Radnor board ask voters to say no to constitutional amendment
RADNOR » The Radnor Township School Board is pulling out all stops to get residents to vote against the proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot. They have yard signs and plan to print up placards to hand out to voters at the polls.
School board Member Amy Goldman, co-chair of the board’s governmental affairs committee, said the board had passed a resolution opposing Senate Bill 76 in February and that this amendment, if approved, would pave the way for Senate Bill 76 or similar legislation to be passed.
That bill would have shifted how public education is funded from property taxes to sales and use taxes, along with personal income taxes, which would then be funneled through the state and doled out to the school districts. They fear that local control of the schools would be eroded.
Supporters of Sen. Bill 76 are backing the proposed constitutional amendment and admit it would be a “backdoor” to getting it passed, Goldman said. Along with Radnor, the West Chester Area School District and the Phoenixville Area School District are also encouraging their residents to vote no, she said.
“If you live in Radnor, you probably live here because the schools are terrific,” she said. Even if a resident does not have children in the public schools, living in a stellar district impacts the value of real estate,” she said.
Board member Pattie Booker said that both political parties agree with the district’s vote no campaign and suggested that the palm cards be handed out at the polling places to remind voters to vote no.
“I hope everyone will get out and vote,” said Dave Wood, president of the Radnor Education Association, during public comment. “What’s up for grabs in the constitutional amendment is pretty impactful for our district. If this passes, the education in our district will be changed forever and I don’t think there will be a way back.”
After the meeting Goldman noted that the state Legislature has had trouble passing the state budget and could hold up funds for the school districts. Also, the district would have little say in how much money it would receive from the state. Already, Pennsylvania is 45th out of 50 states in the amount of money it spends on public education. Some 80 percent of the district’s budget comes from local real estate taxes, Goldman said. However, Goldman said officials in other districts that already rely more on state funding have other views on the amendment.
In other business, the board voted 8-1, with board member Julia Bohnenberger opposing, to approve supplemental pay for employees to work with students on the high school musical. The vote came after discussion regarding whether this amounted to the district double paying for the same job, since people were appointed last month to help students with the musical, including a theater arts department director at $6,927; a musical director at $4,271; a choral director at $3,323; and a stage crew director at $1,731.
On Tuesday, the board also approved a stage director for $4,000; a musical technical director for $4,000; a musical sound designer for $3,300; a musical executive producer for $2,000; costume designer at $1,800; and set designer at $1,200.
Board member Susan Michaelson said they plan to pay these individuals through existing funds from the Radnor Performing Arts Parents’ Association, a booster club.
“Last month we approved money for a set job description … I see us overpaying,” said Bohnenberger. “It’s concerning. I see us using our taxpayers’ money to pay twice.”
Superintendent Kenneth Batchelor explained that last month they hired a director to oversee the whole musical production. This month they are hiring people to assist that director in various aspects of the show.
“Most of the positions, we had before,” said Batchelor. “It’s just the funding source. We are creating two new positions that will help our kids be successful.”
“There is so much that we’re double paying,” Bohnenberger said. “This is a real concern.”
Batchelor then compared it to hiring a head football coach and various assistant coaches or his own job as superintendent. “I could not run an entire school district myself,” he said.
He suggested they discuss the issue outside the meeting.
“I feel more comfortable doing this publically,” said Bohnenberger. “I’ve been questioning it for months. Nothing’s hanging right. I’m concerned.”
Board member Susan Stern said issue had been discussed by the finance committee and it will be reevaluated in the spring.
Batchelor said that about seven or eight years ago the district business manager permitted the booster parents to pay for some of the show positions from ticket sales and money charged to students. But with “dwindling participation in our booster club,” he said, “We looked at that and decided it would be best for the district to take over those positions.”
Auditions for “All Shook Up,” the spring musical are set for this weekend. Students pay a $75 activity fee to audition.
“My problem is the overlap,” said Bohnenberger. “I’m pointing out the double pay.”
Board President Dave Falcone agreed with Batchelor that there is no double pay.