Octorara Middle School earned a Distinguished Title I School award from the state.
According to an Oct. 16 story by Brian Wallace in the Intelligencer Journal, "6 county schools earn honors for improved scores," the average PSSA reading score rose by nearly 50 percent between 2005 and 2010.
Read about what measures and curriculum Principal Elena Wilson said the school used to achieve this success at www.lancasteronline.com.
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Sunday, October 17, 2010
Octorara administrators to enforce classroom technology rules
Sadsbury Township parent Donna Durham told the Octorara Area School Board Oct. 11 that teachers - not just students - need to be trained to keep cyber bullying and dangerous social media out of schools.
Durham, who parents a middle school student, said she has heard of incidents of "sexting" on buses and students who have used Ipods during classroom testing.
Middle school Principal Elena Wilson said school policy mandates that students place all electronic devices in their lockers when they arrive at school.
"If we see it, we take it," she said, while admitting teachers need to better enforce the rule "across the board."
"Are we educating our teachers enough on this issue?" asked Durham. "Are they adequately trained to know the challenges out there and the things students are capable of doing through social media?"
Wilson said the issue was on the agenda for her Tuesday faculty meeting.
"We need to educate teachers," Wilson said.
Durham thanked the school district for recently hosting a parent program on cyber safety and called some of the possibilities in cyberspace "totally scary." She lamented that only eight parents attended that informational meeting.
Primary Learning Center Principal Lisa McNamara said it is sometimes a problem getting parents to attend school programs.
"We do what we can," McNamara said.
Wilson said following the program she wanted to go home, throw away her computer, and wrap children in bubblewrap.
Superintendent Tom Newcome said bullying is a district-wide concern addressed with the Alweis curriculum. He agreed technology is an additional "challenge" and said there are places he will never visit, including Facebook.
"It's important for us to make ourselves informed," Wilson said. "There's a lot more we can do, teachers as well."
During the work session Nelson Stoltzfus of the district facilities committee said the PTO had recently finished fundraising to pay for the intermediate school playground. As for ongoing high school renovations, he said the facilities committee is considering how to reduce noise in upstairs classrooms at the high school, and a manitenance problem with the gymnasium ceiling.
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Durham, who parents a middle school student, said she has heard of incidents of "sexting" on buses and students who have used Ipods during classroom testing.
Middle school Principal Elena Wilson said school policy mandates that students place all electronic devices in their lockers when they arrive at school.
"If we see it, we take it," she said, while admitting teachers need to better enforce the rule "across the board."
"Are we educating our teachers enough on this issue?" asked Durham. "Are they adequately trained to know the challenges out there and the things students are capable of doing through social media?"
Wilson said the issue was on the agenda for her Tuesday faculty meeting.
"We need to educate teachers," Wilson said.
Durham thanked the school district for recently hosting a parent program on cyber safety and called some of the possibilities in cyberspace "totally scary." She lamented that only eight parents attended that informational meeting.
Primary Learning Center Principal Lisa McNamara said it is sometimes a problem getting parents to attend school programs.
"We do what we can," McNamara said.
Wilson said following the program she wanted to go home, throw away her computer, and wrap children in bubblewrap.
Superintendent Tom Newcome said bullying is a district-wide concern addressed with the Alweis curriculum. He agreed technology is an additional "challenge" and said there are places he will never visit, including Facebook.
"It's important for us to make ourselves informed," Wilson said. "There's a lot more we can do, teachers as well."
During the work session Nelson Stoltzfus of the district facilities committee said the PTO had recently finished fundraising to pay for the intermediate school playground. As for ongoing high school renovations, he said the facilities committee is considering how to reduce noise in upstairs classrooms at the high school, and a manitenance problem with the gymnasium ceiling.
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Octorara considers further borrowing
The Octorara Area School Board is considering taking advantage of current low interest rates and federal stimulus funds to borrow between $8 and $10 million to finish its $38 million high school renovation project.
The issue will be discussed when the school board meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18 in the middle school multipurpose room.
"The major areas remaining include the classroom wing, auditorium and gym," said Business Manager Dan Carsley, explaining that the additional borrowing is needed to cover asbestos removal as contractors renovate the old classroom wing.
The board originally borrowed $67 million in 2006 to cover recent intermediate school and high school renovations. Approximately $27 million has been paid to date and the district has refinanced twice to take advantage of falling interest rates.
Kent Phillips of RBC Capital Markets recently told the school board that it may be able to take advantage of Build America bonds or other federal programs. The high school should be done next summer.
According to Phillips, the school district's debt is $120,509,973, which it plans to finance through 2031. Some of that may be reimbursed by state and local funds.
With 1 mill of tax currently generating $866,000 in revenue, the district's budget is carrying 5.38 mills to cover borrowing in 2010, and will carry between 5.63 and 6.46 mills per year after that, until 2030, when the figure will be 4.58 mills.
The current projected millage for debt will be 4.58 in 2030, 0.64 mills in 2031 and zero thereafter.
Of those mills, either 0.25 or 0.21 of a mill per year (a total of 1.59 mills) go toward funding capital projects such as the intermediate and high school renovations. These will be paid for in 2014.
"The board took advantage of good markets over the last two years," Phillips said. "Interest rates remain very attractive and stimulus money is in the news."
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The issue will be discussed when the school board meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18 in the middle school multipurpose room.
