A clean slate for your posting convenience. What's on your minds?
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Norco official: Delaware Valley High School not coming back
By Frank Otto fotto@pottsmerc.com 08/10/12
NORTH COVENTRY — Delaware Valley High School will not return to its township campus this coming school year, if ever, according to information one township official received.
In an email to The Mercury, Township Manager Kevin F. Hennessey said the embattled school was not coming back. “I was told by email that they would not be back, probably using a Reading school site this coming year,” he said. Delaware Valley High School accepted Reading School District students with behavioral problems for alternative schooling at a township site.
Repeated attempts to contact the Reading School District regarding what plans they have for their alternative education students for the 2012-13 school year were not returned. Hennessey said Mattie Thompson, the chief academic officer of the for-profit Delaware Valley High School, emailed him. Thompson was one of those specifically named in an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer as one of the Delaware Valley High School employees getting furloughed, along with most, if not all, of the other teachers and staff. Presumably, Thompson’s email regarding Delaware Valley High School’s plans before the round of furloughs. As such, plans might have been made to move out of the building at 962 E. Schuylkill Road leased from Coventry Christian School before the furloughs. A phone message left for David Shulick, the Bala Cynwyd-based lawyer and president of Delaware Valley High School, was not returned Friday. In February, Shulick’s offices were raided by the FBI. Agents were searching Chaka Fattah Jr.’s office in Shulick’s firm, the Associated Press said at the time. Coventry Christian Headmaster Paul Fisher told The Mercury at the end of July, it had heard nothing from Delaware Valley High School regarding the school. He said they were in the first year of a five-year use agreement. It is unclear whether Coventry Christian has received payment for the building use or if money is owed to them. The Inquirer indicated that teachers were expecting back-pay but receiving nothing. Fisher and other Coventry School officials were out of town and unavailable for comment this week. Much of the building gives the appearance of being abandoned. The school building, still with a former Krapf’s school bus in its parking lot, was almost completely empty Friday. Classrooms appeared to be completely bare, devoid of furniture, carpets, or even boxes. The offices toward the front of the building also appeared to be cleaned out. Out front, on a flag pole facing Schuylkill Road, an American flag above a Delaware Valley High School flag hung lazily at full mast. Lockboxes resembling office mailboxes built into red wooden frames stood at two points on either end of the building, but the wooden backs appeared to have been ripped off. The backs laid on the ground behind the lockboxes. A sign at the building’s front declaring the door locked listed a phone number for Jerome Manley, credited as the school’s lead instructor and a social studies teacher. Although he could be reached, he said he was “not at liberty” to comment on the situation or whether he was even still employed by the school. The school has carried a certain stigma about it after several visits from the North Coventry Police for incidents that included a student bringing in a knife and a teacher who was assaulted by a student.
“We’re kind of nervous about,” the school with students with behavioral problems, Alex Van Ruler, a resident who lives a block away from Delaware Valley High School with his family, said. “We’ve heard from other parents about it.” However, Van Ruler said he’d never personally had any problem with the school. “If they would come back, I don’t think we’d even really notice, at the same time,” he said. North Coventry Police Chief Robert Schurr said he was told by Hennessey that the school would not be coming back. “Obviously, there’s a need for alternative education and I support the mission of the school and I support the staff and students,” he said. “But it was becoming a drain on (police) resources. In my opinion, there could have been more done by the school (to improve the situation).” Van Ruler’s main concern now is the loss of income to his children’s school, Coventry Christian, with Delaware Valley High School dropping out of the lease. On top of that, he’s uneasy about the school being empty. “At least the building was occupied,” Van Ruler said. Schurr said he doesn’t foresee the building being left empty as a problem. “It laid empty for months,” after Coventry Christian vacated it, he said. “And it was never a problem.” If Coventry Christian made regular checks on the building and kept it secured, Schurr has no concerns over the building being empty, he said. “If they do, then they should certainly have no problems,” he said. Mary Ann Schwartz, whose family lives across the street from Delaware Valley High School, said she wasn’t extremely familiar with the school, other than that people have told her it’s “where they send the bad kids.” “My parents are a little worried about it, but it doesn’t bother us,” she said.
What should go on Bucks' list of biggest eyesores?
By James McGinnis Staff writer | 11 comments Posted on August 14, 2012 by James McGinnis You might think of them as the seven undeveloped sins. Every town has at least one — an eyesore or an underutilized or vacant property. But which seven should be listed among Lower Bucks County’s best of blight for 2012? That’s the question being asked by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority. A meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday with representatives from Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Falls, Morrisville, Penndel and Tullytown. “We want to review the properties that are in each community, and I want a list to come from each of the municipal leaders,” said Bob White, executive director of the authority. “Hopefully, what we’re going to do is identify at least one project in each town and then get that one project done in each of those communities.” The redevelopment authority could then put a spotlight on each residential, industrial or commercial property, luring developers with the promise of tax breaks, low-interest loans and other incentives. The committee could also help to improve communications between the redevelopment authority and local towns, White added, noting a recent disconnect with officials in Tullytown. A $40 million project to reconstruct Route 13 was almost quashed when officials in the borough balked at the designs. The council eventually reneged on its objections to the project. Work could begin this autumn, according to PennDOT. “We heard from Tullytown that they didn’t know about some things that were going on. We figured this will snug that up,” said White. Still, it’s unclear whether officials in Tullytown are getting that message. The borough has not selected a representative to attend Tuesday’s meeting, said borough Councilman Ed Armstrong. There’s also been no discussion on selecting a borough property for the redevelopment authority to focus on, Armstrong added. “I don’t know of anything hot in Tullytown right now,” he said. “We’re pretty much built out at this time.” By contrast, Penndel has a “whole lot of properties and areas that could use some improvement,” said council President Sean Weckerly. “I think the whole Route 1 corridor could use some sprucing up. It would really make the town look a whole lot better.” Many potential sites for development in Lower Bucks remain in an enterprise zone designated by the state and managed by the redevelopment authority. Established in 1997, the enterprise zone offers priority consideration on grants, low-interest loans and tax breaks geared toward business investment and job creation. A brownfields inventory of the enterprise zone was conducted in 2009 and lists more than 3 dozen sites, including Maple Beach and the former 3M industrial park in Bristol Township. Other sites targeted in 2009 include the former industrial areas along the waterfront in Bensalem, a former municipal landfill in Morrisville, and an old school house building on Hulmeville Avenue in Penndel.
The junkyard (or whatever it is) where stay on crack usually rents the billboard during election seasons is a hellhole. That may be in Falls, but its a crummy gateway to M'ville either way.
How about the Stockham Building on Bridge and Pennsylvania. Don't know if the building qualifies for the program. Who owns is now anyway? It is a beautiful building that Morrisville should be able to be proud of yet it is in terrible shape. There are so many things that building could be used for if only it were usable.
I thought the Stockham Building was recently sold by auction, but when I looked it up, I found this Yardely News article. Now I'm wondering if the Aug. 10 auction happened. Does anyone know?
Sheriff sale postponed for historic Stockham building in downtown Morrisville
Published: Thursday, July 05, 2012
By Petra Chesner Schlatter pschlatter@buckslocalnews.com
MORRISVILLE BOROUGH -- The sheriff sale of the 100-year-old Stockham building that was scheduled for June 6 has been postponed to Aug. 10, according to borough solicitor James Downey III.
“That’s done by the bank,” Downey said of 3rd Federal Bank. The bank, which has the right to sell to the highest bidder, holds the mortgage on the $1.7-million building.
The Stockham building, built in 1911, is located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street in the commercial corridor. Previously, a record store, barbershop and chiropractor leased space in the 100-year-old building.
