May 4, 2011

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District’s May 2 public hearing featured a presentation of the challenging status of the 2011–2012 school year budget by Robert Cochran, U-C-Ford director of business and operations.

While school tax revenues continue to lag behind budget projections, school district employee health and PSERS pension costs continue to spiral. A 53 percent increase in the school district pension cost will be a major budget hurdle that must be addressed.

The board is also dealing with Gov. Tom Corbett’s March 8 budget proposal that calls for $1.1 million in cuts to next school year’s budget. Also, there is no resolution to the ongoing labor negotiations with district teachers. (See the UCFSD webpage http://www.ucfsd.org/pdf/050211_budget_presentation document for complete 2011 – 2012 proposed budget details.)

The May 2 meeting also provided insight into the split views on the amount of the 2011 – 2012 increase in school tax.

School Board Director Keith Knauss said, “The Board was not voting on the tax increase, but polling each director to get a sense which tax increase option would be supported.” Five board members— Keith Knauss, Paul Price, Corrine Sweeney, Frank Murphy and Timotha Trigg—said they supported a 0.99 percent tax increase in Chester County and a 4.61 percent hike in Delaware County. Four members supported the 1.4 percent Pennsylvania Act I maximum Chester County increase.

Knauss said, “We should plan for a worst case budget and hope for better.”

Director Paul Price said, “We need to make budget cuts to keep expenses in line with decreased revenues. We need a five year budget plan.”

School Board Director Jeff Leiser said “We need a timeline as we approach a 120 day window to Aug. 31, the start of the next school year.”

The Monday, May 9 School Board 7 p.m. work session will continue the discussion of fiscal restraints and cuts to facilities and operations which will in all probability include the loss of several jobs impacting clerical support and pupil services.

Superintendent Sharon Parker said, “Chester County Intermediate Unit can provide some of the social support services now funded directly by the school district.”

Also, there should be further discussion of the decision to retain or outsource the school bus transportation department. Bids were recently opened by the school district. Currently a detailed “apples to apples” analysis of the bid proposals is taking place.

Director Eileen Bushelow has agreed to serve as the coordinator to engage Chester County Intermediate Unit resources to assist with establishing the geographic scope of the search for a new UCFSD school superintendent. The advantage of working through CCIU is the district will not incur outside expert expenses.

Corrine Sweeney’s decision not to seek re-election to
Unionville Chadds Ford School District Region A School Board of Directors
election has resulted in two East Marlborough Township residents vying for her
school board seat. The two candidates are Victor DuPuis and Rob MacPherson.

On April 28, the Chester County League of Women Voters and
the U-CFSD PTO sponsored a lively public forum question and answer session with
DuPuis, MacPherson and four other UCFSD residents who are running unopposed for
their seats. Sharon Jones (Region
C – Chadds Ford and Pennsbury Township) will be replacing Dr. Paul Price, who is
not seeking re-election. Incumbents Board President Timotha Trigg (Region C),
Board Vice President Frank Murphy (Region C) and Eileen Bushelow (Region B –
Pocopson & Birmingham Twp.) also participated even though they are not being
challenged at the polls this May.

The theme of the April 28 program featured the school board
candidates answering questions written by local residents in the audience and
brief opening and closing remarks by each candidate. Readers can watch a video of
the April 28 program on the UCFSD webpage http://www.ucfsd.org/

All candidates agreed they serve as stewards for the
taxpayers, but are also charged with providing high quality education for
students. A few controversial areas included the candidates’ hindsight views
regarding the Unionville High School renovation project. While the candidates
conceded most aspects of the renovation were needed, they acknowledged the
decision to move forward with the project after two failed voter referendums
was controversial. The candidates
graded the renovation project favorably, even though there is an issue
regarding the auditorium height.

Each candidate said they either have children currently
attend Unionville Chadds Ford schools or have graduated. All seemed supportive
of closely evaluating the potential outsourcing of school district
transportation employees as the school district budget will face declining
revenue based in part on less financial support from Harrisburg.

State Rep. Stephen E. Barrar, R-160, of Boothwyn, announced
that the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, of which
he is chairman, unanimously reported legislation that would designate cancer as
an occupational disease for firefighters.

“All of our Pennsylvania firefighters put their lives on the
line to protect our communities, homes, businesses and lives,” said
Barrar. “They deserve recompense if they develop cancer as a direct
result of their firefighting duties.”

House Bill 797, authored by Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks),
would allow firefighters to receive workers’ compensation if they develop
cancer and can establish direct exposure to certain carcinogens while
responding to an incident. To be eligible for workers’ compensation, he
or she would have to have participated in continuous firefighting duty for four
or more years and have successfully passed a physical exam prior to asserting
the claim or engaging in firefighting duties.

A similar measure was vetoed in 2010 by then Gov. Ed Rendell
due to concerns raised by local governments. Barrar, Farry and other
members of the committee reached out to local governments and advocacy groups
to arrive at a compromise on the bill’s language, and many of the groups that
previously opposed the bill have changed their stance.

“This is the right thing to do for Pennsylvania’s
firefighters,” said Barrar. “I will continue to advocate for this
legislation until it is finally signed into law because the service provided by
our firefighters warrants this type of benefit.”

House Bill 797 will now go before the full House for
consideration.

State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of
Chester, will host a Senior Expo on Thursday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
the Red Clay Room, 423 Dalmation Street in Kennett Square.

“Seniors can get in touch directly with local organizations
and government agencies providing useful information and services at the Senior
Expo,” said Pileggi. “And I always look forward to seeing my constituents at
this event.”

The Senior Expo will feature dozens of exhibitors offering
information on programs of interest to seniors. Scheduled exhibitors include
AARP, Adult Care of Chester County, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, the
Chester County Sheriff’s Office, the Chester County Veterans Affairs Office,
the Chester County Department of Aging, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania,
and the Transportation Management Association of Chester County.

Pileggi said the event will also feature free health
screenings, nutrition tips, and information on available resources.

The Senior Expo is offered free of charge as a community
service; parking is also free. Refreshments and door prizes will be available.