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Save the date:
PSBA Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg has been scheduled for Monday April
29, 2019.
“The success of COLA (Committee on Legislative Action) has caught the attention of school districts in other counties seeking to collaborate and unify their efforts in advocating for public education. Recently the BCIU shared the COLA concept of goals and objectives with interested superintendents of Bucks County. COLA has been an outstanding opportunity for school districts in Berks County to collaborate and speak using one voice to make a difference in public education. As automobile magnate Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
Superintendents' forum: Public education advocacy in Berks
Twin Valley superintendent describes how districts work together on legislative issues.
Reading Eagle WRITTEN BY BY DR. ROBERT PLEIS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 2018 04:59 PM
About two years ago, the 18 Berks County school districts in collaboration with the Berks County Intermediate Unit developed a Committee on Legislative Action, or COLA. Its mission is to provide schools with a forum for review, analysis, and information sharing on state and federal legislative issues. The group meets four times a year, with each district represented by two school board members, the superintendent and the business manager. Guest speakers such as Dr. Mark DiRocco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators; state Sen. Judy Schwank; and Jay Himes, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, are invited to present on pertinent topics. The committee's focus is to stay current on legislative activity. In addition, COLA's goals include the following:
1. Update and relay legislative information to board members, administrators, and the community
2. Determine common legislative priorities, positions, and platforms
3. Communicate with officials to make a difference for public education
4. Act as a ready resource as a point of contact on any important legislative matter
5. Discuss bills and regulations and impact they have on our schools
Key issues that COLA has identified this year are divided into areas of local, state, and federal jurisdictions. For example, topics include school safety, security, mental health funding, charter and cyber charter school reform, teacher shortages, special education unfunded mandates, and vaping. Other priorities include the impact that retirement contributions have on school district budgets and anticipated changes in the 2019-2020 state budget.
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/superintendents-forum-public-education-advocacy-in-berks?platform=hootsuite
“In 2016, the state implemented a new basic education funding formula to remedy the severe inequities in school funding. But that fair funding formula hasn’t been applied to all appropriations. In fact, it’s applied to only new school funding. So, as LNP’s Alex Geli reported Friday, “Of the state’s nearly $6.1 billion basic-education allotment this year, only 8.8 percent, or $539 million, is flowing through the new formula.” That perpetuates the short shrift given to many students across the state, including those in SDL and other districts with a high percentage of low-income students. And the unfairness extends to local taxpayers, who must make up the difference in funding shortfalls from the state.”
Bonus allocations another disappointing twist in state education funding
Lancaster Online Editorial by THE LNP EDITORIAL BOARD Dec 12, 2018
THE ISSUE: Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative leaders of both political parties have negotiated behind the scenes in Harrisburg to send millions of dollars in bonus funding to about two dozen of the state’s 500 school districts, Jeff Hawkes reported in last weekend’s Sunday LNP. It does not appear that Lancaster County districts have received any of these funds. In the meantime, a lawsuit in which School District of Lancaster and other plaintiffs are arguing for fairness in state education funding is heading to trial, but probably not before the summer of 2020. We remain confounded and infuriated by the unfairness of education funding in the commonwealth. This newest development, as reported by Hawkes, takes the cake: the seemingly arbitrary doling out of millions of dollars in “bonus” funds to a small number of school districts. This is money above and beyond the standard allocation from Harrisburg. Of course, it’s not arbitrary at all. These are back-room handouts, Hawkes reports, brokered in a politics-as-usual fashion that puts influence and deal-making ahead of fair funding, transparency and — most importantly — Pennsylvania students. We’re not the only ones concerned by this.
https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/bonus-allocations-another-disappointing-twist-in-state-education-funding/article_954906ce-fd8c-11e8-b8e7-dbd8c93e4674.html
“Education funding - Funding Pennsylvania’s schools isn’t just about giving more. It’s about giving more to schools who historically have gotten less to create a more equitable educational landscape, Cutler said. The state passed a bipartisan basic education funding formula in 2016, but since only 8.8 percent, or $539 million, of the $6.1 billion basic education allotment this year is distributed through it. Cutler said it would be impossible to flow all basic education funding through the formula because some districts would lose substantial loads of money. Because of Act 1, which limits the amount school boards can raise property taxes each year, schools wouldn’t be able to absorb that kind of blow.”