"The major areas remaining include the classroom wing, auditorium and gym," said Business Manager Dan Carsley, explaining that the additional borrowing is needed to cover asbestos removal as contractors renovate the old classroom wing.
The board originally borrowed $67 million in 2006 to cover recent intermediate school and high school renovations. Approximately $27 million has been paid to date and the district has refinanced twice to take advantage of falling interest rates.
Kent Phillips of RBC Capital Markets recently told the school board that it may be able to take advantage of Build America bonds or other federal programs. The high school should be done next summer.
According to Phillips, the school district's debt is $120,509,973, which it plans to finance through 2031. Some of that may be reimbursed by state and local funds.
With 1 mill of tax currently generating $866,000 in revenue, the district's budget is carrying 5.38 mills to cover borrowing in 2010, and will carry between 5.63 and 6.46 mills per year after that, until 2030, when the figure will be 4.58 mills.
The current projected millage for debt will be 4.58 in 2030, 0.64 mills in 2031 and zero thereafter.
Of those mills, either 0.25 or 0.21 of a mill per year (a total of 1.59 mills) go toward funding capital projects such as the intermediate and high school renovations. These will be paid for in 2014.
"The board took advantage of good markets over the last two years," Phillips said. "Interest rates remain very attractive and stimulus money is in the news."
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Quarryville formalizes police coverage
Quarryville Borough Council on Oct. 4 unanimously passed two ordinances formalizing the Quarryville Police Department's coverage in Eden and East Drumore townships.
A week later, however, Eden Township supervisors postponed department coverage due to budgetary concerns. Eden citizens will continue to be covered by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Quarryville department has policed the Village of the TownsEdge Shopping Center in East Drumore since June 2004, and the ordinance formalizes the arrangement. East Drumore will continue to pay Quarryville $15,000 annually to police the area, which includes the shops at TownsEdge, Fulton Bank and a Burger King.
The ordinance governing the department's work in Eden would have allowed for up to 20hours of police coverage weekly at a cost of 130 percent of the officer's salary. According to the Intelligencer Journal, Eden supervisors felt fines collected by police would not have covered the $1,000 to $1,200 monthly cost.
The Quarryville Police Department now covers three southern-end municipalities with four full-time and three part-time officers. It's 2010 budget is $308,000.
In other business, Quarryville Library Director Fran Vita thanked the borough for its annual donation in the midst of state funding cuts.
"Our funding is in a free-fall," Vita said. "Your appropriation has been a life saver for us."
Vita said the library experienced a 37 percent cut in state funding for 2010 and anticipates losing an additional $7,000 in state revenue for 2011. Library use, however, continues to stay strong, with more than 19,000 patrons and more than 214,000 books and other items in circulation per year.
"I want to remind everyone how important it is that we serve our community," Vita said. "Every day people are in the library getting tutored, on the computer and looking for jobs."
Council members also said they will examine an Act 537 sewage facilities plan update being recommended by the Borough Authority. Council approved 36 sewer service agreements for phase one of the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, and one for 426 Fritz Ave.
Mike Sullenberger, of the streets committee, said he has gotten an estimate of $712,000 for a Fourth Street improvement project. He said it would cost more if the borough opts to do curb and water line work.
Sullenberger said council should discuss the issue in future budget meetings, and decide if it wants to do one or two streets and put the project out to bid.
The first budget meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the borough offices, 300 Saint Catherine St.
Council also set trick-or-treat night for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29.
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A week later, however, Eden Township supervisors postponed department coverage due to budgetary concerns. Eden citizens will continue to be covered by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Quarryville department has policed the Village of the TownsEdge Shopping Center in East Drumore since June 2004, and the ordinance formalizes the arrangement. East Drumore will continue to pay Quarryville $15,000 annually to police the area, which includes the shops at TownsEdge, Fulton Bank and a Burger King.
The ordinance governing the department's work in Eden would have allowed for up to 20hours of police coverage weekly at a cost of 130 percent of the officer's salary. According to the Intelligencer Journal, Eden supervisors felt fines collected by police would not have covered the $1,000 to $1,200 monthly cost.
The Quarryville Police Department now covers three southern-end municipalities with four full-time and three part-time officers. It's 2010 budget is $308,000.
In other business, Quarryville Library Director Fran Vita thanked the borough for its annual donation in the midst of state funding cuts.
"Our funding is in a free-fall," Vita said. "Your appropriation has been a life saver for us."
Vita said the library experienced a 37 percent cut in state funding for 2010 and anticipates losing an additional $7,000 in state revenue for 2011. Library use, however, continues to stay strong, with more than 19,000 patrons and more than 214,000 books and other items in circulation per year.
"I want to remind everyone how important it is that we serve our community," Vita said. "Every day people are in the library getting tutored, on the computer and looking for jobs."
Council members also said they will examine an Act 537 sewage facilities plan update being recommended by the Borough Authority. Council approved 36 sewer service agreements for phase one of the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, and one for 426 Fritz Ave.
Mike Sullenberger, of the streets committee, said he has gotten an estimate of $712,000 for a Fourth Street improvement project. He said it would cost more if the borough opts to do curb and water line work.
Sullenberger said council should discuss the issue in future budget meetings, and decide if it wants to do one or two streets and put the project out to bid.
The first budget meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the borough offices, 300 Saint Catherine St.
Council also set trick-or-treat night for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29.
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