Concerned Parents of Brandywine Heights

Google Battle

Iran fights to keep Gulf Persian: "Iran has stepped up its campaign to ensure the body of water between Iran and the Arabian peninsula is known as the Persian, not the Arabian, Gulf.
It is said to have withdrawn an invitation to National Geographic magazine to attend a festival because they refer to the Gulf as both.
Iranian bloggers also launched a web action on the Google search engine.
The words 'Arabian Gulf' elicit a spoof message: 'The Gulf you are looking for does not exist. Try Persian Gulf.' "

Greeks In Color

Turns out that Greeks actually weren't all marblely pale and didn't suffer from cataracts as their statues depict them. One view of what the Greek art actually looked like is found here. Still doesn't explain the mystery of how they created these works of art when the evidence suggest they often didn't have arms.

When Did We Get Dumb?

If you have a little spare time try applying for a place to King Edward’s School in Birmingham, England in 1898. This is the test given to 11 year old applicants. King Edwards was just a normal school not a private [ referred to as a public school in England]. Take The Test

"The tax which will be paid for education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up if we leave the people to ignorance." - Thomas Jefferson

[On Edit Friday Night]
It first sounded good but on further reflection, you have to consider the source. T.J. was a brilliant writer but he some of his writings appears that his cornbread wasn't always done in the middle. There is a reason Alexander Hamilton is on the 10 dollar bill and Jefferson is on the very lame 2 dollar bill and the afterthought coin the nickel. He was a genius in a wide area but had two major faults finances and the French. He was a Francophile and died in heavily in debt. Besides he didn't live in this school district.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

According to the American Farm Bureau's annual estimate of the price of a Thanksgiving Dinner, this year's feast will be 60 cents cheaper than last year's.

The nominal price has increased by almost $7, the inflation-adjusted price is over $14 cheaper (in 2004 $) than it was in 1986.

Year Nominal Real (2004 $)
1986 $28.74 $49.74
1987 $24.51 $40.58
1988 $26.61 $42.26
1989 $24.70 $37.54
1990 $28.85 $41.25
1991 $25.95 $36.05
1992 $26.39 $35.53
1993 $27.49 $36.02
1994 $28.40 $36.26
1995 $29.40 $36.52
1996 $31.66 $38.18
1997 $31.75 $37.51
1998 $33.09 $38.52
1999 $33.83 $38.40
2000 $32.37 $35.51
2001 $35.04 $37.64
2002 $34.56 $36.39
2003 $36.28 $37.44
2004 $35.68 $35.68

Ok if you can stay home but what about the cost of driving to the grocery store or the relatives. Not to mention the hospital cost when good stufffing goes bad. Who cares some things do transcend mere money.

Hope everyone has a Happy Holiday.

Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School

"A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God -- including the Declaration of Independence.
Steven Williams, a fifth-grade teacher at Stevens Creek School in the San Francisco Bay area suburb of Cupertino, sued for discrimination on Monday, claiming he had been singled out for censorship by principal Patricia Vidmar because he is a Christian.
'It's a fact of American history that our founders were religious men, and to hide this fact from young fifth-graders in the name of political correctness is outrageous and shameful,' said Williams' attorney, Terry Thompson." MORE :

Operation Phone Home

"They have sons and daughters, brothers and sisters,
mothers and fathers, and friends who are with them in spirit and silently
supporting them from the other side of the world.
But it would mean so much to our service members to be able to
hear their voices.
Far from home and lonely, they are defending
our flag and our freedom.
The USO is working hard to bring home as close to them as possible.
Please join us in USO Operation Phone Home, a campaign created to make it
possible for Americans to extend this touch of home to
the men and women of our armed forces.
And we will continue this effort
until every one comes home.

There is an URGENT need for phone cards for those serving in forward deployed locations. Please join us in supporting our men and women in uniform during this holiday season. Operation Phone Home
"

E-Bullying

"BULLYING BY mobile phone or email :is more likely to have a bad affect on victims than a traditional face to face encounter, according to an Aussie study.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researcher Marilyn Campbell said many child victims of cyber and internet abuse felt they had no place to hide."