4 takeaways from LNP Editorial Board meeting with new state House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer Dec 15, 2018
Being elected to the second-most powerful position in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives hasn’t changed Bryan Cutler. The Peach Bottom Republican, who was elected last month as House majority leader, still lives by three rules his father taught him as a child:
— “Treat everyone with respect.”
— “Never ask somebody to do something that you, yourself, aren’t willing to do.”
— “Always leave things better than you found them.”
He explained how those principles will guide him in his new role in a meeting Friday with the LNP Editorial Board. Here are four takeaways from the conversation:
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/takeaways-from-lnp-editorial-board-meeting-with-new-state-house/article_9b7bcb2e-ffeb-11e8-8d9a-eb0e7208e8ea.html
Changes for some Pa. schools coming under new state rules
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham and Kathy Boccella, Updated: December 13, 2018
Come next year, more Pennsylvania schools will be tagged as struggling -- given supports and deadlines to improve -- under new rules detailed Thursday by the state. The changes come as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, the successor to No Child Left Behind, signed in 2015 by President Barack Obama. Under the law, known as ESSA, every state is required to come up with plans to close educational achievement gaps and ensure equitable access to high-quality public schools. Schools are judged not solely on high-stakes test scores, as they have been for years, but on measures like growth, attendance, and the number of students who enroll in college or move to careers after graduation. They also will be held accountable for how subgroups of historically underperforming students do: English-language learners, special education students, students of color. “The Wolf administration recognizes that students are more than test scores, and that many factors contribute to student success,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said in a statement. “The schools designated today will receive a variety of supports tailored to their unique needs. Ultimately, this extra support will create a more successful learning environment for students.” That look at subgroups is crucial, and in some cases lands a school that has historically been considered a higher-performing school in the state’s cross hairs.
http://www.philly.com/education/changes-some-pa-schools-coming-under-new-state-rules-scrutiny-20181213.html
“The correlation between high-wealth schools and high school ratings is clear. …On average, Pennsylvania schools where low-income students made up a quarter of the student body or less scored a 7.5. Pennsylvania schools were low-income students made up three-quarters of the student body or more received, on average, a 2.7 rating.”
The Rate Escape: Pa. shifts how it measures schools, but will parents buy in?
Keystone Crossroads/WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent December 17, 2018
A couple years ago, Jean Rauscher was at a familiar crossroads. Her oldest child was about to start school and the family wanted to move. “And we can’t visit everywhere,” she said. “So thank god for the internet.” Rauscher’s first instinct was to open up a web browser and google the phrase “best elementary schools in the USA.” It led her to a suite of websites: GreatSchools, Niche.com, SchoolDigger, and US News and World Report. Each is a little different, but they all try to judge school quality. And they each attach an overall score, letter grade, or ranking to schools across the country. “It’s so helpful to have that one number,” she said. “This elementary school’s a 10. This elementary school’s an 8.” Schools in the Tredyffrin-Easttown district in suburban Philadelphia rate highly, and that’s eventually where the family moved. The ratings didn’t dictate Rauscher’s choice, but they guided it. They gave her somewhere to start.
https://whyy.org/articles/the-rate-escape-pa-shifts-how-it-measures-schools-but-will-parents-buy-in/
Pennsylvania’s new list of struggling schools looks beyond usual suspects
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent December 13, 2018 Updated: 3:45 p.m. Listen 1:22
Pennsylvania released a list of 289 struggling schools Thursday that will have to develop “improvement plans” with the direction of state advisors. The schools will share some portion of $40 million. State officials declined to say how they will divide the money. Unlike in previous years, the state focused less on schools with low overall test scores, and included schools where certain subgroups of students failed to meet academic benchmarks. Those subgroups include economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, special education students, and “federally established race and ethnic populations,” according to the state. The new designations change the calculus for how the state defines struggling schools, drawing scrutiny to some schools that would have previously flown under the radar. Each identified school will work with a team of state officials to create improvement plans, though there’s no plan to radically intervene at schools that fail to improve.
