Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Brandon Donnelly took the microphone at the school board's May 8 meeting and made a passionate plea to preserve the district's gifted programs.
Budget negotiations and deficit reduction are not usually topics that enter the radars of nine-year-old boys. However, when Brandon Donnelly overheard his parents talking about the drastic cuts to programs and extracurricular activities that were proposed by the Bensalem School Board to solve a $9 million deficit in the 2013-2014 budget, he felt compelled to speak up. In the days leading up to the May 8 school board meeting, Brandon worked with his teachers to compose a speech that he planned to present to the board. His remarkable call to action is made even more impressive by the fact that Brandon is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Any parent with a child on the autism spectrum knows what a feat it is for the child to address a …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
After protests last week, the district comes up with new budget cuts.
Last week hundreds of parents and teachers protested Bensalem School District’s proposal to cut more than 70 teachers and eliminate all extracurricular activities to solve its potential $12 million deficit problem. But no one, not even the administrators who proposed those drastic cuts, thought it was a good idea. For that reason, the district made new proposals Wednesday, including raising property taxes 2.77 percent—about $84 per homeowner—and $2.78 million in cuts, according to Phillyburbs.com. The district origianlly proposed a 3.4 percent tax increase. Among some proposed cuts include the sixth grade gifted program, after-school busing, summer school and eliminating some support position such as nurses and librarians, the report …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The Bensalem School District expected such a big crowd at Wednesday’s budget meeting that they moved it to a larger venue at Valley Elementary School. And they were right.
Hundreds of students and Bensalem district employees turned out wearing the Owls’ colors—blue and white—to ask board members not to cut all extracurricular activities for the sake of the school budget, according to phillyburbs.com. The problem is that the district has anywhere from a $5 million to $12 million deficit going into the 2013-2014 school year depending on the scenario it follows. (One of the preliminary budgets is attached, and more recent versions are available on the district’s website.) What's more important, no taxes or extracuriculars? Leave a comment. But the board directed the administration to fix that $12 million gap without raising taxes, phillyburbs reported earlier this week. To do that would mean cutting more than …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Some Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. customers are advised to boil water after a main break. The break also caused water outages that made students and staff of two elementary schools hold classes at other district buildings.
Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. has issued a boil water advisory after a main break occurred in Bensalem early on Tuesday, according to the company. Customers on Hulmeville Road between Street Road and Park Avenue should boil their water because of a loss of pressure as a result of the water main break. Water should be boiled to kill potential bacteria and organisms in the water for one minute and then cooled before using, according to Aqua. Otherwise, "bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation." The main was shut down at about 5:30 a.m. and crews worked to restore water service in the affected area, according to a press release from Aqua. Water samples were collected Tuesday and …
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Officials said the investigation into the alleged $1.5 million conspiracy included a grand jury, search warrants, investigative work and tips.
A letter from an anonymous tipster is what sparked the investigation that ultimately lead to the arrest of 20 people connected to $1.5 million in thefts from the Bensalem School District, officials said. Bensalem's Superintendent Dr. David Baugh, who took his job in 2011, said he received a letter in February 2012 filled with allegations that school employees were not working. After only an hour and a half of investigating during a break in his schedule, the district head realized something was wrong. The letter appeared to be correct. According to court records, the letter was submitted by a "hard working current employee of the district." More tips on possible corruption in the district came pouring in over next few days, Baugh said. The…
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The former Bensalem School District business administrator is arrested in connection with a massive conspiracy investigation involving thefts from the district.
A year-long corruption investigation culminated in the arrest of 20 people associated with the theft of more than $1.5 million from the Bensalem School District, police announced Tuesday morning. Bensalem investigators made the arrests after they launched two separate investigations into alleged misdoings involving district staff. One investigation focused on “ghost employees,” the other on theft and illegal distribution of vehicles and related parts, township Public Safety Director Fred Harran said. District Attorney David Heckler and Harran both said the investigation is not finished and more arrests are possible. Jack Myers, the retired Bensalem School District business manager, was among those arrested in the corruption probe. He is …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Bensalem School District's Superintendent Dr. David Baugh will hold a meet and greet for parents and guardians.
Today is the last day to RSVP for the meet and greet with Bensalem School District's Superintendent Dr. David Baugh. Though the event will take place on Feb. 4, people interested in attending must RSVP. Parents and guardians should call 215-750-2800 ext. 4101 to RSVP for the meet and greet, by Wednesday, Jan. 30. Baugh welcomes members of the Bensalem School District community to discuss what's "near and dear" to them, and enjoy some light refreshments. The meet and greet will be held at the Dorothy D. Call Administrative Center, located at 3000 Donallen Dr. from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. next Monday.
40.140734
-74.92483
Bensalem Township School District
3000 Donallen Dr, Bensalem, PA
/articles/district-superintendent-to-hold-meet-and-greet
859046
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Saturday, June 16, 2012
Average homeowner will see a $64 tax hike
- SCHOOLS
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Saturday, June 16, 2012
Making adjustments until the last minute, the Bensalem Township Board of School Directors on Wednesday approved a 2012-2013 budget of $120.6 million. The spending plan will raise the tax bill of the average township homeowner by about $64. That compares to an initial estimate in January of $89, but is a little more than the $60 projected at the start of Wednesday's board meeting. Board member Elizabeth Cerasi proffered an amendment to raise the millage rate from 141.15 to 144.35, which translated to $4.40 on the tax hike. It was approved on a 5-3 vote, with newest board members Kevin McKay, Matthew Grodsky and Pam Strange dissenting. The final vote on the budget was approved with the exact same vote. Total 2012-2013 expenditures represent …
Carol Ann
10:30 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
P2YA, Regardless of your party affiliation, talk to your local T.E.A. [taxed enough already] group about holding a meeting to teach you and your fellow property owners, "How To Run In The Next School Board Election". These elections have a very low turnout so, it wouldn't take very much money to get in there. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, I urge you to not only join the PTCC … more ›