Final DV budget adopted
Attrition savings were part of district’s third straight zero-increase school budget, By David Hulse WESTFALL The Delaware Valley School Board of Education voted final approval of a $70,718,418 budget for the 2010-11 school year on June 17. For a third year, the new budget will carry no tax increase, although those enrolled in the Homestead tax reduction program will see a small increase as more people are sharing in same pool of gambling money that funds it. Having determined their spending based on revenues in Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed budget, the district still must await the final approval of school aid in the state’s final budget. Unlike any vote during its preparation, the final budget vote was unanimous. The district used attrition rather than position cuts to reduce costs in the new budget. While some positions will not be refilled because of reduced student enrollment, DV lost 408 years of experience with the 16 retirements announced during the 2009-10 school year. The 13 retirees among administration, professional and classified staff each averaged 26.5 years service. All the retirees were recognized at the board session. In other business Two contracts were approved, including the new seven-year busing agreement with Rohrer Bus Service, which board president Sue Casey said would save DV some $200,000 in its first year alone. While the salary amount was not disclosed, board member Chuck Pike said Superintendent Dr. Candis Finan made monetary concessions which would save the district some $50,000 during her new three-year agreement. Finan will complete 15 years as superintendent at the end of the new term. As faculty and administrative agreements enter the final year of current contracts, Casey named board member Jack Fisher to chair district contract negotiations next year. The board announced a new public input tool, and a new general e-mail address, schoolboard@dvsd.org. The board has cancelled any July meetings and will next meet on Aug. 17.
DVSD Retirements this year
Administrative:Thomas Finan - Director of Secondary Education - 30 years
Professional:Catherine Anke - Spanish Teacher - DVHS - 25 years
Linda Barnes - Elementary Teacher - DVES - 34 years
Judith Fitzpatrick - Elementary Teacher - DVES - 26 years
Gerard Geoffrey - Guidance Counselor - DVMS - 21 years
Tria Mason - Elementary Teacher - DVES - 32 years
Mary Merchant - Foreign Language Teacher- DDMS - 26 years
Patricia Navarro - Elementary Teacher - DDES - 35 years
Sharon Subjin - Art Teacher - SES - 23 years
Joyce Thiele - Elementary Teacher - DVES - 28 years
Carol Jones Verrone - Elementary Teacher - DDMS - 30 years
Classified:Arleen Herbert - Instructional Assistant - DVMS - 22 years
Joanna Burns - Health Room Nurse - DDES -13 years
Custodians: Richard Ridley - Night Custodian - DVMS - 19 years
Gary Scales - Head Day Custodian - SES - 23 years
Pat Calvetti - Custodian - DVHS - 21 years