Posted: Thursday, November 8, 2012 2:45 pm | Updated: 3:27 pm, Thu Nov 8, 2012.
Posted on November 8, 2012
Morrisville school officials are mapping out options to save the town’s public schools because the status quo or merging with another district aren’t options, according to the district's top administrator.In a brief discussion -- which was vague in details -- three parents and a school board member heard from Superintendent William Ferrara at his advisory meeting Wednesday night.
Ferrara said he has met with state officials twice in the past two years to discuss finances and potential changes to the district.
“We are not looking to merge with anybody. Nobody is talking merger,” Ferrara said. “Status quo is not an option.”
But taking the cyber school route and/or going to a five-period day are options, he said. He made no mention of the possibility of closing the high school.
Ferrara sat in a meeting in Harrisburg a few weeks ago, along with state Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis, members of the governor’s office, state Sens. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, Chuck McIlhinney, R-10, John Galloway, D-140, and members of the Department of Labor and Industry. Also at the meeting were Bristol Borough School District officials.
Ferrara initially met with Tomalis in 2011, he said, to ask for more funds for the money strapped district. He didn't get additional cash. And he’s also met with McIlhinney, who represents Morrisville, to discuss options, he said.
Districts across the state are facing financial hardships because of increases in employee health insurance and pension costs, along with other costs that districts have no control over such as special education and charter schools, officials have said. Fueling the hardship is the decrease of state education funding, leaving many districts, especially smaller ones, counting their pennies.
Morrisville’s current operating budget is $18 million. The per-pupil cost in Morrisville is $10,034 at the elementary level and $18,901 at the high school level. As of late October, 1,095 students were enrolled in the district.
Ferrara told the parents that the district’s high school isn’t providing students with educational opportunities that other districts offer such as Advance Placement classes because Morrisville doesn't have the funds to offer them. He said those AP classes could help students earn college credits, and in the long run potentially save parents money when their children are in college.
The superintendent said that because the question of what to do is a community issue, the district’s Education Committee will set up a subcommittee to study the options.
The Education Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“We are not looking to merge with anybody. Nobody is talking merger,” Ferrara said. “Status quo is not an option.”
But taking the cyber school route and/or going to a five-period day are options, he said. He made no mention of the possibility of closing the high school.
Ferrara sat in a meeting in Harrisburg a few weeks ago, along with state Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis, members of the governor’s office, state Sens. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, Chuck McIlhinney, R-10, John Galloway, D-140, and members of the Department of Labor and Industry. Also at the meeting were Bristol Borough School District officials.
Ferrara initially met with Tomalis in 2011, he said, to ask for more funds for the money strapped district. He didn't get additional cash. And he’s also met with McIlhinney, who represents Morrisville, to discuss options, he said.
Districts across the state are facing financial hardships because of increases in employee health insurance and pension costs, along with other costs that districts have no control over such as special education and charter schools, officials have said. Fueling the hardship is the decrease of state education funding, leaving many districts, especially smaller ones, counting their pennies.
Morrisville’s current operating budget is $18 million. The per-pupil cost in Morrisville is $10,034 at the elementary level and $18,901 at the high school level. As of late October, 1,095 students were enrolled in the district.
Ferrara told the parents that the district’s high school isn’t providing students with educational opportunities that other districts offer such as Advance Placement classes because Morrisville doesn't have the funds to offer them. He said those AP classes could help students earn college credits, and in the long run potentially save parents money when their children are in college.
The superintendent said that because the question of what to do is a community issue, the district’s Education Committee will set up a subcommittee to study the options.
The Education Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
30 comments:
What does "taking the cyber school route" mean, exactly? Is he suggesting students will be in the school doing most of their learning from computers rather than teachers? Would that mean simply having paraprofessionals in the classroom for discipline purposes, while teachers would be elsewhere and only really accessible part time? And if he's so concerned about Morrisville not offering AP classes, why not offer those via a cyber school as a kind of pilot program to see if/how it would work? As usual, more questions than answers.
Yes, Tracy, you are correct, more questions than answers. In Mr. Ferrara's defense, he was speaking off the cuff at last night's Super. Advisory meeting, in response to my question about the recent BCCT article "Big Changes could be Coming to Bristol, Morrisville Schools". I didn't really ask any follow-up questions. I just wanted to know a little more background behind our district's discussions with state officials in Harrisburg, and Mr. Ferrara talked. The cyber classes, etc. all seemed kind of vague and conceptual, like there aren't many (or any) details to be had at this point anyway.
Mr. Ferrara did seem to want to emphasize his point about not merging, and he specifically said something about not wanting Morrisville's kids publicly dissed yet again by a Pennsbury that doesn't want them.
The one clear answer from Harrisburg is that we're not getting any special additional bump in state funding, at least as long as the Corbett/Tomalis Administration is in office.
