What's going on with the IS/HS library?

We have been hearing that the library in the IS/HS has been inaccessible to the students since the beginning of the year(due to renovations and books & boxes from the move from Grandview). Apparently books are being brought to the classrooms on a cart. Is anyone hearing this also? So not only are the renovations not on schedule, here is yet another example that these renovations are hindering the educational process.

New school works on arrival, dismissal process

Unfortunately, for us, its not our school and its host of issues they are talking about. Thumbs up to the folks in Bristol for recognizing there is a problem, and trying to make the situation better for everybody. Once again the board majority has squandered an opprotunity. Instead of reaching out to parents, there was the typical "stay on track " silence. Listen guys, all we are asking is that you listen attentively to our concerns and do something to improve the situation. Whether it is our concerns about the traffic, or renovations, we have heard nothing from you, or your communications director. Are you guys that far out of touch, or do you just not care?

from the bcct:

New school works on arrival, dismissal process
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times


Revisions will include additional crossing guards and adjustments to a traffic light's timing at a key intersection.
Extra crossing guards will be on duty this morning as students arrive for class at the new Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary/Middle School, borough and district officials said Wednesday.
The additional guards are needed to help students safely get across the busy intersection at Beaver and Pond streets near the school, Bristol Mayor Joseph A. Saxton said Wednesday after a meeting between borough and district representatives.
The officials met in borough hall after spending the first few days of the new school year observing traffic patterns during arrival and dismissal times from the $35 million school that serves more than 900 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade.
"We knew it wasn't going to go off perfectly," police Chief Arnold Porter said. "But we've been working on it. Parents have to understand that their kids are safe."
Officials have asked parents who drive their children to school to park in the Grundy skating rink on the other side of Beaver Street and then make sure the kids get across the street with the help of a crossing guard to get to school.
However, many parents are parking on private properties owned by businesses on Pond Street across from the school, officials said.
The additional crossing guards will help move the foot traffic more quickly across Pond Street while borough and district officials look for ways to improve the drop off and pick up plan.

Officials also will try to have a traffic light at the intersection modified to allow more time for motorists to turn left onto Pond Street from Beaver Street during dismissal time, Saxton said.
Right now, the light is programmed to allow traffic to move in that direction for 10 to 12 seconds at a time. That's causing traffic leaving the skating rink to back up, the mayor said.
Authorities report there has been some tension between parents and crossing guards when arrival and dismissal procedures are not followed. However, there have been no arrests.
Snyder-Girotti Principal Rosemary Parmigiani acknowledges a lot of the problems could have been avoided if the old district elementary school behind the new building was already demolished.
But that likely will not happen until next summer, officials said.
"We've informed parents that we all have to be flexible, just like with any growing pains," the principal said.
Want to know more?
Call 215-781-1020 or go to www.bbsd.org and click onto the link "Attention Parents of Snyder-Girotti Students New." It provides information about arrival and dismissal procedures at the new school.

The fallout of the M.R. Reiter EXPLOSION

When the furnace at M.R. Reiter exploded, little did we know that we would be dealing with its effects and the decisions made by the "stay on track" board members for such a long time. The following are facts that cannot be disputed.

With Reiter being mothballed and unable to reopen, the "stay on track" board voted to put k-3 in Grandview School, and 4-12 in the middle/high school. This hasty decision has led to several problems that still need to be addressed. Keep in mind that the explosion happened in Dec '08. It is now Sept '09. First issue is the middle/high school was designed for older kids. Not for elementary aged children. The bathrooms are not designed for younger kids, especially 4th and 5th graders.
The second issue is the use of the bathrooms. When children need to "go" they need to "go". They should not be told to go at 10:20 am, or any other designated time. The following link may be useful if this is an issue for your child.
http://www.childadvocate.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=1

The next issue is outside recess. The 4th and 5th graders are not allowed to go outside for recess. Reasons given for this are, there is no fenced in area to contain the children, and there is no equipment for the children to play with. It is our understanding the PTO is planning to purchase some equipment , but is it their responsibility? Perhaps if the board planned this out, some equipment would have been purchased before the start of the school year. But they choose to instead to hire a communications director at $25k. It shows where their interest are, saving themselves and not your children.

Next issue is the traffic situation at both schools. We have discussed this at great length for the past week or so. It seems that the board is ignorant of any issues, because we haven't heard anything from them. Perhaps incumbent school board members would be better off standing on the corner observing the morning rush, rather than observing their opposition passing out fliers.

