Friday, April 19, 2013
The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors agreed to no longer pursue the idea of unified arts staff on the elementary level.
The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors heard the outcry of parents, students and residents who were very much against the idea of sharing arts staff at the district's elementary level. At an April 16 committee meeting, the board agreed to no longer pursue the idea of unified arts staff on the elementary level. At an April 9 budget committee meeting, hundreds of parents voiced concerns over the proposal that would share teachers for music, library, art and physical education at the elementary level. A petition was also created regarding the Loomis Elementary School music teacher Dan Peters, who would have been moved to the high school level. School Board President Kathryn Chandless told Patch that everyone on the board agreed not to …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
District administrators and the board of school directors heard numerous concerns at Tuesday night's 2 1/2-hour meeting.
Concerns over the possibility of sharing teachers for music, library, art and physical education at the elementary level, had Marple Newtown School District parents fighting for their children Tuesday night. District administrators presented a recommendation to maintain the level of arts programs at the elementary level while decreasing staff members, to the Board of School Directors and hundreds of parents at the April Budget and Finance Committee meeting. None of the arts programs were recommended to be cut. "There would be no change in programs," Assistant Superintendent Connie Bompadre said. "There would be a change in staffing." Bompadre explained that there would be a four-day rotation for the unified arts staff of music, library, …
Monday, April 8, 2013
The NAMM Foundation named the district with a Best Communities for Music Education designation.
Marple Newtown School District was recently recognized for its music education. The NAMM Foundation named the district with a Best Communities for Music Education designation, joining 307 districts nationally that received this year's honor. The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit organization advancing active participation in music. The Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) is awarded to districts that, "demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core curriculum," according to a BCME press release. The announcement comes as the district begins to finalize its budget and Loomis Elementary School parents petition to save their music teacher as the arts program may soon see some changes. The…
Sunday, April 7, 2013
A possible reorganization of the Marple Newtown School District arts program may have the four elementary schools sharing staff members.
A possible reorganization of the Marple Newtown School District elementary program may have the four elementary schools sharing staff members for art, library, vocal music, instrumental music and physical education. Parents at Loomis Elementary have started a petition to try to prevent their music teacher, Dan Peters, from leaving Loomis. There will be a public presentation at 6:30 p.m. on April 9 at the budget meeting regarding the reorganization. The meeting will be held at the administration building. The goal is to have 1,000 petition signatures by the meeting. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, there were 235 signatures. Find the petition here. Find the meeting agenda here.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Marple Newtown School District recently approved a new principal for the high school.
After a national search the Marple Newtown Board of School Directors recently approved a new high school principal. Gregory Puckett was unanimously approved by the board as the new principal of Marple Newtown High School. He will officially take over the role on July 1. Puckett is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Secondary Education in Social Studies, a Masters of Educational Leadership from Widener University and he is currently enrolled in the Doctoral program at Widener University. He has been assistant principal and principal at Springfield Township High School since 2008. Born and raised in Delaware County, Puckett currently lives in Middletown Township with his wife and three children. He also coaches his …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The Marple Township resident fills the vacant seat left behind by David McGinley who resigned in early February.
The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors appointed another new member to the board at a special meeting Tuesday. Barbara Harvey, of Marple Township, fills the vacant seat left behind by David McGinley who resigned in early February. Harvey, who works at the Delaware County Courthouse and for Marple Township, was sworn in Tuesday with her husband Bill by her side. Eight candidates submitted applications to the school board. In late February, the board approved Leonard Altieri, of Newtown Square, and Atsushi Baker, of Marple Township, to fill the two vacant seats left by the resignations of Fred Dewey and Jamie Mariano in January.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The two newly appointed school board members fill the vacant seats left behind by Fred Dewey and Jamie Mariano.
The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors appointed two new members to the board at its Tuesday meeting. The board approved Leonard Altieri, of Newtown Square, and Atsushi Baker, of Marple Township, to fill the two vacant seats. Both vacancies expire in December when both Altieri and Baker are expected to officially run for election for the open seats. In January, the board accepted the resignation of Fred Dewey and Jamie Mariano as Marple Newtown school directors. Dewey's resignation was effective Jan. 31, while Mariano's resignation was effective Feb. 13. School Board President Kathryn Chandless said Tuesday that both Altieri and Baker went through an interview process with the board, prior to being appointed. The two men were also …
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 …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Applications of interest for the vacant seat of Marple Newtown School Board member David McGinley is due by March 6.
NEWTOWN SQUARE–The Marple Newtown School Board has announced that a special meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. to conduct interviews for candidates interested in filling the vacant seat of former school board member David McGinley. McGinley suddenly resigned earlier month, just a few weeks after the resignations of former school board members Jamie Mariano and Fred Dewey were announced. Interested candidates to fill McGinley's vacant seat should submit a letter of interest and resume to the President of Marple Newtown Board of School Directors, C/O Administration Building, 40 medial Line Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073 or faxed to 610-723-3340 by Wednesday, March 6. The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors meet in …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Marple Newtown School District approved a four-year agreement with Wolfington Bus Company.
NEWTOWN SQUARE–Starting this July, the Marple Newtown School District will see a brand new fleet of school buses serving the district. But rest assure, parents. The routes and bus drivers will not change, said MNSD Business Administrator Joe Driscoll. Marple Newtown School Board members unanimously approved the four-year lease agreement with Wolfington Bus Company, a large school bus company operating out of Downingtown, earlier this month. According to Driscoll, Wolfington's proposal was the best deal in terms of price and service. "We’re getting more from what we were getting back in the bus buy-back program," said Driscoll about the district's current program with their current provider Brightbill. According to Driscoll, the district …
Sally A Ziegenfuss
2:30 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2013
I know the position of School Board is a thankless job. I would like to thank the MNSchool Board for listening to the community and their needs. Everyone working together for the best interest of our children is what is important. more ›