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CASD signs off on new taxes, end of Gordon
The board of the Coatesville Area School District passed the 2008-2009 school budget Tuesday night, a package that includes a 3.11 percent property tax increase and a cost-saving plan to close Coatesville's Gordon Elementary School.
Jennifer Miller wrote in today's paper that the school board voted 7-1 in favor of the $135.8 million budget plan. Diane Brownfield was the only member to oppose the plan. Board member Robert Knecht was absent.
Jennifer Miller wrote in today's paper that the school board voted 7-1 in favor of the $135.8 million budget plan. Diane Brownfield was the only member to oppose the plan. Board member Robert Knecht was absent.
posted by Daily Local at
10:42 AM
18 Comments:
Why do you and the local keep saying Gordon is closing. Gordon is staying open as a school, just not an elementary school. Now it's going to be used to teach special ed students. I think its great the district is looking for ways to save money and still meet the needs of the kids. I also think in the long run the elementary kids at Gordon will benefit from everything the other schools can offer. I was at last nights meeting and there was only one person speaking out against the change at Gordon. She turned in a petition and I found out there were less than 60 signatures on it. They already have more families with special ed kids wanting to come back than signatures on the petition. That should give the local a clue they are barking up the wrong tree if they want to make a story where there is none.
To 4:31 p.m.
We keep saying Gordon Elementary is closing because, in fact, it is closing, something I think you acknowledge yourself in the second sentence of your post. Why dance around what's actually happening?
About the Daily Local and its "barking," since the district's preliminary budget was passed in early April (about 9 weeks ago), there have been five news stories that mentioned Gordon closing. There also have been a couple editorial columns, mostly focusing on the tax increase, and a lengthy guest column from School Board President Donna Urban explaining the district's position on the topic.
So news coverage about Gordon has hardly been dogged because there has not been much to cover about the closure, except when the board has addressed the matter publicly. Aside from some comments here on the blog, reaction to the district's plans, surprisingly, have been mild.
If there had been more outcry, trust me, there would have been many more stories, and there will be more when the district finalizes its plan how Gordon's students will be divided among CASD's other elementary schools.
This all hopefully also addresses Superintendent Richard Como's concerns that the DLN interpreted the district's budget process as some sort of "facade," something he commented on at Tuesday's meeting.
Maybe everbody should read Sec 2167 of the MPOETC. It's says that you can't recieve any compensation until you are certified. Interesting!! Maybe Mr. Mattews shouldn't be carrying a badge. It also says you can lose state funding if you do pay them. Interesting!! what does C-ville do now? It seems like they might be in violation of Act 120."VERY INTERRRESTING", as Sergeant Schultz would say.
The sensationalism exhibited in your headlines concerning the school district's budget along with any other innovative new attempt of communication by the district has gone totally unheeded. Obviously you, who does not even attend the meetings gather up information second hand. You really should keep your articles second section. The truth about the Coatesville School District is that it has improved, there is a higher degree of honesty and trust which you do not seem to be able to stomach. I guess honesty doesn't sell papers.
Signed,
One who does make the meetings
The school district is saving over 2 million dollars for the taxpayers
and the Daily Local News still isn't satisfied?Their budget increase is below the rate of inflation!!It appears that the leadership of the Coatesville School Distict is doing an excellent job.
NOT ONLY DO YOUR HEADLINES REGARDING THE COATESVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTINUALLY ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN A NEGATIVE FASHION BUT NOW YOUR COMMENTS ON YOUR BLOG FOLLOW IN KIND. AS A MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT I HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED UPON YOUR "YELLOW JOURNALISM" AS THE WRITTINGS OF SOMEONE WHO IS UNINFORMED AND HAS NOT UNDERTAKEN THE STEPS NECESSARY TO GAIN A CLEAR AND TRUTHFUL UNDERSTANDING OF OUR DISTRICT. THE COATESVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS COMPRISED OF WONDERFUL STUDENTS, SUPPORTIVE PARENTS, AND DEDICATED FACULTY WHO HAVE FOUND IT A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION. THE ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDING THE STUDENTS WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. YOUR ATTEMPS TO BESMIRCH OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL DIRECTORS BY CONTINUALLY QUESTIONING THEIR MOTIVES AND AGENDAS IS BECOMING AN AFFRONT TO YOUR INTELLIGENT READERS.
In response to Jon who is arguing with my original post that Gordon Elementary is closing, look at your on headline above..."end of Gordon". It doesn't say end of Gordon Elementary. The DLN headline read "School board hikes tax; closes school". To give you the benefit of the doubt, you are misleading the public if not outright lying. Gordon is not closing and it will continue to exist in the fall of next year. The school is being changed from an elementary school to an education center. From your headline, you'd thing the district was abandoning the school like they did with Scott years ago. Nothing could be further from the truth!!!! When Gordon went from a middle school to an elementary school several years ago, did the DLN say Gordon was CLOSING? Of course not, because it wasn't. And it's not now either!