https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvanias-new-list-of-struggling-schools-looks-beyond-usual-suspects/
Pennsylvania schools in need of overall improvement
Morning Call December 14, 2018
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released its lists of schools that need to improve and will receive additional funding to do so. The lists, made public Dec. 14, are part of the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced the federally mandated No Child Left Behind. The federal government has given Pennsylvania $40 million to distribute among schools for improvement plans. The state does not yet have a way to divide the money. The first group of schools (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) need to improve overall student performance, while the second group (Additional Targeted Support and Improvement) is for schools that need to improve among certain student subgroups. Listed below are the schools in need of overall improvement (you can view the schools in need of limited improvement here).
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-pa-school-improvement-list-20181214-story.html
“In areas of the state where broadband isn’t widespread, one can often arrive at schools 30 minutes before the start of the school day and observe parents in their idling cars while their children feverishly work to complete their computer homework assignments using the school Wi-Fi because high-speedbroadband internet is unavailable in their residential areas,” she wrote.”
STUDY: Rural broadband gap understated
New Castle News Saturday, 15 December 2018
The number of people without access to high-speed Internet is probably higher than the federal data suggests because of the way those estimates were generated, he said. The FCC data is based on reports from Internet Service Providers. The estimates are derived from population data by census block — and if a telecommunications company says it provides broadband in an area, all residents of that the area are counted like they have access to high-speed Internet. But in rural areas, in particular, those estimates may be out-ofwhack, Denk said. “I’m not pointing fingers. They are reporting what they’re being asked to report,” he said. To provide a better snapshot, Penn State researchers have created an online speed test that people can use to measure how fast the Internet is at their homes or businesses. The test has been run 5.7 million times, Denk said. That will allow the researchers to be able to create maps showing what speed Internet service is available in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, and provide the same data for each state House and state Senate district, he said. That data will be important to inform policy discussions, he said. But the data’s not the only consideration, Denk said. State officials needto also understand the real-world implications of the lack of broadband. His group held a hearing in northcentral Pennsylvania last summer to give people the opportunity to explain how lack of high-speed Internet is impacting them.
http://ncnewsonline.cnhi.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=0ba2d9467
Philly school board gives reprieve to struggling charter school
Inquirer by Maddie Hanna, Updated: December 14, 2018
Over the objections of charter school critics, a low-performing charter school in Southwest Philadelphia that had been on track to close has received a second chance from the school board — with caveats. Under an agreement approved 5-3 by the Philadelphia Board of Education Thursday night, the Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School could remain open through 2021. But as part of the deal, it agreed to surrender its charter if it doesn’t improve student test scores this school year and next and meet other conditions. District officials said the surrender clause would avoid prolonged non-renewal proceedings. Christina Grant, interim chief of the district’s charter schools office, told school board members that litigation costs could run between $250,000 and $500,000. The agreement marked yet another point of friction between supporters and opponents of charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently run. The school district authorizes the city’s 87 charter schools, which enroll about 70,000, or one-third of Philadelphia public school students.
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-school-board-charter-school-richard-allen-20181214.html
“La Academia is Lancaster County’s first charter school, an expansion of a Spanish American Civic Association program for students who drop out of traditional schools, most of whom are economically disadvantaged. The school opened in September 1998 and serves 200 students. Its performance on standardized tests has historically been poor. Out of nearly 100 county public schools, La Academia had the lowest percentage of students this year who scored proficient or advanced on the English language arts (21 percent), math (3 percent) and science (8 percent) PSSA.”
La Academia's longtime principal and CEO resigns unexpectedly
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer Dec 15, 2018
The principal of La Academia Partnership Charter School resigned unexpectedly this week after 15 years in the position, according to the charter school’s board. Guillermo Barroso will leave his post at the 30 N. Ann St. school on Dec. 21. “We would like to thank him for his 15 years of serve and dedication to our students and school,” Aida Ceara, the school’s president, stated in written remarks provided to LNP. La Academia’ dean of curriculum and instruction, Amy Ferg, will fill Barroso's principal role on an interim basis. The school’s STEM project manager, Maria Provencher, has been named chief operating officer. The school board said a nationwide search for a new principal will begin in January.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/la-academia-s-longtime-principal-and-ceo-resigns-unexpectedly/article_b7b8fe5c-ffea-11e8-bdaa-afc6f7147bb5.html
Philly school board reverses SRC decision, renews Richard Allen charter
The board approved a 2019-20 calendar that will start school after Labor Day, but tabled the proposed 2020-21 calendar after parents raised concerns.
