The Sanatoga Post

The exterior of the renovated Ringing Rocks Elementary School

POTTSTOWN PA – It’s almost time to show off what $17 million buys.

With the multi-million dollar reconstruction of Ringing Rocks Elementary School practically complete – only few punch-list items are said to remain for review – Pottsgrove School District Superintendent Dr. Bradley Landis says the administration has planned an open house during afternoon and evening hours on Dec. 13 (2011; Tuesday) to let taxpayers see just what their money bought.

A dedication and official ribbon-cutting for the Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA, school would be held sometime earlier in the day, Landis said, followed by the open house. Specific times for each event were not announced when he spoke at the Board of School Directors‘ meeting last Tuesday (Nov. 8), but are expected to be promoted in coming weeks.

The dedication, Landis said, would involve school board members, Ringing Rocks students and faculty, and contractors and architects.

All Pottsgrove students will start the winter holiday as the leave school Dec. 23 (Friday). Schools will be closed during the week of Dec. 26-Jan. 2, 2012, and reopen – including the new Ringing Rocks – on Jan. 3 (Tuesday). Business Administrator David Nester earlier said district workers will take time next month to transfer furniture and belongings from Ringing Rocks’ temporary home, the St. Pius High School building on North Keim Street, to Kauffman Road.

Related (to Ringing Rocks Elementary School renovations):

• Pottsgrove Plans Open House At New Ringing Rocks
• Color Him White With Anger Over Pottsgrove Vandalism
• Hear That? It’s The Ticking Deadline Clock At Ringing
• Ringing Rocks Delivery Could Be On Santa’s Wishlist
• Pottsgrove Board Tours, And Likes, Progress At Ringing
• No Power For Ringing Library Computers ‘An Omission’
• Blasting A Possibility, But Not Yet, At Ringing Rocks
• Few Change Orders, So Far, At Ringing Rocks
• Rigs Arrive At Ringing Site To Drill Deep For Geo-Heat
• Exterior Demolition To Begin At Ringing Rocks
• Digging’s Done, Now Real Work Starts At Ringing
• Ringing Rocks Ground-Breaking Set For Thursday
• After Month’s Work, Pius Deemed Set For Ringing Pupils
• Ringing Rocks Bids Accepted, At $1.5 Million Less
• Final Words On Ringing Rocks: Okey-Dokey
• Ringing Rocks Gets Final Plan OK
• Borrowing Authorized For Ringing Rocks Project
• Pottsgrove Signs Pius Lease For Ringing Students
• Pottsgrove Authorizes Pius Lease For Ringing Relocation
• Call Goes Out For Ringing Rocks Construction Bids
• Board OKs Ringing Rocks’ Preliminary Plans
• School Vestibule Design OK; No Decision On Rocks’ Relocation
• Ringing Rocks Plan Approval Held Until May
• Ringing Relocation Decision Deferred Again
• Township Legal Move Saves District Time, Money
• Economic Tales, Exec Sessions, And Long Night At Pottsgrove
• Geothermal Now ‘Locked’ Into Ringing Re-Build
• How Estimated Costs For Ringing Shape Up
• Less Is More In School Project, Planners Learn
• Bids Sought For Ringing Project Asbestos Removal
• Ringing Relocation Decision Possible In Two Weeks
• Restaurant, Ringing Projects Win Conditional Uses
• Ringing Rocks, Restaurant Hearing Topics Tonight
• Pottsgrove Student Enrollment: Up? Yes. Down? Yes Again
• Green Discussion At Ringing Results In Red Faces
• Pottsgrove, Archdiocese Still Discussing Pius Lease
• Ringing Rocks Relocation Discussion Set For Tonight
• In The Ringing Rebuild, Whither Pius?
• Ringing Rocks Relocation Plan: Modulars At MS
• Ringing Rocks Construction Cost Hearing Tonight
• Planners OK Ringing Rocks Land Sketch
• District Sets Dec. 3 Hearing On Rocks Budget
• Pottsgrove Asks State Help To Pay For Ringing Re-Build
• As School Opens, Progress On Ringing Rocks’ Project
• Surprise Enrollment Spurs Demographic Interest
• District Assembles Ringing Rocks Planning Team
• District OKs Architect Negotiations
• Consensus On Ringing Renovations: $16M
• Ringing Rocks Proposals Aired Tuesday
• Ringing Rocks Re-Examined April 14
• Pottsgrove To Trust-But-Verify On Ringing Plans
• Ringing Rocks Plans Take Another Step
• No Shortage Of Ideas At Pottsgrove Meeting
• Weigh In On Pottsgrove Renovations
• Framing The Rocks Discussion
• Response Mixed To Pottsgrove Improvements
• District Invites Public For Study Results
• A Different Rocks, But Only As A Concept

