Thursday, July 29, 2010
New share buttons!
Re-registration central
Here is the link to mv.org regarding re-registration
Upper Moreland considers name change for schools
UPPER MORELAND SCHOOLS
Why spend money on new signs, redesigning letterhead and making other changes that come with a new identity, one parent asked.
According to the notice on the Upper Moreland School District's website, "You asked! We listened! Now it is your opportunity to rename the intermediate and primary schools!"
Some parents say they don't remember asking.
Two home and school association leaders said this week they oppose the district's plan to rename the Upper Moreland Primary School and Upper Moreland Intermediate School, arguing the change is unnecessary and they'd rather see resources address more pressing concerns than new signs and stationery.
A name-your-school contest was launched this summer to gather ideas for friendlier, more personal names for the schools, said Don Warner, a school board member who chairs the district facilities committee.
Discussions on the idea have been going on for months at school board meetings. But Warner said few members of the public attended those meetings and, until a few days ago, he hadn't heard any objections to renaming the buildings.
The contest was announced through Upper Moreland's e-communicator system after school ended. Suggestions for new names are being accepted through the end of September, but Warner said he would be fine with scrapping the whole idea if enough people object to it at an upcoming facilities committee meeting.
Changing names means spending money to put up new signs, redesign letterhead and make all the other changes that come with a new identity, said Stacey Liesner, president of the intermediate school's parent association.
"What are we doing spending money on that?" she asked.
Lisa Burman, immediate past vice president of the primary school's parent association, had a similar take. Funds would be better spent elsewhere, she said. She suggested the money would be better used for playground equipment the home and school association is on the hook to replace because the district won't cover it.
"It's ridiculous," she said. "The name has been fine for five years now."
The contest comes five years after the district closed two elementary schools - Round Meadow and Cold Spring - and shifted to a primary/intermediate school model housed in a complex on Orangemans Road.
Third- through fifth-graders moved into the intermediate school in fall 2004; students in kindergarten through second grade were moved to Cold Spring Elementary until the new primary school opened in 2005.
The district facilities committee will discuss the issue and listen to feedback at its Aug. 17 meeting, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at the intermediate school.
July 29, 2010 02:13 AM
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Pennsbury news
from buckslocalnews.com
Pennsbury School Board members trade angry shots, two will attend contract negotiations
By Petra Chesner Schlatter, BucksLocalNews.com
The next negotiating session between the Pennsbury School Board and the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA) is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28.
However, the board was split on whether to send school board members to the bargaining table. Because of a 5-4 vote tallied during an executive session, Howard Goldberg and Gene Dolnick will be part of the talks.
Voting in favor of the action were Wayne DeBlasio, Gary Sanderson, Linda Palsky, Goldberg and Dolnick. Opposing the matter were Board President Greg Lucidi, Simon Campbell, Kathleen Zawacki and Allan Weisel.
Campbell told BucksLocalNews.com that “Goldberg and Dolnick are kissing the ring of union boss George Miller and getting ready to raid the bank accounts of taxpayers.”
He added that sending two board members to the negotiating table will be “a complete disaster because it is pandering to the union for no legitimate reason.”
About the board majority, Campbell said “throw them out of office in the elections next year.”
Goldberg responded, "I fully expect that Mr. Campbell, Mr. Weisel and others who share their views will seek to discredit the negotiations process in the upcoming months, through name-calling and slander.
“They will assert that those who do not agree with them have abandoned the community and the taxpayers even though this is not the case,” he said. “Sadly, they would rather engage in these politics than try to solve the problems at hand in a manner that benefits the entire Pennsbury Community.”
Weisel told BucksLocalNews.com that “the five board members, led by de facto Board President Howard Goldberg, disregarded the interest of the taxpayer and voted to seek a quick settlement with the PEA.
“Their fear of a strike has caused the five members to sell the students and taxpayers down the river,” Weisel added.
Weisel said the five members (the majority) were “all in agreement, which could lead one to believe that their take-over of the board was pre-planned.”