The notebook by Greg Windle December 14 — 8:01 am, 2018
After the Board of Education meeting Thursday night, many longtime activists in the audience felt as if they had returned to the days of the board’s predecessor, the School Reform Commission. The most controversial vote reversed the SRC’s 2017 decision to close Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School for years of poor and declining academics, instead granting it a one-year extension. But the charter school was not the only point of contention. The board also considered new academic calendars for 2019-20 and 2020-21, fresh off this fall’s hapless attempt to start the school year before Labor Day for the first time. Classes started on Aug. 27 in an effort to maximize instructional time before testing, but the first two weeks were marked by several days of early closings due to excessive heat. Chief Schools Officer Shawn Bird explained that the proposed calendars were based on more than 6,400 survey responses from parents through the Parent Portal.
https://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/12/14/school-board-reverses-src-decision-gives-richard-allen-charter-another-year/
As black teachers’ numbers drop in Philly, a look at why that matters
A conversation with Dale Mezzacappa on 'The Why.'
WHYY NEWS and the Notebook December 12 — 3:18 pm, 2018Listen at WHYY.org
Studies indicate that when black students are taught by black teachers, it can have a profound effect on their lives. Yet in Pennsylvania, you could drive from north to south through an entire swath of the middle of the state and not find a single public school with a teacher of color. Just 5.6 percent of the state’s teachers are people of color, compared to 33.1 percent of its students. Most of Pennsylvania’s black teachers work in Philadelphia, but their numbers have dropped to less than 25 percent. On this episode of The Why, Philadelphia Public School Notebook contributing editor Dale Mezzacappa tells us what’s driving this downward trend among black educators and what’s being done to turn it around.
https://thenotebook.org/articles/2018/12/12/as-their-numbers-drop-in-philly-a-look-at-why-black-teachers-matter/
New mini-documentary sparks conversation about racism at State College public schools
Centre Daily Times BY SARAH PAEZ DECEMBER 13, 2018 07:14 PM, UPDATED DECEMBER 14, 2018 12:46 AM
The ninth-grader looked at the camera solemnly and said he feels like his teachers see him as a target. “All they’re trying to do is hit it, until that target falls apart,” he said. The student, who was not named, is one of six children and adults featured in a new mini-documentary called “Schooling Narratives,” which discusses the personal experiences of State College Area School District alumni, students, parents and community activists of color who say they’ve dealt with racism and pushback in the school system. There was a public viewing of the film Monday night, followed by a panel discussion with six current and past SCASD parents and graduates, three of whom were featured in the film. Close to 100 people attended the showing in Heritage Hall at the HUB in Penn State.
https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article222942330.html#navlink=SecList
Philadelphia school kids will get added protections from lead paint perils
Inquirer by Wendy Ruderman, Barbara Laker and Dylan Purcell, Updated: December 13, 2018
A year after a first grader was severely poisoned from peeling lead paint in his classroom, City Council on Thursday unanimously passed historic legislation aimed at ensuring such an injury never happens again. Under the legislation, which Mayor Kenney is expected to sign, the School District of Philadelphia must certify its buildings as “safe from lead-based paint hazards” or meet a 90-day deadline to repair damaged paint. Until that happens, the district must clean up hazards daily and restrict student access during repair work. The measure closes a glaring hole in the city’s safety net to prevent childhood lead poisoning. For the first time, it extends some of the same protections to students who attend public schools that are afforded to children who live in city rental homes. “As public stakeholders, we agree that building owners, especially those of public facilities, should take all appropriate precautions to mitigate exposure to health risks, including lead paint,” said Danielle Floyd, the district’s chief operating officer, during testimony before a Council committee last week.