“If someone is going to bid on it that is yet to be seen,” Downey said. “They keep postponing it.”
Borough officials want something done with the vacant and deteriorating building. “There’s not much they can do at the moment,” he said.
Downey said that Bob Seward, the code enforcement officer, has given the property owner citations for violation of the borough code. Seward told council in May that 3rd Federal is pressing the borough to take over control of the building, which is in need of a facelift.
Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock told BucksLocalNews.com in a May interview that a number of plaster walls need to be patched up. Also, the elevator is inoperable and in need of extensive repair.
She describes the building as an attractive structure that is unique. The Cacace building, which was built on Bridge Street as a redevelopment project, was built in the likeness of the Stockham building.
“It’s a little frustrating,” he said. “We just keep plugging along. We’ll see what happens.”
About four years ago, an application for a zoning use change was submitted by the property owner to allow adult entertainment. The zoning hearing board denied the company’s request to allow a burlesque house in the building.
The board also denied the proposal for a big wall-scape on the side of the building.
Stockham Interests, LLC filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming their First Amendment rights had been violated.
In June, 2010, the council unanimously approved a settlement with Stockham Interests, LLC.
Eventually, the borough agreed to establish a zone elsewhere in the borough that allowed adult entertainment.
After the settlement, Stockham Interests submitted sketch plans for retail and apartment use in the building. But that never came to fruition.
Downey said Stockham Interests, LLC filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey, but they are no longer in bankruptcy protection.
Maybe we should all take a deep breath, stop playing armchair quarterback, stop tinkering and speculating, and take stock in where we are and where we're going as a district. What we need to succeed educationally. What's working, what isn't. Look at what assets we have and their condition. Which ones need to be kept and which don't, etc etc etc. It's happening now whether we know it or not, with you or without you. Get involved if you feel strongly and think you have something to contribute. I don't agree with everything, but I think the MM members are overall a breath of fresh air. I don't want to return to Hellman, Mihok, Radosti on the board. In fact, I'd like to see Stout and Worob replaced.We as a community can do better than that.
"The junkyard (or whatever it is) where stay on crack usually rents the billboard during election seasons is a hellhole. That may be in Falls, but its a crummy gateway to M'ville either way."
Can L. Bucks transform seven blemishes into seven beauty marks?
James McGinnis Staff writer August 15, 2012
“I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
It was true for Marilyn Monroe.
But can Lower Bucks County afford to be so bold, embracing her biggest blemishes and transforming them into beauty marks?
On Tuesday, officials from seven towns agreed to identify and focus on their most blighted and underdeveloped areas as a means of making over the community.
Representatives from Bensalem, Bristol, Bristol Township, Falls, Morrisville, Penndel and Tullytown gathered for a meeting of the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority.
“You might have a list of 25 properties in need of work,” said Bob White, executive director of the authority. “We want to know the first property you’d like us to attack.”
The Redevelopment Authority said it wants a list of seven properties — one for each town. And the selection process won't be pretty, said Garney Morris, a former electrical contractor and deli owner from Middletown.
“Some of our friends will not be happy with the selection we pick,” said Morris. “But we’re going to pick one in every community."
As chairman of Bucks County’s Enterprise Zone Committee, Morris was selected to lead the selection process for the seven highest priority sites.
“When you meet with your local counterparts to select a property, we need you to get as much information as you can about that property,” he added.
Bristol Township has more than three dozen properties to choose from, said Councilwoman Amber Longhitano.
“We have an internal list and it's long,” she said. In addition to vacant commercial and industrial sites along major corridors, Bristol Township has compiled a list of more than 200 vacant homes that are monitored.
Longhitano said she and other council members would personally inspect some of those properties. “We’re going to get in the car and drive around to some of these spots,” she said. “Only then can we really make a decision.”
A second meeting of the selection committee is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. in Bristol Borough Hall at 250 Pond St. Board meetings will be open to the public and will likely be held in various locations throughout Lower Bucks, Morris said.
No town was ready to pick their top priority property on Tuesday. The Stockham Building might top the list for Morrisville, said Jane Burger, a former member of borough council.
The four-story Stockham building remains empty on Bridge Street, said Burger. In 2008, the borough’s zoning board shot down the latest development request from a builder who wanted to open a strip club on the main gateway into town.
Bensalem said it will likely make its choice by next month.
“When we go to our next meeting in September, I’m sure we’ll have something to present,” said George Flocco, who also directs the Bensalem Economic Development Corp.
“Of course, we’ll select one property, but make no mistake that Bensalem is not going to focus on just that one property," said Flocco. "We’re not going to sit back and say ‘Let’s stop there.’”
Properties targeted by the selection committee could get added attention when it comes to tax breaks, low-interest loans and other incentives aimed at luring developers.
But those commercial and industrial developers have plenty of other places they could go.
Roughly 9.4 percent of suburban Philadelphia industrial space remains vacant, according to latest research and forecast reports issued by Colliers International.
Bucks County is doing slightly better with an 8 percent vacancy rate among its industrial centers, Colliers reported. The vacancy rate in Montgomery County was 10.9 percent.
Colliers also reported on retail and office park vacancies in the region. The vacancy rates for retail stores in suburban Philadelphia climbed to 8 percent from 7.5 percent during the last year, the group said.
Vacancy rates for suburban office buildings fell slightly from 15.9 percent to 15.3 percent during the first few months of 2012, according to Colliers.
A friend sent me this Martin Luther King quote and it sums up SOC thinking.
Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.
It's a pretty scary thing that Jane Burger is still speaking for Morrisville Borough. Its sad that she is still able to bring her old worn out way of doing things to any table and make it seem as if its what's best for Morrisville. This is very distressing news. We all should be worried about this. She is speaking for us all.
Let us not forget that it was Bob White, (redevelopment authority) & Jane Burger who thought it was a good plan to bring the six floor apartment type condos to the Cloverleaf property not that long ago. The thought of Jane Burger whispering in Bob White's ear about Morrisville is not in any of our best interests. Some things just never change. grrr.
Wasn't it Bob White & Rita Ledger who hatched up a plan to bring 15 or so HUDD housing units to the Stockham bldg after they were rejected in Bristol? This was right after Rita Ledger's plan to bring the strip club to the Stockham bldg got knocked down and cost us all law suit money. Oh brother, it sounds like another scheme is in the making here. Morrisville really does deserve better represented than the never ending Jane Burger & her puppets.
Here's a link to the July 2012 Newsletter from the Redevelopment Authority, http://www.bcrda.com/pdf/EZ_Newsletter.pdf It lists Jane Burger as secretary. I had seen one of these newsletters several years ago & saw then that Burger was the secretary, so I looked up the website. She's still at it.
We do need something to happen with the Stockham building, but is that really the biggest eye soar in Morrisville? It's a shame it's empty, but I don't think it's the most ugly thing in town or the most unsafe.
I caution getting the rda involved with any property in the borough. This organization doesn't have a very good track record in Morrisville. What they do is valid, its just that I don't think the same time is given to "vision" in Morrisville Borough as it is in other areas that they deal with. It seems like they think "anything" is better when it comes to our town. I don't think that kind of thinking served us well in our past and I don't think it should be what happens for our future. I don't think "anything" is good enough.
This is something that everyone in Morrisville Borough should pay attention to and follow. I remember the 6 story apts proposal and the strip club proposal. After the rda got their foot in the door on these projects the borough had to fight against them at all of our expense. The agenda of Jane Burger and the rda may not be the what's good for Morrisville Borough so I am asking everyone to please pay attention to this as it all moves forward.
