that would be made available to students at the kindergarten level. Those include: a half-day program for most students; a full-day program serving a maximum of 36 qualifying students at East Coventry Elementary School for 2011-2012; and an extended-day program for qualifying students at all other elementary schools.
He added that parents can create their own options by supplementing the district's half-day program "with one provided in the home, at a school-based YMCA program, or one of the other kindergarten centers operating in the community," DiBartolomeo said.
The full-day kindergarten pilot program was established as a two-year program in East Coventry Elementary School in 2008. It was extended for a third year so that the board and administration could more fully evaluate the program's outcomes.
According to a report issued to the board by DiBartolomeo, students who had attended full-day kindergarten performed comparably on literacy assessments to those in the half-day session. Full-day students tested better in math at the end of the kindergarten program, but not as well on first-grade assessments.
"Some of the academic benefits of full-day kindergarten are short-lived as gains fade over the summer and differences between full-day and half-day programs disappear by the conclusion of first grade," the report stated.
DiBartolomeo pointed out that both economic constraints and space limitations in the district's five elementary schools — some of which are already at or over capacity — would make it difficult to establish a district-wide full-time kindergarten program at this time.
However, in his report, DiBartolomeo emphasized that "the discussion about kindergarten programming should not be framed as a choice between full-day or half-day kindergarten. The question we should be asking, in my view, is 'How can we best match our kindergarten program options to the needs of our kindergarten age students given the set of conditions within which we are currently operating?'"
He presented five bullet points related to his recommendation. The first calls for maintaining two full-time classrooms at East Coventry Elementary School, which has the district's highest population of low-income children. Those children have been shown to benefit most from full-day kindergarten.
Students would be selected through a screening process, and no more than 36 students would be enrolled. Research shows that full-day programs are most effective with small class sizes.
Since class size is important, the recommendation calls for limiting all half-day classes to no more than 20 students.
A third bullet point proposes continuing extended-day kindergarten programs for students who qualify in all other elementary schools. The extended day program has children attending both morning and afternoon sessions.
A fourth component of the proposal would be to provide each elementary school with a part-time kindergarten language arts and math support teacher (KLAM) to reduce class size for half-day programs during the literacy and mathematics lessons.
The final bullet point recommends expanding an existing four-week summer program that currently serves only special education students. The extended-year program would be made available to 40 qualifying students between kindergarten and first grade. This would cost about $23,000, DiBartolomeo said.
The recommendation also has a class size component for other grades, limiting class size to 20 students in first grade and 23 in second and third grades.
Several board members raised concerns about the homogeneous nature of the full-day kindergarten classes, which will include only children struggling academically.
"This is going to be a very big challenge to our teachers," said board member Rose Bilinski. "I hope we put professional support in place."
DiBartolomeo said the program is similar to those being done successfully in other districts, including West Chester and Great Valley. He also said that qualified teachers would be assigned to the classes and they would be given adequate support.
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Administrators recommend dropping OJR's full-day kindergarten
Thursday, January 13, 2011
SOUTH COVENTRY — Administrators are recommending that the Owen J. Roberts School Board discontinue a full-day kindergarten pilot program, and institute a permanent program that incorporates full-day kindergarten only for the district's neediest students.
Superintendent Joel DiBartolomeo made the recommendation at a board committee of the whole meeting Monday night. The board will vote on it at the regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 24.
DiBartolomeo's recommendation outlined three instructional opportunities that would be made available to students at the kindergarten level. Those include: a half-day program for most students; a full-day program serving a maximum of 36 qualifying students at East Coventry Elementary School for 2011-2012; and an extended-day program for qualifying students at all other elementary schools.
He added that parents can create their own options by supplementing the district's half-day program "with one provided in the home, at a school-based YMCA program, or one of the other kindergarten centers operating in the community," DiBartolomeo said.
The full-day kindergarten pilot program was established as a two-year program in East Coventry Elementary School in 2008. It was extended for a third year so that the board and administration could more fully evaluate the program's outcomes.
According to a report issued to the board by DiBartolomeo, students who had attended full-day kindergarten performed comparably on literacy assessments to those in the half-day session. Full-day students tested better in math at the end of the kindergarten program, but not as well on first-grade assessments.
"Some of the academic benefits of full-day kindergarten are short-lived as gains fade over the summer and differences between full-day and half-day programs disappear by the conclusion of first grade," the report stated.