Goldberg said, “Apparently, when the majority of the board agrees with Mr. Weisel, there is not a problem, but when the majority of the board disagrees with him, this is a ‘take-over.’ It would appear Mr. Weisel’s definition of democracy is ‘My way or the highway.’”
Dolnick said he was part of the majority which is “centralist as compared to the Campbell–Weisel, who are fighting and trying to cap everything as they are the protectors of students and taxpayers while the centralists are union panderers. And that’s inaccurate, untrue and they’re just trying to take over the board. They are not team players.”
About negotiations, he said, “We’ve spent approximately six months with the chief negotiator, which has yielded nothing,” he said. “If there’s a chance to reach an agreement that would be a change for taxpayers, students and professionals, the majority of the board felt we were obligated to explore that. The majority thought we were going nowhere.”
Lucidi deferred comments to the board’s chief negotiator.
At the July 28 session, the board was expected to review a formal counterproposal to their proposal, which was presented March 3.
In a statement, the school board said it “has received assurance” that the union is prepared to present a formal counterproposal.
The board’s statement said that the session was scheduled because of the “commitment” from the PEA. The board members plan “to attend and actively participate” in this session, according to the statement.
The school board’s Chief Negotiator Jeffrey Sultanik toldBucksLocalNews.com that while the board members do not agree on the structure of the negotiations process (who is at the table), they are “fairly unified on the principal issues in dispute (salary and benefits).”
Regarding whether a strike is in the picture, Sultanik said, “There has been absolutely no mention of the possibility of a work stoppage and I do not believe a strike is imminent.
“We intend to work hard to negotiate a successor contract in these challenging economic times, when a strike would not be received well by the taxpayers who have been hit hard by this recession,” continued Sultanik. “I remain hopeful that the negotiations process will jump start.”
PEA President George Miller, told BucksLocalNews.com that the union is “encouraged” that the board members will come to the table.
Miller said the PEA has asked to meet face-to-face with the school board because “We believe that the school board is the only body with the ability to negotiate directly with PEA and come up with a contract under the time constraints that we are now facing.”
The PEA president said talking with school board members would be “faster. It would streamline the process.”
“With the board at the table now,” Miller said, “I have confidence that we can proceed and do exactly that.”
Comments
Monday, July 26, 2010
News from Morrisville First
The Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow in Holicong has offered scholarships to allow children attend their camp during August 23-27. Camp is for ages 1st graders up to and including 5th graders. The camp is free and includes snack and round trip transportation from Robert Morris Apartments, 200 West Bridge Street.
Space is limited and the deadline for signup is July 28.
The topic of the camp is "Wild Watersheds". Children will learn about crayfish, salamanders, and catch bugs with a net while walking through marshes. Campers should bring an extra pair of clothes and shoes.
Contact Donna Griff for more info and permission forms - 215-598-3566, ext. 115, or dgriff@bchg.org If you missed the deadline date, contact me anyway.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
News from Neshaminy
District offers teachers cost-savings option
By: RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
NESHAMINY
Negotiations are scheduled to resume Aug. 12.
During talks Wednesday night, the Neshaminy school board offered the teachers union a $1.3 million cost-savings option that would not impact employees by self-insuring the district's prescription plans, officials said Thursday.
Neshaminy's insurance broker estimates that would reduce the district's costs by $1.3 million next year, with similar savings the following years, school board members said.
The district needs the consent of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers to put the option into effect. The board noted there was little reaction or comment from the teachers union in regards to employees contributing towards health care premiums at the session.
The federation offered no counter proposals, but another negotiation session has been scheduled for Aug. 12, according to a statement the school board posted on the district's website.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching teacher union President Louise Boyd for comment Thursday.
The teachers have been working without a new deal since June 2008. The union reportedly canceled a June 30 bargaining session with the board asking for more time to prepare.
