Tuesday, February 26, 2013
School districts across Pennsylvania, including Marple Newtown, await state aid figures this week with uncertainty.
NEWTOWN SQUARE–The White House released on Sunday night data of what the budget cuts to funding will mean for each state, including school districts across the nation. In the Marple Newtown School District, Superintendent Merle Horowitz says it means losing critical dollars for Title I programs. Unless Congress acts by March 1st, a sequence of automatic cuts—called the sequester—will take effect that will threaten federal funding to many public schools. Nearly $3 billion in cuts to education is expected in the sequestration. Horowitz shared her preliminary thoughts on the impacts to the district, should Congress pass it. "If that is the case, it would reduce our Title 1 allocation, which impacts reading intervention for elementary …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Marple Newtown School District parents, students, and community members attended Tuesday's school board meeting to urge school board directors to reconsider any potential cuts slated in the 2013-14 school budget.
NEWTOWN SQUARE–Hundreds of Marple Newtown School District parents, students, and members of the community attended Tuesday night's Marple Newtown School Board meeting ready to fight for any potential cuts that may be made in the 2013-14 school budget. Nearly 25 parents, students, alumni and parents with graduated students spoke before the school board with concerns on the future of the district's programs–particularly in the arts and music departments as well as the schools' libraries. But before public comments began, school board director Jim Lanzalotto addressed the crowd and shared the same sentiments as school board director John McDevitt shared in a Letter to the Editor published Tuesday on Marple Newtown Patch. Lanzalotto stated…
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Vice President of the Marple Newtown High School Band Parents' Association Kristel Schimmoller urges parents to attend Tuesday's Marple Newtown School Board meeting.
The following letter was submitted by Marple Newtown School District parent Kristel Schimmoller. To all Elementary, Middle School and High School Parents of Instrumental Students: First of all, let me introduce myself – I am Kristel Schimmoller, Vice President of the Marple Newtown High School Band Parents’ Association and parent of a junior in the high school band. Last week, the Marple Newtown School Board Budget and Finance Committee Meeting was held to review the budget plans for next year. During the meeting, members of the board indicated their desire to have a 0% tax increase while supporting salary increases for teachers. Attendees noted that if the budget was not increased, but salaries were, there would need to be cuts and …
Marple Newtown School Board member John McDevitt share his thoughts about the rumors circulating around the 2013-14 budget cuts.
The following letter was submitted by Marple Newtown School Board member John McDevitt. As all these emails circulate concerning the budget among other things throughout the district, all involved need to take a step back and let the school board do their job as the season gets underway for the 2013-14 budget process. Before I start on instrumental music, curriculum and budget cuts, let me first point out a few things. For the first time in recent history, this board and our teachers union have a tentative agreement eight months before the expiration of the current contract. We are all confident that this two-year deal will be ratified by the union and our teachers will be signed through the 2015 school year. I am very proud to be part …
Joe Rufo
10:23 am on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Our superintendent correctly brought up the fact that the effects of sequestering will have a negative impact on funding programs for children with disabilities. To then go into an attack on our teachers, and sarcastic shots at the superintendent, shows ignorance. more ›