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia/lead-paint-philadelphia-schools-protections-toxic-city-20181213.html
Despite recent cleanups, Philadelphia schools still expose kids and teachers to asbestos
Inquirer by Wendy Ruderman, Barbara Laker and Dylan Purcell, Updated: 23 minutes ago
After the successful cleanup of more than half a dozen schools, and with 38 more planned, the School District of Philadelphia is getting accolades for its aggressive, revamped efforts to protect students from lead paint. Now, city lawmakers and advocates for healthy schools are urging district officials to apply the lessons learned from lead-paint remediation and tackle an equally pressing crisis: asbestos. “We know it’s a big issue. Let’s start working on a plan,” said Councilman-at-Large Derek Green. “Just like we did with lead, let’s be proactive with asbestos as well."The district continues to falter with asbestos abatement, hampered by limited resources and an ineffective strategy for safeguarding kids and teachers from exposure to the cancer-causing fibers. Recently obtained documents, photos, and emails reveal a district that triages asbestos-related emergencies and blunders, rather than apply comprehensive reforms.
http://www.philly.com/education/philadelphia-asbestos-schools-cancer-district-toxic-city-sick-schools-20181214.html
School districts struggle with rules for administering medical marijuana
MATT MCKINNEY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mmckinney@post-gazette.com DEC 16, 2018
Nearly three years after Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana, school districts are struggling to figure out how to get it administered to children who need it while dealing with conflicting state and federal law. As medical marijuana burgeons across Pennsylvania and elsewhere – 33 states and Washington D.C. have legalized it – the federal government maintains a strict ban on the substance. Meanwhile, patients suffering from a range of chronic conditions, such as neurological disorders and Crohn’s Disease, use it to treat symptoms and improve the quality of their lives. Local school officials say the rift puts them in a bind. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked local school board leaders, advocates and experts to share their thoughts on how should districts should address medical marijuana in the face of a regulatory void and legal ambiguity. They were largely divided on whether school employees should be able to administer it in the current climate but agreed that the gap between state and federal interpretation deeply complicates the matter.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/15/School-districts-see-medical-marijuana-as-tricky-territory/stories/201812160046
Erie School District’s state-ordered plan coming in 2019
GoErie By Ed Palattella Posted Dec 11, 2018 at 12:01 AMUpdated Dec 11, 2018 at 9:06 AM
District’s state-appointed financial administrator, Charles Zogby, provided a preview a week ago and said he is nearing final calculations. The new year will bring a new plan for the Erie School District. And this will be the plan with the weight of state government behind it. The district’s state-appointed financial administrator, Charles Zogby, who started at the district in March, said he is on track to have his financial improvement plan finished in early 2019. The completion will trigger a process that, according to state law, must end with the Erie School Board adjusting the district’s budget to comply with the financial improvement plan. The 2019-20 budget is due by June 30. Zogby, a former state secretary of education and of the budget, on Dec. 1 presented the School Board with some of his prospective proposals, including that the board members explore outsourcing the district’s janitorial services to save money. Some School Board members bristled at Zogby’s proposals at the Dec. 1 meeting. How strongly Zogby makes those recommendations will be clear when he submits the final financial improvement plan.
http://www.goerie.com/news/20181211/erie-school-districts-state-ordered-plan-coming-in-2019#
How Charter Schools Are Damaging Public Education In Erie, PA
Forbes by Peter Greene Contributor Dec 10, 2018, 10:42pm
Erie has come a long way since the days that visitors would travel to the beaches just to be appalled by the dead fish on shore, the days when Western Pennsylvanians called it "The Mistake on the Lake." The waterfront is now pristine and beautiful, the city now boasting great theaters, hotels and recreation. But public education is still struggling. Just two and a half years ago, the previous superintendent of the district was asking his board to consider closing all of Erie's public high schools and just farming the students out to surrounding districts. The move may have been a play for attention, but it grew out of real problems. Erie suffers severely from issues felt across Pennsylvania. The state is near the bottom of US states in its support for local districts (generally around 36% of school money comes from the state). That means that local districts must supply the bulk of district finances. The ability of local districts to come up with money varies wildly from place to place, which is why Pennsylvania has had the greatest gap between rich and poor districts in the nation. Governor Tom Wolf entered office announcing his intention to fix that, but so far progress has been minimal. In the meantime, Erie is not exactly a rich district, and it has gotten poorer as charter schools (both brick and cyber) have popped up in the area, moving more and more money away from the public schools. Charter school advocates have long argued that competition will unlock excellence and general awesomeness. The plight of Erie's public schools gives us a hint about how that actually works.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2018/12/10/erie-pa-and-the-struggle-to-save-public-education/#46caef2337d3
Sleepless No More In Seattle — Later School Start Time Pays Off For Teens
NPR by PATTI NEIGHMOND December 12, 20182:21 PM ET
Teens' biological clock drives them to stay up late and sleep in. Most school start times don't accommodate that drive.