The board has offered an annual 3 percent salary increase, which includes steps, and a requirement that employees pay 15 percent, 16 percent and 17 percent toward health care premiums over three years. The board claims the union's proposal remains unchanged, with a request for a total 6 percent annual salary hike, which includes steps, and a requirement for no change to the medical insurance package, according to administrators. Boyd has denied those claims but hasn't revealed the union's offer.
July 23, 2010 02:11 AM
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Boro Council meeting recap
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE
Now that work on the Morrisville Free Library is complete and the building opened its doors again last weekend, Morrisville is looking to redirect more than $12,800 in leftover grant money for new street lights.
Borough council voted 7-0 at its meeting Monday to ask the Bucks County Department of Community Development to use $12,856 remaining from a community development block grant to install between eight and 10 energy-efficient LED streetlights on some of the borough's secondary roads.
The money is left over from a block grant that funded the roughly $200,000 project to put air conditioning at the Morrisville Free Library. The library reopened Saturday after it was closed for nearly two months during renovations.
Councilwoman Rhonda Davis was absent from the meeting.
In other business, the council approved an agreement with the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission for a $56,300 curb and sidewalk project. The bridge commission announced recently that it was giving Morrisville the money as part of its Compact Authorized Investment program, which funds transportation-related initiatives in riverfront communities.
The money will fund work putting new curb and sidewalk along the west side of Delmorr Avenue from Corliss Alley to Bridge Street and along the east side of Delmorr from Corliss to Williamson Park, according to the bridge commission.
Also Monday, PECO presented Morrisville with a $7,500 check for upcoming work in Williamson Park.
The money, given through the utility company's open space grant program, will fund a 3,200-foot hard-surface trail in the Delmorr Avenue park, said Ted Dorand, PECO's external affairs manager in Bucks County.
Morrisville was one of four Bucks towns to receive $7,500 from PECO this year through its PECO Green Region program. The others were New Britain Borough, New Britain Township and Doylestown Township.
July 20, 2010 02:12 AM
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Library reopens after renovations
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE
Fred Kerner inhaled deeply as cool air whooshed past him through the open front door of the Morrisville Free Library on Saturday.
"Ahh, smell that new air," said Kerner, a borough resident who looked forward to the library's reopening after more than a month of renovations, including adding central air conditioning. While he looked for videos, his wife Linda searched for books to read during their vacation.
"We love it. It's really a central place in the community," Kerner said.
Inside, sun glimmered through tall, multicolored cathedral windows. A wrought iron pattern, once the separator between altar and congregation from the building's church days, wound its way to the ceiling. Adult fiction lined shelves in the space the altar had once occupied. Before the renovation, most of the ironwork was covered by books, but they've been moved aside as part of the makeover, said Diane Hughes, the library's director.
"We're still making it more user-friendly. We are so happy finally to be open," she said.
The library underwent about $200,000 in renovations with a Community Development Block Grant, said Dorothy Gaydula, acting borough manager, who was busy stacking books.
It also got fresh paint and an early literacy station using a Peco Energy grant. Library patrons can also use several computers for free.
If there's one detail Hughes wishes were different, it would be the ability to see the cathedral's original ceiling, hidden above a drop ceiling that also covers air conditioning piping and wiring.
When the Episcopal Church on Pennsylvania Avenue moved, the library took over the building in 1967. The building's history stretches to 1904, when the local Women's League started a lending library in the parlor of one of its members.
Initially populated by 500 books on religion, the library grew and moved multiple times over the years until it settled finally into the former church. By that time, the Women's League had decided the library should be taken over by the municipality and the citizens of Morrisville had agreed.
In the early 1970s, Morrisville's public library joined several others to create Bucks County Public Libraries, an interlinked system that allows patrons to put borrowing materials on hold and pick them up at any branch.
"It was a state initiative to have all the libraries serve all Bucks residents without geographical boundaries," said Chris Snyder, the district consultant for Bucks County Public Libraries.
When the recent economic problems began, the state reduced funding to public libraries. At the same time, circulation doubled, Hughes said.