Oh, well then there you go. When half the board has little party celebrating the appointment "win" we can all rest easier at night knowing all is well.
"Oh, well then there you go. When half the board has little party celebrating the appointment "win" we can all rest easier at night knowing all is well."
What the hell does that mean? Who was celebrating what?
I'm not sure what all that is but any update on the teacher's contract or not contract or whatever the status may be at this time? School only a few weeks away? I ask bc I saw a bunch of teachers (I think) at Grandview today and I think one of the coaches that is coaching in summer camp at HS is a teacher.
I'm not on the board and have no knowledge of a 'party'. I can only tell you how I feel, and that's good, good to know that Al Radosti didn't get his crony pass back to the board validated. I don't know where it's all going but I support more smart thoughtful people on the Board.
That would be Donald Harm, to start the year. Then a job search will take place. According to Bill Ferrara last night, most of the principal spots are already filled at that time of the year(e.g. like Laurie Ruffing filling an opening at Pennsbury). So candidate availability is low right now, but should improve in the coming months.
I should amend that to say "Then a job search should (or is likely to) take place". I suppose the board could decide to not post the position and just hire without a search process. But it didn't seem to be headed that way.
Ukrainian commission wants to ban ‘gay’ SpongeBob and Teletubbie ‘losers’
By Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo! News | The Sideshow – 5 hrs ago
A Ukrainian commission wants SpongeBob Squarepants and other shows banned (Wikicommons)First they came for the Simpsons and now they want SpongeBob Squarepants. The Ukraine is considering a move to censor several children's shows after a new study from a conservative commission labeled the shows "a real threat" to the country's youth.
The Ukraine's National Expert Commission for Protecting Public Morality released the report, which attacks several U.S. and international programs as detrimental to the country.
Psychologist Irina Medvédeva is quoted in the study, alleging that children aged 3 to 5 years old, "pull faces and make jokes in front of adults they don't know, laugh out loud and repeat nonsense phrases in a brazen manner," after viewing the shows.
The Ukrainian paper Ukraínskaya Pravda reported on Thursday that some of the shows under fire include "Family Guy," "Futurama," "Pokemon," "The Simpsons" and "Teletubbies," which the report says are, "projects aimed at the destruction of the family, and the promotion of drugs and other vices."
The Wall Street Journal reported that the study results first appeared on "fringe Catholic website Family Under the Protection of the Holy Virgin."
While the accusations sound a bit silly, a 2011 study by a University of Virginia professor claimed that watching just nine minutes of SpongeBob could adversely affect the attention span and learning abilities of 4-year-olds.
The Ukrainian commission had previously attempted to ban other shows, including "The Simpsons."
Some of the accusations leveled against the programming in the study: •SpongeBob Squarepants: "gay" •Teletubbies: "Deliberately aims to create subnormal (men), who spend all day in front of the television with their mouths open swallowing all types of information," and promotes the "psychology of losers." •Shrek: "containing sadism" •South Park: "reincarnation propaganda" •Japanese Anime: "A clear example of sexist propaganda"
The study concluded that the programming represents "a large-scale experiment on Ukrainian children" to "create criminals and perverts."
The School District of Borough of Morrisville is seeking a qualified candidate to fill an administrative intern position. This position will begin in August of 2012 and end at the discretion of the administration.
Job Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have a current Pennsylvania Principal Certification.
The successful candidate will be required to leave the bargaining unit for the duration of the assignment. He/she will be listed as a teacher on special assignment; therefore, enabling the person to retain his/her seniority while serving in this position.
Persons interested in this position should send a letter of interest and a copy of their certification to Mr. William Ferrara, Superintendent, Morrisville Borough School District, 550 W. Palmer St., Morrisville, PA 19067 no later than August 15, 2012.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
They already interviewed candidates earlier in the week, this is for elementary principal position.
Sorry, I didn't read the last post closely enough.
So this memo is the posting for the Elementary Principal position?
Well, then I'm more confused. At the 8/15 agenda meeting, Mr. Ferrara indicated that the Admin. Intern posting was for the start of the school year, and then the Board at its leisure could post/hire an Elementary Principal during the school year. Then after the Elementary Principal is hired, the Admin. Intern position would end. Meanwhile, Mr. Harm fills in as acting/temporary Elementary Principal.
Am I misinterpreting something?
The video is up now. Discussion on this starts around 8:55.
Grades 3 through 12 and Pre-K in the same building is an educationally unsound idea. Enrollment figures at the Elementary level are up. Elementary Music (and maybe Elementary Art) is on a cart at the High School. The High School Library must certainly be overused. Partitions are installed to separate younger and older students at the High School and yet I have seen Fourth and Fifth Grade students enter the Main entrance (A-Hall) in the morning.
Head Start moved out of the Manor Park school only last year. They made $167,000 in improvements to the building. Since Head Start is a federal agency it is hard to imagine that this building does not meet local building codes and federal standards as a school faciility.
My question to the Morrisville School District community is:
Why isn't this School Board and Administration publicly discussing at meetings how to redistrict and move students to a building that we already own.
Let's move past the he said/she said discussions about the Former School Board and do good things for the sake of this community.
Not to put you on the spot, but... have you publicly asked about this at a public school board meeting or a superintendent's meeting? Have you attended any of the public facilities commmittee meetings? Did you send in a letter of interest to be on the committee?
I agree with you that these things need to be looked into more. I don't necessarily agree that Manor Park School is the answer, but I'm basing that on very little because of the lack of hard factual info. Hence, the need to look into these things more, with community input. Teacher, Administration, and maybe even outside expert help too. I don't have all the answers, and armchair quarterbacking doesn't get you very far. Neither does rigid ideology.
Please come out and make your voice heard. There's strength in numbers, as the expression goes. With new board members, there's a much better chance you'll at least get some board members to listen.
By corralling as many students as possible in the same building, the district saves money. The cost per student decreases. Hellman and Super and Business Manager have stressed this from the beginning. It's a huge problem. We spend too much on our children's future. This is just a continuation. Less in building operating costs, less in staff/aids/secretary/janitor etc. Not to mention the rather large elephant in the district that is the lie of student enrollment decreasing. It's increasing. And by jamming more students into 1 building, increasing class sizes, cutting programs, and eliminating teachers, you just asked less people to do more with more kids and less resources and less space. But the overhead is down and therefore our taxes remain the same. Period.
I can't say I disagree with you. It's an uphill battle that needs to be fought. Stay in the game. Don't throw in the towel. A couple good tugboats can turn a battleship.
Kidding on the blank check for Don Harm, It seems he fills all the open positions. He may have to fill in for MESPA or the MEA if they don't get new contracts. And nurse, business office employee and van driver or crossing guard if any of them leave. It seems like he can do everything except remember his job title at Board Meetings.