And in other e-bullying developments a school in England is piloting a phone text messaging program to deal with both e-bullying and the old fashion kind.

Teacher Brackets

The following chart is a breakdown of where Brandywine teachers fall into the different pay-grades based upon years of service. Of the 148 teachers 78 or 52% in the final tier.

Looking at the breakdown of the salary program by years of service. The final group consumes 62% of the approximately 8 million dollar budgeted for salaries.

In 2004 the Social Security Cost of Living Increase COLA was 2.1%. With the approval of the contract the teachers in the final bracket will receive an increase of 2.4% or a difference of 0.3%. The big difference is that COLA is calculated every year and adjusted for inflation the teachers in this bracket will be stuck with this increase over the next 4 years come hell or high water and they will now have to pay at least some of their health insurance. While Brandywine initial pay is higher then the county average, to suck in the unwary, this group is being paid less.

Any real tax savings has to be based upon reducing the number of teachers in this upper bracket either by natural attrition or by early retirement programs. If only a few of the 78 accept the early retirement package the contract increase can start to at least break even by the second year. As mentioned previously this can only be accomplished by having an acceptable contract in place.

In today edition of the Morning Call on dead trees there was an article about a school district in western PA that has been operating without a contract for four years and three strikes. The real sticking points were unclear, probably just semitards on both sides. Do you really want a third of the educational life of the students in this district to be so disruptive?

The Contract

Negotiations like politics is the art of the possible. In accepting the settlement in salary and contributions the board gave up $494,296 over their last proposal over the 4 year period. The teachers position of a 5% increase in the salary program, would have been reasonable under a different economic situation. accepted the report and left $992,690 on the table. The board even if they had managed this time to achieve a percentage contribution arrangement would have had to give up something in salary,costing the district even more. People at the meeting were telling how they have to contribute much more on a percentage basis. The final settlement would have eventually been under arbitration. Arbitrators don't care what other industries do they compare with other school districts. The report was in line with what teachers in other district pay. She gave the board the bottom lne amount they requested but gave the teachers the certainty of a dollar amount.

If the contract had not been approved all the resolved items would have been back on the table. Some were mentioned in the report others left out. Some had merit some were just smoke screens to keep from negotiating the percentage contribution. There were items for everything except pet insurance. If it had gone to arbitration even the nuisances ones could have been found in favor of the union. The issue of a fund for out of pocket medical expenses alone would have wiped out any savings from insurance contributions.

While the labor dispute continued the district is lawfully required to honor the existing contract. That alone would have increased the salary program this year and next by 2% and 100% health care. Teachers increase in experience and/or reach educational benchmarks moving them into higher pay categories. This would have continued so they had no real incentive to settle. Teachers in the upper bracket would not receive any additional money while the contract is unresolved. Since state retirment benefits are a factor of their last salaries, it would have been in their long term interest to continue refusing the board's offer.

The only feasible way to reduce the salary cost is by an early retirement program and people either dropping or reducing their insurance coverage. Both of these are impossible to instigate without a contract. Early retirement programs have to be approved by both the board and the union. That was not going to happen with ongoing labor dispute in progress. There is no provision in the current contract for an insurance opt-out procedure.

If you still have a mad on trying turning your energies and carrying your REJECT signs to the Longswamp planning board where hundreds of new homes are being approved. Seems the people that brought you the new H.S. have turned to other projects, while you have been busy screaming at the people that are trying to clean up their original mess. Bricks not books is what got us into this situation in the first place and the current plans are really going to compound the problem.

Home-Alone

Mary Eberstadt has written an unwelcome book. That doesn't make it any less important or less necessary. But many people will want to look the other way. In Home-Alone America, Eberstadt confronts us with the consequences of a revolution in American parenting that has left children increasingly deprived of time — or any relationship at all — with their mothers and fathers.