"It's very popular," Hughes said. "We have people waiting in the morning for the doors to open and people here till it closes. Because of the foresight of the Women's League 100 years ago, we have a library today."
Friday, July 16, 2010
ASAP camp in the news
Camp Keeps kids mentally active
morrisville schools
The borough is receiving nearly $1 million from U.S. taxpayers this year to conduct a free summer camp for borough kids, among other programs.
Basketballs bounced across the gym floor as a group of children practiced dribbling.
Tearing herself away from her favorite camp activity, Krista Mullaney, 12, said she loves learning the technique to play well.
"We do lots of fun games. They drill us, but not too hard," she said Thursday.
Whether handling a ball, writing stories or doing math puzzles, children at Morrisville High School and the United Methodist Church nearby are honing their skills this summer.
Kids are more relaxed at summer camp than they are at school - and that's kind of the point, said Kasheef Thomas, an assistant coach who's returned to the camp year after year.
"You get to see another side of the kids here. It's great to draw them out and see them get involved and interested in doing different activities," said Thomas.
The month-long Academic Sports Achievement Program is free and available to 100 Morrisville kids on a first-come, first-served basis.
"It's a blessing for the borough as a whole to have free camp with both sports and academics for a month, for kids in elementary, middle and high school," said Norma Wingate, dean of student services and camp director at the high school.
It's funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grant, which pays not only for summer camp but for yearlong enrichment activities. The Pennsylvania Department of Education administers the grant to districts in economically challenged areas that qualify for financial aid. Schools use the funds to provide activities designed to help students meet state and local standards in core content areas, such as reading, math and science, as well as career, cultural and social education.
Applicant school districts must be eligible for school wide programs under Title I, which seeks to close the achievement gap. Or they must serve a student body where 40 percent of students are from low income families.
The district's 2010-11 funding is $935,000, which pays for staffing and resources for summer, weekend and after-school programs, said program director Darletta Berry-Johnson. Among them are SAT classes, study sessions for athletes, service learning clubs, an athletic partnerships with the YMCA, and an after-school homework program for students who want extra teacher or paraprofessional help, said Berry-Johnson. There's also a partnership with the Philadelphia Archdiocese for free breakfast, lunch and snacks at district schools during parts of the year, she said.
The grant is also funding a theater camp in partnership with the Actors' NET of Bucks County and a science and arts camp at Snipes Farm in Falls in August for children in grades one through four.
The academic and sports camp started more than five years ago. Coaches and certified teachers keep coming back every summer, said Berry-Johnson.
As the older children played volleyball, basketball, soccer and flag football at the high school, kids going into grades one through five worked on reading, writing and math at the United Methodist Church behind the high school. Both groups spend about two hours each on academics and sports.
In one of several church classrooms, iridescent-flecked snowflakes hung from the ceiling. A whimsical animal with a rabbit head, camel body and duck feet smiled from the whiteboard.
Sitting at a table with other children, Maggie Phillips, 6, pointed to the story she was writing and illustrating with a magenta sun and multicolored flowers.
"That's me, in a girl's hat. I'm walking and I didn't see the flower there," she said.
Jaheim Faichney, 6, was also writing and drawing pictures.
"You're awesome, Jaheim," said teacher Alli Bizon, fastening a colorful sticker to his work.
"We're reviewing skills learned in reading classes. We're trying to make it fun and lively as possible," said Bizon, a Morrisville High School graduate. She said she decided to use her summers away from teaching preschool in a Philadelphia charter school to return to her hometown.
"It's such a small community. It's a great community to give back to. I like to come back and see what the future holds for Morrisville. I like to be a part of it."
July 16, 2010 02:10 AM
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Amnesia Watch
AMNESIA WATCH:
Is Congressman Fitzpatrick Confused About His Own Immigration Record?
Bucks County voters demand answers on why Congressman Fitzpatrick supported amnesty and voted against Arizona-Like measure
(Bristol, PA) – In recent days, former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick has again assumed that voters in the 8th district have amnesia – this time on immigration.