Not directly related to the Reiter explosion, but also not to be ignored is the fact that children in grades 4-12 are going to school in a building that is under renovation. These renovations are not on schedule. There are trailers in the parking lot where children have been observed playing around. Not safe. And there is debris and unwanted trash from the renovation cluttered around the dumpsters in the morning. Not safe. The board has hired someone to look after their interests, but who is looking out for the childrens' and staffs' interests? Isn't that their responsibility?

Bring these issues to the board at the next meeting on the 23rd of Sept.

Where the fingers should be pointed...

As parents we are all concerned about the safety and well being of our children. This goes without saying. The current situation at both of our schools has yet to be addressed by this board. And that is where the blame should lie. It is not the administrations fault that this is happening. The administration is not to blame for the boards willy nilly approach to running a district. Unfortunately the board will most likely spin in so it looks like it was the administration's problem. The stay on trackers on the board need a lesson on taking responsibility for their actions/inactions.
With P.W. as the communications czar surely we should have seen a press release easing parents concerns after a nightmare of a first week. Or even a letter to parents at least recognizing the problem.Have we seen anything? Nope. Don't expect to either. Her job is also to suppress the negative actions/inactions of the Morrisville School Board, not just promote the positive. And where is Marly's Mihok during all of this. She calls herself a "child safety advocate", but where is she when such a person is needed. Marlys you have had a plan in the past for children walking in the streets(albeit a strange, twisted plan), where is your plan for a real problem(one that you helped create)?

Interesting link regarding access controls at school construction sites

Check out this link: http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=628

Has the board taken any of these steps to protect our children?

Let's ask them.

Thoughts and reflections from the first day of school.

What are your thoughts and reactions to the first day of school. Was there any parking/traffic issues? We already know that children were disrupted on the first day of school because of the construction. Something which was not supposed to happen. Share your thoughts and reflections here.

THe following is a reader comment addressing such issues:

"Renovations are clearly NOT on schedule. My son's class had to leave their room today (first day of school) while the window replacement work was being done. Firstly, what happened to the schedule and second, I thought they'd work after-hours so as not to disrupt the school day?"

Changes coming for students

from the BCCT:


Changes coming for students

By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The new Morrisville Intermediate School for grades four through eight will be housed in Morrisville High School this year.
Students will enter a newly renovated Morrisville High School building this fall. The district began a $4 million renovation process this summer to install new ventilation systems, a boiler system, all new windows and some doors, an updated electrical system, asbestos removal and air conditioning in some common areas of the 50-year-old school.
Grandview Elementary School is next in line for renovations.
This year, Morrisville is redistricting its students, with grades four through eight - the new Morrisville Intermediate School - sharing the Morrisville High School building on West Palmer Street with grades nine to 12. Grades four to six will be housed in one section of the building, and grades seven and eight will get their own section as well. Grades nine to 12 also will get their own wing.
Grades pre-K to three will be taught in Grandview.
Morrisville serves more than 980 students in three schools. It employs about 130 people and runs on a roughly $18.5 million annual budget. For information, visit www.mv.org.
WHO'S WHO IN THE SCHOOLS
Superintendent: Dr. Elizabeth Hammond Yonson, 215-736-2681, ext. 5931
Special education coordinator: Tony Gesualdi, ext. 5926
Business administrator: Paul DeAngelo, ext. 5926
Director of facilities: Tim Lastichen, ext. 5924
Psychologist: Jenna Meshanko, ext. 5926
IT director: Joe Myat, jmyat@mv.org
Principals:
Morrisville Intermediate School/Morrisville High School (grades 6-12): William Ferrara, 215-736-2681

Grandview Elementary School/Morrisville Intermediate School (grades Pre-K-5): Laurie Ruffing, 215-736-5280
School board:
William Hellmann, Alfred A. Radosti, Joseph Kemp, William M. Farrell, John Buckman, Gloria Heater, Marlys Mihok, Robin M. Reithmeyer and Brenda Worob.
The board meets at 7 p.m. on the third and fourth Wednesdays of the month, except in July. A meeting is scheduled for tonight. Public work sessions and public board meetings are held in the LGI room of Morrisville High School. To reach the school board, visit www.mv.org and follow the links.
2009-10 School Calendar:
Sept. 8, first day for students
Sept. 28, Yom Kippur, no school
Oct. 26-Nov. 6, PSSA grade 12 retest
Nov. 3, staff in-service day, no school
Nov. 13, early dismissal
Nov. 24, early dismissal
Nov. 25- 27, Thanksgiving recess
Dec. 24-Jan. 3, winter recess
Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school
Jan. 29, early dismissal
Feb. 12, staff in-service day, no school
Feb. 15, Presidents Day, no school
March 31, staff in-service day, no school
April 1-5, spring recess
April 12, early dismissal
April 12-16, PSSA reading and math days for grades 3 to 8 and 11
April 19-23, PSSA writing days for grades 5, 8 and 11
April 26-30, PSSA science days for grades 4, 8 and 11
May 18, staff in-service day, no school
May 31, Memorial Day, no school
June 15, last day of school, graduation (tentative)
Information provided by Morrisville School District