This revolution has two causes: "The first is the divorce/illegitimacy explosion — or what might be called the absent-father problem. The second is what is often the flip side of that explosion, working motherhood — or the absent-mother problem — which is sometimes a real choice and sometimes not." Eberstadt exposes the nasty underside of the emphasis on the "lifestyle choices" and personal fulfillment of adults — at the expense of their kids Home-Alone America

A Pox on Both Your Houses.

About 100 members of the Taxpayers Association of Brandywine Heights mocked a teachers-contract proposal at a meeting of the group Wednesday night.

The group, preparing for an expected school board vote on the contract tonight, cheered calls of, “Let the teachers strike.”
Article

That is a mature attitude to take and that goes for the union represent quoted in the paper yesterday calling for a strike vote without any more negotiations. Maybe you should listen to what the problems the board had with the report before making a drastic decision that can only hurt the community and your members. First listen and then strike if you must just don't be a rebel without a clue. Both sides just need to grow the hell up. Currently there is little difference between what the Fact Finder recommended, the union passed and the concerns of the board. These attitudes are not helping find a not so perfect solution.

District should start suspension program

The Issue: The Muhlenberg School Board considers requiring students who are suspended for three days or more to perform community service during the suspension.

Our Opinion: As long as there are no legal restrictions that would prohibit it, the program should be implemented. " Article:

Muhlenberg wants to coddle the suspended students letting them sweep, file and other chores around the school. They are right making them do community service outside of school would have legal issues as running background checks on supervisors. Well at Brandywine we can do better give them a shovel, a pile of dirt and a sinkhole and tell them to fill it up. Just have to get Mr. Thermenos a pair of mirror sun glasses, so he can be the walking boss like in Cool Hand Luke.

The 4%

There are usually two ways to recieve an increase in salary. Achive a promotion for recoginition of contributing more to the company or some type of increase for cost of living. With the 4% recommended the majority of teachers will not be reciving a 4% raise. About half of that money is for increasing the pay of teachers moving to different grades either by another year of service and/or reaching an educational benchmark such as earning a Master's Degree.

The other half of the 4% is to provide the majority of teachers that have reached the upper grade after 14 years with a cost of living increase. They will only be receiving around 2% and for the first time be having health insurance deducted. Someone on the board was saying how their family only received a 2% raise and had 17% of their insurance cost deducted. For the majority of the teachers they will be in the same boat.

You can agree or disagree on how teachers are promoted but reform will take major overhaul of the educational system. People with a lot more stroke then your neighborhood board members.

Reading Eagle Article

Contract negotiators in the Brandywine Heights School District may be headed for a showdown.
Teachers will take a strike-authorization vote Friday if the school board rejects a mediator's fact-finding report for a second time, according to Michael T. Babb, teachers union president.
The school board rejected the fact-finding report last week, which triggered a period of public inspection required by law.
The board is expected to take a second vote during a public meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in the middle school. If approved, the report would form the basis of a new contract.
The report calls for a four-year pact that would boost the total amount of money available for teachers salaries by 4 percent each year.
That amount would be distributed among the 150 teachers based on a salary schedule that accounts for experience and education.
The board had proposed yearly salary hikes of 2.5 percent, while the union was asking for annual salary increases of 4.9 percent.
School board Vice President Michael A. Sacks doesn't believe the board will change its mind, and he questioned whether the union membership would support a strike.
“Teachers I spoke to aren't in favor of a strike,” Sacks said Tuesday, adding that it would be the union leadership pushing for one.
According to the fact-finding report, the average Brandywine teacher salary last year was $53,308 ninth highest among Berks County's 18 public school districts.
The union accepted the terms of the fact-finder's report, which Babb said were fair.
He said it would give teachers a larger raise than the district had offered, but it also would require for the first time that teachers pay a portion of their health-insurance premiums.
Teachers choosing family coverage would contribute $40 a month to health care in the first year, and that figure would increase incrementally to $65 a month in the final year.
Babb is confident the union membership would support a strike, although he said nobody wants to see it happen.
“I'm still hopeful they (the school board) will see the fact-finding report was very fair and will vote to accept the report,” Babb said Tuesday. “The board just needs to get over the fact that they didn't get everything they want.”
If a strike is authorized, teachers would immediately begin informational pickets after school, but most likely would not disrupt classes until after the Thanksgiving holiday, Babb said.
He stressed that the union would not negotiate further.
Sacks said the school board is not convinced that the mediator's report was fair.
“There are parts I could swallow, but there are others I just couldn't,” he said. “It's totally one-sided. We're still open to negotiations.”
Babb said the board was bowing to pressure from taxpayers who are very vocal at meetings.
“It's time to think of all the people, not just the 100 holding a sign (at meetings),” he said.
At last week's board meeting, several residents held up “REJECT” signs, and about 100 people stood in support of turning down the mediator's report.
The previous contract expired June 30, and the two sides have been negotiating since January.
Article