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick now claims to support the new Arizona law, but he voted against nearly identical legislation while he was in Washington. The legislation he voted against would have given state and local authorities the ability to detain illegal immigrants in the course of the officers’ regular duties.1Further, Congressman Fitzpatrick voted to allow “sanctuary cities” to continue their practice of ignoring federal anti-immigration laws.2
Patrick Murphy doesn’t just talk tough on illegal immigration. He actually does something about it. Patrick broke with his party to support the Arizona law, which requires police to check the immigration status of individuals stopped for other crimes. He was the lone Democrat to vote in support of an amendment to prevent the Obama administration from using federal funds to sue Arizona over the law.
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick also voted against providing $20 million for construction of a fence to protect our borders from the flow of illegal immigrations.3
Patrick Murphy, on the other hand, has constantly fought to beef up security along our borders and introduced legislation to increase penalties for border agents who help smuggle people into the country, a serious breach of national security.4
While he claims to be tough on illegal immigration, Mike’s voting history from his time in Washington falls far short of his newfound rhetoric. He also fails to match up to Patrick Murphy’s record of being tough on illegal immigrants as well as the employers who hire them.
Talk is cheap. Mike might hope people in Bucks County have amnesia, but it's impossible to forget a voting record this appalling.
1Roll Call Vote #659, 109th Congress, 1st Session
2 Roll Call Vote #177, 109th Congress, 1st Session
3 Roll Call Vote #669, 109th Congress, 1st Session
4 Secure Borders Act (H.R. 4622)
# # #
This weeks message from our" leadres"
Holding the line: Tech school should follow Morrisville's lead
Bucks County Courier Times
It is not uncommon to read about school boards in Bucks County struggling with school budgets - and the pressure of operating schools efficiently, keeping up with rising costs, honoring their contractual agreements, and providing quality education, while keeping taxes low. It is a story repeated often on the pages of the local newspapers.
I am very proud to report that the Morrisville School District is not one of those stories. We have stayed on track this year with the approval of the final 2010-2011 school budget without a tax increase, marking the third consecutive year we have not raised taxes. In the two prior years we reduced taxes. And we are pleased to say that we will maintain a good educational program despite an $18.3 million budget, which proposes to spend $84,500 less than this year's spending plan.
Are we unusual? Yes, we are a small district with little commerce and industry to provide revenue. Our operating budget is funded in large part by property owners, small businesses, senior citizens and young families struggling to make ends meet.
The elected school board sets the direction for the business office and the administration when it comes to budgetary matters and, I believe, that is the way it should be. We take on an important obligation when we decide to run for office. In Morrisville, everyone works hard to manage taxpayers' money wisely; but it is not always an easy road in light of outside pressures involving state mandates, state funding and myriad other financial obligations.
As board president, I am proud to say no service or program has been adversely affected as we strive to make Morrisville School District operations more efficient. The goal of the school board is to provide the best possible educational services at a cost that is affordable to the people of our district.
We know other school districts in our area are struggling to reach the same goals. Yet, as we approve one budget now, we are looking ahead to the 2012-2013 fiscal year, which presents a significant challenge because of two major issues: First, the huge pension contribution that will be required to fund upcoming (generous) teachers' pensions and secondly, the present teachers' contract that expires on Aug. 31, 2012. Therefore, the board's effort in the next two years is directed toward making our school district run as efficiently as possible.
In achieving a zero-tax increase this year, we point out that we filled a gap between expenses and revenue with $250,000 from last year's fund balance. However, we continue to look at all areas in which we can reduce costs going forward, without affecting the quality of education in our school district.
Our first obligation, as money managers, is to the taxpayers of Morrisville. We have a mandate to spend their money wisely in providing the best education we can in the best facilities we can afford and prepare our children to go out into the world as educated, productive citizens.