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Nov. 8 meeting):

• Pottsgrove Plans Open House At New Ringing Rocks
• Pottsgrove Personnel Decisions Affect 26 Positions
• School Board OKs Students To Hershey, Germany
• Pottsgrove Schools Ended Year With $550,000 Surplus
• Pottsgrove Students Show Board Learning Tech Tools
• Pottsgrove Committees Look At Sports And Facilities

POTTSTOWN PA – Personnel actions recommended by the Pottsgrove School District administration were accepted last Tuesday (Nov. 8, 2011), as well as on Oct. 25, by the district Board of School Directors. A total of 26 district positions were affected; they include:

Approved as professional resignations:

• Amy Nihart, substitute teacher.

Approved as professional retirements:

• Janice Bauer, elementary teacher, and
• Ray Mueller, elementary teacher. Both are effective on the last day of the 2011-2012 school year.

Approved as professionals’ appointments:

• James Dargan, after-school tutor, Middle School.

Approved as professionals’ substitutes:

• Louise Boyer, substitute nurse, $100 per day;
• Amanda Weller, substitute teacher, $100 per day; and
• Jessica Skone, substitute teacher, $100 per day.

Approved as support staff resignations:

• Amie Mancini, duty aide West Pottsgrove, effective Dec. 2, 2011.

Approved as support staff appointments:

• Kristin Curnew, student assistant High School, $11.40 per hour; and
• Katlyn Tancredi, custodian High School, $15.77 per hour.

Approved as support staff substitutes:

• Dann Eaton, substitute custodian, $10.85 per hour.

Approved for student teacher placement:

• David Meashey of West Chester University, supervised by Victor Holladay at the high school, from Jan. 25-March 16, 2012;
• Taylor Marsh of Eastern University, supervised by Karen Ottaviano at Lower Pottsgrove, from Jan. 10-April 27, 2012;
• Nicole Finch of Eastern University, supervised by Jenifer Leinhauser at Ringing Rocks, from Jan. 10-April 27, 2012;
• Kerri Palmer of Eastern University, supervised by Nicole Kulp and Pat Novak at West Pottsgrove, from Jan. 19-May 4, 2012; and
• Elizabeth Perkins of Eastern University, supervised by Jami Cross and Brianna Robinson at Lower Pottsgrove, from Jan. 19-May 4, 2012.

Approved as resignations from supplemental positions:

• Frank Jablonski, head wrestling coach at the Middle School;
• Kristin Uhas, assistant softball coach at the High School;
• Heather Renn, science Olympiad coach at the High School; and
• Gary Reichenbach, assistant wrestling coach at the Middle School.

Approved as appointments for supplemental positions:

• Cindy Scherer and Gwyneth Thomas, both set painting coordinators at the High School, $504 each.

Approved for attendance at conferences:

• Susan Wolbert, instruction tutor, to attend Wilson Fundation training at a cost of $147; substitute coverage is required;
• Krista Rundell, secondary teacher on special assignment, at attend “Journey to the Common Core,” at a cost of $145; no substitute coverage required;
• Jennifer Snyder, West Pottsgrove elementary school counselor, to attend the 56th annual conference of the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association, at a cost of $335; no substitute coverage required; and
• Janet Edleman, Middle School teacher, to attend the state conference to the PA Association of Student Councils, at a cost of 1,270; substitute coverage is required. The conference is paid from student government funds.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Nov. 8 meeting):

• Pottsgrove Personnel Decisions Affect 26 Positions
• School Board OKs Students To Hershey, Germany
• Pottsgrove Schools Ended Year With $550,000 Surplus
• Pottsgrove Students Show Board Learning Tech Tools
• Pottsgrove Committees Look At Sports And Facilities

Photo from Clipart.com

POTTSTOWN PA – Pottsgrove High School students will be off to Hershey PA during December, and across the Atlantic to Germany next June and July, under plans for high school trips approved last Tuesday (Nov. 8, 2011) and Oct. 25, respectively, by the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors.

Students affiliated with the high school’s DECA marketing club will be allowed to attend the High School DECA Winter Officer Leadership Conference at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center from Dec. 2-4. The $450 cost for a DECA advisor to attend as the students’ teacher and chaperone is paid by the district, and the cost of the students’ attendance is paid for by Pennsylvania DECA, high school teacher Megan DeLena reported.