DiBartolomeo pointed out that both economic constraints and space limitations in the district's five elementary schools — some of which are already at or over capacity — would make it difficult to establish a district-wide full-time kindergarten program at this time.
However, in his report, DiBartolomeo emphasized that "the discussion about kindergarten programming should not be framed as a choice between full-day or half-day kindergarten. The question we should be asking, in my view, is 'How can we best match our kindergarten program options to the needs of our kindergarten age students given the set of conditions within which we are currently operating?'"
He presented five bullet points related to his recommendation. The first calls for maintaining two full-time classrooms at East Coventry Elementary School, which has the district's highest population of low-income children. Those children have been shown to benefit most from full-day kindergarten.
Students would be selected through a screening process, and no more than 36 students would be enrolled. Research shows that full-day programs are most effective with small class sizes.
Since class size is important, the recommendation calls for limiting all half-day classes to no more than 20 students.
A third bullet point proposes continuing extended-day kindergarten programs for students who qualify in all other elementary schools. The extended day program has children attending both morning and afternoon sessions.
A fourth component of the proposal would be to provide each elementary school with a part-time kindergarten language arts and math support teacher (KLAM) to reduce class size for half-day programs during the literacy and mathematics lessons.
The final bullet point recommends expanding an existing four-week summer program that currently serves only special education students. The extended-year program would be made available to 40 qualifying students between kindergarten and first grade. This would cost about $23,000, DiBartolomeo said.
The recommendation also has a class size component for other grades, limiting class size to 20 students in first grade and 23 in second and third grades.
Several board members raised concerns about the homogeneous nature of the full-day kindergarten classes, which will include only children struggling academically.
"This is going to be a very big challenge to our teachers," said board member Rose Bilinski. "I hope we put professional support in place."
DiBartolomeo said the program is similar to those being done successfully in other districts, including West Chester and Great Valley. He also said that qualified teachers would be assigned to the classes and they would be given adequate support.
© 2011 dailylocal.com, a Journal Register Property
Monday, January 10, 2011
Work Session 01/10/2011
OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
WORK SESSION
January 10, 2011 – 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
DISCUSSION GUIDE
1. Roll Call
All Present
2. Presentations:
A. Budget – Daniel Carsley
There are no changes from December. They just received the CD from the state. They are filling it out. The Board will receive the PDE official version before next meeting. It will include the changes in the PSERS rate. Next week he will present the multi-year budget model.
Dr. Newcome said they will also have the 1st draft of potential cost savings next week. It will show broad strokes & they can discuss philosophy for cuts. They will get into specifics in Feb., Mar. & April.
3. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only
4. Information Items:
A. Ms. Susan Thieroff will transfer from full-time accounts payable clerk to 75% time accounts payable clerk from January 18, 2011 through May 6, 2011.
She is working on a degree. They do bring in a substitute for the other 25% of the time.
5.Presentation of Agenda Items for the January 17, 2011 Regular Monthly Public Meeting:
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the proposed preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the District administration to apply for Act 1 exemptions for the 2011-2012 budget.
C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the 2011-2012 school calendar.
D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the “Sportsmanship Agreement” for parents of athletes who participate in District athletic programs.
Ms. Bowman talked about the changes. She wanted to know if there were plans to distribute & ensure compliance and are there consequences. Mr. Weagley said that along with the physical & activity fee this agreement will also have to be signed in order for the athlete to participate.
Ms. Bowman said that at the wrestling tournament a parent from another school complemented Octorara. He has been to various activities over the years & has never had any problems.
E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve change order number 007 for Bristol Environmental, Inc. for 1st floor hallway pipe insulation abatement (Sections 1 & 2) and light tube disposal in the amount of $26,650.00.
Mr. Ganow had questions about this. Mr. Carsley said that it was for tube disposal. They are looking at other options for the future.
F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes from regular substitute pay to long term substitute pay at the rate of $140 per day:
Alice Lohr – 18 days
Meredith Benson – 20.5 days
Dr. Newcome explained that the substitute rate for 10-90 days in the same classroom is $140/day..
G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the student activity request for the “Music Club” at the Octorara Area High School.
H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the job descriptions for the position of Access Coordinator and Access Assistant.
Dr. Newcome said that these aren't budgeted items, but are funded through Access funds.