Chester Upland district gets recovery leader August 17, 2012|By Dan Hardy, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Joe Watkins, head of a political action committee that supports school choice initiatives, former managing director in an asset management firm, and a Philadelphia minister, has been appointed by state Education Secretary Ron Tomalis to guide the financial recovery of the struggling Chester Upland School District. "Joe is a qualified individual who has the ability to assist the Chester Upland School District with long-term financial stability, as well as ensuring the district's students continue to have access to quality academic programs," Tomalis said in a statement Friday. Chester Upland, which ran out of money and almost closed earlier this year, was declared a distressed district on Tuesday. Watkins, 58, as chief recovery officer for the 3,400-student system, will have broad powers under recently passed legislation to craft a recovery plan that could convert schools to charters or hand them over to education management organizations, call for renegotiating the teachers' contract, close schools, and cancel contracts with vendors. Asked to comment on Watkins' appointment, acting Superintendent Thomas Persing said, "I just hope he will be fair, that he will not come here with a bias toward Chester Upland. If he is fair, there will not be a problem." School board member Charlie Warren reacted with dismay. "This is quite shocking to me," he said. "I was hoping it was someone who would be open-minded and objective. Now, I'm not sure. It may be that this is someone who has come to do a job on us rather than working with us." He added, "I will wait to say more until I meet with him to hear what he has to say." The school board will have input, but little or no power to revise the plan Watkins comes up with. Within the next two weeks, it must vote on whether it will cooperate with him in implementing his recommendations. If the board says it will not, Tomalis is required by state law to go to court to ask for the appointment of a receiver, who would have all of the powers of the elected board. If the board accepts Watkins' appointment but rejects his recovery plan, Tomalis would also have to go to court and seek the appointment of a receiver to implement the plan. Watkins, chairman of Students First, a political action committee affiliated with the conservative American Federation for Children, is a longtime vocal supporter of vouchers and charters. In recent years, his PAC has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to pro-voucher state legislators. In a statement on the group's website, Watkins said that "for too many students, the educational system is broken with no hope for repair. We need to try new ideas and new solutions before another generation is lost to failing schools." Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), a member of the Senate Education Committee, said Friday that Watkins' pro-voucher stand made him a poor choice. "I am concerned that in his testimony before the Education Committee and in his activities on behalf of vouchers, that he has shown a lack of enthusiasm for public schools," Leach said. "To put him in charge of revamping public schools raises the disturbing possibility in my mind that he will turn the whole thing over to a for-profit charter school rather than ensure a traditional public school is there to serve the community." A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and of the Princeton Theological Seminary, Watkins worked for Republican Sen. Dan Quayle in Indiana and later served as associate director of public liaison under President George H.W. Bush. He later founded a financial management company and is now pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. Asked to comment on Watkins' qualifications for the job, Education Department spokesman Tim Eller said in an e-mail: "We'll let the release stand as is."
For all those people rooting for C Upland type scenario in this district, you're nuts. The only thing "failing" in this district is leadership. The students are awesome. The teachers are tremendous. The support staff are great. Against all self created odds, lack of buildings, resources, funds, etc...look how many students go on to higher education. Look at the graduation rate? Look how many teachers are "Master Teachers". Look how many teams, clubs, service, volunteer, and academic awards are earned. This negativity needs to end, it's as outdated as the community members who hate the school.
I agree. Imagine the possibilities if the schools were given the "advantage" of actual funding programs. The people in those classrooms (children and adults) succeed despite this district's efforts not because of them. And that is truly disheartening.
Double agree. And - be careful what you wish for. If we sink as low as Chester Upland, which is a loooooooong way down, the state could stick us with and a deep PAC money pocketed political ideologue with dictatorial powers, no voice, and no recourse.
Here's an idea. Just throwing this out there. Hellman is gone. So let's take things back a step. Demote Ferrara back to where he was supposed to be (and actually was effective), rid ourselves of the mooch named Harm, replace Ruffing with somebody who is actually capable. Then hire an actual qualified Superintendent of schools (oh, we had one in Yonson).
Qualified Superintendent Principal Ferrara 6-12 Principal ? K-5
No more waste of taxpayer dollars on double but not double but want to double dip Ferrara.
No more waste of earth on Harm never at work but makes more than teachers/aides/janitors/support etc...
I'm new to this forum of opinions. I'm a staunch supporter of education. Just to lay my cards all on the table. From what I gather in reading back, and boy did I read back, I may be over stepping but aren't we all here because we care about education? Lot's of he said she said. I look forward to joining the conversation, but I can say that I may fall short of the majority in this room b/c I'd rather my taxes go up then my children's future go down.
If you've got better ideas and better things to say, by all means, post away. And come to the public meetings and say them. Start working on getting the School Board and Administration to pay attention to your ideas and viewpoints.
Word from yesterday's opening day of band camp: Dr. Scott will be teaching 8th grade Social Studies this year. I'm not sure what effect this will have on his music-teaching responsibilities, but it is a sign of a continuing troubling trend, IMO.
"Word from yesterday's opening day of band camp: Dr. Scott will be teaching 8th grade Social Studies this year. I'm not sure what effect this will have on his music-teaching responsibilities, but it is a sign of a continuing troubling trend, IMO."
Dr. Scott teaching 8th grade SS really concerns me. This man is an expert in his field with the education to back it up. I have always considered it a blessing that he has dedicated himself to the community of Morrisville Borough. He surely can make a more profitable living somewhere else. I don't think having him teach ss is at all showing him that he is valued or respected. I hope he doesn't see this as the "push" he needed to look elsewhere. He has been / is just what the kids need and I am very concerned about losing him. Please look at the big picture.
Dr. Scott is only 1 of teachers that are "experts" in their fields that are being moved to other subjects or grade levels. Lot's of moving. No contract. A bunch of positions cut and not filled. And according to the BCCT the lowest paid teachers in the area. Wouldn't be shocked to see more of them leave to greener pastures.
if you have a concern about supposed cuts did you go to the last meeting and ask about them? I was there and nobody from the audience went up to the podium. i sat there too only because I didnt have a question that wasnt already answered from me asking it at the podium last month or the month before that. I have watched that board toss around all kinds of options and challenge the guys up there to make sure things were not being done behind backs or surprises taking place. back away from the computer and go to the school and ask the experts directly what you have a concern about or call them, they have phones too . i go to these meetings just about every month and cannot believe the amount of comments i see on here questionning things and yet you dont go to a live meeting and ask a live person a real question. when i have a concern i ask and i receive answers. the podium is not that scarey and there are actually some pretty nice and reasonable people staring back at you now. complain all you want but writing on here doesnt help anything or get you an answer
81 comments:
Norco official: Delaware Valley High School not coming back
By Frank Otto
fotto@pottsmerc.com
08/10/12
NORTH COVENTRY — Delaware Valley High School will not return to its township campus this coming school year, if ever, according to information one township official received.
In an email to The Mercury, Township Manager Kevin F. Hennessey said the embattled school was not coming back.
“I was told by email that they would not be back, probably using a Reading school site this coming year,” he said.
Delaware Valley High School accepted Reading School District students with behavioral problems for alternative schooling at a township site.
Repeated attempts to contact the Reading School District regarding what plans they have for their alternative education students for the 2012-13 school year were not returned.
Hennessey said Mattie Thompson, the chief academic officer of the for-profit Delaware Valley High School, emailed him. Thompson was one of those specifically named in an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer as one of the Delaware Valley High School employees getting furloughed, along with most, if not all, of the other teachers and staff.
Presumably, Thompson’s email regarding Delaware Valley High School’s plans before the round of furloughs. As such, plans might have been made to move out of the building at 962 E. Schuylkill Road leased from Coventry Christian School before the furloughs.
A phone message left for David Shulick, the Bala Cynwyd-based lawyer and president of Delaware Valley High School, was not returned Friday.
In February, Shulick’s offices were raided by the FBI. Agents were searching Chaka Fattah Jr.’s office in Shulick’s firm, the Associated Press said at the time.
Coventry Christian Headmaster Paul Fisher told The Mercury at the end of July, it had heard nothing from Delaware Valley High School regarding the school. He said they were in the first year of a five-year use agreement.
It is unclear whether Coventry Christian has received payment for the building use or if money is owed to them. The Inquirer indicated that teachers were expecting back-pay but receiving nothing.
Fisher and other Coventry School officials were out of town and unavailable for comment this week.
