Morrisville School District adopts budget with zero tax increase for 2012-13 school year
MORRISVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT – The school board adopted an $18 million school budget for the 2012-13 school year, a budget that marks the fifth consecutive year without a school tax increase.
The board adopted the budget in a unanimous vote at its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 27.
There was applause after the roll-call vote, but there was no public comment or board discussion on the final budget. The state requires that a budget be adopted by June 30.
Paul DeAngelo, business administrator, had given a final budget summary earlier in the meeting.
Superintendent Bill Ferrara commended DeAngelo and the administration for crafting a budget with no real estate tax.
“The quality of education is maintained,” he said. Directing a comment to the board, Ferrara said, “Thank you for your vote.”
With an annual millage rate of 177.3 mills, a Morrisville Borough resident with an average property assessed at $20,820 will pay $3,691.
There was a reported budget shortfall this year of $718,869. The fund balance filled that gap.
The administrators held the line on taxes through the process of attrition. An Early Retirement Incentive Plan helped control salary expenses that were impacted by the projected increase in the state Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).
Since the 2008-2009 school year, 22 teachers have opted for early retirement, while nine were replaced by new teachers with a lower salary rate.
This year, the district eliminated four administrative positions – one administrative assistant and three administration employees.
Earlier, the district had eliminated the position of assistant principal and dean of students.
In other news, controversy has been stirring about the fact that third-graders will not attend Grandview Elementary School in the fall. Rather, the third-graders will go to the intermediate/senior high school.
Board member Damon Miller tried to quell any opposition to the move.
“Moving third-graders to the high school is a temporary solution,” Miller said. He said there are no plans to build onto Grandview Elementary School and cautioned people not to listen to what they may have “heard on the street.”
The board decided to seek bids for doors that have to be installed at the intermediate/high school.
“The doors we are putting up are finally allowing the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders to be separated” from the sixth graders,” Miller said. Miller said the modular units at Grandview are not allowed to remain as permanent structures.
Originally published Thursday, June 28.
Earlier, the district had eliminated the position of assistant principal and dean of students.
In other news, controversy has been stirring about the fact that third-graders will not attend Grandview Elementary School in the fall. Rather, the third-graders will go to the intermediate/senior high school.
Board member Damon Miller tried to quell any opposition to the move.
“Moving third-graders to the high school is a temporary solution,” Miller said. He said there are no plans to build onto Grandview Elementary School and cautioned people not to listen to what they may have “heard on the street.”
The board decided to seek bids for doors that have to be installed at the intermediate/high school.
“The doors we are putting up are finally allowing the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders to be separated” from the sixth graders,” Miller said. Miller said the modular units at Grandview are not allowed to remain as permanent structures.
Originally published Thursday, June 28.
12 comments:
If moving the 3rd graders to the intermediate/high school is temporary, then were are they off to next? And when? And if temporary then why are so many things being done to the structure and organization of the building?
The prior board put the district in a bad position and didn't do the grade partitioning they promised. What's being done now is playing catch up. A long term solution needs to be developed and implemented with community input. The modulars were not a permanent solution. Please participate and provide your ideas. Unless you want Worob and Stout to provide them for us. Then the top ideas are PreK-12 all in 1 building. Or preK-8 in 1 building, 9-12 farmed out.
K-12 school- I’m not happy about all the students in one building however, this is something that should be explored in the name of survival. You know about the high school taxes in Morrisville and almost five million dollars was just spent for nothing. Yes, a K-12 school may be the only affordable option that we have.
Finally, I did send to you via US mail, a 200 page overview potraying corruption that is hurting public education. Sorry you never received it. I’ll be glad to give you another copy if you’ll give a response to it. I also gave a copy of the document to your co-columist but he never responded. Finally-finally Kate, why didn’t you mention for me to elaborate about when the CT published malicious lies for no other reason than to set me up in a lawsuit. I know I was stepping on some big toes but my wife didn’t deserve that. I’ll never forget when reporter DC explained to me that “Mr. Worob, the quote wasn’t my idea and my editor was the one who put the quotation marks around the word “CRIMINAL.” I believe she was referring to your chief editor. By the way, let her know that when she told me on the telephone that a certain attorney “never performed legal work for the CT,” she was speaking the untruth. Ask Pat W. or attorney Herschinson for the truth about that one. Please let PW know that she made my book.
Comment by:
Steve - 4.28.2008 at 10:52 pm
August 22, 2007 Bucks County Courier Times.
“It spells disaster,” Councilman Stephen Worob said of having young schoolchildren walking and teenage students driving to the same school.
From a Bill Hellmann e-mail written to the rest of the board fewer than 24 hours after the (M.R. Reiter) boiler blew on Dec 13, 2008...
“If we close both elementary schools and put everybody in the high school, we will save a FORTUNE in operating costs. EVERY YEAR. The pro new-schoolers wanted a K-12 school. Well here it is.
I am beginning to see the possibility that perhaps we were not as well served by these people as they would have us believe.
I see that Steve-o is wearing his corruption and coverup tinfoil hat again. Considering he's the one of the main reasons we spent FIVE #&$@& MILLION DOLLARS FOR NOTHING I guess we can let him have a mini-looney moment.
Yes. He is, after all, the King of Morrisville.
You think maybe , just maybe, this will help counteract the professional habitual liars who portray Morrisvlle Matters as tax happy free spenders?
When has overwhelming contrary evidence ever had an impact on their mentality, except for fake election pandering?? Please, I beg of you, give me an example.
I believe that that five mil that was wasted is equal to 41.67 Gouldchecks. Can someone check my math?
It's accurate. I stand by it. So does Steve.
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