CYBER COSTS SKYROCKET; LOCAL IMPACT
A Philadelphia charter school filed suit in Commonwealth Court challenging the way the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) calculates the tuition school districts pay when a student enrolls in a charter. The state's 1997 charter school law states that the formula should rely on a district's total budgeted spending -- less certain expenses -- to determine the rate, while the department had been using a district’s actual spending.
The charter school won the case in court now requiring the Northern Bedford School District to pay $11,138 for each regular education student and $21,155 for each special education student to cyber charter schools. For the 16-17 school year, NBC was required to pay $9,396 to cyber schools for regular education students and $16,869 for a special education student. NBCSD has 17 regular education students and 4 special education students enrolled in cyber schools. This lawsuit along with the perceived lack of desire in Harrisburg to address the inequalities of cyber funding will result in NBC paying $273,966 to cyber schools located in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, etc. This equates to 4-5 teaching positions, accounts for almost the entire athletic budget for the district, accounts for almost the entire music department budget, or would pay for one half of the entire food service costs at NBC.
If you are shocked at the cost to NBC, it requires you to voice your concerns over the inequitable funding to your representatives. While NBC continually focuses on saving money where possible, the cyber charter schools are overflowing with your public tax dollars.
The rhetorical question: Are you going to sit back and hope someone else speaks to our elected officials or are you going to be the one?
http://www.reptopper.com/Contact.aspx Representative Topper
http://www.senatorlangerholc.com/contact/ Senator Langerholc
https://senatoreichelberger.com/contact/ Senate Education Committee Chairman
http://www.senatordinniman.com/contact-us/contact-senator-dinniman Senate Minority Chair
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1013 House Education Committee Chairman
Left to Right/Front Row: Danielle McGrath (Corle Building Systems), Rachel Mickle, Jaden Fernandez, Josh Dasher, Maddie Cherry, Cam Pressel, Kevin Ziance (Corle Building Systems); Back Row: Ian Zimmerman, Ian Sherlock, Caleb Diehl, Noah Kuklo, Maurizio Amato
The Challenge Program, Inc. Kicks Off At Northern Bedford High School. Students at Northern Bedford High School were recently introduced to The Challenge Program, Inc. during a kick-off assembly at their school. The assembly theme was Classroom Feud: Workplace Edition. This fun game show spin-off reveals to students the right answers to the important questions for career-readiness and success both in and beyond the classroom and how to earn cash incentives.
During the assembly, students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes were introduced to local career opportunities. Throughout the year, they will be eligible to compete for financial awards in five areas linked with academic and workplace success: Attendance, Academic Improvement, Academic Excellence, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and Community Service. The business partner for Northern Bedford High School during the 2017/2018 school year is Corle Building Systems.
The student PRIDE team held an American Flag scavenger hunt for middle school and high school students as a lead-in to the Veterans Day assembly. 150 paper flags were hidden throughout the building for
students to find. Winners from each school were selected from the tickets found. Here the winning
high school students received their prizes, which included gift certificates and food items, from
PRIDE member Cameron Pressel (middle).
NBC Interact Club Members volunteer at the Woodbury Food Bank. Members are listed from left to right. Ally Ritchey, Ariel Reed, Evan Cottle, Alivia Horton and Alaina Stuckey.
With September being National Suicide Prevention Awareness month, members of SADD and the high school Child Development class were trained in the SafeTALK program. The students were trained to TALK – Tell, Ask, Listen, and Keep-safe - when concerned that someone may be having thoughts of suicide and to help them connect with more specialized support. Presenting the certificates were SafeTALK trainers Michelle Countryman and Ami Miller.