Incorrect Notice Going Around

*****************
This is the meeting that decides HOW MUCH MORE YOUR TAXES WILL INCREASE. The School Board will vote at this meeting on RAISES & BENEFITS for the Teaching Staff.

The Teacher’s Association is Demanding a 5% increase each year for the NEXT 4 YEARS, which amounts to a 21.5% increase. On top of that, they are only willing to contribute $25.00 per month of the $813.03* per month of their health care plan, of which we now pay 100%, and which has been increasing at a rate of 18% per year. ALSO, THEY NOW WANT US TO CONTRIBUTE UP TO $500 (each teacher) A YEAR FOR THEIR OUT OF POCKET MEDICAL EXPENSES.

If you think ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, then come out to this meeting and voice your concern. Let the School Board know how you feel about the Runaway Costs & Spending.
*This is the Monthly Cost of a Family Plan, of which the majority of staff has. ( These figures will increase each year)

***********************
First off they were asking not demanding it is called negotiation. Never hurts to ask.
The agreed to a little more reasonable 4% .
They also agreed to $40 month contribution not the original $25.
Also they dropped the $500 out of pocket medical expense. There was a similar provision in their contract until the last one.

One thing you need to know about any pay increases. Even if they didn't receive a pay increase the budget item would still rise around 1.6%. This is due to just under 50% of our teachers moving up a salary grade after another year of service. That still leaves over 50% of teachers who have maxed out after their 14th year.

So if you take out the 1.6% from the 2.5% the district has offered that leaves under a 1% raise for over half the staff. With contributions to health insurance would leave them with hardly anything or losing money. From their perspective Brandywine upper bracket for experienced teachers is already lower then surrounding districts. With any inflation over a four year period and other districts now just starting contract negations they will fall even further behind their peers.

The district tax base, the amount received from each tax mill, has increased around a 2-3% rate over the past 10 years. So a pay hike in the 3% range combined with other cost saving measures, [teachers paying a percentage of health cost not a flat amount, Opt-Out provison for health insurance, early retirement incentives] would not necessary cause a hike in taxes. The 4% yearly increase was based partially on inflation rates on the East Coast. Since we are talking about a 3-4 year time frame full of uncertainties why not a lower guaranteed rate and a clause that would increase the amount tied to some published inflation rate or the rate increase the Social Security uses?

The property tax burden is a problem for everyone. Only if everyone can be a little reasonable can we hope to get out of this mess we find ourselves in and preserve the educational future of the next generation.

Teacher Salary Survey

The latest AFT salary survey shows that efforts to make education salaries competitive with other professions face a stiff headwind—in the form of skyrocketing costs for health benefits. The 2002-03 average teacher salary was $45,771, up 3.3 percent from the previous year, and average beginning teacher salaries rose 3.2 percent to $29,564 for the same period. But those gains are dwarfed by staggering increases in the cost of health insurance benefits—which spiked an astounding 13 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.Teacher Salary Survey

California comes in at number 1 with an average of $55,693. Pennsylvania is number 10 at $51,425. South Dakota brings up the rear at $32,414. No more complaining from local teachers. Look on the bright side you could be making a lot less and living in South Dakota. Has anyone ever come up with an explanation on why we have two Dakotas? Seems like one Dakota would be plenty for any country.