As a certified public accountant, I look at the budgetary pressures we face and see that they are not unlike the financial pressures the average family faces in this economy, including inflation and rising costs. On the other hand, there are many more uncontrollable factors that put pressure on the Morrisville school budget and also the budgets of other public entities, such as, contractual salary and benefit obligations, increased health care costs and increases in the employees' retirement system. We also have associated costs involving transportation services for special education and technical school students, special education placement in cyber and charter school enrollments, and now an additional assessment of $239,726 from the Bucks County Technical High School as Morrisville's share for the students we send to the technical school.
This debate goes on because the Morrisville school board believes the new cost is disproportionate and, therefore, unfair. We are refusing to pay it until the technical school board comes up with a budget of its own that is more realistic in this economy and certainly more equitable in our case.
Monday, July 12, 2010
No roof...just yet
By: PETER HALL
Bucks County Courier Times
A slate roof for the entrance of the Morrisville Free Library isn't the kind of project the federal government's Community Development Block Grant program was intended to pay for, the Bucks County commissioners decided.
The commissioners tabled a $35,000 grant for the borough to replace the roof on the entryway of the former church that houses the library at 300 N. Pennsylvania Ave.
Commissioner Jim Cawley said the cost of the project and the size of the roof are not in proportion and wondered whether a substitute for slate could be used to keep down the cost while preserving the building's aesthetic appeal.
"Is that the best and most efficient way to use that money?" Cawley asked.
The Community Development Block Grant program is administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide money for programs and improvement to public and nonprofit facilities that serve low- and moderate-income residents.
The commissioners approved 24 CDBG grants totaling $1.44 million to municipalities and nonprofit groups around the county last week.
The library entrance roof, which Cawley estimated to be about 200 square feet, was identified as a project that the borough council wanted to complete using CDBG money, county Community and Business Development Director Vitor Vicente said.
Because Morrisville receives a set amount of money based on the percentage of its population that meets HUD's definition of low or moderate income, the county usually defers to the judgment of borough officials, Vicente said.
Cawley said he wanted to be sure the commissioners were fulfilling their responsibility to be good stewards of the public's money and ensure that the federal grant money benefits as many people as possible.
"I'm not arguing that [Morrisville] should not be receiving CDBG money," Cawley said.
Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia asked whether the commissioners' decision to reject the project would mean a loss in funding for the borough.
"If we were to say, 'Look, Morrisville, we can't rationalize $35,000 for a slate roof, get another kind of roof for $10,000 or $15,000,' they would still get to keep the money for another worthy project?" she asked.
Vicente said the borough could revise the project or present an application for a different project to be funded with its share of the CDBG money.
The commissioners tabled the matter until the July 21 meeting.
Acting Assistant Borough Manager Robert Seward said the borough plans to remove the existing slate and reuse it after making structural repairs to the entryway. He said the cost of the project is inflated by the requirement to pay an engineer to produce drawings before the project begins.
"There's a lot that comes into play when you go out for a bidding process using state or federal money. There are certain mandates that you must follow," he said.
Seward said the borough hoped to minimize the cost by reusing as much of the old slate as possible.
"We are well aware that there are limited funds to go around for all the municipalities," Seward said. "My goal has always been to bring in the project as cheaply as we can."
July 12, 2010 02:11 AM
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Off the wall guest opinion in the BCCT
From the bcct:
Relieve seniors of the school tax burden
Bucks County Courier Times
I
am not, nor have I ever been, a proponent of class warfare. I do not envy anyone who is rich in this world's goods, and attained that status by hard work, or by inheritance, or by winning the lottery. What ever honest endeavor brought them to that height, I applaud. Good for you! I am intelligent enough to realize that we need rich people. Heaven knows, I could not pay a salary to anyone, or begin an enterprise which would provide jobs for people. However, we can all aspire to these pinnacles.
Many years ago, my husband and I took the opportunity to pursue the American Dream. We fall into this profile group. We bought a home which we could afford, and lived within our means. With children to raise, he took on two jobs and I did everything else to accomplish our goal. It did not happen overnight, nor was it easy, but we eventually found we had our very own "American Dream."