Much of the building gives the appearance of being abandoned.
The school building, still with a former Krapf’s school bus in its parking lot, was almost completely empty Friday. Classrooms appeared to be completely bare, devoid of furniture, carpets, or even boxes. The offices toward the front of the building also appeared to be cleaned out.
Out front, on a flag pole facing Schuylkill Road, an American flag above a Delaware Valley High School flag hung lazily at full mast.
Lockboxes resembling office mailboxes built into red wooden frames stood at two points on either end of the building, but the wooden backs appeared to have been ripped off. The backs laid on the ground behind the lockboxes.
A sign at the building’s front declaring the door locked listed a phone number for Jerome Manley, credited as the school’s lead instructor and a social studies teacher.
Although he could be reached, he said he was “not at liberty” to comment on the situation or whether he was even still employed by the school.
The school has carried a certain stigma about it after several visits from the North Coventry Police for incidents that included a student bringing in a knife and a teacher who was assaulted by a student.
“We’re kind of nervous about,” the school with students with behavioral problems, Alex Van Ruler, a resident who lives a block away from Delaware Valley High School with his family, said. “We’ve heard from other parents about it.”
However, Van Ruler said he’d never personally had any problem with the school.
“If they would come back, I don’t think we’d even really notice, at the same time,” he said.
North Coventry Police Chief Robert Schurr said he was told by Hennessey that the school would not be coming back.
“Obviously, there’s a need for alternative education and I support the mission of the school and I support the staff and students,” he said. “But it was becoming a drain on (police) resources. In my opinion, there could have been more done by the school (to improve the situation).”
Van Ruler’s main concern now is the loss of income to his children’s school, Coventry Christian, with Delaware Valley High School dropping out of the lease.
On top of that, he’s uneasy about the school being empty.
“At least the building was occupied,” Van Ruler said.
Schurr said he doesn’t foresee the building being left empty as a problem.
“It laid empty for months,” after Coventry Christian vacated it, he said. “And it was never a problem.”
If Coventry Christian made regular checks on the building and kept it secured, Schurr has no concerns over the building being empty, he said.
“If they do, then they should certainly have no problems,” he said.
Mary Ann Schwartz, whose family lives across the street from Delaware Valley High School, said she wasn’t extremely familiar with the school, other than that people have told her it’s “where they send the bad kids.”
“My parents are a little worried about it, but it doesn’t bother us,” she said.
Shocking! Not.
Please please make good alternative arrangements for our affected students.
That's funny. It's not about the kids...unless their name happens to be Benjamin's.
Every generation is the me generation.
Magnified when your admin/board looks out for only their own personal gain before that of the students who have no say in the matter.
In today's BCCT.
What should go on Bucks' list of biggest eyesores?
By James McGinnis Staff writer | 11 comments
Posted on August 14, 2012
by James McGinnis
You might think of them as the seven undeveloped sins.
Every town has at least one — an eyesore or an underutilized or vacant property.
But which seven should be listed among Lower Bucks County’s best of blight for 2012?
That’s the question being asked by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority.
A meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday with representatives from Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Falls, Morrisville, Penndel and Tullytown.
“We want to review the properties that are in each community, and I want a list to come from each of the municipal leaders,” said Bob White, executive director of the authority. “Hopefully, what we’re going to do is identify at least one project in each town and then get that one project done in each of those communities.”
The redevelopment authority could then put a spotlight on each residential, industrial or commercial property, luring developers with the promise of tax breaks, low-interest loans and other incentives.
The committee could also help to improve communications between the redevelopment authority and local towns, White added, noting a recent disconnect with officials in Tullytown.
A $40 million project to reconstruct Route 13 was almost quashed when officials in the borough balked at the designs. The council eventually reneged on its objections to the project. Work could begin this autumn, according to PennDOT.
“We heard from Tullytown that they didn’t know about some things that were going on. We figured this will snug that up,” said White.
Still, it’s unclear whether officials in Tullytown are getting that message.
The borough has not selected a representative to attend Tuesday’s meeting, said borough Councilman Ed Armstrong. There’s also been no discussion on selecting a borough property for the redevelopment authority to focus on, Armstrong added.
“I don’t know of anything hot in Tullytown right now,” he said. “We’re pretty much built out at this time.”
By contrast, Penndel has a “whole lot of properties and areas that could use some improvement,” said council President Sean Weckerly. “I think the whole Route 1 corridor could use some sprucing up. It would really make the town look a whole lot better.”
Many potential sites for development in Lower Bucks remain in an enterprise zone designated by the state and managed by the redevelopment authority.
Established in 1997, the enterprise zone offers priority consideration on grants, low-interest loans and tax breaks geared toward business investment and job creation.
A brownfields inventory of the enterprise zone was conducted in 2009 and lists more than 3 dozen sites, including Maple Beach and the former 3M industrial park in Bristol Township.
Other sites targeted in 2009 include the former industrial areas along the waterfront in Bensalem, a former municipal landfill in Morrisville, and an old school house building on Hulmeville Avenue in Penndel.
A bunch of high rises would be great at the former municipal landfill in Morrisville, don't you think?
Can you nominate people?
The factory on Bridge Street across from the 7-11 is pretty bad.
That hulking wreck at the corner of Harper and Hillcrest is no picnic.
The junkyard (or whatever it is) where stay on crack usually rents the billboard during election seasons is a hellhole. That may be in Falls, but its a crummy gateway to M'ville either way.
How about the Stockham Building on Bridge and Pennsylvania. Don't know if the building qualifies for the program. Who owns is now anyway?
It is a beautiful building that Morrisville should be able to be proud of yet it is in terrible shape. There are so many things that building could be used for if only it were usable.
I thought the Stockham Building was recently sold by auction, but when I looked it up, I found this Yardely News article. Now I'm wondering if the Aug. 10 auction happened. Does anyone know?
Sheriff sale postponed for historic Stockham building in downtown Morrisville
Published: Thursday, July 05, 2012
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
pschlatter@buckslocalnews.com
MORRISVILLE BOROUGH -- The sheriff sale of the 100-year-old Stockham building that was scheduled for June 6 has been postponed to Aug. 10, according to borough solicitor James Downey III.
“That’s done by the bank,” Downey said of 3rd Federal Bank. The bank, which has the right to sell to the highest bidder, holds the mortgage on the $1.7-million building.
The Stockham building, built in 1911, is located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street in the commercial corridor. Previously, a record store, barbershop and chiropractor leased space in the 100-year-old building.
“If someone is going to bid on it that is yet to be seen,” Downey said. “They keep postponing it.”
Borough officials want something done with the vacant and deteriorating building. “There’s not much they can do at the moment,” he said.
Downey said that Bob Seward, the code enforcement officer, has given the property owner citations for violation of the borough code. Seward told council in May that 3rd Federal is pressing the borough to take over control of the building, which is in need of a facelift.
Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock told BucksLocalNews.com in a May interview that a number of plaster walls need to be patched up. Also, the elevator is inoperable and in need of extensive repair.
She describes the building as an attractive structure that is unique. The Cacace building, which was built on Bridge Street as a redevelopment project, was built in the likeness of the Stockham building.
“It’s a little frustrating,” he said. “We just keep plugging along. We’ll see what happens.”
About four years ago, an application for a zoning use change was submitted by the property owner to allow adult entertainment. The zoning hearing board denied the company’s request to allow a burlesque house in the building.
The board also denied the proposal for a big wall-scape on the side of the building.
Stockham Interests, LLC filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming their First Amendment rights had been violated.
In June, 2010, the council unanimously approved a settlement with Stockham Interests, LLC.