Resignation Approvals:
I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental
contract resignations:
Mike Mundy –Middle School Academic Team Advisor
Beth Hrincevich –Elementary School Talent Show/Musical Co-Director
Scott Conaghan –High School Assistant Track Coach
Mark Pedersen – Middle School Assistant Football Coach
J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resignation of Ms. Katie Allison as cafeteria cashier in the Octorara Area High School effective January 2, 2011. (Hired November 1, 2010)
K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the termination of employee “A” effective January 3, 2011.
Hiring Approvals:
L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute teachers for the 2010-2011 school year:
Marian Green (Special Education)
Cara Patti (Elementary)
M. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support personnel for the 2010-2011 school year:
Wayne Wharton (Custodian, maintenance)
N. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplementalcontracts for the 2010-2011 school year:
Nina Thwaites OES Talent Show/Musical 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Andrew Baumgardner OMS Football Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Matthew Smith OMS Wrestling Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Michelle Moran Mentor Jennifer Bower 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Donna Edwards Mentor Jan D’Angelo 1 pt @ $570 $ 570
The OMS Football Coach & OMS Wrestling Coach are funded by the clubs.
O. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Kendal Dixon and Mr. Bruce Davis as volunteer coaches for the Octorara Area High School boys’ basketball program.
P. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:
Michelle Lofgren From M+45 ($76,348) to M+60 ($78,780) Step 15
6. Facilities Committee Report
Mr. Stoltzfus gave the report. The HS project is 84% complete. They are working on classrooms now. In February, they will start the gym and in March, the auditorium. There are a few minor change orders that need priced.
They still don't have a plan for the terrazo floor in the lobby. They need to test it further for asbestos before they determine what to do. They will probably take care of it next summer.
There are still water issues in OIS. The contractor is still working on it. They are waiting for the weather to break.
More of the roof blew off OMS. Insurance will cover.
The generator at the PLC had to be sent away to be repaired.
There are some issues with road signs that are being worked on.
Mr. McCartney asked about the water issues at the OIS. Mr. Stoltzfus said that there is a leak in the gym. There is a problem with the flashing. When there is a driving rain, it soaks into the brick. The contractor fixed some of it , but there is more than needs repaired. There is no cost to the district.
7. Other Items/Concerns
Dr. Newcome said that besides the budget presentation next week, Mr. Rohrer will be presenting the HS Course of Study and the career & tech program.
8. Visitors’ Comments – General
9. Board Comments
Mr. Hume thanked the music department for coming to entertain the seniors in Parkesburg. They were very good.
Mr. Ganow asked who approves Sunday activities of students and what are the activities. Bus usage on Sundays is very expensive. Dr. Newcome thinks it is probably music related. He will check.
Ms. Bowman attended the Cyber Bullying presentation. It was well presented. Eighteen people attended. She was a little disappointed in the attendance. The presenter said it was typical.
She also received a letter from a parent complementing the guidance staff & others in the high school for helping her daughter.
There will be a letter going out to the community about the budget meetings.
10. Adjournment
Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, January 10, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Executive Session for personnel - Monday, January 10, 2011 – Following the Work Session in the Octorara District Office Conference Room
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
WORK SESSION
January 10, 2011 – 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
DISCUSSION GUIDE
1. Roll Call
All Present
2. Presentations:
A. Budget – Daniel Carsley
There are no changes from December. They just received the CD from the state. They are filling it out. The Board will receive the PDE official version before next meeting. It will include the changes in the PSERS rate. Next week he will present the multi-year budget model.
Dr. Newcome said they will also have the 1st draft of potential cost savings next week. It will show broad strokes & they can discuss philosophy for cuts. They will get into specifics in Feb., Mar. & April.
3. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only
4. Information Items:
A. Ms. Susan Thieroff will transfer from full-time accounts payable clerk to 75% time accounts payable clerk from January 18, 2011 through May 6, 2011.
She is working on a degree. They do bring in a substitute for the other 25% of the time.
5.Presentation of Agenda Items for the January 17, 2011 Regular Monthly Public Meeting:
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the proposed preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the District administration to apply for Act 1 exemptions for the 2011-2012 budget.
C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the 2011-2012 school calendar.
D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the “Sportsmanship Agreement” for parents of athletes who participate in District athletic programs.
