Marple Newtown Officials Propose To Save Paxon Hollow German Program and Office Assistants

NEWTOWN SQUARE—At a budget workshop meeting on June 14, the  announced that they will be able to save two out of the  for one more year. 

"The board and I have listened very carefully and very diligently to the concerns and comments shared about those different positions that we shared over the past month that were recommended for elimination," addressed Superintendent Dr. Merle Horowitz to the public.

After several comments and pleas made by students and parents of the 's German III program, some may let out a brief sigh of relief as the language program has been saved–for now.

"For just one more year—and that will be it—in the 2011-2012 year, we will fund the German program at Paxon Hollow Middle School for those students who have completed German I and II," said Horowitz.

According to Horowitz, school officials have already started working out the details  of making arrangements for the students—from working around the new high school schedule to transporting the German teacher from the high school to the middle school.

One student, who has addressed the board at several previous meetings to save the middle school German program, was particularly happy about this announcement.

Bill McKeown, who was all smiles, shared, "I've come here serveral times hoping to get our German III program and that's happening—and I'd just like to thank the board for finding a way to make it happen."

In addition to the German III program, the four part-time office assistants from each of the elementary schools in the district may have just dodged a bullet, whose positions were slated to be slashed in next year's budget. Though some may be relieved, it may paint a grim picture for others.

"We're looking to retain the office assistant positions but we are searching for other positions to recommend in lieu of those office assistant positions for elimination," Horowitz said.

In the preliminary 2011-2012 budget, the four office assistant positions were earmarked for a total of $56,000 in savings.

According to Horowitz, the board will hold a special executive session meeting to discuss the personnel issue over the course of next week "to discuss the possible replacement positions for elimination in lieu of the office assistants."

The other positions that were originally proposed to be cut will remain on the chopping block, said Lance Freeman, director of Human Resources for the district.

Business Administrator Joe Driscoll said these changes would not impact the budget significantly as several attritional savings have been made with recent resignations which would, in turn, fund the German program.

Other than these changes, the that was approved on May 24 will essentially stay the same, according to Driscoll. The general fund budget will remain as $67 million and the tax levy increase is still set for 5.5 percent. The average homeowner with an assessed property at $250,000 will pay $224 more per year in taxes.

The board has until June 30 to approve the final budget. The next scheduled meeting has been set for June 28 at 7:30 p.m.