Taxes up, discipline questioned in U-CF

Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors passed the 2018-2019 academic year budget during their June 18 meeting, but they also heard resident-concerns about declining school discipline.

The budget, which passed by a 7-2 vote, calls for $87 million in spending and revenue and carries tax increases for district property owners. As previously reported, those increases include a bump of 6.43 percent for property owners in Chadds Ford Township. Chadds Ford owners will pay 25.15 mils to the school district while their Chester County counterparts will pay 28.51 mills, an increase of 0.35 percent. (A mil is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.)

Voting against the budget were Carolyn Daniels and John Murphy, both of whom represent region C which includes Chadds Ford and Pennsbury Townships.

Daniels said she was voting no in protest of the procedures required. Those procedures, as previously explained by District Business Manager Bob Cochran, are set forth by the state and the different methods the counties use to assess property.

Murphy, too, said he opposed the proposal on philosophical levels.

“I can’t support a tax increase of 6.43 percent. I guess, in a way, this is a protest vote because I understand our we’re handcuffed to this based on the state formulas. Maybe having a non-unanimous vote will get somebody’s attention.”

He added he tried to speak with a state representative but got no response and that “maybe elevating this to a state senator will.”

Fellow Director Gregg Lindner, who also represents Region C, voted for the plan and said he’s voted against previous budgets because they did not collect enough revenue. However, he added that he wants to speak with either a state representative or state senator to see what can be done about the procedural disparity between the two counties.

A copy of the budget proposal can be found here.

School discipline challenged

During the resident comment period at the start of the meeting, several residents spoke out against portions of the proposed $10 million long-range facilities plan and about what some consider deteriorating discipline at the high school.

Mark Stookey, from Chadds Ford, said the plan calls for what some people want versus what the district actually needs. He called the plan a “wish list.” He referenced a survey that indicated almost 60 percent of the respondents said traffic flow, pedestrian flow and parking at the high school were safe and efficient, and that there was adequate opportunity for physical education and outdoor learning. He added that nearly half thought outdoor recreational and athletic facilities were adequate, while only 36 percent said they were not.

“A majority or plurality of those surveyed saw our facilities to be adequate and did not identify a need for change, yet we have a plan that will call for $10 million for improvements for parking and athletic facilities,’ he said. “I looked at all the presentations and very little of it was devoted to what the district really needs for our educational program versus what people seem to want.”

Tricia Einstein, from East Marlborough Township and a staff member at Unionville High School, spoke about declining discipline at the school.

“I believe our community is facing a crisis,’ Einstein said. “It’s apparent to me that a growing number of students and an alarming number of parents are increasingly focused on students’ rights and maintaining an appearance of achievement while minimizing the importance of personal responsibility and character.”

She said egregious behaviors have become more common during the last 18 months, and that infractions that would have been rare and never condoned by parents in the past are now sometimes viewed as worthy of defense.”

Einstein cited occurrences of disrespectful religious and cultural imagery being displayed openly, a substitute teacher given a “shockingly vulgar nickname “by a student in front of the class, an anti-Semitic display slipped into another student’s lovely work, as well as general disrespect for teachers.

She said people are shocked to learn that parents are asking the district to back off on the disciplinary code. She urged the district to stand firm against such “unreasonable parental pressure and interference.” She wants the district to empower schools to provide necessary disciplinary action.

Former Director Holly Manzone also addressed the board and echoed Stookey’s remarks about needs versus wants regarding the facilities plan and said she sees no need to go beyond the actual needs of the district. She said it would excessive to spend $10 million on athletic fields when only one needed work.

Manzone said she also agreed with Einstein: “I’ve heard there’s talk about erasing their records of suspensions. You’re not helping those kids. Those kids will not learn a lesson if you just say, ‘that’s all forgiven.’ And it doesn’t give the other kids incentive to behave.”

Sue Shelley, from East Marlborough Township and a former teacher at UHS also spoke, saying she used to get compliments from people outside the district who praised U-CF. Now that’s changing, to “what’s going on with the district?”

“It appears that what’s going on is that we’re having a problem with discipline,” she said.

She called for the district and high school administrators to be a team in enforcing the expected and agreed upon disciplinary measures. School administrators must know the district has their backs when they go to enforce discipline. “Students and parents need to know that, too” and that reversing disciplinary measures is “going down a dangerous road.”

Tom Colvin, a Birmingham Township resident and a member of the high school security staff, said a number of his colleagues asked him to speak out against the “inappropriate behavior and acts of defiance and vandalism” exhibited by some students. He said the situation has grown so bad at UHS that a student last year threatened a teacher with bodily harm if he showed up to teach the following day.

Another resident told the story of a male student who drew a picture of his genitals on his leg, then flashed the image to other students and members of the administration.

School Board directors were disturbed by some of the comments. Murphy said it was a lot to absorb, while Daniels said she was disturbed and disheartened.

Vic Dupuis said he appreciated the “show of care and concern” and “that’s just another reflection of what makes us a great school district.”

He said board members have differences of opinion on how discipline should be administered, and there would a major conversation on the matter.

Director Robert Sage said he respects the people who spoke on the topic of school discipline and that it’s an important issue for the board.

"My feeling that the events of the last year are like the tide going out and when the tide goes out things get exposed that you didn’t realize were there…That showed me we don’t have a perfect discipline code. I would like to address those flaws and have a discipline code that’s enforceable," Sage said.

Board President Jeff Hellrung said he shares the concerns regarding student behavior.

"The examples of bad behavior mentioned tonight are absolutely intolerable and indefensible," Hellrung said. "They have to be stopped."

He urged community members to provide feedback to the discipline committee. And that there would be a major conversation on the matter.

Director Robert Sage said he respects the people who spoke on the topic of school discipline and that it’s an important issue for the board.

“My feeling that the events of the last year are like the tide going out and when the tide goes out thigs get exposed that you didn’t realize were there…That showed me we don’t have a perfect discipline code. I would like to address those flaws and have a discipline code that’s enforceable,” Sage said.

Board President Jeff Hellrung said he shares the concerns regarding student behavior.

“The examples of bad behavior mentioned tonight are absolutely intolerable and indefensible,” Hellrung said. “They have to be stopped.”

He urged community members to provide feedback to the discipline committee.

In an afternoon email the following day, the school district sent the following message:

“We are proud of our community and our students. Over 1,000 of our nearly 1,400 high school students are completely law abiding and have never had discipline [sic] of any kind. This year we have had 58 suspensions.

“Superintendent John Sanville has said, ‘Clearly we have great kids - but even great kids make mistakes. We are committed to helping all students learn and be responsible for their actions.’

“And in response to public comment last night Board President Jeff Hellrung remarked, ‘Our discipline system at UCF is not out of control... Thank you, administrators and teachers, for having the courage and resolve to faithfully enforce our community standards of behavior.’

Principal Jimmy Conley's response is that ‘We appreciate teacher and staff comments and look forward to continuing to work together to promote a positive learning environment.’

“During the public comment section of last night's board meeting, UHS staff members provided examples of student conduct that have led to suspensions. The board and the administration, working together with staff, will continue to enforce the student code of conduct. Additionally, the board has charged the administration to assemble a group of stakeholders to further address the code this summer. This committee will assess ways to best hold students accountable and to ensure students learn and grow from their mistakes.”