Municipalities throughout Lancaster County are struggling with how to fund emergency services. The Sunday News story, “Sounding the Alarm,” highlights local issues surrounding fire company mergers and proposed fire taxes.
http://lancasteronline.com/section/local/tag_fire%20tax_1-fire%20tax.html
In the Octorara region, the Christiana Ambulance Association has also sounded a financial warning bell.
Representatives from the Christiana Ambulance Association, which handled more than 1,000 calls in southeastern Lancaster County last year, are asking that local municipalities consider imposing a tax to fund the emergency medical service.
Hank Oleyniczak, Jack Mariano and Herb Hogg told Sadsbury Township supervisors July 5 rising costs, sinking donations, and a lack of volunteer EMT drivers are leading the board to think the association could run out of money in four or five years.
“We’d like to still be here to serve,” said Hogg. “If we close there will be an ambulance, but I have no idea where it’s coming from. We cover a huge area. Less people are supporting the ambulance all the time, which isn’t entirely fair.“
The association has 20 full and part-time paid employees, and a loyal core of six active volunteers which keep an ambulance available 24 hours, seven days a week. The association’s ambulance was the first on the scene at the Nickel Mine school shooting and maintains a visible presence along the busy Route 41 corridor.
Not having more volunteers is a budget buster, according to Oleyniczak.
“The EMT course is 200 hours,“ said Oleyniczak. “It’s hard to get a volunteer to put in 200 hours of training and work for free.”
Mariano said the service, along with other organizations, has lost volunteers and he would like to encourage young people to volunteer and use the service as a stepping stone to a good job.
“The me generation has come of age and isn’t interested in helping out the community,” agreed Supervisor Eugene Lammey.
Oleyniczak said the association receives no government funding and local state representatives said none would be forthcoming. The association receives money for ambulance runs, and from membership donations. However, memberships have dropped from 1,408 in 2008 to the current figure of 1,235.
According to Hogg, the association placed a new ambulance in use three weeks ago since the old one had 180,000 miles, and the community supported this with $42,000 in donations during last year‘s ambulance drive. The association has a building which it owns free and clear at 55 Pine Creek Drive, and shares space with the Lancaster EMS.
“Our ambulance association has up to now held its own, and we have a very strong board” Hogg said.
Mariano also told supervisors the association appreciates the help it receives from the township road crew in keeping its driveway plowed during snow storms.
Supervisors made no commitment about imposing an EMS tax.
“This gives us some time to look at it and come up with some help,” said Lammey.
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Monday, July 25, 2011
School employees made $9 million in cuts
Octorara Area School District administrators and support staff made $81,000 in concessions to help trim the school district’s 2011-12 budget, according to a story in the July 25 Intelligencer Journal/New Era. Read it at:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/426945_Districts-here-lead-way-in-tough-times.html
The story compares salary cost-cutting measures made throughout Lancaster County School Districts. County-wide, school employees cut expenses by $9 million.
In Octorara, the cuts (beyond the $81,000 figure) also included eliminating the jobs of the evening custodial staff. This contract went to ServiceMaster. The athletic director director was also furloughed, but has begun a job as an independent athletic trainer and may earn up to $30,000 annually in services performed for district athletic teams.
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http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/426945_Districts-here-lead-way-in-tough-times.html
The story compares salary cost-cutting measures made throughout Lancaster County School Districts. County-wide, school employees cut expenses by $9 million.
In Octorara, the cuts (beyond the $81,000 figure) also included eliminating the jobs of the evening custodial staff. This contract went to ServiceMaster. The athletic director director was also furloughed, but has begun a job as an independent athletic trainer and may earn up to $30,000 annually in services performed for district athletic teams.
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
Octorara won't test 'Clean and Green'
The Octorara Area School District will not be testing the constitutionality of Act 319, better known as “Clean and Green,” according to Superintendent Thomas Newcome.
Newcome told the school board July 11 he received a legal opinion from Clarence Kegel of Kegel, Kelin, Almy and Grimm LLP, which seemingly upholds the state’s authority to give tax preference to farms.
School board members urged Newcome to get a legal opinion about the possibility of challenging the act’s constitutionality following a recent public comment from Thomas Seth of Sadsbury Township, who said his research indicated school boards should be reimbursed if some properties receive a tax break.
