1,000+gather+to+protest+proposed+school+cuts+in+Upper+Darby+School

= = =By LINDA REILLY= =Published by the Delaware County Times= =5/2/12= = = = = = = = = = = = = = A crowd of about 1,000 people showed up in the courtyard outside the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center prior to Tuesday night’s school board meeting. = = = =UPPER DARBY — A crowd of almost 1,000 people filled the courtyard outside the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center as a show of solidarity in their quest to restore special courses in elementary schools and foreign language and technology in middle schools.= = = =The one-hour planned silent protest prior to the district’s presentation of a preliminary budget was instead at times a songfest and a reuniting with friends.= = = = = = = =Bill Caughlan, of Drexel Hill, whose children are enrolled at Garrettford Elementary, never attended a school board meeting before and joined the throng outside the auditorium prior to the meeting.= = = =“My daughter Emma (11) loves music,” Caughlan said. “And it doesn’t make sense to take away foreign language and technology at the middle schools. My concern is if they cut them from the schools, later on we’ll pay for it with fighting crime.”= = = =His daughter, Isabelle Caughlan, 8, a third-grader, was carrying her original artwork of a tree.= = = =“I made it in art class,” Isabelle said. “I’m here because of my specials. I like them a lot and I like them all, art, music, gym and library. I play the viola.”= = = =Other children carried posters with messages of “Music matters to me,” and “Save the arts,” and adults and children carried musical instruments, sports balls, hula hoops, artwork or stood silently next to a large fine art painting.= = = =The Drexel Hill Middle School girls ensemble gathered in a circle to sing some songs and alumni and high school students belted out their alma mater for the crowd to enjoy.= = = =Once inside the entire crowd was particularly loud reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with pride before settling down to listen attentively to Smith’s presentation.= =Business Manager Ed Smith delivered the budget overview and bottom line that calls for the administration’s recommendation for the restructuring of the elementary special subjects of music, art, library and physical education, the elimination of middle school foreign language and technical education and the elimination of two administrative positions.= = = =The $160.1 million 2012-2013 budget calls for a 32.85 millage rate, 1.12 mills increase or 3.5 percent.= = = =A homeowner with a house assessed at $100,000 paying $3,173 this year will pay an additional $112 per year, for a total of $3,285 real estate tax, if approved as presented.= = = =District Superintendent Lou DeVlieger pointed out how the economy affects the interest income, the assessments and transfer taxes.= = = =“Instead of our revenues increasing they are decreasing by a significant margin,” DeVlieger said. “Second, our state support has changed as well. Keep in mind we are subsidizing our competition charter schools to the tune of $3.5 million. Charter schools are $3.5 million out of our pockets. The specials programs are $2.9 million. We used to get reimbursed for about 30 percent of our charter school costs by the state in the past. Now we get zero. It’s an annual problem that gets progressively worse each year.”= = = =DeVlieger also targeted federal contributions to education pointing out the district is supposed to receive 40 percent of the costs for special education.= = = =“Since 1975 the government has never kept its commitment,” DeVlieger said. “The most it has ever paid is around 25 percent. Currently our bill for special education is $27 million. This year the government only paid 6 percent.”= = = =According to Smith, salaries and benefits make up 74 percent of the budget.= = = =“Unfortunately, our problem is a sizable revenue shortfall ($7.4 million), which leaves us little choice other than to consider major program modifications and staff reductions.”= = = =Smith reported the loss of more than $800,000 in tax revenue over the last four years because of lower property assessments and no significant additions to the tax base.= =He gave cyber-charter statistics regarding the 255 students enrolled.= = = =“We are expecting to pay charter school tuition of approximately $8,800 for each regular education students and $19,500 for each special education student,” Smith said. “We currently have 35 students attending charter schools.”= = = =Smith announced two labor contracts and one administrative agreement are up at the end of this school year.= = = =“There will be no budgeted funds available for salary increases for the 2012-2013 school year for UDEA (Upper Darby Education Association), which represents the teachers, UDESPA (Upper Darby Educational Support Personnel Association), which represents the support staff, and UDASA (Upper Darby Association of Administrators Association), which represents the administrators.”= = = =Board President Maureen Carey announced the board would not vote on the tentative budget until after public comment is heard.= = = =She informed the parents and teachers in the auditorium of prior year’s occurrences with the budget.= = = =“There were always changes between the tentative budget and the final budget,” Carey said. “We welcome your input.”= = = =The next board meeting is 7:30 p.m. May 8 and public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 23 in the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.= = = = = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=