Rose Tree Media School District holds budget forum
District invites resident to take part in process
UPPER PROVIDENCE >> The message was clear Saturday from those attending the first of four Rose Tree Media School District budget process taxpayer forums.
Make sure the budget decisions made by the school board have as little impact on students as possible.
In a new approach, approximately 65 residents shared their ideas to help set priorities in developing the 2017-2018 budget. The procedure was introduced by Dr. Harris Sokoloff of the Penn Project for Civic Engagement and facilitated by moderators from the organization.
“Your comments will serve to advise the school board on ways to address the budget gap,” he said. “This is not easy work.”
Rose Tree Media’s $98.2 million preliminary budget, with a $7.2-million increase in spending and 3.5-percent tax hike, was approved by the school board in January. The district’s Act 1 index for next year, as set by the state, is 2.5 percent, and the additional 1 percent would be sought through Act 1 referendum exceptions. If the current program and teaching staff were to be maintained without a tax hike, the gap is $9.5 million.
The disparity has been exacerbated in the last 10 years through the loss of property taxes from commercial entities such as Granite Run Mall and the Franklin Mint and extra costs for special education and mandated contributions for PSERS (Public School Employee Retirement System). In the past, the discrepancy was covered by staff attrition, changes to the health care plan, tax increases and using a portion of the fund balance.
Participants were provided with a sampling of possible budget actions under consideration by the district. Some would cut costs and services; others, raise revenues. Individuals were divided into discussion groups to consider the options.
The 33 listed items were allocated among instruction, support services, student activities and revenue sources and the groups were asked to categorize them from items easily addressed (“low hanging fruit”) and unfortunately necessary (“shared pain” and “gut wrenching”) to those that could not be eliminated (“no way, no how”).
Most participants came up with a tax increase of 2.5-3 percent, using up to $2 million from the district fund balance, charging a fee for sports participation and making minor reductions in health/PE positions as possible solutions, while opposing reductions to staffing for kindergarten, elementary school, middle and high school core subjects and world languages, guidance and pupil health services.
“I’m not in favor of anything that affects students,” said one mother. “I’m willing to pay higher taxes to support them.”
Another woman questioned the option that would have reduced electives at Penncrest High School.
“Think about property values,” she said. “They would drop if our high school had to cut back on electives such as music and art.”
Approximately twothirds of the items dealt with instruction and the focus groups questioned the lack of additional options, such as reductions at the administrative level or renting space in the education center. While the list provided explanations, in many cases they felt more information was needed to make informed decisions.
Alisa Theveny, of Upper Providence, served on the 26-member advisory group that coordinated with the district to devise the list and ensure broadbased participation. She was pleased with the discussion and its focus.
“I’m really happy to hear how invested the community is in the students’ educational experience,” she said. “I was concerned that people might not see the value of non-state-mandated programs and it was good to see that was not an issue.”
The results of the four sessions will be complied into a report to be presented to the school board and Superintendent Jim Wigo by mid-March.
“They have agreed to use your work as important input into the budget,” said Sokolof. “We have asked the board to report to you on how they factored your ideas into their decisions.”
Additional meetings 6:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, at Penncrest High School.
Registration will open 30 minutes prior to each meeting.
The group also met Sunday afternoon at will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Springton Lake Middle School.