Many American teenagers try to put in a full day of school, homework, after-school activities, sports and college prep on too little sleep. As evidence grows that chronic sleep deprivation puts teens at risk for physical and mental health problems, there is increasing pressure on school districts around the country to consider a later start time. In Seattle, school and city officials recently made the shift. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, the district moved the official start times for middle and high schools nearly an hour later, from 7:50 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. This was no easy feat; it meant rescheduling extracurricular activities and bus routes. But the bottom line goal was met: Teenagers used the extra time to sleep in. Researchers at the University of Washington studied the high school students both before and after the start-time change. Their findings appear in a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. They found students got 34 minutes more sleep on average with the later school start time. This boosted their total nightly sleep from 6 hours and 50 minutes to 7 hours and 24 minutes.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/12/676118782/sleepless-no-more-in-seattle-later-school-start-time-pays-off-for-teens
Lower Merion School District officials continue to consider later school start times
Mainline Times By Richard Ilgenfritz rilgenfritz@mainlinemedianews.com Nov 16, 2018
LOWER MERION – For the past couple of years, both members of the public and high school students have been asking Lower Merion officials for a later high school start time. That wish still may come true but not for at least another couple of years. This week Kristina Ayers Paul, special assistant for program evaluation at Lower Merion, outlined the latest findings from a working group that has been studying the issue since 2016. The current school schedule for the two Lower Merion high schools runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. The middle school times run from 8:15 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. and the elementary schools began at 9 a.m. and end at 3:35 p.m. According to Paul, under the current schedule, the only other school in the Central Athletic League that has a longer day than Lower Merion is the Upper Darby School District. Lower Merion high school schedules run for 7 hours and ten minutes and Upper Darby comes in at 7 hours and 11 minutes. In her presentation, Paul outlined what would happen if Lower Merion pushed up the start times for middle and elementary schools. One of the major issues related to the changes in school start time is for busing. The district operates a three-tiered bus system that operates each tier for each of the school levels. The district is also required to transport students living in Lower Merion to over 100 private schools throughout the region.
http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/mainlinetimes/lower-merion-school-district-officials-continue-to-consider-later-school/article_d491b05a-e9ba-11e8-be68-578408f98e6b.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
No contract talks set between U.D. teachers, board
Delco Times By Kevin Tustin ktustin@21st-centurymedia.com December 17, 2018
UPPER DARBY — The bargaining table has been empty between the Upper Darby School District and the Upper Darby Education Association after the almost 1,000-member union roundly rejected their first new contract offer. Representatives of the district and union said last week that no new talks have been scheduled since 80 percent of the union voted on Dec. 3 to reject a new agreement. The union has been working without a contract since July 1. The school district’s labor attorney, Mark Fitzgerald, said Tuesday that no new dates have been set by the union. “Because they rejected the proposal that was agreed to with the state mediator it is incumbent upon them to clarify what shortcomings there were with the agreement reached between the parties,” he said. Wages have been a major sticking point for the union whose members of teachers, nurses, counselors and other professionals earn the lowest average salary of all county school districts ($62,000 according to the state).
