Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottsgrove School District. Two teams of Pottsgrove High School students recently won high honors in this year’s final WordWright Challenge of the academic year. Participating with 693 school teams across the country, Pottsgrove’s eleventh graders tied for thirteenth place in the nation, while our seniors tied for fourteenth in the nation.
Pottsgrove senior and class Valedictorian, Paul Sachs was one of the 12 highest ranked twelfth graders in the country in the year-end cumulative standings.
Pottsgrove students who achieved perfect scores were juniors Simon Lapic and Brenna Mayberry. The students were supervised by Todd Kelly.
The premise behind WordWright Challenge is that attentive reading and sensitivity to language are among the most important skills students acquire in school.
The tests students must analyze for the Challenge can range from short fiction by Eudora Welty or John Updike to poetry as old as Shakespeare’s or as recent as Margaret Atwood’s, and to essays as classic as E.B. White’s or as current as James Parker’s cultural commentary in The Atlantic.
Though the texts vary widely in voice, tone, and length, they have one thing in common: style. All use language skillfully to convey layers and shades of meaning not always apparent to students on a first or casual reading.
Like the questions on the verbal SAT I, the SAT II in English Literature, and the Advanced Placement exams in both English Language and English Literature, the questions posed by the WordWright Challenge ask students both the recognize the emotional and/or rational logic of a piece of writing and to notice the ways in which a writer’s style shapes and shades his meaning. Because the WordWright Challenge is a classroom activity and not a college-entrance exam, however, it can be a learning experience, not just a high hurdle.
After completing a Challenge, classes are encouraged to talk about the tests and the answers to the multiple-choice questions, and are also given additional topics for open-ended discussion and/or written response.
The texts for the fourth WordWright meet this year were a pair of poems by Philip Booth and Alastair Reid for 9th and 10th graders and a short story by Michael Chabon for 11th and 12th graders.
A sizeable crowd turned out to defend Pottstown's music, arts, library and foreign language programs from possible budget cuts Thursday, only to find out the board decided against cutting any programs.
The Pottstown High School parking lot was nearly as full as on holiday concert nights.
Rally posters made by seventh and eighth grade band members were being handed out.
Speeches extolling the benefits of music education were being rolled and un-rolled in the nervous hands of those not used to public speaking.
But as Thursday's school board meeting got going, School Board President Amy Francis took the wind out of everybody's sails by announcing the proposed cut to the music program they had all come to protest is not going to happen.
This was the reaction:
But those who had come to fight for their programs were told the fight is not over and doesn't belong in Pottstown. Rather it belongs in Harrisburg, where the Republican majority does not use the Legislature's own fair education formula to fund public schools in Pennsylvania.
"The problem is not in Pottstown, the problem is in Harrisburg and if we don't make change there,
Pottstown sixth grader Amiyah Carter, picks a protest sign made up by seventh and eight graders in preparation for the May 16 school board meeting.
we'll be here again next year," said school board member John Armato. "We won't solve this problem by pitting one group against another. We need to take this fight to Harrisburg, where they are failing to meet their ethical responsibilities to treat all students fairly."
A group of Pottstown Schools advocates has joined with a larger advocacy group called POWER to press for the passage of House Bill 961 which calls for all Pennsylvania public school funding to be allocated using the three-year-old fair funding formula which takes things like poverty and local tax effort into account.
Had it been in place this year, Pottstown would have had $13 million more to balance its budget, rather than considering not replacing long-time high school band director Michael Vought, who is retiring this year.
Instead, the decision was made to pull an additional $97,000 out of the reserve fund to balance the $63 million preliminary budget for the 2019-2020 school year that was adopted by an 8-1 vote later in the evening. Board member Thomas Hylton cast the only nay vote.
But it will take more than a single rally to save these Pottstown school programs on a more permanent basis, said Schools Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez.
"Don't just think that one day is going to change everything. Take some time and call a legislator. Call (House) Speaker (Mike) Turzai," Rodriqguez said.
"If Speaker Turzi decides that bill is not going to make it to the floor, if we don't have the opportunity
Ironically, the night Pottstown rallied to save its music program,
was also the night it received a national music education award
from the National Association of Music Merchants.
to get a hearing; if we don't have the opportunity for it to go the education committee for it to actually get to the House, even though we have 56 co-spsonsors for the bill and only need 102 votes for it to pass, one person can keep that from going to the floor," Rodriguez said.
