Morrisville schools, borough working together to make schools safe
Posted: Monday, November 18, 2013 11:03 pm | Updated: 6:09 am, Tue Nov 19, 2013.
Morrisville School District is one step closer to its plan to get a school resource officer.The majority of borough council voted in favor of providing the officer if the district is awarded a grant for $60,000 to cover the salary.
Council members Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford voted against it. Dreisbach was concerned that taxes would have to increase to cover the salary of the school officer.
School board President Damon Miller and Superintendent Bill Ferrara attended Monday’s council meeting, where they explained that the district didn’t have a DARE program or staff disciplinarian.
“The school resource officer would be a bridge between the community and the school,” Ferrara told the newspaper. “This would enable district personnel to coordinate services with outside agencies working with our students.”
The police officer would be an employee of the borough but patrol the district.
Liability was a concern for Councilman Victor Cicero. Borough Manager Tom Bates said that the liability insurance covers all employees.
The school district will proceed with applying for the grant, which has a Nov. 22 deadline. If the district is awarded the money, the borough and district would then figure out whether the police officer would work full time or part time or if a current officer would cover the school or the borough would hire a new officer.
If it goes well, the school resource officer could be in place in March.
The $60,000 is for one year, and the district would have to reapply each year for the funds. Ferrara said the district is also looking into a three-year grant.
School board President Damon Miller and Superintendent Bill Ferrara attended Monday’s council meeting, where they explained that the district didn’t have a DARE program or staff disciplinarian.
“The school resource officer would be a bridge between the community and the school,” Ferrara told the newspaper. “This would enable district personnel to coordinate services with outside agencies working with our students.”
The police officer would be an employee of the borough but patrol the district.
Liability was a concern for Councilman Victor Cicero. Borough Manager Tom Bates said that the liability insurance covers all employees.
The school district will proceed with applying for the grant, which has a Nov. 22 deadline. If the district is awarded the money, the borough and district would then figure out whether the police officer would work full time or part time or if a current officer would cover the school or the borough would hire a new officer.
If it goes well, the school resource officer could be in place in March.
The $60,000 is for one year, and the district would have to reapply each year for the funds. Ferrara said the district is also looking into a three-year grant.
37 comments:
It's nice to see the cooperation between the district and council. It was also nice to see Mrs. Dreisbach stay true to form to the end. I felt so sorry for the poor woman. She compleetely missed the entire line of discussion and oddly settled on not raising taxes as her objection. Now I see why Gateway failed so miserably in council.
Now I see why almost everything fails so miserably in council. Including properly addressing the police and our infrastructure. Then again, this is no surprise to me. I've seen what's going on for many years.
Institutional neglect from a lethal combination of dull minds and knee jerk anti tax fervor, with a dash of automatic hatred for anything your designated opponents do.
She never fails to fail, it's the easiest thing to do. In all seriousness, she really has no shame at all. How can she look anyone in the eye and not feel completely mortified by her bahavior? It's as if she is proud of her ignorance and willfully tries to impose this least uncommon denominator on everyone else. Thank god she's going away, as I don't think the ville could take much more of her. What an embarassment she is. How did she ever get elected?
You are talking about the community that made Rita Ledger our mayor.
I'm glad to see this move forward.
Eileen is a poor excuse for an elected official. she chooses to go against all good that anyone tries to do with reasons that make no sense. She bashes her colleagues on facebook and tells people that she was already a no vote going into the meeting. Thank God someone decent is coming onto that council
I saw that on one of the "witch hunt" facebook pages someone posted a part of a conversation between Rivella and Eileen after the meeting. First of all, it wasn't during the meeting, meaning it isn't anyone's business. Second, ha ha someone stood up to Eileen. Third, only posted part of a conversation, so what else was said really isn't known.
Why is it that only the people spewing are allowed to say anything. When someone stand up to them, they are perceived as the sniper, they complainer, the problem?!
You say "someone", because you cannot say who that is because they continue to hide behind a made up title as opposed to telling everyone who they are.
Is no one on that page curious who is "appalled" by someone finally stating the truth about Eileen??
I would guess it was Eileen, but the person has too firm a grasp on the English language.
I was more appalled that Mayor Ledger kept taking phone calls during the meeting. I can't tell you about her receiving phone calls after the meeting, because that's none of my business.
"Why is it that only the people spewing are allowed to say anything. When someone stand up to them, they are perceived as the sniper, they complainer, the problem?!"