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/no-contract-talks-set-between-u-d-teachers-board/article_77c66238-fe57-11e8-bd60-ebbe9c4596fa.html
Pa. Rep. Scanlon says she’ll sign onto effort to reinstate Net Neutrality | Friday Coffee Refill
Penn Live By John L. Micek | jmicek@pennlive.com jmicek@pennlive.com Updated Dec 14; Posted Dec 14
Earlier this week, we reported that newly elected U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5th District, was among the lawmakers being targeted by net neutrality activists racing to convince 38 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to get behind an 11th hour push to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality. It appears to have worked.
In a statement released by her office, Scanlon said she’s going to sign a discharge resolution that would force a House vote on the issue. Here’s the full text of that statement.
https://www.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2018/12/pa-rep-scanlon-says-shell-sign-onto-effort-to-reinstate-net-neutrality-friday-coffee-refill.html
End Head Start, School Lunch Programs to Cut Deficit? Federal Report Probes Options
Education Week Pollitics K12 Blog By Andrew Ujifusa on December 16, 2018 8:02 AM
Capitol Hill's budget arm says that among the many options federal lawmakers have for cutting the budget deficit, they could consider eliminating Head Start and federally supported school meal programs. The Congressional Budget Office's "Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2019 to 2028" is the latest in a series of reports the office releases to help lawmakers consider options for reducing the federal deficit, which in fiscal 2018 stood at $778 billion, or 3.8 percent of gross domestic product. There are a total of 121 possibilities the CBO lists for reducing the deficit, and there are a few programs listed that education policy advocates and observers might be interested in. The report also explores changes to Pell Grants and certain loan forgiveness programs availablre to teachers. Keep in mind that this report from the CBO doesn't require or place any burden on Congress to do anything—the office is just listing options for lawmakers to consider. Also: The CBO isn't explicitly endorsing any of these options.
https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2018/12/federal-budget-head-start-school-lunch-deficit-cbo.html
Can charter schools be reformed? Should they be?
Washington Post Answer Sheet Blog By Valerie Strauss Reporter December 16 at 9:00 AM
In 2013, I published a post with this headline: “Why charter schools need better oversight.” The author of the piece, Jeff Bryant, wrote: There are undoubtedly wonderful charter schools in existence, and Americans generally have a favorable opinion of charters, but hardly a week goes by without news of a scandal or a study tarnishing their image....
Leading off the charter scandal parade was Pennsylvania where an auditor general found that the state’s largest charter school pocketed $1.2 million “in improper lease-reimbursement payments.” The scheme the school was running has become all too familiar to anyone following the nefariousness of some charter school operators....In Texas, a charter school located in Houston was recently accused of funneling of $5.3 million in federal funds to questionable destinations, including ”hotels, cruises and travel packages,” six-figure salaries, and, again, a real estate scheme involving a management company and the charter school....
Five years later, the same remains true: There are some wonderful charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately operated, but the sector is rife with scandal and critics charge they are harming the traditional public schools, which enroll most of America’s children. What was once billed as a model for the improvement of traditionally governed public schools has become a troubled parallel system of privately managed schools with, in many places, patterns of waste, fraud and segregation. In this post, veteran educator and public education advocate Carol Burris looks at the charter sector and asks and answers these questions: Can charter schools be reformed? Should they be?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/12/16/can-charter-schools-be-reformed-should-they-be/?utm_term=.2177da4980f0
Democrats moving into House breathe new life into Toomey’s gun bill
WHYY By Matt Laslo December 14, 2018 Listen 4:43
Back in 2013, shortly after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, stalwart Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was scorned by the NRA for helping craft legislation for limited gun background checks with West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin. Known as Toomey-Manchin, it attempted to beef up the nation’s background check system, applying it to online sales and purchases at gun shows. But the measure left carve outs in cases such as selling a firearm to a family member or a friend. It won bipartisan support, yet fell six votes short in the Senate. Now, said Toomey, there’s again chatter about the bill. “I am having conversations with people about it, and I think we should do it,” he said. The duo never tried to revive their bill after it was defeated five years ago, but Toomey said the upcoming Congress, with Democrats controlling the House, may be different.
https://whyy.org/articles/democrats-moving-into-house-breathe-new-life-into-toomeys-gun-bill/?utm_source=dlvr&utm_medium=twitterauto&utm_campaign=social-inbound
Pennsylvania schools work – for students, communities and the economy when adequate resources are available to give all students an equal opportunity to succeed.
