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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup for
January 15, 2015:
SchoolWatch
2013/14: Curiously, Chester
New state website provides
financial data on school districts, teacher salaries
By Mary Niederberger / Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette January 15, 2015 12:25 AM
For the past two school years, taxpayers who wanted to know
about the academic performance of their schools and districts could find that
information on the School Performance Profiles created by the state Department
of Education. Now they can access
detailed financial information about their districts on the profiles as well,
including administrative and teacher salaries, budget totals, revenue streams
and per-pupil costs. Those details were
added Wednesday to paschoolperformance.org by the education department.
The information posted now is from the 2012-13 school year. It will be updated
as new information is reported to the state.
SchoolWATCH sheds light on
public school spending
A new online tool
allows the public to have a look at the checkbook of Pennsylvania
Penn Live By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on January 14, 2015 at 12:58 PM, updated January 14, 2015 at 5:25 PM
on January 14, 2015 at 12:58 PM, updated January 14, 2015 at 5:25 PM
A website that
served as a report card for Pennsylvania 's
public schools' academic performance now carries information that details their
fiscal performance as well.
At a Capitol news conference on Wednesday, Rep. Jim Christiana,
R-Beaver, announced the launch of this online tool at www.paschoolperformance.org that
he said will give "people more access to the way we spend their hard
earned tax dollars."
For a step-by-step guide on how to access the
information, click here.
Policy shift puts public school
expenditures in greater public view
PLS Reporter Author: Jason
Gottesman/Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Like a phoenix rising from legislative ashes, a one-time
legislative proposal was given new life Wednesday when the Pennsylvania
Department of Education and Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver) announced the launch
of SchoolWATCH on the department’s website.
The data will be available as a new feature of the department’s school
performance profile website. Rep.
Christiana called the move “the next step in restoring trust in Pennsylvania ’s
government.”
He explained the new website will “give citizens access to the
checkbooks of the public school districts,” who he claimed collectively spend
$27.6 billion annually. According to
Rep. Christiana, the data will be available for 500 traditional public school
districts, 176 charter schools, 14 cyber schools, 73 comprehensive career and
technical centers, and 29 intermediate units.
Possibilities hinge on
new state administration, official says
York Daily Record By
Angie Mason amason@ydr.com @angiemason1
on Twitter UPDATED: 01/15/2015 01:57:46 AM EST
Questions about how the York City School District
At a Community Education Council meeting, David Meckley gave an
overview of recent events, including his court appointment as district receiver
and the subsequent school district appeal that has put that appointment on
hold. Meckley said the appeal process could take anywhere from four to 12
months, and he noted that there will be a new state education secretary once
Gov.-elect Tom Wolf takes office. "I
have been in contact with the transition team and can report they are monitoring
the situation," he said, adding that there are many unknowns and it will
take the new administration some time to move forward.
Competency hearing begins
Jan. 27 for Dorothy June Brown in $6.3 million charter fraud case
Philly.com by Martha Woodall LAST UPDATED: Wednesday,
January 14, 2015, 4:32 PM
A federal judge has scheduled a hearing to begin Jan. 27 to
determine whether Dorothy June Brown is competent to be retried on charges she
defrauded the charter schools she founded of $6.3 million. Brown's attorneys raised the question of her
competency days before she was scheduled to go to trial in September.
"The average person in PA who has
employment based health insurance pays about $350 a month for family coverage.
The average school district in PA only makes their employees pay about $50 a
month. A 300-employee district would save over $1 million a year if they had
their employees pay the exact same amount that the rest of the taxpayers are
paying."
State Rep. says more school
funding is not the answer: PennLive letters
Penn Live Letters to the
Editor on January 14, 2015 at 12:40 PM, updated January 14, 2015
at 12:41 PM by REP. BRAD ROAE, East Mead Twp., Crawford County
Inadequate responsibility is causing school budget problems,
not inadequate state funding.
Most employers put an amount equal to about 5 percent of
payroll into the employee 401(k) retirement plan. School districts have to pay
about 25 percent to the PSERS pension plan. For every $1 a school district pays
an employee, they have to pay the pension plan about 25 cents.
Not even one Democratic state representative will support PSERS
pension reform. The PSEA teachers union is 100 percent opposed to any changes
at all to the pension plan.