Eventually, the borough agreed to establish a zone elsewhere in the borough that allowed adult entertainment.
After the settlement, Stockham Interests submitted sketch plans for retail and apartment use in the building. But that never came to fruition.
Downey said Stockham Interests, LLC filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey, but they are no longer in bankruptcy protection.
Maybe we should all take a deep breath, stop playing armchair quarterback, stop tinkering and speculating, and take stock in where we are and where we're going as a district. What we need to succeed educationally. What's working, what isn't. Look at what assets we have and their condition. Which ones need to be kept and which don't, etc etc etc. It's happening now whether we know it or not, with you or without you. Get involved if you feel strongly and think you have something to contribute. I don't agree with everything, but I think the MM members are overall a breath of fresh air. I don't want to return to Hellman, Mihok, Radosti on the board. In fact, I'd like to see Stout and Worob replaced.We as a community can do better than that.
"The junkyard (or whatever it is) where stay on crack usually rents the billboard during election seasons is a hellhole. That may be in Falls, but its a crummy gateway to M'ville either way."
That's actually in Falls Twp.
Todd Sandford's house!
M.R. Reiter School
the MMA
District Event
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
BOARD AGENDA MEETING -LGI
Site: DIST
Start Time: 7:30 PM
End Time: 10:00 PM
Can L. Bucks transform seven blemishes into seven beauty marks?
James McGinnis Staff writer
August 15, 2012
“I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
It was true for Marilyn Monroe.
But can Lower Bucks County afford to be so bold, embracing her biggest blemishes and transforming them into beauty marks?
On Tuesday, officials from seven towns agreed to identify and focus on their most blighted and underdeveloped areas as a means of making over the community.
Representatives from Bensalem, Bristol, Bristol Township, Falls, Morrisville, Penndel and Tullytown gathered for a meeting of the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority.
“You might have a list of 25 properties in need of work,” said Bob White, executive director of the authority. “We want to know the first property you’d like us to attack.”
The Redevelopment Authority said it wants a list of seven properties — one for each town. And the selection process won't be pretty, said Garney Morris, a former electrical contractor and deli owner from Middletown.
“Some of our friends will not be happy with the selection we pick,” said Morris. “But we’re going to pick one in every community."
As chairman of Bucks County’s Enterprise Zone Committee, Morris was selected to lead the selection process for the seven highest priority sites.
“When you meet with your local counterparts to select a property, we need you to get as much information as you can about that property,” he added.
Bristol Township has more than three dozen properties to choose from, said Councilwoman Amber Longhitano.
“We have an internal list and it's long,” she said. In addition to vacant commercial and industrial sites along major corridors, Bristol Township has compiled a list of more than 200 vacant homes that are monitored.
Longhitano said she and other council members would personally inspect some of those properties. “We’re going to get in the car and drive around to some of these spots,” she said. “Only then can we really make a decision.”
A second meeting of the selection committee is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. in Bristol Borough Hall at 250 Pond St. Board meetings will be open to the public and will likely be held in various locations throughout Lower Bucks, Morris said.
No town was ready to pick their top priority property on Tuesday. The Stockham Building might top the list for Morrisville, said Jane Burger, a former member of borough council.
The four-story Stockham building remains empty on Bridge Street, said Burger. In 2008, the borough’s zoning board shot down the latest development request from a builder who wanted to open a strip club on the main gateway into town.
Bensalem said it will likely make its choice by next month.
“When we go to our next meeting in September, I’m sure we’ll have something to present,” said George Flocco, who also directs the Bensalem Economic Development Corp.
PART 2.
“Of course, we’ll select one property, but make no mistake that Bensalem is not going to focus on just that one property," said Flocco. "We’re not going to sit back and say ‘Let’s stop there.’”
Properties targeted by the selection committee could get added attention when it comes to tax breaks, low-interest loans and other incentives aimed at luring developers.
But those commercial and industrial developers have plenty of other places they could go.
Roughly 9.4 percent of suburban Philadelphia industrial space remains vacant, according to latest research and forecast reports issued by Colliers International.
Bucks County is doing slightly better with an 8 percent vacancy rate among its industrial centers, Colliers reported. The vacancy rate in Montgomery County was 10.9 percent.
Colliers also reported on retail and office park vacancies in the region. The vacancy rates for retail stores in suburban Philadelphia climbed to 8 percent from 7.5 percent during the last year, the group said.
Vacancy rates for suburban office buildings fell slightly from 15.9 percent to 15.3 percent during the first few months of 2012, according to Colliers.
Is Jane Burger representing M'ville on this in any official capacity?
Like, is she on Bucks County’s Enterprise Zone Committee?
One of the district's two nurses has resigned. What next?
A friend sent me this Martin Luther King quote and it sums up SOC thinking.
Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.
It's a pretty scary thing that Jane Burger is still speaking for Morrisville Borough. Its sad that she is still able to bring her old worn out way of doing things to any table and make it seem as if its what's best for Morrisville. This is very distressing news. We all should be worried about this. She is speaking for us all.
Let us not forget that it was Bob White, (redevelopment authority) & Jane Burger who thought it was a good plan to bring the six floor apartment type condos to the Cloverleaf property not that long ago. The thought of Jane Burger whispering in Bob White's ear about Morrisville is not in any of our best interests. Some things just never change. grrr.
Wasn't it Bob White & Rita Ledger who hatched up a plan to bring 15 or so HUDD housing units to the Stockham bldg after they were rejected in Bristol? This was right after Rita Ledger's plan to bring the strip club to the Stockham bldg got knocked down and cost us all law suit money. Oh brother, it sounds like another scheme is in the making here. Morrisville really does deserve better represented than the never ending Jane Burger & her puppets.
So Burger is just being Citizen Jane on this? No official role?
Here's a link to the July 2012 Newsletter from the Redevelopment Authority,
http://www.bcrda.com/pdf/EZ_Newsletter.pdf
It lists Jane Burger as secretary.
I had seen one of these newsletters several years ago & saw then that Burger was the secretary, so I looked up the website. She's still at it.
With all due respect, and I mean all due respect, how do you get appointed or un-appointed to this gig?
Do the Bucks Co Commissioners do the appointing? How long are the terms?
Inquiring minds want to know. Not me, inquiring minds.
We do need something to happen with the Stockham building, but is that really the biggest eye soar in Morrisville? It's a shame it's empty, but I don't think it's the most ugly thing in town or the most unsafe.
I caution getting the rda involved with any property in the borough. This organization doesn't have a very good track record in Morrisville. What they do is valid, its just that I don't think the same time is given to "vision" in Morrisville Borough as it is in other areas that they deal with. It seems like they think "anything" is better when it comes to our town. I don't think that kind of thinking served us well in our past and I don't think it should be what happens for our future. I don't think "anything" is good enough.
This is something that everyone in Morrisville Borough should pay attention to and follow. I remember the 6 story apts proposal and the strip club proposal. After the rda got their foot in the door on these projects the borough had to fight against them at all of our expense. The agenda of Jane Burger and the rda may not be the what's good for Morrisville Borough so I am asking everyone to please pay attention to this as it all moves forward.
Casino.
Wonder what pieces of super important business will be on the agenda this evening for next week's final board meeting before school starts?
Mihok's credit rating?
Finding a new home for Defunct DelVal H.S. kids?
A casino isn't a bad idea. Think of all the business the nail salons and smoke shops will get?
A new Board V.P. gets picked tonite.
Oh, well then there you go. When half the board has little party celebrating the appointment "win" we can all rest easier at night knowing all is well.