Ms. Bowman talked about the changes. She wanted to know if there were plans to distribute & ensure compliance and are there consequences. Mr. Weagley said that along with the physical & activity fee this agreement will also have to be signed in order for the athlete to participate.
Ms. Bowman said that at the wrestling tournament a parent from another school complemented Octorara. He has been to various activities over the years & has never had any problems.
E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve change order number 007 for Bristol Environmental, Inc. for 1st floor hallway pipe insulation abatement (Sections 1 & 2) and light tube disposal in the amount of $26,650.00.
Mr. Ganow had questions about this. Mr. Carsley said that it was for tube disposal. They are looking at other options for the future.
F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes from regular substitute pay to long term substitute pay at the rate of $140 per day:
Alice Lohr – 18 days
Meredith Benson – 20.5 days
Dr. Newcome explained that the substitute rate for 10-90 days in the same classroom is $140/day..
G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the student activity request for the “Music Club” at the Octorara Area High School.
H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the job descriptions for the position of Access Coordinator and Access Assistant.
Dr. Newcome said that these aren't budgeted items, but are funded through Access funds.
Resignation Approvals:
I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental
contract resignations:
Mike Mundy –Middle School Academic Team Advisor
Beth Hrincevich –Elementary School Talent Show/Musical Co-Director
Scott Conaghan –High School Assistant Track Coach
Mark Pedersen – Middle School Assistant Football Coach
J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resignation of Ms. Katie Allison as cafeteria cashier in the Octorara Area High School effective January 2, 2011. (Hired November 1, 2010)
K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the termination of employee “A” effective January 3, 2011.
Hiring Approvals:
L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute teachers for the 2010-2011 school year:
Marian Green (Special Education)
Cara Patti (Elementary)
M. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support personnel for the 2010-2011 school year:
Wayne Wharton (Custodian, maintenance)
N. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplementalcontracts for the 2010-2011 school year:
Nina Thwaites OES Talent Show/Musical 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Andrew Baumgardner OMS Football Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Matthew Smith OMS Wrestling Coach 4 pts @ $570 $2,280
Michelle Moran Mentor Jennifer Bower 2 pts @ $570 $1,140
Donna Edwards Mentor Jan D’Angelo 1 pt @ $570 $ 570
The OMS Football Coach & OMS Wrestling Coach are funded by the clubs.
O. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Kendal Dixon and Mr. Bruce Davis as volunteer coaches for the Octorara Area High School boys’ basketball program.
P. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:
Michelle Lofgren From M+45 ($76,348) to M+60 ($78,780) Step 15
6. Facilities Committee Report
Mr. Stoltzfus gave the report. The HS project is 84% complete. They are working on classrooms now. In February, they will start the gym and in March, the auditorium. There are a few minor change orders that need priced.
They still don't have a plan for the terrazo floor in the lobby. They need to test it further for asbestos before they determine what to do. They will probably take care of it next summer.
There are still water issues in OIS. The contractor is still working on it. They are waiting for the weather to break.
More of the roof blew off OMS. Insurance will cover.
The generator at the PLC had to be sent away to be repaired.
There are some issues with road signs that are being worked on.
Mr. McCartney asked about the water issues at the OIS. Mr. Stoltzfus said that there is a leak in the gym. There is a problem with the flashing. When there is a driving rain, it soaks into the brick. The contractor fixed some of it , but there is more than needs repaired. There is no cost to the district.
7. Other Items/Concerns
Dr. Newcome said that besides the budget presentation next week, Mr. Rohrer will be presenting the HS Course of Study and the career & tech program.
8. Visitors’ Comments – General
9. Board Comments
Mr. Hume thanked the music department for coming to entertain the seniors in Parkesburg. They were very good.
Mr. Ganow asked who approves Sunday activities of students and what are the activities. Bus usage on Sundays is very expensive. Dr. Newcome thinks it is probably music related. He will check.
Ms. Bowman attended the Cyber Bullying presentation. It was well presented. Eighteen people attended. She was a little disappointed in the attendance. The presenter said it was typical.
She also received a letter from a parent complementing the guidance staff & others in the high school for helping her daughter.
There will be a letter going out to the community about the budget meetings.
10. Adjournment
Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, January 10, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Executive Session for personnel - Monday, January 10, 2011 – Following the Work Session in the Octorara District Office Conference Room
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, January 17, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room
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