Courier article compares proposals

The Courier Times compared teacher contract proposals between four (4) districts: Hatboro-Horsham, North Penn, Pennsbury, and Neshaminy. The comparison demonstrates that Neshaminy's offer is more than fair. Here are some highlights from the comparison:

Salary Increase (Board proposal):
Hatboro-Horsham - 1.67 to 1.77% ranging over 3 years
North Penn - 1.98 to 3.56 ranging over 5 years
Pennsbury - Total Pay Freeze
Neshaminy - 3% ranging over 3 years

Medical Contribution (Board proposal):
Hatboro-Horsham - 11 to 13% ranging over 3 years
North Penn - 10/11/11/12/12% ranging over 5 years
Pennsbury - 12%
Neshaminy - 15-17% ranging over 3 years

Neshaminy's original offer to the NFT was for medical contributions of 10-12% over 3 years for a reduced-cost plan, but the NFT insisted on maintaining its top tier insurance coverage. Due to the high cost of this plan, the Board increased the proposed medical contribution to 15-17% over 3 years. Also keep in mind that the Board did not decrease its proposed raise of an average 3% annually.

Had the NFT accepted the Board's original offer (reduced costs plan with 10-12% contribution), the annual cost savings would have been around $4 million; and if NESPA accepted the Board's original offer the annual savings would have been $1 million. Add those savings together and we would have already reduced our deficit below the Act 1 limit.

The Board's latest offer to the NFT (top tier insurance with 15-17% contribution) would save the district around $3 million annually.
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Living up to the hype

Last December seven board members put their reputations on the line by rushing through a vote on a new insurance broker, Selzer Company. I'll spare you the details behind this controversial appointment but you can refresh your memory by reading my post from last December. Now it is time for Selzer to prove themselves worthy of the support given them by members of this board.

If Selzer's name sounds familiar to you, it could be from a recent Courier Times article entitled Board members get lucrative rewards, which reported on companies who prospered during the Lower Bucks Hospital bankruptcy. Clearly this company knows how to make money.

Earlier this year we learned that our health care costs are scheduled to increase by 19% for the upcoming school year. So far we have not heard of any progress made by Selzer to negotiate that increase down. The last time we went through a similar situation under our old insurance broker, they were able to negotiate a double digit increase down to 5%. Now we need Selzer to come through and surpass the efforts of the broker they replaced. After all, if Selzer cannot do better than the former broker, then what was the point of replacing them in the first place?

If Selzer can match the efforts of their predecessor, we can look forward to savings between $1.5 to $2 million. I don't have to tell you what that means to closing our budget gap for next year. So I encourage every reader to contact the board members from their area who voted for Selzer, and emphasize the importance that this partner comes through for us.
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Courier to NFT: Thumbs down

The following editorial courtesy of the Bucks County Courier Times:

To union teachers at Maple Point Middle School in the Neshaminy School District for sending a message to the school board by once a week standing at the front entrance of the school where special education students are dropped off by mini-buses and vans.

Educators are the first to say that special education students, not to mention all students, do best when they are able to maintain a regular routine. How does arriving to a throng of adults standing around in front of their school in the morning affect the rest of their day?

How much thought have union members given to the impact they are having on students when they engage in this weekly moment of solidarity? How are the union members' actions in the best interest of the children?
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Random Thoughts

It’s been busy at work so I only had time for a few random thoughts this week. Apologies in advance for the lack of continuity . . .

Great turn out at Tuesday night’s meeting, probably 300-350 people. Many were teachers and support staff but there were also parents and students in attendance, mostly there to show support for the swim program. It was great to see the students speak during public comment, and I hope their parents will make an effort to come to more meetings throughout the year.

The dreaded LIST should be culled down as Board members submitted this week a ranking for each of the 31 potential expense reductions. There are a number of items on that list that we should not give any serious consideration to, and removing them will make it easier to focus on the ones worthy of debate (not to mention relieve some of the tension running through our community).

The Strike Free motion was tabled on Tuesday night. Expect to see it back on the agenda soon.

I voted against the Tech School budget because I wasn’t convinced they did everything possible to reduce expenses. The original increase was higher but thanks to the work of our own Kim Koutsouradis, the numbers came down. If the Tech School staff had worked those numbers I would have felt more comfortable approving the budget. But kudos to Kouts!

Rumors have been floating around that our Board is divided over the issue of negotiations, and that some members are starting to weaken. Well, I can tell you first hand that there is no sign of any dissension in our ranks. We spoke about a variety of topics during executive session on Tuesday, and it was evident that this Board is focused, committed, and in sync.

At Monday’s Education Development meeting I heard three of our Reading Specialists talk about the newly implemented Balanced Literacy program in our elementary schools. Kudos to Dory Fitzgerald, Mary Beth Tecce and Terri Magerr for their enthusiastic support of this very worthy initiative.

If you want to read the Courier Times recap of Tuesday's meeting, click here.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of your week!
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Above and Beyond

A Neshaminy parent, Chris Olszewski, sent in a letter to the Courier Times . . .

I would like to commend teachers in the Neshaminy School District who made the recent PSSA tests a positive experience for my children.

For many students this can be a very stressful time. This was not the case for my children. Due to extensive preparation and motivation by their teachers, they actually enjoyed taking the test. I also found that it was thoughtful of their teachers to provide extra snacks for their class. That goes beyond what is expected of them. It shows how much they care!

Hats off to Herbert Hoover Elementary and Maple Point Middle School teachers.

That was a very thoughtful letter Chris, and I'm sure our teachers appreciate it.
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Thank you!

A quick note of thanks to everyone who either posted their opinions or sent me emails regarding the vote on the No Strike motion. In some ways I am more torn than I was last week because y'all gave me so much to think about. But thanks to your help, I was able to crystallize my thinking and arrive at what I am confident is the best decision under the circumstances. You'll know more about that tomorrow.

Whether you are pleased or disappointed with my vote, please know that your opinions were considered carefully. Again, thank you for chiming in with your voice.
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How would you vote?

Ok gang, I'm interested in your feedback on something. But before you respond, please read everything below . . .

On Tuesday's agenda is a motion to oppose teacher strikes. Keep in mind that we have no power to actually stop strikes as that can only be changed in Harrisburg. If approved, this motion would be forwarded onto Harrisburg along with other districts who have passed similar motions.

Proponents acknowledge this motion really has no teeth but believe it is still the right thing to do. They also feel it helps to reaffirm the Board's strong stand in the current negotiations with the NFT.

Opponents would say that now is not the time to pass such a motion as negotiations are ongoing. There is already enough tension with the teachers and why make things more hostile, especially since it's up to Harrisburg to change the law.

I don't want to turn this into a debate over whether teachers should or shouldn't be able to strike, nor do I want to this to become a labor-bashing thread (hi, ACS!). What I want is your opinion on whether or not now is the time to pass such a motion.

Considering both sides of the argument, how would you vote if you were me?

(Note - only comments that deal directly with the question posed above will be published)

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