Spend Our Money to Renovate Schools But Not Consider Redistricting and Maybe Reducing Buildings?

Council Rock embarked on an ambitious rebuilding plan about three years ago, talking about renovating all its buildings which wouldn’t be cheap. This was after they had commissioned a study that was expected to have called for building another school. But instead, the demographics showed a downward trend in enrollment. So there was no need [...]

The Sentencing of Robert Hawkins

As I posted earlier today, sentencing finally occurred in the case of Robert Hawkins, on charges of corruption of minors and child endangerment, based on an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year old female student and supplying her with alcohol and marijuana. He had pleaded guilty on November 18th.  Sentencing had been deferred for 60 days [...]

Proposed Extension of Time for Melsky Tract Sale Voted Down 5-4

At last night’s special meeting of the School Board, the sole item on the agenda was whether to extend the contract during which Toll Brothers and Leo Holt could execute the purchase of the Melsky Property on Stoopville Road. The original agreement allowed Toll and Holt to get three-month extensions by paying extension fees, half [...]

Melsky Decision Tonight — Extend, or Make Toll Brothers Fish or Cut Bait?

Tonight’s special Board Meeting has been called to discuss whether to offer an extension to Toll Brothers (and to Leo Holt) for the sale of the Melsky property.  This was a contentious issue at the time of the Veteran’s Cemetery decision — Toll made the sale of land for the cemetery contingent upon getting the [...]

Melsky Property Sales Agreement Renewal Up for Discussion

One of the items shown on the agenda for tonight’s meeting of the School Board is a discussion item regarding an agreement renewal for the Melsky Property sale to Toll Brothers.  This agreement caused a swirl of controversy during a period about two to three years ago, when Toll Brothers threatened to hold up selling [...]

Taxpayers Beware: Richboro Redistricting Would Create a Geographically Segregated Council Rock School Board — May Have Gigantic Cost/Tax Consequences for Years

One of the consequences of the proposed redistricting Richboro Middle School could have a much bigger impact on the future than simply the question of where students will go to school.  What is being proposed could potentially shift the power in Council Rock toward one of the two high schools.  With that power would come [...]

When Are Enrollment Projections Valid and When Aren’t They?

At last night’s forum on possibly redistricting so that all Richboro Middle School students get sent to Council Rock South (as opposed to the current system of splitting them into the two high schools by geographic location), figures were presented about future enrollments.  The Administration was using these numbers to indicate how all the students [...]

Facilities and Finance Committee Meetings Canceled Tonight — In a Budget Year Like This, Who Needs Meetings?

Among the public meetings the Council Rock School Board holds are committee meetings such as Academic Standards, Facilities and Finance. These occur monthly and are an opportunity for some in-depth discussion and examination of issues, generally in more detail than can be given during the regular Board meetings. I have attended many of these Committee [...]

Update on Flooded Gym Floor at Maureen M. Welch Elementary

At yesterday’s meeting of the Facilities Committee, an update was given on the damaged gym floor at Maureen M. Welch Elementary School. I posted in August that a flood had occurred when a sprinkler fitting failed, with anywhere from 50% to 100% of the floor needing replacement. Here’s where it stands: The damaged part of [...]

What’s the Role of the Board and Administration to Keep the Public Informed?

I believe there is a need on the part of the District to keep the general public (as taxpayers who fund the School District’s operations) advised about what is going on, especially in areas where it may affect the budget (and in turn, taxes).  The Board meetings would be one time (and probably the most [...]