This has been Eileen's MO since day 1. Everyone else is the problem. Her attacks on others are legitimate grievances, but say anything to her or about her and it is an attack. She can't leave fast enough, and praise the lord that Ledger is going too. GTFO and please don't come back.
I am selectively outraged!
All the public crap Dave has taken from Eileen over the years while he sits respectfully next to her on council. Where was the outrage then. Good for him to call her out for voting no on a FREE cop in the schools.
How many times did they say last night that the person could be part time, thereby only working $60K a year worth, so that there WOULD BE NO EXTRA TAX MONEY??????
Since the poor little baby heard Dave's comment, it can't be that she's hard of hearing, so she really just must not give a damn anymore. She must want everyone in town to be just as miserable as she is.
Good or bad you have to have a thicker skin to sit up there. People will rip you up. You have to be able to just take some of it.
Grow up.
I would think Dave has a pretty thick skin. He would have to. He's been taking crap from people as far back as Burger sitting there with him. I can't ever remember him stepping out of line on the dais no matter what was being said about him. Whatever happened between Dave and Eileen AFTER the meeting, is really none of our business. I did read what was said on the facebook page and I found the comments that followed much more offensive than the partial conversation overheard by someone else.
I get that Dave Rivella and the reporter Gema are the targets for today to deflect Dave's having anything to do with such a great project having been voted for last night. It is unfortunate, but it's predictable.
Yes, not to mention that last night Eileen voted NO a FREE officer for the school system so today she has to play the victim.
I am selectively appalled!
Here's an idea, everyone, not just council members, should grow up.
Let me proceed to tell you all about how something is that I've not been involved in for years if not decades if ever.
Have been looking on facebook for Eileen's comments about her conversation after the meeting with Dave. Haven't been able to find them. Anyone know where they are?
I don't really use facebook, but I was at the meeting. Dave and Eileen spoke two times that I saw.
During the meeting they were talking to each other while the SRO was being talked about. Eileen said something about having agenda meetings for this stuff and Dave said something back to her about her not voting for things. I don't remember any of that being out of line and I don't know what was said before or after what I could hear. At the time I thought how clueless Eileen must really be to think that an agenda meeting would have done anything regarding the SRO because of the time frame.
After the meeting Eileen said something to Dave and Dave said something back. This time I didn't hear any of it. Although I saw that they both said something to each other and didn't look happy I was talking to someone and didn't really pay any attention to them.
My take on it is that both Dave and Eileen had words with each other - big deal. That's nothing to write home about, but getting the officer for the school district is. Therefore, it must be downplayed by some non-event at a council meeting.
I'm not concerned about that. I'm already at maximum levels of appallment and outrage.
Agenda meetings aren't a bad idea. It might give the nullifiers less room to operate.
History shows that it won't make a big difference, but it could cut down slightly on the I didn't get this, we never talked about that, I just saw this 30 secs before the vote factor.
to the people who are all of a sudden attending those council meetings and acting like very angry little people. you will all be gone in a few months when you get tired of actually attending a few meetings and dedicating yourself to the cause. weve seen it happen over and over and your peppy group is no exception
That may very well be true but no need to be deliberately antagonistic. That'll prolong the agony. It may very well be false too.
Some will turn around and change their opinions if they stick around + follow things long enough.
I am not going to shout it from a mountaintop that some are wheel spinning cray crays, or semi-harmless yet incompetent. You'll have to come to that on your own, as I did.
I'm pretty independent, don't suffer fools gladly, and I know my limitations. I don't plan on becoming a bridge building emissary between polarized camps.
It really is unfortunate that this new group of concerned citizens can't be more respectful. It's also unfortunate that they can't be part of solutions without looking for blame because they haven't been around to actually know where blame lies so they will continue to misdirect it.
I liked that at the end of the meeting, Rivella talked about moving past election day and everyone working together for Morrisville. Too bad nobody in the room was listening it would seem.
My crystal ball predicts that soon everyone will know just how corrupt Morrisville's old guard is and what they are willing to do to keep their secrets.
Corruption...brings out the worst in people. Can't wait! When does the show start? I'll bring the popcorn.
Sounds juicy. Can't wait to hear the details about how they're the real victims, and it's somebody else's fault.
Ohhhhh - now you have us all waiting with baited breath!
Let's hope your crystal ball is right (and quick. I'm tired of the garbage spewing from the no-nothings)
There are a few good ideas but wow they're hard to sort out of the scrap heap.
I might as well put on my best bowling shirt because all I see are a lot of balls, a lot of holes, and a big ole gutter.
LOL WUT?
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