"So we need you to pick up the phone before you actually go," he said.
"Because this is the morally right thing to do, it's not about money, it's about students. And until people understand that we are not begging for money, we are fighting for students, nothing will change and we will be right back here again next year," Rodriguez said.
"You have to go to Harrisburg, there's really no excuse," said state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist. "And it can't be this nice-to-meet-you-Harrisburg. You really have to let them know what it means. It's nearly $14 million this district is underfunded; the fifth most under-funded district in the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania," he said.
"It's a disgrace," Ciresi said. "It needs to end. And it needs to end this year."
Laura Johnson
"Pottstown made it work again this year," said fair funding activist and school board candidate Laura Johnson. "But eventually, we will not be able to make it work without changing how Harrisburg funds public education."
That's not news to Beth Yoder, Pottstown High School art teacher and president of the Federation of Pottstown Teachers.
The arts "are the heart and soul of the education of our children," said Yoder. "We need to educate the whole child, and not just the half that we can afford."
Added Yoder, "we constantly talk about zip codes dictating what our kids have or do not have. Why would you consider taking even more away from them just because they were born in 19464? There are hundreds and hundreds of studies that show the positive impact the arts have, both physiologically and emotionally the arts have on every single student."
Here's video of more of Yoder's comments:
As evidence of Yoder's assertions, student Kayleigh Gibson stepped up the microphone and said Yoder's art room "was my safe place" when she was having a hard time at home. "Art, music and foreign language literally saved my life," she said.
Alivia Lopez
"We're not a band, we're a family," said 2017 graduate Alivia Lopez, who came to the meeting to support a program that helped her and countless others. "There are teachers here in this program who were moms and dads to these students."
Tammy Vontor said her son went to college on a music scholarship and will have a career as the result of the music education he received in Pottstown.
Alum Jessica Moyer, a former band president, said "the band put Pottstown on the map" and warned against the axiom of "doing more with less. Eventually, less always becomes less," she said.
She said she would be on the buses being arrange for the visit to Harrisburg.
Ted Freese
So will Ted Freese, a Pottstown school librarian who thanked the board for also rejecting the idea of not replacing retiring middle school librarian Claire Faust, which would likely have lowered English and math scores.
"June 12 is officially my last day of school, but my family and I will not be going to Disney World. We're going to Harrisburg," said Freese.
"I don't beg for much, but I will beg every day of the week for our kids, every day of the week," said Board Vice President Katina Bearden. "But we need your help, to have all this energy we have here right now tonight, and put in the right place" and that place is Harrisburg, she said.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.
Riley Maguire
Logan Ruyak
Congratulations to the young ladies that were honored by the YWCA Exceptional Girls Awards.
They represent our students' hard work and good citizenship.
The honorees are building a solid foundation for future success and happiness.
Franklin 4th grader Riley Maguire won the Health and Wellness Awardand Logan Ruyak from the high school received The Arts Award for her ability to express self-truth through artistic expression.
Chloe Hebert
Lyell Beneditch
Pottstown High School Junior Chloe Herbert was recognized for making a positive impact on the community through leadership, determination and ingenuity with the Community Impact Award.
Fifth grader Lyell Beneditch received the Health and Wellness Award for being a role model of healthy lifestyle.
The Rising Star Award for exhibiting leadership qualities and mentoring peers was awarded to high school student Emily Weber.
Emily Weber and Destiny Lepree Williams
Julianna Figueroa
Eleventh grader Destiny Lepree Williams was recognized with The Shooting Start Award for having a strong set of personal values and mentoring others to set high personal goals.
Julianna Figueroa distinguished herself in athletics,academics, preforming arts and citizenship. She was honored with the Trailblazer Award for acting as a passionate leader, who tears down barriers in male-dominated arenas.
Remember their names, you will hear them in the future as they take their place as community leaders.
A panoramic view of the crowd at the start of the May 14 Boyertown School Board meeting.
With a 5-4 vote, the Boyertown Area School Board Tuesday night kicked off the process for closing Pine Forge Elementary School.
Voting just one week before the primary election, the members voting in favor of the closure were David Lewis, Donna Usavage, Jill Dennin, Rodney Boyer and School Board President Steve Elsier.
Voting in opposition were Ruth Dierolf, Clay Breece, School Board Vice President Brandon Foose
With enrollment of about 242 in December, Pine Forge is one of Boyertown's smallest school buildings.
and Christine Neiman.