When our children were in school, I became aware that senior citizens were paying school taxes, too. This disturbed me and I contacted my representatives to see if something could be done to alleviate this burden on them. The usual response was "We're talking about it." That was 30 or more years ago. Guess what? They're still talking about it!
Since being retired, a new phrase has been added when I ask if senior citizens can't have a break (either very low taxes, or NONE at all. Preferably the latter). I am told, "Senior citizens paid to educate your children." That is not acceptable. I remind them that I have been harping on this for over 30 years. Another excuse, "They are considering freezing school taxes for seniors." That is not acceptable either. I want them to be drastically reduced or completely eliminated. Seniors do not want to be paying thousands of their miniscule dollars the rest of their retired lives! If we are forced to, it means only one thing - We will lose our American dream! According to one board candidate, we only have about 10 years left so we are expendable.
Advertisement
There are people in public service jobs who are demanding they be given very lucrative salaries and benefits. Even when my husband worked, he did not have those outrageous incomes and perks. What has been either forgotten or ignored over these years is who these people are: They are public servants. They work for us, not that we work for them. However, it has come to us working for them in order to pay these taxes or face the consequences.
I would rather provide increases for some other public servants such as police, firefighters, and military personnel, whom I believe deserve every penny they can be paid. Thank you for your service.
For all who disagree with me and are happily paying these exorbitant taxes, the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging has a motto, "Aging, It's In Your Future!" Let's pray you make it.
In closing my tirade concerning this ever-growing, looming specter, I quote another public servant who recently commented about our brave military men and women he believes do not deserve more benefits, "They knew what they were getting into when they joined up."
Ditto! That appropriately applies to the public education profession which is threatening and holding us captive by their obscene demands.
July 11, 2010 02:50 AM
RATING:
Print E-mail this
Buzz up!
ShareThis
Viewing threshold:
Comments
Blue Star Mom, 07-11-10, 7:46 am | Rate: 0 | Report
Would you support a program funded by HUD to create a loan/lien program with no fees or charges that would advance you only the money you need to pay your property and school taxes on an annual basis at 1% interest to cover costs and the loan is paid back at the time the house is sold or passed upon death to an heir?
So many seniors have homes with huge equities and no mortgage but are cash poor. This would allow them to stay in their homes and not be victim to taxes.
Certainly a small loan of 3k or 5k annually and debited against the equity would not use up very much equity and upon sale if the owner went into a nursing home or downsized the payback would not be a hardship.
While reverse mortgages exist, they are very expensive and many senior advisers say use them with caution and only as a last resort.
Dose of Reality, 07-11-10, 8:15 am | Rate: -1 | Report
BCCT bloggers: Are you ready for another edition of WHOSE LINE IS IT? Who said,
"I do not envy anyone who is rich in this world's goods, and attained that status by hard work, or by inheritance, or by winning the lottery. What ever honest endeavor brought them to that height, I applaud. Good for you!"
Give up? Okay, try your luck at this one...Who said, "There are people in public service jobs who are demanding they be given very lucrative salaries and benefits. Even when my husband worked, he did not have those outrageous incomes and perks. What has been either forgotten or ignored over these years is who these people are: They are public servants. They work for us..."
GIVE UP??? It's the same wacko! You see, for x number of years she paid a level of property taxes that was NOT commensurate with the actaul cost of educating her children...A rate which few if any individuals could afford to pay, with per pupil expenditure rates in Lower Bucks being approx. $12,000+ per. Instead, other homeowners in the District, including seniors, subsidized HER children's education. But now that she is a senior, she wants to shirk her financial obligations to the community. WHY? Just because she carries an AARP card?
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cutting people who genuinely need it as much of a break as can be afforded. But I am so tired of hearing from whiners like this author. You may be on a fixed income and your children all grown up but that does not necessarily mean that one more tax increase of x dollars is going to drive you out of your home.