Gov. elect Wolf said during the campaign that there is no
pension crisis. Many of the people who complain about school district budget
problems refuse to support reforming the pension system.
Not so 'super' search
Viable superintendent candidates
to replace Toleno might be hard to come by
By Christina Tatu Pocono Record Writer Posted Jan. 13,
2015 @ 8:39 pm
Stroudsburg School Board take heed: Qualified school superintendents are in limited supply. “The number of superintendents who have been around a while and have experience is dwindling quickly,” said Jim Buckheit, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Buckheit recently analyzed 499Pennsylvania school
districts. Of those 499 districts, more
than 60 percent have experienced “superintendent turnover” during the last six
years, a rate Buckheit said is “fairly massive.” That turnover rate includes superintendents
who have not had their contracts renewed, like Stroudsburg’s own John Toleno,
those who have retired, or left the position for a different field. “A lot of very high quality educators,
whether they are assistant superintendents or principals, are choosing not to
go into the job,” Buckheit said.
Stroudsburg School Board take heed: Qualified school superintendents are in limited supply. “The number of superintendents who have been around a while and have experience is dwindling quickly,” said Jim Buckheit, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. Buckheit recently analyzed 499
Education Week By Benjamin
Herold Published Online: January 13, 2015
From hands-on circuitry projects for kindergartners to
"maker spaces" inside local museums, this former steel town has
quietly emerged as a national model for supporting fresh approaches to
technology-infused education, especially for young children.
The energy and innovation flow from a close-knit network of
philanthropists, educators, technologists, and advocates who prize
collaboration over competition. National experts are smitten with the approach. "Pittsburgh
is absolutely a leader when it comes to building a learning ecosystem for the
21st century," said Constance M. Yowell, the director of education at the
Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which is
supporting the city's efforts. Ms. Yowell described the city's active funders
and universities, as well as the willingness of unlikely partners to work
together, as "core ingredients for really dynamic learning
opportunities."
"As in years past, he emphasized to
the board the impact of the district's required contribution to the Public
School Employees' Retirement System. The rate has increased from 21.4 percent
in 2014-15 to 25.84 percent for the next school year. Watson said that accounts for 90 percent of
the overall budget shortfall, or about $570,000, while operating costs and
other budget items account for 10 percent, or about $62,000."
Greater Latrobe board warned
of shortfall
Trib Live By Stacey
Federoff Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, 11:15 p.m.
Greater Latrobe officials have used early figures to predict a budget shortfall for the 2015-16 school year but aren't sure whether that will translate into a tax increase. Business administrator Dan Watson gave a preliminary budget report to the school board this week, projecting a $632,600 shortfall for the $53 million spending plan that could be covered by a millage increase within the index set by the state's Act 1, known as the Taxpayer Relief Act.
Greater Latrobe officials have used early figures to predict a budget shortfall for the 2015-16 school year but aren't sure whether that will translate into a tax increase. Business administrator Dan Watson gave a preliminary budget report to the school board this week, projecting a $632,600 shortfall for the $53 million spending plan that could be covered by a millage increase within the index set by the state's Act 1, known as the Taxpayer Relief Act.
Delco Times By Barbara
Ormsby, Times Correspondent POSTED: 01/14/15, 9:02 PM
EST |RIDLEY TOWNSHIP >>
The Ridley School Board convened in a special meeting Wednesday
morning to reconsider a fact-finder’s report in connection with the ongoing
contract dispute with the Ridley Education Association, and the outcome was the
same as the action the board took at its Jan. 5 meeting, which was rejection of
the report and recommendations. The
education association members have been working without a contract since June
30 and had supported the fact finding report.
According to fact-finder Timothy Brown’s report and
recommendations, the school board and the education association have reached
tentative agreements on about 16 issues and were unable to reach agreement on
the three remaining outstanding issues. They are teacher prep time, wages and
medical benefits.
By Christy Potter Special to The Morning Call January 14,
2015
The Northampton Area School District could see a budget
increase of 1.23 mills for the 2015-2016 school year, due in part to pension
and benefits costs, and some additional staff needed at the new middle school. During the board of education's regular
meeting on Wednesday — rescheduled from Monday due to inclement weather —
Superintendent Joe Kovalchik and business manager Terry Leh gave the board an
early peek at the budget. "It's
important you get a sense of where we stand financially," Kovalchik said.