As solicitor Jeff Sultanik explained in some detail, Tuesday's vote is not a final decision, but only begins the process for gathering more information for a full public hearing required by the state; as well as approvals by the Berks County Planning Commission and Douglass (Berks) Township Planning Commission.
But at least four speakers Tuesday night did not need a formal public hearing to explain their thoughts on the subject.
"Closing Pine forge will create student over-crowding which will become a district-wide issue, not just an isolated issue in one or two schools." said Jen Irey. She said it will lead to larger class sizes, which will lead to less individualized attention for the students.
Here is some video of her comments:
"What is disheartening to me, is that after sitting through all these meetings, I still have not heard any of the long-term plans laid out," said Krista Gross, a parent of three children in the district.
"I would like to know what the district plans to do if their assumptions are wrong; what their back-up plan is if the district grows faster than they anticipate" said Gross. "Will our children end up in modular classrooms again?"
Here is more video of her comments:
Ellen Martignetti said some of the Pine Forge staff is already moving on to other jobs, "instead of waiting to be re-assigned by the district. Came you blame them? Isn't that what all of you would do?"
"Imagine what that looks like to a child. It looks frightening." Martignetti said. "Imagine a building full of unfamiliar faces."
Here is video of more of her comments:
Resident Jon Emeigh said his comments would not be popular.
"I don't know if everyone realizes how dire our financial situation is. It's really bad," said Jon Emeigh. "And we have only a choice of bad decisions"
"If we vote to keep Pine Forge open, it's going to cost about $8 million, spread out. Over the course of 30 years, it will cost about $16 million," Emeigh said.
"So the trade off for you keeping your school, is probably not being able to spend more on counselors; potentially not upgrading other schools and potentially threatening programs."
Nevertheless, he said, he would not support closing the school without more details on what would happen next.
Here is more video of Emeigh's comments:
But Boyertown Superintendent Dana Bedden said that if the administration went to the extra step of putting together those plans, the public would argue that the board's mind was already made up before the vote.
"Tonight's decision is not a closing decision," said Sultanik, noting state law requires a public hearing with full details a full three months before the final vote is taken.
In fact, two of the "yes" votes, Boyer and Dennin, said they voted yes in part to move the process forward so that those very questions can be answered.
Supporters of keeping Pine Forge open, wore red.
"If the data changes, I'm willing to change my mind," said Dennin.
But Neiman doubted that. "Once we start having hearings, it's going to be a done deal," she said.
She said Pine Forge students will most likely be sent to Earl, Boyertown and Colebrookdale elementary schools and will be "on the bus for an hour."
Dierolf agreed that the school district "is in financial crisis, but we're building a new stadium."
Lewis said closing the school will save the district $4 to $5 million, but Dierolf said she does not see those savings being realized.
"Cosing a school to close a budget shortfall is wrong," said Breece. "This will not raise academic outcomes for our kids," said Breece. He also predicted that in a few years, it will be decided that a new elementary school is needed "five or six miles to the east."
Pine Forge Elementary School was first constructed in 1928 as
Douglass Township Grade School. It was upgraded in 1957 and 1987 and is located on eight acres.
He was perhaps referring to the fact that enrollment growth driving re-districting is coming primarily from the Montgomery County side of the 100-square-mile district, in Douglass (Mont.) and New Hanover townships, where hundreds of new housing units are planned or already approved.
But Bedden insisted the one thing "not on the table is a new elementary school. That will cost as much as $26 million, and that is money we don't have," he said.
According to the district study, last year it costs $2.7 million to operate Pine Forge Elementary. It would cost between $1.8 to $4 million to upgrade the building to be compatible with the other elementary schools.
Pine Forge has about 17 teachers and 18 other staff. The administration does not call for any lay-offs as a result of closing the school. Personnel savings would come from attrition, retirements and resignations.
Donna Usavage said the studies have shown there is enough room in the other school buildings and closing Pine Forge "is in the best interests of the entire school district."
After voting, the school board went into a executive session, closed
to the public, for more than an hour, which did a good job of
clearing out the audience from the meeting.
But the question of whether there is enough room in Boyertown's school buildings is exactly what is driving the re-districting plan which was adopted unanimously prior to the Pine Forge vote.
In the first vote, the board voted unanimously to begin the process of re-districting, which will change which school hundreds of students attend among Boyertown's seven elementary schools and two middle schools.
