Damon Miller a candidate for the Morrisville School Board has written a piece that appeared in the BCCT today.
From the BCCT:
'Stay on Track' slate a looming train wreck
Bucks County Courier Times
By Damon Miller
As a school board candidate in Morrisville, I feel that it is important that residents of our community understand the issues our district is facing. The current school board majority and our opponents want Morrisville to remain on a "track" that will lead our schools and community into a "train wreck."
Our opponents have claimed that students are receiving a "quality education." Unfortunately, "Stay on Track" candidates do not have children in the district nor do their vocal supporters. How can they claim that students are getting quality education when they have no children in the schools? Test scores are not showing it.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Morrisville's most recent PSSA test scores dropped from the previous year. In my view, that decrease in test scores is the result of budget reductions, including not filling teacher aide vacancies. This also coincides as being the first budget the current board passed. If this is the beginning of the "track" they want Morrisville to stay on, where is education headed for our district? Is this how our opponents plan to provide "quality education?"
Plans to tuition-out high school students, closing our last remaining elementary school, and making the high school a K-8 facility have also been discussed by our opposition. This would affect not only the students but the community as well. Is this how our opponents plan to provide "quality education?"
If high school students are sent to another district, that district could raise their tuition higher than what we currently pay and increase your tax bill. If that agreement is discontinued, then the students will either be sent to another district or come back to Morrisville creating a K-12 facility in a building not designed for it.
Little Bulldogs and Holy Trinity pay a fee to the school district use the A-field, with Little Bulldogs paying more than half of the lighting costs. Would they be able to continue using the field if the school no longer needs it? Their "track" is wrong for Morrisville.
The future of our district and the effects on our community need to be discussed openly but our opponents don't agree. All school board candidates for Morrisville received a letter from the League of Women Voters asking for our interest in holding a forum allowing for the community to ask questions. All of the Morrisville Pride candidates, Jack Beck, Jermaine Jenkins, David Stoneburner, and myself said yes. Our opponents did not respond, even after repeated calls by a League representative.
The current situation of elementary children being taught in the high school and in trailers needs to change. We need long-term solutions, not patches, which allow students to learn in a safe environment. Traffic around both schools is hazardous and needs to change before an accident happens. We need to bring up the test scores again by identifying the issues and not simply throw money at it. We want to work with the administration and fix those problems within our budget constraints. Parents with special needs children should not have to wonder if their child is getting the best services provided. Morrisville students should be able to graduate in their district, and not be tossed aside once they reach ninth grade.
The current board majority has turned their backs on the students, families, and the community of Morrisville. The Morrisville Pride candidates want to build a better school district that everyone in our community will benefit from. As we have walked our district listening to the community, we have heard of the Morrisville that seems to have been lost. Pride and a sense of community were displayed and we want to bring that back. Doesn't Morrisville deserve it?
I encourage you to contact the Morrisville Pride candidates by going to our Web site at www.morrisvillepride.com where all of our information is listed. We will listen to your concerns and answer your questions.
On Nov. 3, I ask you to vote Democrat. Vote for Morrisville Pride candidates Jack Beck, Jermaine Jenkins, Damon Miller, and David Stoneburner for school board and make the changes Morrisville deserves.