"It's crystal ball time for school districts." The budget will be up
for a final vote in June. According to
the preliminary numbers, the 1.23 mill budget increase will equal $1,312,070.
The impact to the average taxpayer would be an increase of $71.05 annually. Salaries and benefits make up the biggest
piece of the pie, Leh said, with salaries claiming 40.14 percent of the budget,
and benefits making up an additional 25.31 percent.
Proposed vocational school in
Germantown makes final pitch to SRC
WHYY Newsworks BY AARON
MOSELLE JANUARY 14, 2015 GERMANTOWN
Now it's in the hands of the School Reform Commission.
On Wednesday, the team behind the proposed Philadelphia Career
and Technical Academy Philadelphia School District Germantown becomes a
reality. "It went as well as we
thought it could," said Frank Robinson, president of Redemptive
Enterprises, a project management company that would operate the school if its
application were approved.
Coatesville to sue former
school board solicitor
MICHAELLE BOND, INQUIRER
STAFF WRITER LAST UPDATED: Thursday, January 15, 2015, 1:08 AM
The former solicitor of the Coatesville Area
School District
The Coatesville school board voted Tuesday to sue James
Ellison; his former law firm, Rhoads & Sinon; and the law firm he formed,
Susquehanna Legal Group, to recover money that board members say is owed the
district. A Chester County Como and Donato in November.
Hempfield teachers will get
raise and pay more for health care in new contract
The Hempfield school board approved an early bird contract
Tuesday with Hempfield Education Association, the teachers union representing
about 500 teachers in the district. The
union approved the four-year contract earlier Tuesday. The current contract
expires June 30.
The new agreement provides an average salary increase of 2.25
percent over the life of the contract, which starts July 1 and ends June 30,
2019. Under the contract, a new teacher with a bachelor's degree will earn
$47,731 in 2015-16. In 2011-12,
Hempfield teachers agreed to a pay freeze to help the district reduce a
multimillion-dollar deficit.
Early-Childhood Education in
the U.S.
Education Week January 14, 2015
The Education
Week Research
Center
Extended school day yields
mixed results in Boston
By James Vaznis BOSTON GLOBE STAFF JANUARY 14, 2015
Lengthening the day at dozens of Boston public schools has yielded mixed
results, a Globe review has found, offering a cautionary tale as the city seeks
to double the number of schools with extended learning time. For many schools, a longer day has failed to
dramatically boost academic achievement or did so only temporarily. The uneven
results prompted school district officials to scrap the extra minutes at some
schools and the state to pull funding or pursue receiverships at others. But other schools have successfully used an
extended day to boost MCAS scores or expand offerings in the arts and other
electives. “I think there are lessons to
be learned,” said John McDonough, interim superintendent. “We know time
matters, but it only matters if it is used well.”
New York Times By JOHN SCHWARTZ JAN. 14, 2015
Once the extent of the changes — including an inserted
reference that global temperature rise “and fall” — became known, they were criticized by
local and national science educators, as well as West Virginia parents and
environmental activists. The board voted
to revert to the original standards, which emphasize the scientific consensus
on human activity as a cause of climate change, and
will adopt those standards after a 30-day comment period, said Gayle Manchin,
the board president and wife of United States Senator Joe Manchin III.
Education Voters Statewide
Call to Action for Public Education Day, Wed. Jan 21st
Education Voters of PA Facebook page
We want to kick off this legislative session right and make
sure the phones in the Capitol are ringing off the hook all day with calls from
voters throughout the Commonwealth! Join
thousands of Pennsylvanians as we take 5-10 minutes on January 21st to call our
new governor and our legislators to send a message that Harrisburg’s top
priority this year must be implementing a fair and adequate education funding
formula for our public schools that provides all children with an opportunity
to learn.
NPE 2015 Annual Conference –
Chicago April 24 - 26 – Early Bird Special Registration Open!
January 4, 2015 NPE 2015 Annual Conference, NPE National Conference
Early-bird discounted Registration for the Network for
Public Education’s Second Annual Conference is now available at this address:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/network-for-public-education-2015-annual-conference-tickets-15118560020
These low rates will last for the month of January.