A Real Foreign Language

There was discussion last week on foreign languages. One language that appears to be really foreign and deserves consideration, the language of personal finance. The JumpStart Coalition, which promotes financial literacy among the young, surveys high school seniors on this subject, and while the results improved a bit this year, they were still pretty dismal: "This year, 65.5 percent of students failed the exam and 6.1 percent scored a C or better." A typical question with the percentages of students answers:

25. Hector and Maria just had a baby. They received money as baby gifts and want to
put it away for the baby's education. Which of the following tends to have the highest growth over periods of time as long as 18 years?

45.9% a) a U.S. Govt. savings bond
*17.2% b) stocks
33.6% c) a savings account
3.3% d) a checking account

The questions and answers can be found here.

What other course could have as much impact on the future of today's students?
How many marriages end in divorce because one or both partners can't conjugate French verbs? How many people have to take second jobs to pay off credit card bills because they were not good in German? Was knowing Spanish was ever a reason people retire completely dependent on Social Security.

A relatively small investment in teaching kids about personal finance might not only improve their lives as adults but also promote economic growth by leading to better spending decisions and more savings and investment. This could become even more important if the Bush administration moves ahead with any plans for privatizing Social Security.

With financial illiteracy rampant maybe the new Pennsylvania slots,which is just a tax on people that are really bad at math and personal finance, will generate enough money to fundthe school system.

Too Indignant Too Soon

Blogged the other day about a kid being suspended just because she was doing cartwheels. Seemed like another story of school administrators without a lot of common sense. Turns out she was doing it in the hall ways of the schools after being warned. That is a whole different situation then what was first presented.

Physics First

For the past 130 years, physics has been an integral part of the science curriculum at the high school level. Its current vertical position, established about 100 years ago, is now strongly challenged. The national reform movements, inclusive in Project 2061 and Standards, and documents such as Nation At Risk (1983), that responded to low science scores and an ever growing gap between science/technology and society, have all been the backbone of Leon Lederman's ARISE (American Renaissance in Science Education) educational reform. Using the theories of hierarchical learning, constructivism, and findings that show that prior knowledge of physics greatly enhances learning in chemistry and that knowledge of chemistry is beneficial to learning biology makes this reform worth examining.

This change has been implemented at Twin Valley and today's Reading Eagle had a good article on a visiting Noble Laureate to see the program in aqction.

Dr. Leon M. Lederman visited the school to see how the district's Physics First program works. Lederman of Batavia, Ill., is a leading proponent of the Physics First program, which alters the traditional biology-chemistry-physics sequence for high school science. Instead, students take physics as freshmen and learn concepts such as energy, force, motion providing a foundation for chemistry and biology. Twin Valley initiated Physics First three years ago. He believes ninth-grade physics will eventually become standard in American high schools. Students said the toughest aspect is getting over the fear of it then understanding the concepts. “You can see what's going on, so it's not as abstract as chemistry,” said Alexa L. Swailes, a 15-year-old junior. Article

Maybe Kids Are Overweight Because They Are Afraid To Move

"An 11-year-old girl in West Covina, Calif., was suspended from her school from doing 'dangerous' cartwheels and hand stands during lunch time, according to a Local 6 News report.

"I thought they were absolutely weird, because I see other kids playing baseball and soccer and I think that's more dangerous than gymnastics," Faegre said.
MORE:

Fact Finder's Report

The long awaited Fact Finder's Report is now available for your reading enjoyment. If you are adobe impaired the school has a web version here.