Join A Movement that Supports our Schools & Communities
PA Schools Work website
Our students are in classrooms that are underfunded and overcrowded. Teachers are paying out of pocket and picking up the slack. And public education is suffering. Each child in Pennsylvania has a right to an excellent public education. Every child, regardless of zip code, deserves access to a full curriculum, art and music classes, technical opportunities and a safe, clean, stable environment. All children must be provided a level chance to succeed. PA Schools Work is fighting for equitable, adequate funding necessary to support educational excellence. Investing in public education excellence is the path to thriving communities, a stable economy and successful students.
http://paschoolswork.org/
Build on finance, policy, board culture skills at PSBA’s Applied School Director Training
Four convenient locations in December and January
Take the next step in your professional development with Applied School Director Training. Building upon topics broadly covered in New School Director Training, this new, interactive evening event asks district leaders to dive deeper into three areas of school governance: school finance, board policy and working collaboratively as a governance team. Prepare for future leadership positions and committee work in this workshop-style training led by experts and practitioners. Learn how to:
·
Evaluate key
finance documents such as budget and audit materials
·
Review and analyze board policies and administrative regulations
·
Build positive board culture by developing strong collaboration skills
Locations and Dates:Dec.11, 2018 — Seneca Valley SD
Dec. 12, 2018 — Selinsgrove, Selinsgrove Area Middle School
Jan. 10, 2019 — Bethlehem, Nitschmann Middle School
Jan. 17, 2019 — State College
Cost: This event is complimentary for All-Access members or $75 per person with standard membership and $150 per person for nonmembers. Register online by logging in to myPSBA.
https://www.psba.org/2018/11/applied-school-director-training-state-college/
PASBO is looking for leaders! The deadline for board seats is Dec 31st, 2018.
PASBO members who desire to seek election as Director or Vice President should send a letter of intent with a current resume and picture to the Immediate Past President Edward G. Poprik, PCSBO, who is chair of the PASBO Nominations and Elections Committee.
More info: https://www.pasbo.org/election
NSBA 2019 Advocacy Institute January 27-29 Washington Hilton, Washington D.C.
Register now
The upcoming midterm elections will usher in the 116th Congress at a critical time in public education. Join us at the 2019 NSBA Advocacy Institute for insight into what the new Congress will mean for your school district. And, of course, learn about techniques and tools to sharpen your advocacy skills, and prepare for effective meetings with your representatives. Save the date to join school board members from across the country on Capitol Hill to influence the new legislative agenda and shape the decisions made inside the Beltway that directly impact our students. For more information contact federaladvocacy@nsba.org.
PSBA Board Presidents’ Panel
Nine locations around the state running Jan 29, 30 and 31st.
Share your leadership experience and learn from others in your area at this event designed for board presidents, superintendents and board members with interest in pursuing leadership roles. Workshop real solutions to the specific challenges you face with a PSBA-moderated panel of school leaders. Discussion will address the most pressing challenges facing PA public schools.
https://www.psba.org/2018/11/board-presidents-panel-2/
Annual PenSPRA Symposium set for March 28-29, 2019
Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association Website
Once again, PenSPRA will hold its annual symposium with nationally-recognized speakers on hot topics for school communicators. The symposium, held at the Conference Center at Shippensburg University, promises to provide time for collegial sharing and networking opportunities. Mark you calendars now!
We hope you can join us. Plans are underway, so check back for more information.
http://www.penspra.org/
2019 NSBA Annual Conference Philadelphia March 30 - April 1, 2019
Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Registration Questions or Assistance: 1-800-950-6722
The NSBA Annual Conference & Exposition is the one national event that brings together education leaders at a time when domestic policies and global trends are combining to shape the future of the students. Join us in Philadelphia for a robust offering of over 250 educational programs, including three inspirational general sessions that will give you new ideas and tools to help drive your district forward.
https://www.nsba.org/conference
Save the Date: PARSS Annual Conference May 1-3, 2019
Wyndham Garden Hotel, Mountainview Country Club
Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools
https://www.parss.org/Annual_Conference
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do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
that I may be affiliated with.
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