The high school student trip to Germany is planned for June 16-July 14, 2012. The estimated cost of $1,800 per student is paid by the students themselves. Details of the itinerary were not presented.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story erroneously stated that the amount paid by the district for DECA travel was “per student.” It also failed to mention the Pennsylvania DECA contribution. We thank teacher Megan DeLena for pointing out both to ensure greater accuracy.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Nov. 8 meeting):

• Pottsgrove Personnel Decisions Affect 26 Positions
• School Board OKs Students To Hershey, Germany
• Pottsgrove Schools Ended Year With $550,000 Surplus
• Pottsgrove Students Show Board Learning Tech Tools
• Pottsgrove Committees Look At Sports And Facilities

Photo from Google Images

SANATOGA PA – Audits of the financial affairs of a municipal government and its affiliates or agencies are necessary. They aren’t necessarily cheap, though.

Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township’s Board of Commissioners, during its first meeting earlier this month (November 2011), gave its approval for the township to spend $15,595 on four separate audits of the financial records for:

• The township itself, $10,300;
• Ringing Hill and Sanatoga fire companies, $1,825 each; and
• The township tax collector, Jennifer Marsteller, $1,645.

The expenses usually are incurred every year to ensure all the books are in appropriate order. Results of the audits, once completed, will be released in coming months.

EAGLEVILLE PA — To help meet transportation needs of low-to-moderate income individuals in western Montgomery County and across the region, Family Services has partnered with the Family Auto Group of Greater Philadelphia to offer loans for used car purchases or repairs, even to those with poor or limited credit histories.

Once all required documents are submitted, Family Services spokeswoman Karen Konnick said Friday (Nov. 11, 2011), participants can sign and take delivery of their car within a few days. The loan program, called “Keys to Success,” also offers family budget and car maintenance counseling that helps clients stay on track throughout the process she said.

Keys to Success not only provides vehicles and affordable financing options, but also gives clients service contracts and insurance products that make car repairs manageable and supplies peace of mind. “Individuals and families with limited resources will now have the means to achieve greater self-sufficiency through car ownership and reliable transportation,” added Family Services Director Mark Lieberman.

Family Services operates an office on East High Street in Sanatoga.

Persons interested in obtaining a Keys to Success loan should call Family Auto Group of Greater Philadelphia Manager Brian Somerman, 610-630-2111 Ext. 263, for an initial consultation. Qualified borrowers must:

• Be a resident of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, or Delaware counties;
• Have a valid driver’s license;
• Be insurable;
• Have a source of income; and
• Have a minimum down payment of $500.

When their credit application is completed, applicants will select a reliable used vehicle from the Family Auto Group’s inventory, as well as a service contract and insurance products that fit their needs and budget. A range of affordable financing options is available. All vehicles come with a 21-point mechanical inspection and a 90-day powertrain warranty.

Photo from Google Images

POTTSTOWN PA – The “Fuel Up To Play 60″ health and fitness effort at Pottsgrove Middle School keeps paying dividends.

A group of 10 middle school students and their adult chaperone will soon have a chance to get a behind-the-scenes tour of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and have lunch in the Philadelphia Eagles’ football players cafeteria, Principal Dr. William Ziegler reported Thursday (Nov. 10, 2011). That’s because the school has been chosen as the first-prize winner in a Fuel Up contest sponsored by the National Football League (NFL) and the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association.

Now in its third year at the school, North Hanover Street, Pottstown PA, “Fuel Up To Play 60″ intends to keep students healthy, fit, and exercising at least 60 minutes every day. Pottsgrove’s past successes in the program last year helped physical education teacher Marilyn Eaton become a finalist in the NFL “Physical Education Teacher of the Year” competition, as well as an expenses-paid trip to last year’s NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

The middle school, recognized as having one of the best such programs in Pennsylvania, also won a day-long visit to the school during February by Philadelphia Eagles tight end Brent Celek.

HOPING TO CUT A DEAL – The Brothers Grimm, played by Vinny Pellechio, left, and Jeremy Downey, try to negotiate a new contract with their star diva, Snow White, played by Anastasia Koss, in the Pottsgrove High School production of a children’s musical, “Mother Goose, Incorporated,” which will be offered for one performance only on Thursday (Nov. 17, 2011) at 7 p.m. in the high school, Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA. “The show’s brisk pace, familiar characters, engaging songs, and (hour-long) running time make it ideal entertainment for both the young and the young-at-heart,” Pottsgrove School District spokesman Beth Trapani said Saturday (Nov. 12). Tickets, available at the door, cost $3 for all patrons age 12 and older; those younger are free. For more information, call 610-326-5105.