"Oh, well then there you go. When half the board has little party celebrating the appointment "win" we can all rest easier at night knowing all is well."
What the hell does that mean? Who was celebrating what?
I'm not sure what all that is but any update on the teacher's contract or not contract or whatever the status may be at this time? School only a few weeks away? I ask bc I saw a bunch of teachers (I think) at Grandview today and I think one of the coaches that is coaching in summer camp at HS is a teacher.
No, just that Ruffing did indeed quit, as did a school nurse.
So we've got that going for us.
I'm not on the board and have no knowledge of a 'party'. I can only tell you how I feel, and that's good, good to know that Al Radosti didn't get his crony pass back to the board validated. I don't know where it's all going but I support more smart thoughtful people on the Board.
Was a new VP selected last night?
No. It was only put on the agenda for action at next week's Business Meeting (Aug. 22).
Who's the elem principal when the school year starts in a few weeks?
That would be Donald Harm, to start the year. Then a job search will take place. According to Bill Ferrara last night, most of the principal spots are already filled at that time of the year(e.g. like Laurie Ruffing filling an opening at Pennsbury). So candidate availability is low right now, but should improve in the coming months.
I should amend that to say "Then a job search should (or is likely to) take place". I suppose the board could decide to not post the position and just hire without a search process. But it didn't seem to be headed that way.
That's exactly the way it went for Ferrara.
Ukrainian commission wants to ban ‘gay’ SpongeBob and Teletubbie ‘losers’
By Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo! News | The Sideshow – 5 hrs ago
A Ukrainian commission wants SpongeBob Squarepants and other shows banned (Wikicommons)First they came for the Simpsons and now they want SpongeBob Squarepants. The Ukraine is considering a move to censor several children's shows after a new study from a conservative commission labeled the shows "a real threat" to the country's youth.
The Ukraine's National Expert Commission for Protecting Public Morality released the report, which attacks several U.S. and international programs as detrimental to the country.
Psychologist Irina Medvédeva is quoted in the study, alleging that children aged 3 to 5 years old, "pull faces and make jokes in front of adults they don't know, laugh out loud and repeat nonsense phrases in a brazen manner," after viewing the shows.
The Ukrainian paper Ukraínskaya Pravda reported on Thursday that some of the shows under fire include "Family Guy," "Futurama," "Pokemon," "The Simpsons" and "Teletubbies," which the report says are, "projects aimed at the destruction of the family, and the promotion of drugs and other vices."
The Wall Street Journal reported that the study results first appeared on "fringe Catholic website Family Under the Protection of the Holy Virgin."
While the accusations sound a bit silly, a 2011 study by a University of Virginia professor claimed that watching just nine minutes of SpongeBob could adversely affect the attention span and learning abilities of 4-year-olds.
The Ukrainian commission had previously attempted to ban other shows, including "The Simpsons."
Some of the accusations leveled against the programming in the study:
•SpongeBob Squarepants: "gay"
•Teletubbies: "Deliberately aims to create subnormal (men), who spend all day in front of the television with their mouths open swallowing all types of information," and promotes the "psychology of losers."
•Shrek: "containing sadism"
•South Park: "reincarnation propaganda"
•Japanese Anime: "A clear example of sexist propaganda"
The study concluded that the programming represents "a large-scale experiment on Ukrainian children" to "create criminals and perverts."
Good find. We've gone to war for less. Nobody disses SpongeBob! Nobody! Not that there's anything wrong with that.
School District of Borough of Morrisville
Job Posting
TO: Bargaining Unit Members
FROM: William J. Ferrara, Superintendent
DATE: August 8, 2012
RE: Position Vacancy
NOTICE TO ALL STAFF
Administrative Intern
The School District of Borough of Morrisville is seeking a qualified candidate to fill an administrative intern position. This position will begin in August of 2012 and end at the discretion of the administration.
Job Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have a current Pennsylvania Principal Certification.
The successful candidate will be required to leave the bargaining unit for the duration of the assignment. He/she will be listed as a teacher on special assignment; therefore, enabling the person to retain his/her seniority while serving in this position.
Persons interested in this position should send a letter of interest and a copy of their certification to Mr. William Ferrara, Superintendent, Morrisville Borough School District, 550 W. Palmer St., Morrisville, PA 19067 no later than August 15, 2012.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
They already interviewed candidates earlier in the week, this is for elementary principal position.
I believe that's the posting of the Don Harm position while Harm serves as elementary principal.
Sorry, I didn't read the last post closely enough.
So this memo is the posting for the Elementary Principal position?
Well, then I'm more confused. At the 8/15 agenda meeting, Mr. Ferrara indicated that the Admin. Intern posting was for the start of the school year, and then the Board at its leisure could post/hire an Elementary Principal during the school year. Then after the Elementary Principal is hired, the Admin. Intern position would end. Meanwhile, Mr. Harm fills in as acting/temporary Elementary Principal.
Am I misinterpreting something?
The video is up now. Discussion on this starts around 8:55.
Grades 3 through 12 and Pre-K in the same building is an educationally unsound idea. Enrollment figures at the Elementary level are up. Elementary Music (and maybe Elementary Art) is on a cart at the High School. The High School Library must certainly be overused. Partitions are installed to separate younger and older students at the High School and yet I have seen Fourth and Fifth Grade students enter the Main entrance (A-Hall) in the morning.
Head Start moved out of the Manor Park school only last year. They made $167,000 in improvements to the building. Since Head Start is a federal agency it is hard to imagine that this building does not meet local building codes and federal standards as a school faciility.
My question to the Morrisville School District community is:
Why isn't this School Board and Administration publicly discussing at meetings how to redistrict and move students to a building that we already own.
Let's move past the he said/she said discussions about the Former School Board and do good things for the sake of this community.
Not to put you on the spot, but... have you publicly asked about this at a public school board meeting or a superintendent's meeting? Have you attended any of the public facilities commmittee meetings? Did you send in a letter of interest to be on the committee?
I agree with you that these things need to be looked into more. I don't necessarily agree that Manor Park School is the answer, but I'm basing that on very little because of the lack of hard factual info. Hence, the need to look into these things more, with community input. Teacher, Administration, and maybe even outside expert help too. I don't have all the answers, and armchair quarterbacking doesn't get you very far. Neither does rigid ideology.
Please come out and make your voice heard. There's strength in numbers, as the expression goes. With new board members, there's a much better chance you'll at least get some board members to listen.
By corralling as many students as possible in the same building, the district saves money. The cost per student decreases. Hellman and Super and Business Manager have stressed this from the beginning. It's a huge problem. We spend too much on our children's future. This is just a continuation. Less in building operating costs, less in staff/aids/secretary/janitor etc. Not to mention the rather large elephant in the district that is the lie of student enrollment decreasing. It's increasing. And by jamming more students into 1 building, increasing class sizes, cutting programs, and eliminating teachers, you just asked less people to do more with more kids and less resources and less space. But the overhead is down and therefore our taxes remain the same. Period.
I can't say I disagree with you. It's an uphill battle that needs to be fought. Stay in the game. Don't throw in the towel. A couple good tugboats can turn a battleship.
Dolt Replacement Project. Shovel Ready.
Caring people with well functioning brains need to step up.
The next School Board Primary Election is May 21, 2013. Candidates probably have to file in Feb. 2013.
Not that far away.
Help shape the future.
The District should be thankful that we have Don (Jack of all Traits) Harm. Cut him a blank check.
Are you serious? Nobody gets a blank check.
Kidding on the blank check for Don Harm, It seems he fills all the open positions. He may have to fill in for MESPA or the MEA if they don't get new contracts. And nurse, business office employee and van driver or crossing guard if any of them leave. It seems like he can do everything except remember his job title at Board Meetings.