School renovations on schedule

Looks like P.W. is officially on the job. It looks like her first task was to arrange this little get together. Although by reading the article she had nothing to say.




from the BCCT:
School renovations on schedule

By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The school board has planned a special July 29 meeting to award bids for Grandview Elementary School window replacements.
Long gouges are on the walls of the classroom, where ventilators have been ripped out.
Chairs are stacked upside down on tables huddled in the middle of the room, and the detritus of a construction project lies scattered everywhere.
Morrisville Middle/Senior High School may not look pretty now, but extensive renovations are right on schedule to be completed before the start of school Sept. 8.
The 50-year-old school on West Palmer Street is getting all new ventilation systems, a new boiler system, all new windows and some doors, an updated electrical system, asbestos removal and air conditioning in some common areas.
Engineering company Vitetta is handling the $4 million initiative to modernize the building, first opened in 1959 with an addition built in 1974.
"This is the replacement of items that have been in these buildings for many years, mostly original equipment and infrastructure that is 40 to 50 years old," said board President William Hellmann.
During a Thursday afternoon tour, Morrisville School District's facilities director Tim Lastichen, Hellmann, board member William Farrell, Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson, business administrator Paul DeAngelo and new district press officer Pat Wandling observed the work that's been done since before school let out in mid-June.
They stepped carefully over tubing and wires on the floor and observed the ceiling in the library. Several of the ceiling tiles have been removed, exposing metalwork and hanging electrical wires. The library will get a new heating and air-conditioning unit soon.
"Now this is called a hole in the ceiling," said Lastichen. "The duct work is in pretty good shape. The broken and stained ceiling tiles will be replaced. Air vents will stay as is in their areas."
Besides the administration offices, located at the rear of the high school building, the library is the only room that already has air conditioning. The payroll and pupil services departments are getting a brand new rooftop A/C unit.
In the gym, unit ventilators have been taken down, and heat and air conditioning will be put in. In addition, the cafeteria, auditorium and Large Group Instruction room are getting air conditioning for the first time, while other rooms are being prepared to receive air conditioning in the future. Currently, some classrooms use window units to cool the air.
In a hallway, long black and white pipes connecting the new boiler room to the rest of the building snaked along the exposed ceiling and sparks flew from a distant corridor as a worker welded pipe for a new heating system.
The building will get 80 updated ventilators and a new boiler. The two old boilers, located in two separate rooms on different sides of the building, have been removed. The new double boiler system, hot water heaters and all new pumps will supply the entire building after being set up in the older of the two boiler rooms near the cafeteria.
It's going to be an all new mechanical room for the whole building. It's a more efficient way to do it," said Lastichen.
Asbestos abatement started in May and is mostly done, he said.
High on the wall between each classroom and the hall, rectangular holes are being cut out for fire dampers, which would contain any fire started inside the room. The systems are being installed to bring the building up to current fire codes, Lastichen said.
A year ago, new fire suppression systems were put in the kitchen, and plumbing also was brought up to current code requirements.
The deadline to complete all work is Aug. 28.
Morrisville schools are undergoing other changes, too.
Since a furnace explosion in December 2008 put M.R. Reiter Elementary out of commission, the district has been mulling over where to place Reiter children. This past semester, some have been on Grandview Elementary property on Grandview Avenue, while others have been placed in the high school building.
This fall, district children in grades four through eight will share the high school building, but they'll be kept apart from grades nine through 12.
Grades nine through 12 will be called Morrisville High School, while grades four through eight will be the Morrisville Intermediate School.
Seventh- and eighth-graders will be separated from the younger ones in the current middle school wing of the building, said Superintendent Yonson.
Four through six will be in separate corridors, close to administrative offices.
"If anything, I think the older students will be protective of the young ones," said Yonson.
Grandview will house grades pre-K through three.
Yonson has called the new plan, which the board voted for in February, "a better utilization of rooms and teachers."
Renovations are to be done at Grandview Elementary School as well, though a timeline has not been set yet, said Lastichen. A bid is going out for the removal and replacement of windows and doors at the school. The school board has planned a special July 29 meeting to award bids for the window replacements.
The board has no plans yet to work Reiter, on the corner of Harper and Hillcrest Avenues, which also needs major renovations. One option is to sell the building. In January, residents expressed a variety of views for what the district should do with Reiter, but the school board hasn't yet decided.