After the meeting Elsier explained that the re-districitng plan, or "rightsizing" as Bedden has labeled it, can be found on the district website and affects all school buildings but the high school.
According to that information, last updated on May 5, Boyertown's school buildings have the following capacities and enrollments as of December:
Boyertown Elementary: Capacity of 700 with 445 students, or 64 percent of capacity.
Colebrookdale Elementary: Capacity of 350 with 291 students, or 83 percent of capacity.
Earl Elementary: Capacity of 350 with 246 students, or 70 percent capacity.
Gilbertsville Elementary: Capacity of 700 with 689 students, or 98 percent of capacity.
New Hanover/Upper Frederick Elementary: Capacity of 700 with 675 students, or 96 percent of capacity.
Pine Forge Elementary: Capacity of 350 with 242 students, or 69 percent of capacity.
Washington Elementary: Capacity of 700 with 483 students, or 69 percent of capacity.
Middle School East: Capacity of 1,050 with 895 students, or 85 percent of capacity.
Middle School West: Capacity of 860 with 782 students, or 91 percent of capacity.
Elsier conceded that should the board ultimately vote to close Pine Forge Elementary, that the plan will have to be adjusted to put those 242 students in other buildings.
In other news, after coming out of an hour-long executive session, from which the public was excluded, the school board voted 7-2 to adopt a $121 million preliminary budget that, if unchanged by June, will raise taxes by 3.6 percent.
Two subjects of extreme importance to Pottstown were on the agenda of last night's council meeting.
The first was the month's long deep dive into Pottstown's finances, and whether they are sustainable.
The second was the lease to operate the Ricketts Community Center, which expires at the end of the year.
On the first matter Econsult Solutions Inc. offered the following conclusions:
Despite the fact that recent tax hikes have offset revenue losses due to decreased property assessment, the borough should nevertheless limit property tax increase to about 1 percent to encourage economic development;
The borough needs more economic development;
Without changing anything, borough deficits will reach $1 million by 2024;
The police department does not need to be reduced;
Nevertheless, personnel costs, including police, are killing the budget and raises, health and retirement benefits should be limited and reduced;
The borough authority is well run and the water and sewer systems should not be sold;
We'll have more on this report once we actually read the report and it is analyzed by our sizeable and knowledgeable analysis and research staff....
As for the second topic, that is an interesting development.
For 10 years, the Ricketts Community Center has been operated as a branch of the Reading-based Olivett Boys and Girls Club, to varying reviews from the community.
Issues raised in the past have been no weekend hours and the club rules which prevent adults who do not have background clearances from spending time there while children are there.
A second community-based organization called STRIVE, which has risen up in the wake of increasing concerns about behavior problems among middle school-age children has put in a competing proposal to run the club once Olivett's five-year lease expires on Dec. 31.
Olivett has recent begun opening the center on Saturday's on a volunteer basis by the staff, and is seeking funding to continue doing so.
STRIVE, which stands for Strengthening Tomorrow Requires Initiative & Vision Everyday, plans on being open seven days a week and has a budget $265,000 more than the Olivett budget, but will not cost the borough any more than it currently pays Olivett.
Council gave no evident preference after hearing presentations from both groups.
From left are Jeff Delaney, Director of Career and Technology, Abigail Krause Pottstown High School senior and culinary student, Kevin Krause Loyal Knight and Steve Irick culinary teacher.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.
Pottstown Elks Lodge No. 814 provided Pottstown High School culinary students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills recently.
Students volunteered during the annual charity ball assisting in the kitchen as well as serving the meal.
The Elks Lodge made a $500 donation that will be used to support student learning opportunities
Students Cecilia Olock, Madison Hobson, Teacher Amand Lawless, Charissa Yerger and Isabella
Kerlin outside Hill Top Drive-In in Lower Pottsgrove for the Operation Backpack fundraiser.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottsgrove School District.
The Pottsgrove Middle School Student Coalition recently held a fundraiser at Hill Top Restaurant to support Operation Backpack.
Student Tommy Boyce.
The Student Coalition Club is in its second year of existence and is organized by teacher, Amanda Lawless and Student Resource Officer, Andrew Milliard.
The group focuses on concerns among 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students to aid in relationship building and to build a better learning environment.
Operation Backpack assists families by filling a backpack with enough food to feed a family over the course of a weekend.
The backpack is then brought back on Monday and is distributed on Friday's.
A number of Pottsgrove teams and clubs have also contributed to supporting this worthwhile program.