According to Octorara administrators, the district “loses” $5.4 million annually in revenue to properties enrolled in Act 319, which receive a tax break for their role in agriculture. But instead of returning the revenue lost to open space to the school district, the state requires that the school board balance its budget by either raising taxes, closing programs, or passing the burden on to other property owners in the school district.
Legislation such as House Bill 339 which could require the state to reimburse school districts for Clean and Green revenue, have received very little state-wide interest, according to state Rep. Bryan Cutler and state Rep. John Lawrence, who have addressed the school board on the issue during the past year.
Other Lancaster and Chester County school districts are also impacted by Clean and Green, including Pequea Valley, Solanco, Lampeter-Strasburg, Elanco, and Coatesville.
A suit to force the issue appeared to be a glimmer of hope during a year of uncomfortable budget cuts which included teacher furloughs, combining schools into a junior-senior high school, cutting the athletic director’s position, and outsourcing the evening custodial work.
Kegel believes Pennsylvania's constitution provides the legislature with the authority to give tax preference to farms, and does not require state reimbursement for the loss of revenue. Kegel cites Section 2(b)(i) in his opinion.
He also noted that Section 2(b)(ii) of the constitution does authorize the legislature to give tax preference based on age, disability or poverty. Under this clause, the state must reimburse local school districts for this tax loss. This has been done through the Senior Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act, which the state funds by lottery revenues.
“Mr. Seth was close, but he was looking at the wrong part of the statute as the constitution is written,” Newcome said.
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Newcome told the school board July 11 he received a legal opinion from Clarence Kegel of Kegel, Kelin, Almy and Grimm LLP, which seemingly upholds the state’s authority to give tax preference to farms.
School board members urged Newcome to get a legal opinion about the possibility of challenging the act’s constitutionality following a recent public comment from Thomas Seth of Sadsbury Township, who said his research indicated school boards should be reimbursed if some properties receive a tax break.
According to Octorara administrators, the district “loses” $5.4 million annually in revenue to properties enrolled in Act 319, which receive a tax break for their role in agriculture. But instead of returning the revenue lost to open space to the school district, the state requires that the school board balance its budget by either raising taxes, closing programs, or passing the burden on to other property owners in the school district.
Legislation such as House Bill 339 which could require the state to reimburse school districts for Clean and Green revenue, have received very little state-wide interest, according to state Rep. Bryan Cutler and state Rep. John Lawrence, who have addressed the school board on the issue during the past year.
Other Lancaster and Chester County school districts are also impacted by Clean and Green, including Pequea Valley, Solanco, Lampeter-Strasburg, Elanco, and Coatesville.
A suit to force the issue appeared to be a glimmer of hope during a year of uncomfortable budget cuts which included teacher furloughs, combining schools into a junior-senior high school, cutting the athletic director’s position, and outsourcing the evening custodial work.
Kegel believes Pennsylvania's constitution provides the legislature with the authority to give tax preference to farms, and does not require state reimbursement for the loss of revenue. Kegel cites Section 2(b)(i) in his opinion.
He also noted that Section 2(b)(ii) of the constitution does authorize the legislature to give tax preference based on age, disability or poverty. Under this clause, the state must reimburse local school districts for this tax loss. This has been done through the Senior Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act, which the state funds by lottery revenues.
“Mr. Seth was close, but he was looking at the wrong part of the statute as the constitution is written,” Newcome said.
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Octorara board, Lions offer relief
Just weeks after signing a $45.8 million budget into action, Octorara Area School District board members and administrators on July 11 penned their names and good wishes into squares of a quilt which will soon be placed in a home in Joplin, Mo.
“A community that’s struggling in many ways here still wants to reach out,” said board President Lisa Bowman of the handmade quilt, a symbol of caring which traveled to Joplin on last week with the Christiana Lions Club.
Jim Groff of Christiana, president of the club, and Shawna Johnson, school board member and Lion, told board members the club is sponsoring a relief trip to Joplin, which was devastated by a 6-mile tornado on May 22.
According to FEMA, $14 million in government assistance is in place to rebuild the community, which lost more than 120 people, and more than 20 volunteer community organizations and agencies are there doing relief work.
Groff said he wwould bring the quilt, which was donated by the newly opened Quilt Ledger shop in Christiana, and a trailer with two skid loads of survivor kits and food from the Chester County Food Bank.
Lions volunteers began to put their plans into action less than a week ago. One call led to another, with Christiana’s historic quilt shop donating a pastel work of beauty, warmth and art, and the food bank contributing practical sustenance.