Whew!!!
http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/falls/back-to-school-giveaway/article_08a517ac-a7ec-51b5-9ca5-9316693fe0e0.html
A feel good story with new school year just around the corner.
Chester Upland district gets recovery leader
August 17, 2012|By Dan Hardy, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Joe Watkins, head of a political action committee that supports school choice initiatives, former managing director in an asset management firm, and a Philadelphia minister, has been appointed by state Education Secretary Ron Tomalis to guide the financial recovery of the struggling Chester Upland School District.
"Joe is a qualified individual who has the ability to assist the Chester Upland School District with long-term financial stability, as well as ensuring the district's students continue to have access to quality academic programs," Tomalis said in a statement Friday.
Chester Upland, which ran out of money and almost closed earlier this year, was declared a distressed district on Tuesday.
Watkins, 58, as chief recovery officer for the 3,400-student system, will have broad powers under recently passed legislation to craft a recovery plan that could convert schools to charters or hand them over to education management organizations, call for renegotiating the teachers' contract, close schools, and cancel contracts with vendors.
Asked to comment on Watkins' appointment, acting Superintendent Thomas Persing said, "I just hope he will be fair, that he will not come here with a bias toward Chester Upland. If he is fair, there will not be a problem."
School board member Charlie Warren reacted with dismay. "This is quite shocking to me," he said. "I was hoping it was someone who would be open-minded and objective. Now, I'm not sure. It may be that this is someone who has come to do a job on us rather than working with us."
He added, "I will wait to say more until I meet with him to hear what he has to say."
The school board will have input, but little or no power to revise the plan Watkins comes up with.
Within the next two weeks, it must vote on whether it will cooperate with him in implementing his recommendations. If the board says it will not, Tomalis is required by state law to go to court to ask for the appointment of a receiver, who would have all of the powers of the elected board.
If the board accepts Watkins' appointment but rejects his recovery plan, Tomalis would also have to go to court and seek the appointment of a receiver to implement the plan.
Watkins, chairman of Students First, a political action committee affiliated with the conservative American Federation for Children, is a longtime vocal supporter of vouchers and charters. In recent years, his PAC has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to pro-voucher state legislators.
In a statement on the group's website, Watkins said that "for too many students, the educational system is broken with no hope for repair. We need to try new ideas and new solutions before another generation is lost to failing schools."
Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), a member of the Senate Education Committee, said Friday that Watkins' pro-voucher stand made him a poor choice.
"I am concerned that in his testimony before the Education Committee and in his activities on behalf of vouchers, that he has shown a lack of enthusiasm for public schools," Leach said. "To put him in charge of revamping public schools raises the disturbing possibility in my mind that he will turn the whole thing over to a for-profit charter school rather than ensure a traditional public school is there to serve the community."
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and of the Princeton Theological Seminary, Watkins worked for Republican Sen. Dan Quayle in Indiana and later served as associate director of public liaison under President George H.W. Bush. He later founded a financial management company and is now pastor of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Philadelphia.
Asked to comment on Watkins' qualifications for the job, Education Department spokesman Tim Eller said in an e-mail: "We'll let the release stand as is."
For all those people rooting for C Upland type scenario in this district, you're nuts. The only thing "failing" in this district is leadership. The students are awesome. The teachers are tremendous. The support staff are great. Against all self created odds, lack of buildings, resources, funds, etc...look how many students go on to higher education. Look at the graduation rate? Look how many teachers are "Master Teachers". Look how many teams, clubs, service, volunteer, and academic awards are earned. This negativity needs to end, it's as outdated as the community members who hate the school.
I agree. Imagine the possibilities if the schools were given the "advantage" of actual funding programs. The people in those classrooms (children and adults) succeed despite this district's efforts not because of them. And that is truly disheartening.
Double agree. And - be careful what you wish for. If we sink as low as Chester Upland, which is a loooooooong way down, the state could stick us with and a deep PAC money pocketed political ideologue with dictatorial powers, no voice, and no recourse.
Here's an idea. Just throwing this out there. Hellman is gone. So let's take things back a step. Demote Ferrara back to where he was supposed to be (and actually was effective), rid ourselves of the mooch named Harm, replace Ruffing with somebody who is actually capable. Then hire an actual qualified Superintendent of schools (oh, we had one in Yonson).
Qualified Superintendent
Principal Ferrara 6-12
Principal ? K-5
No more waste of taxpayer dollars on double but not double but want to double dip Ferrara.
No more waste of earth on Harm never at work but makes more than teachers/aides/janitors/support etc...
I'm new to this forum of opinions. I'm a staunch supporter of education. Just to lay my cards all on the table. From what I gather in reading back, and boy did I read back, I may be over stepping but aren't we all here because we care about education? Lot's of he said she said. I look forward to joining the conversation, but I can say that I may fall short of the majority in this room b/c I'd rather my taxes go up then my children's future go down.
You pay for what you get.
Should've bought in the better Morrisville. Y'all kids could went to Pennsbury.
Lots of he said she said?
If you've got better ideas and better things to say, by all means, post away. And come to the public meetings and say them. Start working on getting the School Board and Administration to pay attention to your ideas and viewpoints.
There are more than a few school board members now who share your concerns and will listen to you.
Please talk to them.
Their last names aren't Worob, Stout or Buckman.
Dewilde meh not so much either.
We're talking a bureaucratic institution with a 9 member voting board so don't expect miracles.
Word from yesterday's opening day of band camp: Dr. Scott will be teaching 8th grade Social Studies this year. I'm not sure what effect this will have on his music-teaching responsibilities, but it is a sign of a continuing troubling trend, IMO.
This one time, at band camp, I found out programs continue to be chipped away.
With Marlys and her crony baloney pals off the board at least there's less chance of a boldfaced orchestrated lie about it.
"Word from yesterday's opening day of band camp: Dr. Scott will be teaching 8th grade Social Studies this year. I'm not sure what effect this will have on his music-teaching responsibilities, but it is a sign of a continuing troubling trend, IMO."
Dr. Scott teaching 8th grade SS really concerns me. This man is an expert in his field with the education to back it up. I have always considered it a blessing that he has dedicated himself to the community of Morrisville Borough. He surely can make a more profitable living somewhere else. I don't think having him teach ss is at all showing him that he is valued or respected. I hope he doesn't see this as the "push" he needed to look elsewhere. He has been / is just what the kids need and I am very concerned about losing him. Please look at the big picture.
School Board meeting tonight. 7:30 pm, LGI. Let your feelings be known.
Dr. Scott is only 1 of teachers that are "experts" in their fields that are being moved to other subjects or grade levels. Lot's of moving. No contract. A bunch of positions cut and not filled. And according to the BCCT the lowest paid teachers in the area. Wouldn't be shocked to see more of them leave to greener pastures.
if you have a concern about supposed cuts did you go to the last meeting and ask about them? I was there and nobody from the audience went up to the podium. i sat there too only because I didnt have a question that wasnt already answered from me asking it at the podium last month or the month before that. I have watched that board toss around all kinds of options and challenge the guys up there to make sure things were not being done behind backs or surprises taking place. back away from the computer and go to the school and ask the experts directly what you have a concern about or call them, they have phones too . i go to these meetings just about every month and cannot believe the amount of comments i see on here questionning things and yet you dont go to a live meeting and ask a live person a real question. when i have a concern i ask and i receive answers. the podium is not that scarey and there are actually some pretty nice and reasonable people staring back at you now. complain all you want but writing on here doesnt help anything or get you an answer
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