The Board Business meetings are not for answering questions. There are other boards that don't answer questions. We need to look at what other boards do (Ed. note: like the ones that don't answer questions, apparently).
Bill Ferrara at May 25 Board Business Meeting:
We're going try to something different this time. We're going to try to answer your questions. And we'll be having an additional Superintendent's meeting on June 15.
By ELIZABETH FISHER Correspondent Calkins Media, Inc. | 0 comments
Bristol township schools - Like many governing bodies across the commonwealth, the Bristol Township school board is taking the heat for draconian cuts in programs and classes because of Gov. Tom Corbett's budget cuts, which some experienced board members called the worst ever.
At its regular meeting last week, supporters of the district's music program called the tune for hours, pleading with the board not to go through with its proposed elimination of music instruction in the elementary schools.
School Superintendent Samuel Lee spoke as passionately, saying the board did not want to cut the music program, but was forced to make difficult choices. He blamed Harrisburg for putting the district in a deep financial hole.
"There are core curriculum (items) that cannot be cut. We do not have options that allow us to go beyond these limits," Lee said. "No one on this board or in this room wants to make these cuts."
District solicitor David Truelove warned the audience that, as bad as this year's budget tally was, next year's could be even worse.
He encouraged parents to attend school budget meetings, which begin in earnest in February. Parents' input could help prioritize budget items, he said.
About 150 people sat in the auditorium of Ben Franklin Middle School Monday night to cheer on a long line of speakers, which included a professional drummer and a school teacher, both Truman graduates.
Daniel Wright, a 2000 graduate, is a pro drummer and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center and other prestigious venues. He fought back tears as he praised Truman's music teacher, whom, he said, laid the foundation that made his success possible.
Wright said he received scholarships to college and to graduate school, thanks to the background that the district's music instruction provided for him. He reminded the board that many parents in the township cannot afford music lessons for their children.
Also facing the chopping block because of a $3 million shortfall is the all-day kindergarten program, which Lee said is just as beneficial to academic success as music instruction, staff cuts and the elimination of some other classes.
Justin Woodruff, another 2000 graduate who is now teaching first grade in the Morrisville School District, said the music program gives children the chance to express themselves and to polish skills such as leadership and discipline.
"Without the music instruction, I would have had next to nothing on my college transcript," Woodruff said. That's because there's only so many positions on the football field or the cheerleading squad.
"I don't know what will happen but I came here because I didn't want to sit back and watch this if there's a chance to have a program," Woodruff added.
The final budget will be passed at the June 13 meeting.
6 comments:
Bill Ferrara at May 11 Superintendent's Meeting:
The Board Business meetings are not for answering questions. There are other boards that don't answer questions. We need to look at what other boards do (Ed. note: like the ones that don't answer questions, apparently).
Bill Ferrara at May 25 Board Business Meeting:
We're going try to something different this time. We're going to try to answer your questions. And we'll be having an additional Superintendent's meeting on June 15.
What changed?
The day the music died?
By ELIZABETH FISHER Correspondent Calkins Media, Inc. | 0 comments
Bristol township schools - Like many governing bodies across the commonwealth, the Bristol Township school board is taking the heat for draconian cuts in programs and classes because of Gov. Tom Corbett's budget cuts, which some experienced board members called the worst ever.
At its regular meeting last week, supporters of the district's music program called the tune for hours, pleading with the board not to go through with its proposed elimination of music instruction in the elementary schools.
School Superintendent Samuel Lee spoke as passionately, saying the board did not want to cut the music program, but was forced to make difficult choices. He blamed Harrisburg for putting the district in a deep financial hole.
"There are core curriculum (items) that cannot be cut. We do not have options that allow us to go beyond these limits," Lee said. "No one on this board or in this room wants to make these cuts."
District solicitor David Truelove warned the audience that, as bad as this year's budget tally was, next year's could be even worse.
He encouraged parents to attend school budget meetings, which begin in earnest in February. Parents' input could help prioritize budget items, he said.
About 150 people sat in the auditorium of Ben Franklin Middle School Monday night to cheer on a long line of speakers, which included a professional drummer and a school teacher, both Truman graduates.
Daniel Wright, a 2000 graduate, is a pro drummer and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center and other prestigious venues. He fought back tears as he praised Truman's music teacher, whom, he said, laid the foundation that made his success possible.
Wright said he received scholarships to college and to graduate school, thanks to the background that the district's music instruction provided for him. He reminded the board that many parents in the township cannot afford music lessons for their children.
Also facing the chopping block because of a $3 million shortfall is the all-day kindergarten program, which Lee said is just as beneficial to academic success as music instruction, staff cuts and the elimination of some other classes.
Justin Woodruff, another 2000 graduate who is now teaching first grade in the Morrisville School District, said the music program gives children the chance to express themselves and to polish skills such as leadership and discipline.
"Without the music instruction, I would have had next to nothing on my college transcript," Woodruff said. That's because there's only so many positions on the football field or the cheerleading squad.
"I don't know what will happen but I came here because I didn't want to sit back and watch this if there's a chance to have a program," Woodruff added.
The final budget will be passed at the June 13 meeting.
shameful, just shameful...life is every empty without the joy of music and the arts.
Happy Memorial Day from Morrisville Matters...See you along the parade Route!
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