POTTSTOWN PA – With the holiday season approaching, members of the Pottsgrove High School Choral Department are scheduled to perform in the Big Apple, the City of Brotherly Love, and several local venues beginning Nov. 22 (2011; Tuesday) and continuing through late December, Director Cynthia Foust said Friday (Nov. 11)

Pottsgrove Concert Choir and Choraliers singers begin their holiday performance season Nov. 22 in New York City with a by-invitation performance at The Actor’s Chapel, 239 W. 49th St. Then they’ll have dinner at Ellen’s Stardust Café on Broadway, and attend a performance of Sister Act.

On Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24; Thursday), the Pottsgrove Show Choir will perform at about 10:41 a.m. in the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia, broadcast locally by television station WPVI Channel 6. Its singers will join a mass “Glee”-like youth choir of Mid-Atlantic region students on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Show Choir and Choraliers members will be sing throughout the community during December, and cap their season Dec. 22 (Thursday) by joining the Concert Choir for an annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. in Richard J. Radel Auditorium at the high school, Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA.  The concert is free and open to the public.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Show Choir members during 2011 are Erin Amole, Krisina Antonio, Seth Ayres, Ashley Cole, Erica Edwrds, Alivia Faison, Stephanie French, Thomas J. Galamba, Justin Hernandes, Ashleigh Kleinschmidt, Jennifer Korb, Kelsey Lloyd, Mollie Marko, Tiara Mitchell, Trevor Noll, Brianna Petitti, Jazmin Reddick, Rebecca Smith, Joshua Toth, Courtney Weaver, Emily Weaver and Nick Wolfe.

POTTSTOWN PA – The Pottsgrove School District ended its 2010-2011 year with a half-million dollar surplus and $10.6 million in fund balance savings accounts, an auditor told the district Board of School Directors during its meeting Tuesday (Nov. 8, 2011).

The district's offices at 1301 Kauffman Rd., Pottstown PA

The news was already known to board members whose information packets, distributed a week before the meeting, contained a full report from the certified public accountant firm of Herbein and Company. Board members accepted the document – delivered on an Election Night while voters were still at local polling places, in part to elect and re-elect school directors – but did not comment on it or discuss how it might use the surplus.

• Directors asked the administration to make the audit publicly available on the district website, but as of Friday (Nov. 11) at 5 a.m. it was not readily found by The Post on the site’s home page, or pages for the board, administration, or business office.

The district also ended the 2009-2010 year with a similarly-sized surplus.

Herbein representative Christopher Turtell reported the district during 2010-2011 brought in $550,000 more than it spent, because it was charged less for contributions to the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS), made only one interest payment on the loan taken to refurbish Ringing Rocks Elementary School, and successfully lowered its energy expenses.

Of the fund balance, Turtell said, only $3.1 million was “unassigned” or not committed by board vote or district policies to specific uses such as future PSERS payments. The unassigned amount equals roughly 5 percent of next year’s anticipated operational costs, he added, which also is a stated policy requirement.

Pottsgrove’s internal service fund, from which its self-insurance costs for employee health care are paid, had a $1.4 million balance. That’s “a nice cushion for unexpected” employee illnesses, Turtell said. Even the district’s food service was profitable last year, he noted, having made $32,000 more than it spent. The food service fund balance now amounts to about $75,000.

The district’s overall revenue, however, fell about $1 million short of its budget. That was due, according to the auditors, to adjusted real estate assessments that reduced the district’s expected property tax revenue; lower earned income taxes, because more district residents either earned less money or were out of work; and lower real estate transfer taxes, because fewer properties were bought and sold during the past 12 months.

All were “common in other districts we’ve audited this year as well,” Turtell reported.

Herbein’s audit included an unqualified opinion of the district’s finances, which means no adjustments were required. In examining 82 percent of all federal grant awards made to the district last year, Turtell said his audit team “had no findings and no non-compliance issues. That’s a real compliment to the program staff and the business office.”

The audit did recommend the administration improve internal controls in tracking some athletic event revenue.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Nov. 8 meeting):

• Pottsgrove Schools Ended Year With $550,000 Surplus
• Pottsgrove Students Show Board Learning Tech Tools
• Pottsgrove Committees Look At Sports And Facilities

PUTTING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO WORK – With some deft explanatory help from student users, Pottsgrove School District Director of Technology Michael Wagman, left, and Special Education Supervisor Michelle MacLuckie, right, on Tuesday (Nov. 8, 2011) showed members of the district Board of School Directors how emerging technology tools were being used to help students who could most benefit from them. The group discussed and demonstrated the use of LiveScribe-brand electronic computer pens, iPads, Dragon-brand voice recognition software to convert spoken words to text, and Ning-brand social networks.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Nov. 8 meeting):

• Pottsgrove Students Show Board Learning Tech Tools
• Pottsgrove Committees Look At Sports And Facilities