And one more thing: "I would rather provide increases for some other public servants such as police, firefighters, and military personnel, whom I believe deserve every penny they can be paid." Lady, I couldn't agree with you more...cops, firefighters & armed forces personnel do deserve to be compensated well. However, for you to suggest that school employees are any less deserving is very argumentative and undermines your credibility.
Proud Parent of 2, 07-11-10, 8:53 am | Rate: 1 | Report
Really what we need to do is change how we tax apartments they need to be charged more that is the biggest difference between CR and Neshaminy CR does not have any apartments but Neshaminy does. Why not get the Apartments to pay more or maybe we can change them all to condos and make the pay taxes that way.
An even new low for Marlys
And so the nastiness continues...I was informed tonight that Donna Wilson received a certified letter (costing who? the taxpayers? $5.54 to send)dated June 24th, and signed by Marlys Mihok (again) stating that the School Board expects her to attend the August meeting and apologize to the "drill team".
First of all, let me state simply that my daughter will not be attending any more board meetings. She had witnessed enough to come to her own conculsions about some members of the board. I do not inform her of the many atrocites that go on at these meetings, so this was a clear example of actions speaking louder than words. After she attended the June meeting she stated that Hellman didn't pay attention to anyone speaking, rolled his eyes and made faces, and various other board members were just as disrespecful in an eleven year old's eyes.
Second of all, as a parent of one of the girls on the Color Guard Squad if anyone should ask for an apology from Donna Wilson it should be myself or another parent, NOT anyone on the school board. Not to mention, all of the parents of the squad members were present at that meeting and were witness to everyone's actions - including Mrs. Wilson's. We have all extensively discussed the events of that night and I do not feel that Donna owes anyone an apology - especially the school board.
If anyone owes anyone an apology it is the school board for causing all of this drama around something so positive. They are the proponents of this fiasco and they are the ones that are continuing while all we want to do is move forward and look to fantastic football games and halftime shows!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
It's letter time
Perhaps its time for a letter to one or all of the gentleman below regarding the unethical and questionable tactics of the Morrisville School Board.
Congressman Patrick Murphy
Bristol Office
Washington Office
Doylestown Office
Contact Information:
E-Mail: Click here to contact Member
Home Page: http://www.pahouse.com/Galloway
Hon. John T. Galloway
8610 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA 19054
(215) 943-7206
Fax: (215) 943-2008
Hon. John T. Galloway
104 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202140
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2140
(717) 787-1292
Fax: (717) 780-4780
Senate District 10
Bucks (part) and Montgomery (part) Counties.
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3010
FAX: (717) 783-5962
Suite 220
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 489-5000
Friday, July 9, 2010
Signs of an Effective School Board Member
Signs of an Effective School Board Member
Here are signs of a school board member focused on moving the school district forward and educating all students to meet high standards:
- Great school board members have a clear vision for the district. They set the vision and goals, and measure the success of the district and superintendent against the goals.
- Great school board members communicate their actions to the community. Through public discourse and written reports, great school board members keep the public informed of the district's progress and challenges.
- Great school board members work as a team. They collaborate well with others and are respectful of the other board members and superintendent.
- Great school board members adopt a fiscally sound district budget. They pay attention to finances and regularly monitor the fiscal health of the district.
- Great school board members focus on what is best for all students. They focus on student achievement and implementing policies that will ensure success for all students.
- Great school board members advocate at the local, state and national level for public education. They take advantage of opportunities to communicate the needs of public schools to other levels of government and advocate for strong public schools.
Signs of an ineffective school board member
Signs of an Ineffective School Board Member
If you notice any of the following signs, it's time to find some new candidates to run for your local board:
- The school board member continually focuses on one issue or talks aimlessly at meetings.
- The school board member doesn't conduct him or herself in a respectful, collaborative manner in public.
- The school board member comes to meetings unprepared.
- The school board member "rubber stamps" all the superintendent's proposals without asking hard questions.
- The school board member micromanages rather than focusing attention on district-wide policies.
- The school board member uses his position on the school board as an opportunity to put forth a political agenda with little relevance to student achievement.