Superintendent Warns Of Future Budget Difficulties
In a notice sent from the School District of Upper Dublin, Superintendent Michael Pladus addresses the likelihood of future budget difficulties.
Letter from the Desk of the Superintendent
Budget Update
Dear Parents,
As the Superintendent of Schools, part of my job -- and a very enjoyable part at that -- involves sharing good news about so many different things going on across the district. Reports of the last two weeks of Kevin Li being one of only three students from Pennsylvania invited to the White House as a National Scholar, having seniors from the Class of 2012 accepted to every Ivy League College/University, Taylor Morgan winning another gold medal at states, and our boys baseball team’s top ten ranking in southeastern Pennsylvania are all certainly points of pride.
For this week, however, attention focuses on budget. Last Tuesday’s Philadelphia Inquirer featured a story entitled "Survey Warns of Pennsylvania School Cuts" with more than half of school districts across the state expecting financial distress within three years. The article notes “even prosperous districts feeling the heat”, like Chester County’s affluent Tredyffrin/Easttown considering increasing class sizes and passing a budget that increases taxes by 3.3-percent and using $1.5 million in savings.
The financial situation here in Upper Dublin is no better. In fact, it is even more challenging, with a proposed 4.25-percent tax increase and a major drawdown of fund balance necessary to avoid significant cuts in programs and services. Thus far, our district has been able to avoid -- or at least forestall -- the situations that have occurred in many other districts involving layoffs or furloughs that invariably result in curtailment of programs and services and/or increases in class sizes. Some contractual givebacks along with voluntary contributions by faculty and staff last year, successful refinancing of some bonds, the containment of health costs through self funding and membership in a consortium, an early retirement incentive, and an administrative restructuring plan have resulted in enough additional revenue or reduced expenses to allow us to maintain nearly all of our programs for the coming school year. Further cost reductions, however, will have to be found and implemented as we brace for a 2013-2014 fiscal year that is projected to be even more difficult.
As cited in the Inquirer article, a large part of the financial crisis stems from school employee pension payments, which are expected to triple during a time when federal and state revenues are flat at best. The situation is further complicated locally by the uncertainty of some major tax reassessment cases involving several large holdings in the district’s limited corporate industrial center in the Fort Washington Office Park. The construction of the new high school has resulted in increased taxes, but because it was approved through referendum, it has no real impact on the financial difficulties with which we are confronted. Interestingly, in terms of per pupil spending, we as a district actually still spend less than many of our neighboring school districts, despite the recent increases resulting from the cost of construction.
What does all this mean for parents, students, and the school district in moving forward? As already shared with our faculty and staff, this past year may be the last year of "normal" as we know it, in anticipation of even more difficult budgets on the near horizon. Through further cost containment, a more aggressive approach toward seeking alternative revenue sources like facility rentals, advertising, and grants, and by continuing to work together and focusing on those aspects that do, indeed, make Upper Dublin a special place to live, learn, and work, our hope is to not only maintain the quality of education but continuously look to improve it. The task, however, will not be an easy one. On behalf of the Board of School Directors, I truly appreciate your ongoing understanding and support.
Respectfully,
Michael Pladus
Superintendent of Schools
Joe
7:16 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Wissahickon, NO TAX INCREASE!! Once again, let's start with the scare tactics!!
It's time to turn over the WHOLE SCHOOL BOARD and the Superintendent . Instead of taking the income and working from that point, they take the spending and raise the taxes. Yes, they do look for savings, but there is something innately wrong with their process. They never look at their premise of what is quality education. They assume what they are doing is the only correct way to do things. Next year, what will be the next buzz word?? They have used the reserve every year to balance the budget, yet at the year's end, there is still a surplus. It's also time to NOT allow those few in the community to dictate these higher taxes. They are setting the table for a referendum on tax increases for next year. FIRE THEM ALL!!!
doc
8:58 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
The Superintendent's letter is directed to "Parents" how about all the non-parents that live in Upper Dublin? We are the ones taking it in our pocketbooks and getting nothing for it! Don't get me wrong I do not want to pay nothing, but perhaps the cost of one student, not the same as a parent with 3-4 or more children in the school system! A great deal of us non-parents are on fixed income and cannot afford these constant increases. How does some district handle these costs that our people in Upper Dublin cannot? We are in deplorable position and the only thing that will make the correction is a change in our School Board........but wait don't bother, I am moving, cannot take it any longer!!!
Doc
doc
9:01 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Correct my name to doc
Thank you
Lee
9:32 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
There is a bill called HB 1776 this summer that is receiving support on both sides, because it allievates the never ending increases but still provides for the schools and teachers. It would also help the teacher's pension bomb that is coming our way, that no one is addressing. The bill is not new it went before Rendell before and did not pass, but it has been refined and addresses all potential sales tax concerns, pls check it out:
http://www.ptcc.us/solution.htm
unbiased article to view on HB1776: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/proposed-legislation-would-end-property-tax-funding-for-schools-in-pa-637781/
Bob Richter
10:07 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
Get the message please. It's time to cut spending.