Salaries: - For the 2003-04 year salary amount was $ 7,922,518

Board: 2.5% increase each year of the contract -End of contract amount will in crease by $ 1,041,083.93
Union: 4.99% increase each year of the contract - End of contract amount will increase by $ 2,188,364.17
Report: 4.0% increase End of contract amount will increase by $ 1,716,436.52

Health Insurance: Currently the district pays 100% for health coverage at a rate of Single $280, Couple $595, Family $813

Board - Based on a percentage and a percentage of future increases.
Year 1 8% or $22.40, $47.60, and 65.04
Year 2 8% plus the amount of the increase from 2003-04 16% total
Year 3 8% plus the amount of the increase from 2003-04 up to a maximum of 24%
Minimum contribution 8%, maximum increase in any one year 8% total possible maximum contribution 24%
Union- fixed amount
Year 1 $10,$15,$25
Year 2 $12,$20,$30
Year 3 $15,$25,$35
Year 4 $18,$28,$40

Report- fixed amount
Year 1 $14,$29,$40
Year 2 $19,$39,$55
Year 3 $24,$44,$60
Year 4 $29,$49,$65

Payment to Opt-Out or downgrade Health Insurance - This is where an employee either drops their coverage or downgrades from family to a couple or single, or a couple to a single. The employee receives a percentage of the cost difference.

Board 30%
Union 45%
Report 40%

Life Insurance - Current they are given a $30,000 policy

Board-Increase to $40,000
Union-Increase to $75,000
Report-Increase to $45,000

Severance Pay - Currently for those providing notice by March 1, $115 for each year of service for those with 10 or more years of service Notice after March 1 $65 for each year of service.

Board - No Change
Union Increase to $200 and $150
Report $140 and $80

Closing Rockland Elem

For those that were unable to attend the projected cost savings was presented to the property committee last night. In summary first year savings of $140,300 and second year savings of $156,930 . Only two years were presented because of probably new construction the building might be needed after that time. The building will be moth-balled with minimum care so that it can be reopened quickly if the need arises. Going with $150,000 a year with a tax base of about $500,000/mill would be 0.3 mills or $30/year for a taxpayer with a property value of $100,000. There is a lot to be said for small neighborhood schools for the wee ones. With a few cold winters and new development causing a growing population there could be a real need for the facility in the near future. There would also be cost involved in starting the school up again which would eat into the projected savings. Please go to the topic discussion to voice your opinion if you think it is worth the effort to close the school. A final decision will be made in the next couple of months.

Reading Eagle Article

Seems that following the gag rules of the Labor Relations Board only applies to one side. There is money this year due to the variable bonds coming in at 1-3% instead of the budgeted 4%. The board has converted the majority of the variables to a fixed rate of under 4% so that "surplus" will not be a factor in the future. Some member of the teacher's union should attend budget meetings to see that the long term projections are not as nearly rosy as Mr. Babb would have the public to believe. Mr. Babb shouldn't give up hope there will be another vote on Wednesday for the board to reconsider their mistake.

The Brandywine Heights School Board on Wednesday rejected an arbitrator-prepared teachers contract that would include a 4 percent raise and an employee health-care contribution.
The teachers' union voted last week to approve the contract.
About 100 residents attended the special meeting to urge the board to reject the contract's fact-finding report so the document would become public.
Several residents held up “REJECT” signs during the meeting and all 100 people stood to show support for the rejection.
“We are standing behind this board. We want to know what's in that report,” said Kathy M. Duffy of Topton, a member of the Taxpayers Association of Brandywine Heights. “Let's find the answer together.”
Other members complained that tax rates in Brandywine, which has the highest millage in Berks County at 26.15 mills, are forcing the elderly out of their homes.
The audience cheered after the vote.
Six members voted to reject the report. Board president James D. Mabry abstained because his wife is a teacher in the district. Board members Elizabeth Stehman and Mike Grossman were absent.
Although Mabry said the board could not legally release any information on the details of the fact-finding report, it will be available Friday in the district's administration offices at 200 W. Weis St., Topton.
High school teacher Michael T. Babb, the president of the teachers union, said the union voted to accept the report last week on the day it was released.
Babb said the board made a mistake in rejecting the report, which was written by a third-party arbitrator as a compromise between the union's and the board's demands.
“It (the report) was very fair, I thought,” said Babb. “It gave them (the board) what they wanted, mostly.”
Had the board accepted the report, it would have become the new contract for the district and its 150 teachers.
Now the board has 10 days, during which time the report will be public, to reconsider its decision.
Babb said the report called for a 4 percent raise for the teachers as well as a teacher contribution to health-care premiums that would go up during each year of the contract.
He said the release of the report would make it clear to taxpayers that the school has plenty of money, even without tax increases, because of a reserve fund that contains more than $2 million.
“We are going to show that they do have money,” said Babb, adding that the union will release information during the coming 10 days that proves the board can afford a fair raise because of the surplus.
The previous contract expired June 30 and the two sides have been negotiating since January. ARTICLE

