Classes on the Chopping Block?
About 20 Upper Dublin High School courses could be canceled for the 2013-14 year.
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Although Upper Dublin School Board President Joseph Chmielewski kicked off Monday night’s meeting by saying the meeting wasn’t meant to be budget heavy, the board touched on some items that could certainly affect the 2013-14 budget.
During the work session meeting, the board and administration read through a list of several high school courses that are recommended to be canceled for the 2013-14 school year due to lack of enrollment. They are:
- Advanced debate
- Young adult literature book club
- Great books program
- Contemporary law
- African American culture
- Current World
- Academic success: Preparing for college
- Chemistry II
- Latin I
- Electronics and robots
- Architecture
- Architecture II/Principals of construction
- Adult consumer resources
- Art history
- Aquatic activities
- Officiating and coaching
- Music business and
- Vocal techniques
None of the classes listed above has more than 10 students scheduled for the following year, and five of the classes had no takers.
In addition to the classes listed above, driver education and Verbal PSAT prep are also recommended to be deleted. (The PSAT prep will likely be combined with Verbal SAT Prep, and will be available to students in grades 9-12.
And the following high school courses have the “potential” to be canceled for the 2013-14 year due to “budgetary constraints:"
- Critical film viewing and analysis
- STRIVE I
- Abnormal psychology
- Marketing
- Sports and entertainment marketing
Chmielewski asked if it was essential to act on the recommended cancelations in March. Assistant Superintendant Robert Schultz said it was “somewhat critical” to act quickly so scheduling can get underway.
Superintendent Michael Pladus said more explanation on canceling certain classes will be given at next week’s school board meeting.
“It will be clearer next week in the scope of financial discussions,” Pladus said. “The board reserves the right to ask the administration to reconsider [the cancelations] but we do have a $2.7 million deficit to make up.”
The Upper Dublin School Board will meet Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.
Stop with the Taxes
9:07 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
It would be interesting to know how many of these classes have been offered in the past and what was the enrollment in each class. If we don't need them now what did they cost us in the past? Is there anyone out there who would be concerned if these are dropped?
Upper Dublin Parent
12:48 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
My son and several of his friends had signed up for the architecture class and have already been informed by the school that the class was cancelled for next year. Since he is interested in majoring in architecture in college, it would be nice to have the class in high school to see if he really likes it before spending thousands of dollars "testing the waters" in college. Note that the teacher for architecture also teaches several other classes at the school, architecture is not his only specialty. There were several full classes this school year for introduction to architecture and engineering. They already have all the computers and programs. Not sure how much money is saved by cutting 1 class?
udresident
12:50 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Doesn't MCCC have an arrangement with UDHS that allows students to take classes there that count towards HS graduation and college? I bet MCCC similar offerings for a bunch of these...
allthingsmatter
1:32 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
If a student wants to take a class at MCCC that is not offered by the District, the District has to allow it. But that will mess the District's "Image" as the most wonderful place for students if too many students start going elsewhere. It's a mess no matter what.
Joe Koenig
1:17 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I was at the meeting last nite and the Board, Dr. Pladus, and Mr. Schultz commented on these classes for several minutes each. My suggestion is for all of you to come to the meetings and hear for yourself. There is a Community Input session where you can asked all your questions. Watching all or some of the meetings on TV does not have the impact of being there, both pro and con!!
The next meetings are Monday, March 11 and March 18 at 7:00 PM at the High School. These are important meetings concerning budget items.
There is a $2.5 million dollar deficit. Hard cuts are going to be made this year and 2014-2015 will be as bad or worse. There is NO solution that wil be painless.
I can editorialize about the Board's past decisions that have brought us to this point, but will save my energy for the election. We will be electing FOUR (4) new Board members in Nov. Perhaps it's time not to pull the D lever blindly???
allthingsmatter
1:45 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Regarding classes, and and activities, rather than looking at what is being cut, can we see what will remain?
Specific to activities - if a student is not an athlete or a performer (Music/voice/drama.dance), what choices will they have available?
Similarly for classes - more kids in study hall now?
allthingsmatter
1:29 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Get rid of AP classes. They require a full year and then the student hopefully passes an $80 test. Enourage Juniors and Seniors to go to MCCC and get real college credit.
allthingsmatter
1:37 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The math is simple.
Increase in salary cost for teachers next year = $2.5M
With the raise; $2.6M deficiit. Without the raise; $0.1M deficit.
Some teachers will get a raise, while oher teachers will lose 20% of their income and other teachers will be unemployed. Or, sanity will prevail.
How many residents went without raises any or all of the past 4 years?
danny roturra
9:05 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
it's a start...i have been saying for years that there were manifold superfluous programs in the district and the list verifies it. if your children want to "test the waters", you pay for it. i did. imagine what programs are not on the list. perhaps the divas on the school board and the superintendent combo should prepare a list of ALL the courses and allow those of us that pay for them to decide what is necessary and which are fluff.