By the way, the Super. Advisory meeting was attend by I think 4 people, not including Mr. Ferrara, BCCT reporter Gema Duarte, and Pat Wandling.
Ferrara told the parents that the district’s high school isn’t providing students with educational opportunities that other districts offer such as Advance Placement classes because Morrisville doesn't have the funds to offer them. He said those AP classes could help students earn college credits, and in the long run potentially save parents money when their children are in college
Wow. He said something I agree with.Prepare for apocalypse. :)
Like Mitt Romney, he stands for everything and nothing at the same time.
Enrollment is up, and continuing to grow as we speak. Everything that is being suggested is a scenario to remove bodies from our buildings. Because there ISNT enough room. GROW this district rather than stifle it. School board needs to look at this as an opportunity, not a problem that super makes it.
How can you offer AP courses when you don't replace any teachers that have retired or Given incentives to retire. Ferrara is not pro-education he just wants to save money.
Round and Round. What comes around, goes around. Here we go again, and in the end, nothing will change. We've taken this ride before, and it never seems to get out of the station. In the immortal words of David Byrne,"You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything."
I disagree. It's not round and round. It's the elephant in the room. It's just that this board is now starting address the issue, unlike previous board that groomed super to be pro-voucher and not pro-morrisville. It's about time people started to make Morrisville a place where people want to live instead figuring out ways to keep it in the '70s.
The students that graduate from Morrisville and go on to the Good Colleges and Universities are a direct result of their families and the Hard Working Non-Administative staff at Morrisville, that would be the teachers and aides. The credit goes to them not their so called revolving door leaders. As Ferrara where last years graduates go to college and I doubt he can tell you where they are going to school.
"It's Not round and round?" Where have you been for the last 40 years? This same shiat comes up like weeds every new board. The only difference is the faces. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts nothing happens at all.
The only differance is that this administration would sell the school out in a minute for personal gain. Just check their track record.
"Ferrara is not pro-education he just wants to save money."
Funny (not ha ha), that's kind of what he said about the Hellmann board on Wed. night. He said when Bill Hellmann was here the focus was on the money, implying that the ed. part was secondary. He was right.
Fitzy flop mcjunior.
He who speaks with forked tounge will Stab you in the back.
Ferrara likes to put the blame on everyone but himself. He never takes any responsibility. Correct me but wasn't he one of Bill Hellman's greatest supporters, since he is his hand picked Superintendant. That job was never posted, was it?
A year after the back slapping ends we come to find out our financial and educational postition is unsustainable, status quo cannot continue.
Turns out the sh*t hit the fan and has been splattering for years.
Thanks, Bill, Bill, Marlys, Paul, and no bill(s) paid.
Yeah, all of a sudden we can't go on as before.
This kind of underscores my post from a couple weeks ago that the 10 mill SOC tax cut in 2009 (a big School Board election year, by the way) from 187.3 to 177.3 mills was incredibly short-sighted, given that we've had to drastically deplete our rainy day funds and we've known all along that we were going to get slammed by PSERS and other rising costs, and now we just can't go on.
All I remember about that 10 mil tax cut at the time was something like "Paul DeAngelo found some extra money in some account somewhere so we're tossing it back in the form of a tax cut". Does anyone else remember it differently or have more insight?
I could have sworn the Hellmannians and Deangelo were saying how they put us on this fantastic financial footing, we're way ahead of other area districts, blah blah blah blah blah.
You self-serving flip-flopping flim flammers!!!!!
Good use of alliteration.
"That job was never posted, was it?"
No, it was not.
Since Ferrara and DeAngelo are still here they are the guilty ones by letting this happen. Now they squirm when asked a question. They don't have Bill Hellman having their backs as he said about the Bounty Football Coach that gave the District such good press last year. Thank God he is not coaching the team this year.
I wonder if Bill Hellman still has his back?
Hellman's got the guy's back, the check is in the mail, and we're in great financial & educational shape. Understand???
....meet the new boss
http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/falls/pennsbury-gives-superintendent-a-raise/article_68f89998-2077-5965-bfb7-11807e33eab6.html
In the current issue of the Morrisville Times, I saw that Bill Farrell is the volunteer of the month.
Hats off to Mr Farrell for his volunteerism. I only wish that he hadn't "volunteered" for the School Board Gig. He allowed himself to be mislead by others who's hearts were in th wrong place and it damaged our schools and our town.
I want to feel good about the article in the Morrsivlle Times because I feel Mr Fareell is deserving of it in every aspect expcept the School Board. I know he is a good and kind person and I see him volunteering all the time. I just can't get past what I witneessed while he was on the board. I hope to feel differently someday. Time heals wounds.
That's a very gracious attitude. I hope I can achieve it someday too. Time wounds all heels.
Mr. Farrell is paid to be the caretaker of Holy Trinity Church/grounds.
yes, he is. In actual money, although prayers are nice too.
All this time, I thought he was trying to weed whack his way into heaven.
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