The Lions said they have raised about $4,000 to contribute to community needs. Citizens, like the board members and administrators, have also been paying $5 each to sign quilt squares. In Joplin Groff was to join the Lancaster Lions volunteers.
“There are a lot of things happening behind the scenes,“ Groff said. “It’s about us people making it happen.“
Groff, a stone mason, is no stranger to cross-country adventures. He has in past decades organized fund-raising trips of the Christiana Clampetts in classic jalopies.
In another slight change of pace from months of budget crunching, Superintendent Tom Newcome asked the school board to consider a new Octorara tradition, a fall harvest or apple festival which would include rides, food and other attractions.
“The idea would be to create a tradition on campus and a revenue stream,” said Newcome.
“I hope we can have an apple festival, make some money, and divide it up with programs that have been hit very hard here,” said board member Bob Hume.
The superintendent received favorable comments from other board members and is proceeding with plans for the fall event.
Newcome also reported a YMCA group known as Stride donated an azalea and plaque which have been placed at the district office in memory of Cpl. Brandon Hardy, an Octorara graduate who was killed in 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The sixth annual motorcycle ride honoring Hardy was held July 16.
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“A community that’s struggling in many ways here still wants to reach out,” said board President Lisa Bowman of the handmade quilt, a symbol of caring which traveled to Joplin on last week with the Christiana Lions Club.
Jim Groff of Christiana, president of the club, and Shawna Johnson, school board member and Lion, told board members the club is sponsoring a relief trip to Joplin, which was devastated by a 6-mile tornado on May 22.
According to FEMA, $14 million in government assistance is in place to rebuild the community, which lost more than 120 people, and more than 20 volunteer community organizations and agencies are there doing relief work.
Groff said he wwould bring the quilt, which was donated by the newly opened Quilt Ledger shop in Christiana, and a trailer with two skid loads of survivor kits and food from the Chester County Food Bank.
Lions volunteers began to put their plans into action less than a week ago. One call led to another, with Christiana’s historic quilt shop donating a pastel work of beauty, warmth and art, and the food bank contributing practical sustenance.
The Lions said they have raised about $4,000 to contribute to community needs. Citizens, like the board members and administrators, have also been paying $5 each to sign quilt squares. In Joplin Groff was to join the Lancaster Lions volunteers.
“There are a lot of things happening behind the scenes,“ Groff said. “It’s about us people making it happen.“
Groff, a stone mason, is no stranger to cross-country adventures. He has in past decades organized fund-raising trips of the Christiana Clampetts in classic jalopies.
In another slight change of pace from months of budget crunching, Superintendent Tom Newcome asked the school board to consider a new Octorara tradition, a fall harvest or apple festival which would include rides, food and other attractions.
“The idea would be to create a tradition on campus and a revenue stream,” said Newcome.
“I hope we can have an apple festival, make some money, and divide it up with programs that have been hit very hard here,” said board member Bob Hume.
The superintendent received favorable comments from other board members and is proceeding with plans for the fall event.
Newcome also reported a YMCA group known as Stride donated an azalea and plaque which have been placed at the district office in memory of Cpl. Brandon Hardy, an Octorara graduate who was killed in 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The sixth annual motorcycle ride honoring Hardy was held July 16.
-30-
Band parents, musicians show support
About 25 Octorara Area School District parents and junior high school students, carrying signs such as “Jazz Band Rox” in support of the district’s music program, held a show of support in front of the school board Monday.
The community members were organized by band parent Jamie Maurer who said she was concerned about possible music department staffing changes and said she wanted for parents to be part of the conversation about the music program.
Superintendent Tom Newcome assured the parents there was no reason for alarm, and that while the school district has had to reduce its teaching staff by an overall 12 percent due to budget cuts, the music staff has lost only about one-third of a position.
Newcome said it was “unfortunate” that emails warning about a potential reduction in music instruction and concerts and encouraging children to demonstrate at the board meeting circulated throughout the Octorara band community without solid facts. Two parents asked questions, and none of the students spoke during public comment.
“It’s a non-issue that had not been fully vetted at the appropriate levels,” Newcome said. “It’s amazing how fast things go down the path.”
During the meeting Newcome explained administrators are currently working on the fall instructional schedule. He also displayed the schedule of a teacher who had apparently emailed band parents about his scheduling concerns to show how administrators have allowed for instruction time.