Rosemary Liddle
11:39 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
unfortunately, we cannot move - on fixed income, property value decreasing and school costs increasing. How fair is that? HELP your seniors.
Anita Brister
12:11 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Does someone at the superintendent's office need a remedial math lesson? To say that " the construction of a new (120 million $$$) high school) has no real impact on our financial difficulties, because it was approved through a referendum...", is beyond ridiculous. Upper Dublin's debt service is now 15% of the budget and the second highest of the 21 districts in Mont. County. That debt does impact our budget woes!! It looks like they are trying to convince the taxpayers that because the debt was approved through a referendum, it magically had no impact on the budget problems. I do agree with Joe. It looks like they are going to start with the scare tactics and set the stage for another referendum, while denying that the new HS has even contributed to our budgetary problems. Very masterful propaganda. And that is not a compliment!!
Anita Brister
Anita Brister
Don M
1:07 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Ms. Brister, I think what he was saying was that operational budget issues are separate from the tax increases associated with the new high school which I have a hard time believing anyway... how can a school with it's vast accessories (moving walls in the pool, new computer and weather equipment, sophisticated lighting and stage equipment, etc.) not come with an increase in costs? Training, new personnel, maintenance and replacement expenses, and even additional lighting fixtures all add up (quickly).
But unfortunately the real savings at this point will have to be personnel. I'd like to know how each faculty and staff is performing against expectation and overall utilization. For example, is the director in charge of grant and advertising programs bringing in substantially more money than his/her salary? Are guidance counselors being fully utilized for true guidance services?
Like any organization, this is the hardest assessment to conduct but it's crucial to preserving the things we feel are important to quality education: reasonable student-to-teacher ratios, safety in schools, art and music instruction (sans guitar lessons).
LancerRM
3:06 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Maybe The Patch should do a story about the District's debt/debt service, and how it compares to other schools in neighboring districts? I don't think that the District should blame the state for all of our budget problems, especially when the Superintendent and Board are helping to contribute to our financial problems. Since "normal" is over after this year, what does Dr. Pladus and the Board expect some of the changes to be for the faculty/unions? So far, the tax payers of Upper Dublin are the only ones that are on the hook.
Bob
3:29 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Finances are only going to get worse over the next few years and it's time Mr. Pladus and the school board take a good hard look at the tough times that are coming in the very near future. It's time for the budget to shrink immediately. Cut the administrative staff to the bone. Cut teaching positions and make the classroom sizes larger. Stop funding the sports programs as well as every other extracurricular activity and make them pay to play for those that want them. Cut everything other than the core subjects.
UpsetUDTaxpayer
10:38 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
While school sports are important, and a source of pride and motivation, every sport should be cut prior to a single class being cut from the roster.
As an immediate solution, you had me at "pay to play". The parents of these student athletes should pay something at a minimum to help out.
Bob
4:24 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Is this guy for real. Mr. Pladus, we are not that stupid. That high school was a budget buster. Just a 10% reduction in the overall cost ( All that over the top fluff ) would probably have put the district on super sound financial footing. Mr. Pladus and the whole board should be run out of town on a rail for arrogance and financial mismanagement.
Joe Koenig
4:48 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
There are TWO (2) School Board meetings, ONE tonite at 7:00PM at the High School and ANOTHER Wednesday a week. If as many residents showed up for this issue as did for the firing of the girl's basketball coach and the possible elimination of the Latin Club, the Board might get the message (unlikely). The only way to change their attitude is to change the Board. But what do I know, the last election shows that the majority is happy with the status quo. We get the goverment we deserve!!!
PLEASE COME TO THESE MEETINGS!!!!
danny roturra
8:28 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
mr. pladus appears to be doing a public relations approach to telling those of us that pay taxes...get use to more of the same. he works for us since we pay his salary. the issue of constant compounded tax increases is out of control. mr.pladus and the liberals on the school board freely spent OUR money. the refuse to make the necessary cuts that the times require. they must either comply with OUR desires or go away. the entire concept of the school board voted in by a popularity contest is not working. no tax increase should be approved without a consensus of tax payers agreeing. since they have had annual tax increases for many many years, it is time for a moratorium for at least five years. if that requires radical cuts..so be it. if individual parent want to pay for 'extras' it is their right...not my problem.
Keith Heffintrayer
5:39 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Feel free to check out our additional budget coverage from last night's school board meeting. Here is the link:
http://upperdublin.patch.com/articles/school-board-tweaks-budget-proposal-expects-shortfall-next-year