The event is being held at the Drake Hotel in downtown
Chicago, and there is a link on the registration page for special hotel
registration rates. Here are some of the event details.
There will be a welcoming social event 7 pm Friday night,
at or near the Drake Hotel — details coming soon. Featured speakers will be:
§
Jitu Brown, National Director – Journey
for Justice, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Network for Public
Education Board of Directors
§
Tanaisa Brown, High School Senior, with
the Newark Student Union
§
Yong Zhao, Author, “Who’s Afraid of
the Big Bad Dragon?“
§
Diane Ravitch in conversation with
§
Lily Eskelsen Garcia, NEA President and
§
Randi Weingarten, AFT President
§
Karen Lewis, President, Chicago Teachers
Union
Join a Community
Conversation about Public School Funding in Franklin County; January 15, 6:30
pm Chambersburg
Confirmed Guests of Honor:
Senator Richard Alloway Senator John Eichelberger Representative-Elect Paul
Schemel
Join a Community Conversation about Public School Funding in
Franklin County on Thursday, January 15 at 6:30 at the First Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Chambersburg, 43 West Washington Street, Chambersburg, PA
Local school district leaders will discuss how state funding issues are impacting
our children’s educational opportunities, our local taxes, and our communities
and area legislators will be in attendance to learn about voters' concerns. Ask
questions. Share your stories, your concerns, and your suggestions. Learn how
you can support fair and adequate state funding for our area schools
Panelists:
Dr. Joe Bard, Executive
Director, PA Association of Rural and Small Schools
Dr. Joe Padasak, Superintendent,
Chambersburg Area School District
Mr. Jim Duffey, Superintendent,
Fannett-Metal School District
Dr. Gregory Hoover,
Superintendent, Greencastle-Antrim School District
Mrs. Beth Bender,
Superintendent, Shippensburg Area School District
Dr. Charles Prijatelj,
Superintendent, Tuscarora Area School District
More info:. Franklin_County_Flyer_Final_PDF.pdf
Mark Your Calendars. The next Twitter Chat on PA School Funding is
Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 8:00 p.m.
Join us #paedfunding
Tweet from Circuit Rider Kathleen Kelley
PILCOP Special Education
Seminar: Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities
United Way Building 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Philadelphia, 19103
Tickets: Attorneys $200
General Public $100 Webinar
$50
"Pay What You Can" tickets are also
available
Speakers: Sonja Kerr; Kathleen Carlsen (Children’s
Dyslexia Center of Philadelphia)
This session is designed to provide the audience with
information about how to address 1) eligibility issues for children with
learning disabilities, including dyslexia and ADHD, 2) encourage self-advocacy
and 3) write and implement meaningful IEPS (what does Orton-Gillingham really
look like?) This session is
co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania School of Policy and Practice.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice is a
Pre-approved Provider of Continuing Education for Pennsylvania licensed social workers.
Questions? Email jfortenberry@pilcop.org or call 267-546-1316.
January 23rd–25th, 2015 at The Science Leadership
Academy , Philadelphia
EduCon is both a conversation and a conference.
It is an innovation conference where we can come together, both
in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will
be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas — from the very practical to the
big dreams.
PSBA Master School Board
Director Recognition: Applications begin in January
PSBA website December 23, 2014
The Master School Board Director (MSBD) Recognition is for
individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions as members of their
governance teams. It is one way PSBA salutes your hard work and exceptional
dedication to ethics and standards, student success and achievement,
professional development, community engagement, communications, stewardship of
resources, and advocacy for public education.
School directors who are consistently dedicated to the
aforementioned characteristics should apply or be encouraged to apply by fellow
school directors. The MSBD Recognition demonstrates your commitment to
excellence and serves to encourage best practices by all school directors.
The application will be posted Jan. 15, 2015,
with a deadline to apply of June 30. Recipients will be notified by the MSBD
Recognition Committee by Aug. 31 and will be honored at the PASA-PSBA School
Leadership Conference in October.
If you are interested in learning more about the MSBD
Recognition, contact Janel
Biery, conference/events coordinator, at (800) 932-0588, ext. 3332.
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