Teacher Salaries 101

One thing to keep in mind even if there were no increase for teachers salaries the budget would still increase by about 1.5%. Teachers with under 14 years of experience move up one pay step. An increase in the budget of 1.5% results in teachers with over 14 years not receiving any raises for the length of the contract. With over 50% of the teachers being in that catagory slim chance anything under a 2% passing is slim to none. This is especially true with contributions to insurance being a major issue for the first time. So anyone expecting the board to keep the salary budget the same, as was expressed last night, is being totally unrealistic.

Tonight's Meeting

The board rejected the fact finder report. There will be another meeting next Wednesday at 7:00 PM where they will entertain public discussion before the final vote. The proposal will become public on Friday it should be on the school web site or available at the school. The Labor Board has to be informed first and they are closed tomorrow for Veterans Day.

Some of the views expressed tonight about no raises are totally unrealistic. Teachers will get a raise and they will pay part of their insurance. Nobody will be totally happy but hopefully it can be fair to all parties involved.

IGA Notice

Taxpayers and Concerned Citizens
Special School Board Meeting
Wednesday, Nov 10, at 7:00 pm

The purpose of this meeting is to Ratify a New Contract with the
Teaching Staff, which includes PAY RAISES and Their BENEFITS PACKAGE.
Please attend this meeting, if you think that current Wages and
Benefits Should Not be increased, and voice your concerns.
****************************************************************

This is not the purpose of tonight's meeting. There is no contract to ratify. All that is going to happen is a vote to accept the recommendations of a Fact Finder's Report issued by the Labor Board. The board can't even discuss what is in the report at this time. The only reason there is a special meeting is the proposal had to be acted upon within 12 days of it being issued on Nov. 1st. Tonight was chosen since it is the regularly scheculed property meeting.

Happy Birthday

The 229th birthday of the U.S. Marines

November 22, 1775
Resolved: That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors & other officers as usual in other regiments, that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no person be appointed to office or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea, when required. That they be enlisted and commissioned for and during the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress. That they be distinguished by the names of the first & second battalions of American Marines, and that they be considered a part of the number, which the Continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.

Don't Need No Civics Education

"For some time in U.S. schools, traditional civics education has been on the defensive. Many social-studies educators think the study of basic governmental principles is 'dry.' They shrink from civics that is openly patriotic, calling it propaganda. But while they worry about 'mindless' nationalism, they eagerly advocate a reformed vision of citizenship by the textbooks they choose.

These curriculum planners say that the time to 'demystify' government courses is overdue. Civics education should be 'practical' and 'empowering.' Lessons should emphasize individual and group rights. Content should highlight the here-and-now and the close-to-home. These ideas are often mixed with the rhetoric of 'minority needs.' " MORE :

At Least He Doesn't "Live" in Brandywine

"According to an Oct. 20 story in the Penn Hills Progress by reporter Vera Miller, Penn Hills taxpayers have been footing the bill to send Santorum's children to a cyber charter school, even though the family lives most of the year in Virginia. The cost: $100,000 since the 2001-02 school year.
Santorum's office justified this to the Progress by noting that the senator's legal residence is in Penn Hills. He owns a house there -- two bedrooms and two baths for his family of eight -- and pays about $2,000 in property taxes each year to the Penn Hills School District.
Compare that $2,000 tax bill to the estimated $38,000 that the district will shell out this year for five of Santorum's children to attend the Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, based in Beaver County." MORE :