“We’re planning to offer almost the exact same experience as we have in the past,” Newcome said. “I do not see any significant change. Fine tuning the schedule is part of what we do in the summer.”
Middle school Principal Elena Wilson said band is being scheduled as a class which should enhance music instruction. She said scheduling and curriculum updates are being posted on the school Web site as they are finalized.
Board President Lisa Bowman told parents it was great to see the passion and care parents have for their children and district programs.
In other business, the school board approved a contract with Sports Care LLC, for up to 1,000 hours of athletic training services at $30 per hour during the 2011-12 school year. The company is a new venture for Jim Weagley, an athletic trainer who was furloughed as district athletic director during spring budget cuts. Newcome said it is standard for the district to have an athletic trainer available, and Weagley’s experience will be an advantage to the school district.
In personnel matters the school board hired Ryne Anthony as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher at a $46,914 salary; accepted with regret the resignation of Wanda Lapp as middle school student council advisor and seventh and eighth grade variety show director; and accepted with regret the resignations of John Cummings as varsity girls softball coach, and Steve Landis as assistant coach to the girls team.
-30-
The community members were organized by band parent Jamie Maurer who said she was concerned about possible music department staffing changes and said she wanted for parents to be part of the conversation about the music program.
Superintendent Tom Newcome assured the parents there was no reason for alarm, and that while the school district has had to reduce its teaching staff by an overall 12 percent due to budget cuts, the music staff has lost only about one-third of a position.
Newcome said it was “unfortunate” that emails warning about a potential reduction in music instruction and concerts and encouraging children to demonstrate at the board meeting circulated throughout the Octorara band community without solid facts. Two parents asked questions, and none of the students spoke during public comment.
“It’s a non-issue that had not been fully vetted at the appropriate levels,” Newcome said. “It’s amazing how fast things go down the path.”
During the meeting Newcome explained administrators are currently working on the fall instructional schedule. He also displayed the schedule of a teacher who had apparently emailed band parents about his scheduling concerns to show how administrators have allowed for instruction time.
“We’re planning to offer almost the exact same experience as we have in the past,” Newcome said. “I do not see any significant change. Fine tuning the schedule is part of what we do in the summer.”
Middle school Principal Elena Wilson said band is being scheduled as a class which should enhance music instruction. She said scheduling and curriculum updates are being posted on the school Web site as they are finalized.
Board President Lisa Bowman told parents it was great to see the passion and care parents have for their children and district programs.
In other business, the school board approved a contract with Sports Care LLC, for up to 1,000 hours of athletic training services at $30 per hour during the 2011-12 school year. The company is a new venture for Jim Weagley, an athletic trainer who was furloughed as district athletic director during spring budget cuts. Newcome said it is standard for the district to have an athletic trainer available, and Weagley’s experience will be an advantage to the school district.
In personnel matters the school board hired Ryne Anthony as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher at a $46,914 salary; accepted with regret the resignation of Wanda Lapp as middle school student council advisor and seventh and eighth grade variety show director; and accepted with regret the resignations of John Cummings as varsity girls softball coach, and Steve Landis as assistant coach to the girls team.
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Sunday, July 17, 2011
In Octorara, a week of caring
What do Octorara Area School Board members and district administrators have in common with a Christiana man who once played Jed Clampett in a jalopie journey? Read that story and a story about an attorney’s opinion on the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s Act 319 or “Clean and Green” in this week’s Intell/New Era.
See how Octorara’s budget stacks up against other Lancaster County school district budgets in the story “Schools hold down taxes” www.lancasteronline.com/article/local/419345_Schoold-hold-down-taxes.html.
See the July 17 Sunday News for photos of Saturday’s sixth annual Cpl. Brandon Hardy Memorial Ride. More than 400 people, including about 260 motorcycles, turned out for the 107-mile ride honoring the Marine and Octorara graduate, who was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This rural community may not be challenging the state's constitution, but its members are reaching out to help and honor others.
See how Octorara’s budget stacks up against other Lancaster County school district budgets in the story “Schools hold down taxes” www.lancasteronline.com/article/local/419345_Schoold-hold-down-taxes.html.
See the July 17 Sunday News for photos of Saturday’s sixth annual Cpl. Brandon Hardy Memorial Ride. More than 400 people, including about 260 motorcycles, turned out for the 107-mile ride honoring the Marine and Octorara graduate, who was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This rural community may not be challenging the state's constitution, but its members are reaching out to help and honor others.
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