Speak the truth. Gordon is being converted for the benefit of the students and taxpayers. In your own response to me you say there have been 5 articles about this issue. But your paper's editorial implied that with the cancelling of a meeting last week the administration and board were giving the impression there was something to hide. I believe this is what the superintendent spoke to at the meeting. There is nothing being hidden. This is the most open and honest the district has been in years, so give them a break! We don't want them becoming closed mouthed because the DLN wants to twist everything they say and do into something negative.
Instead of trying to get the public up in arms (which hasn't worked) why don't you spend time covering some of the other newsworthy things going on. On the district's website, they have information and pictures of 2 groundbreaking ceremonies at the high school and for the new elementary school. Positive things. Moving forward things. Where's your coverage of those things? Not juicy enough for your paper?????
I welcome anyone who wants to continue posting on this topic.
But I would also like to extend an invitation to those who would like to speak to me directly -- without the courage provided by the anonymity of the internet -- to call me directly at 610-430-1156.
Why should we call you? If you don't like anonymous postings then don't offer them.
Maybe the people who aren't in the public eye don't want to get criticized for supporting our schools they way you critcize those who work there.
Just be truthful with the facts and you won't have to get up in arms over the response you receive.
If you can't take the heat.....
Perhaps when you have the GUTS AND FORTITUDE to show up at one of the posted and advertized Coatesville Area School District meetings and people who do show up and are in support of the goings on of the district now days as opposed to the past when you weren't even here is when you will see other names added to the comments that you invited as anonymous. The Internet and your blog have equalled things out for people who don't work in your seemingly becoming a lowlife vocation in terms of who may have the pen last.
It is understandable that your paper is probably in financial problems but reporters like yourself have probably caused this issue. Senssationalism in your headlines and lack of valid points in your articles have caused most Chester County buyers to label your communique the "Lack of Daily News". In case you want a name it's Bob Ludwig, Swissvale, PA.
Don't forget the vile, slanderous ed. Andy H. who has driven the paper to this point.
As a Coatesville resident, employee of the district and a parent of a school age student I have been extremely concerned about the manner in which the Daily Local has represented the Coatesville Area School District. Enough is enough! I am proud to be a resident and employee and feel my child is receiving an outstanding educational experience.
I applaud the efforts of the school board members and central office administration in preparing a budget that is fair and equitable to all involved well in advance of the state deadline. The inclusion in the budget of a reconfiguration of the Gordon Building will not only serve the best interests of the students but also the taxpayers. As one who attends boards meetings, I can assure you that I have gained a complete understanding of the intentions of the administration and commend them for thinking outside of the box. The attempt of the Daily Local to make it appear that parents and taxpayers were not given the opportunity to voice their concerns was a fallacy.
Kudos to Jon for extending the invitation for people to call him. I think what it means in the article is that Gordon, in its current form, is closing.
My mother used to tell me that Coatesville offered a good education too. I remember one time Mother asked my elementary teacher why I'd gotten a C in science. The reply: "I don't like science so I didn't cover it this marking period. Everyone got a C."
A good friend of mine, also a product of Coatesville schools, had one non-negotiable condition when she bought a house -- it could not be in the Coatesville School District. I can agree with that sentiment.
Last year the Pittsburgh Business Review published a ranking of Pennsylvania school districts based on state testing results.
Coatesville ranked 454 out of 498.
Tredyffin-Easttown ranked 2; West Chester 25; Downingtown 33.
Coatesville 454.
http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/05/21/daily24.html?q=school%20district%20rankings%20pennsylvania%20pittsburgh%20business
It's easy to look at the negative and not give anything to the positive. If you want a good education in Coatesville, you can get one. My kids did and so did many of their friends who have gone on to complete college educations and start successful careers. I'll match every complaint with a success story. Is the district perfect? Absolutely not, but there's a lot of great things going on and a lot of kids being helped. As far as comparing test scores with other districts, when T-E, D-town and West Chester have the same number of disadvantaged and non-english speaking students,let alone a comparative tax base, I'll take that comparison. Until then, its apples and oranges.
I'm glad you give Jon the benefit of the doubt about Gordon but the headlines say differently. It's the headlines that speak loudly, thats why they use such large print and throw it on the first couple pages.
I noticed today about Downingtown's budget. No huge headlines there and their budget proposal is much high than what Coatesville's is.
Being a resident of the Coatesville School District, while also having students in the schools, my wife and I are extremely happy with the education that our children are receiving.
If anyone would like to look at the PSSA test scores by county, district or school, please review the link below. http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/a_and_t/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=129181
This site contains the most recent 2006-2007 test data. You can slice and dice the data by advantaged versus disadvantage or in several mannners. When you look at the data this way, CASD falls right in line with the other Chester County School Districts.
Let's be honest with the large number of economically disadvantaged people in the Coatesville Area School District (30%+), whose daily priority is surviving rather than education, of course your test scores are not going to compare favorably against other districts. That is why it is important to review the actual data and see the results by economic status and make an informed decision for yourselves rather than taking someone else opinion as the truth.
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