Kutztown MS Bus Overturns

WFMZ-TV Online: "U. MACUNGIE TWP., Lehigh Co. (WFMZ) Emergency officials are on the scene of an accident involving a car and an overturned school bus filled with students from Kutztown Middle School. The scene is at Hamilton Blvd. and Weiler's Road in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, near the border between Lehigh and Berks counties. The driver of the car was killed. There were approximately 30 8th grade students on the bus. We're told 33 students and adults were taken to five area hospital to be evaluated, and that three suffered minor injuries. Electrical power is out in the area, and the affected roadways will be closed for some time LIVE UPDATES ON WFMZ-TV CHANNEL 69"

Scientific Discovery

"A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest chemical element yet known to science. The new element has been tentatively named 'Governmentium.' Governmentium has 1 neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 11 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of governmentium causes one reaction to take over 4 days to complete when it would normally take less than a second. "Governmentium has a normal half-life of 3 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause some morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron-promotion leads some scientists to speculate that governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as 'Critical Morass.' You will know it when you see it."

Teaching Spanish In Kindergarten

In the Hamburg School District, all-day kindergartners learn more than ABCs, colors and shapes.

They learn those things in both English and Spanish.

Language teacher Holly A. Smith visits each of the district's eight kindergarten classes once every six days, spending about 40 minutes with the students.

She gets out her puppets especially a Spanish-speaking Ernie from TV's “Sesame Street” and puts on a show.

Hamburg school officials said the new program gives students a leg up on learning a valuable skill and teaches them about tolerance for other cultures.

The $40,000 program was part of Hamburg's 2004-05 budget.

Smith also instructs first- and second-graders in Spanish.

“We understand that children are more apt to learn a second language when they're young,” said Shawn T. Fitzpatrick, principal of Hamburg and Tilden elementary schools.
Article

I Bet This Goes On His Permanent Record

LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. — A National Guard F-16 fighter jet on a nighttime training mission Wednesday fired 25 rounds that tore through a Little Egg Harbor elementary school.
The military is investigating the incident that damaged Little Egg Harbor Intermediate School shortly after eleven o'clock. MORE

Feeling Old Yet

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change things. Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year's incoming freshmen. Here's this year's list:

The young people who entered college for the first time in the Fall of 2004, were born in 1986.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.

Their lifetime has always included AIDS.

Their youthful innocence and trust was interupted during their Jr High years with the Columbine tragedies.

The tragic events of 9/11 were a defining moment that occurred during their first week as high school sophomores.

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic

The CD was introduced 3 years before they were born.

They have always had an answering machine.

They have always had cable.

They cannot fathom not having a remote control.

Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.

Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.

They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.

They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.

They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.

They never heard: "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "de plane Boss, de plane".

They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is.

McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Google Battle

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Greeks In Color

Friday, November 26, 2004

When Did We Get Dumb?

Thursday, November 25, 2004

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Declaration of Independence Banned at Calif School

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Operation Phone Home

Monday, November 22, 2004

E-Bullying

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Teacher Brackets

Saturday, November 20, 2004

The Contract

Friday, November 19, 2004

Home-Alone

Thursday, November 18, 2004

A Pox on Both Your Houses.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

District should start suspension program

The 4%

Reading Eagle Article

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Incorrect Notice Going Around

Monday, November 15, 2004

Teacher Salary Survey

Sunday, November 14, 2004

A Real Foreign Language

Too Indignant Too Soon

Friday, November 12, 2004

Physics First

Maybe Kids Are Overweight Because They Are Afraid To Move

Fact Finder's Report

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Closing Rockland Elem

Reading Eagle Article

Teacher Salaries 101

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Tonight's Meeting

IGA Notice

Happy Birthday

Don't Need No Civics Education

At Least He Doesn't "Live" in Brandywine

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Kutztown MS Bus Overturns

Scientific Discovery

Monday, November 08, 2004

Teaching Spanish In Kindergarten

Thursday, November 04, 2004

I Bet This Goes On His Permanent Record

Feeling Old Yet