What School Activities Could Be Axed?

The Upper Dublin School District considers more than $100K in cuts from activities and athletics. Is it time for an 'activity fee?'

Earlier this week, Upper Dublin School District Superintendent Michael Pladus gave his third presentation on the district’s 2013-14 budget. Following the presentation, the board approved a motion furloughing four staff members and terminating six others. The measures will save the district about $621,000. Prior to the layoffs, the district was facing a roughly $2.4 million deficit. Also during that presentation, he outlined proposed activity and athletic cuts at all three levels — elementary, middle and high school. The proposed cuts would save the district a shade more than $135,000 and would affect about 75 clubs. The proposed cuts are listed below. At a March meeting, one resident was bothered that several high school clubs could be on …

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Al

4:08 pm on Saturday, April 27, 2013

Eliminate a principal at any level or assistant superintendent and most of these activities are back. Or cut the admin salaries by $135,000 by demotions, furloughing etc. The students deserve better. But working to contract - maybe. Just as long as it does not get as hardcore as Neshaminy School District where the teachers would not even write recommendations.   more ›

10 Teachers Let Go by School Board

During what was dubbed a ‘major’ budget presentation, the Upper Dublin School Board makes some cuts ... and hears about proposed cuts.

The Upper Dublin School Board Monday night approved the release of ten professional staff members — four by furlough and six by termination — in an effort to balance the district’s 2013-14 budget by June. By letting go of these teachers, the district will save roughly $620,800. The furloughs and terminations are effective June 30. Those furloughed are: Those not tenured and terminated are: As of Monday, prior to the furloughs, the district was facing a deficit of about $2.4 million — and that includes the use of about $2.6 million in fund balance and a proposed tax increase, which would generate about $1.9 million. The $2.4 million-figure is down about $387,200 from January due salary freezes and anticipated retirements.  The district is …

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David Franklin

12:15 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013

We're at the point where we have to CUT to meet the budget numbers. This day was coming sooner or later. I hope Upper Dublin has the good sense to continue the cuts in staff and programs in order to get us within a figure that allows us to live within our budget.   more ›

District Banking on Early Retirements

The Upper Dublin School Board approved a motion allowing an early retirement incentive; teachers have until May 3 to decide.

  While the Upper Dublin School Board whittled the district’s 2013-14 budget deficit down by about $650,000 since January, it still has some ground to cover. Now, the school board is turning to early retirements. The school board on Monday night approved a motion accepting an “early retirement incentive plan” for its teachers. The incentive? $20,000. The money will be paid into the employee’s 403(b) or toward medical coverage for up to two years. The incentive plan is contingent on ten teachers taking the deal, and the teachers have until May 3 to accept the offer. Superintendent Michael Pladus said the administration is “hoping” that the early retirement plan will drum up $750,000 in savings. Currently, there is a $2.1 million budget …

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School Board to Discuss Revenue Budget

The Upper Dublin School Board will meet tonight; check out the agenda.

The Upper Dublin School Board will continue to hash out the details of the district's 2013-14 budget at its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. in the Cardinal Room in the high school. According to the draft agenda, Upper Dublin School District Business Administrator Brenda Bray will discuss the revenue portion of the budget. See the attached pdf for the entire draft agenda.   The Upper Dublin School District is facing a $2.75 million deficit — that includes a proposed 3.04 percent millage increase. As part of a budget presentation last week, Superintendent Michael Pladus unveiled a list of proposed budgetary reductions to the tune of about $3 million. Most of the reductions come in the form of teacher demotions, and a portion of the reductions come…

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$3M in Cuts Considered for Upper Dublin Schools

The Upper Dublin School Board reviews proposed budgetary reductions for the 2013-14 school year; superintendent calls them ‘not good for anybody.’

$3M in Cuts Considered for Upper Dublin Schools

The Upper Dublin School Board reviews proposed budgetary reductions for the 2013-14 school year; superintendent calls them ‘not good for anybody.’

Upper Dublin Superintendent Michael Pladus kicked off his budget presentation Monday night by telling parents and those in the audience that they should leave if they didn’t want to hear bad news. “I’m sad to say, the future is here,” Pladus said. The Upper Dublin School District is facing a $2.75 million deficit — and that’s after a proposed 3.04 percent millage increase. As part of a budget presentation, Pladus unveiled a list of proposed budgetary reductions to the tune of about $3 million. Most of the reductions come in the form of teacher demotions, and a portion of the reductions come from eliminating several elementary, middle school and high school clubs and activities. Pladus did say that the district shaved about $400,000 off of …

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‘Major Step Forward’ for School Budget Tonight

The Upper Dublin School Board will meet tonight for its legislative meeting; it will also discuss the 2013-14 budget.

After a dry budget overview late last month, the Upper Dublin School Board will hold a meeting that was dubbed to be “the next major step forward” in the budget process, according Upper Dublin Superintendent Michael Pladus. The school board will meet at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. See the pdf section for the draft agenda. Pladus, in a district-wide email, said the options to be discussed at the March 11 meeting are just that — options. He added that the school board will take more cost-cutting options into consideration next month. More from the email: This Monday night at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of the high school, the Administration will be presenting to the Board of School Directors the second of three budget presentations that…

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Classes on the Chopping Block?

About 20 Upper Dublin High School courses could be canceled for the 2013-14 year.

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: 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 …

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How Much Federal Funding for Upper Dublin Schools?

The Upper Dublin School District receives a small amount of federal funding, and stands to lose some of it.

With sequestration pending, Pennsylvania stands to lose funding for many of its programs. But what about the schools? The Upper Dublin School District is in the middle of paring down its budget. Currently, the preliminary budget weighs in at $87.2 million, but it still needs to cut $2.7 million. Like almost all local school districts, the majority of the funds come from local revenue. In Upper Dublin’s case, it’s 84 percent, or about $71.2 million. The state contributes the next highest amount, 15 percent or $13 million; and the federal government chips in $385,000 — less than one percent. Upper Dublin School District Business Administrator Brenda Bray called the figure “paltry” at a January meeting. But what if we see sequestration? …

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School Budget Will Get Public Input Monday

The Upper Dublin School Board will hold a budget-centric meeting at the high school.

The Upper Dublin School Board didn’t go into depth on the budget before it passed the district’s 2013-14 preliminary budget earlier this month, but residents will have a chance to weigh tonight. The Upper Dublin School Board will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in the Cardinal Room at the high school. According to Katie Braun, the school district’s assistant to the superintendent, the community will have a chance to voice concerns over the budget at the end of the meeting; the meeting will start off with a budget presentation from school district business administrator Brenda Jones Bray. See the proposed agenda in the pdf section. There will be another meeting focusing on the budget March 18 at 6 p.m. in the Cardinal Room. The school district is …

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