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Bonds to save district money

Estep: Test scores declining under ‘changing rules’

LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County School District stands to save a significant amount of money by re-issuing the district’s general obligation bonds of 2009 following action taken during special voting meeting of the Mifflin County School Board on Thursday.

Brad Remig, managing director of the PFM Group in Harrisburg, was on hand Thursday to report on the possible savings of the re-issuing of the bonds.

“We were here in September to present the board with refinancing opportunities and we’ve begun the preliminary stage of that,” Remig said. “We’re expecting your rating to come back next Wednesday and then we will go into the market the first week of November.”

Remig said by refinancing the bonds at a lower interest rate, he estimates the district will save approximately $2 million, including $400,000 in the current budget year and $150,000 a year through the life of the bond.

The board was presented with a resolution, which it later approved unanimously, to refinance the bonds. The actual numbers, from Robert Moore, of the law firm of Mette, Evans and Woodside of Harrisburg, will be brought back to the board’s November voting meeting for final approval.

Moore said just to be on the safe side, minimal savings could be around $1 million, however, he said he’s sure they can do a lot better than that.

Remig said the top interest rate, he estimates, would be 5.5 percent, but doesn’t think it will be close to that.

Superintendent James Estep said he understands the lowball estimates and expressed his confidence in the district making out better than those numbers.

“I know Brad is looking out for our interests,” Estep said. “I believe him when he says if it’s (the final savings figures) not at least $2 million, he’ll pull it. The upside to this is the years after the first year saving $135,000 to $150,000 a year looking ahead. If you recall, we had to add special education positions this year. Hopefully, this will neutralize that.”

Following the brief voting meeting, the regularly scheduled committee-of-the-whole meeting featured several lengthy discussions, mostly centered on athletic facilities and test scores.

Estep noted the district’s latest standardized testing results are coming in and, because of changes in the way the state mandates these types of tests, the district won’t be faring as well as in recent years.

He expressed frustration with the state constantly “changing the rules” with regard to these exams.

“Rankings for school districts are exceedingly based on high stakes testing,” Estep stated. “As these are being rolled out, most districts are struggling and everybody is making adjustments to address these issues. In the last several years, Mifflin County’s scores as a whole were rated in colors we wanted to have. In its infinite wisdom, PA Core moved to dismantle the test it took 10 years to master. As a result of changing it, Mifflin County saw significant declines in ratings.”

As an example, Estep pointed to Strodes Mills Elementary School, which has been enjoying ratings in the low 90s. This time around, he noted, the rating is in the 50s. He said he has been very vocal about the need to make these ratings more than about this just one test.

Estep said the district has made a concerted effort in the last few years to revamp curriculum and providing increased teacher in-service training opportunities.

“I’m extremely proud of our staff,” he added. “We know we have more work to do. We have to make sure our curriculum is more adequately aligned to PA Core. This won’t change overnight. There will be a period of time when test scores will not be high and then we’ll gradually build them up. I have no doubt our staff will be able to make that happen.”

“In this season there’s a lot of talk about rigged elections,” Estep continued. “I think schools are being rated in a rigged system. All you have to do is look at the success rates of graduates from our system, either through direct career paths, the military and in four and two year institutions. We have a system that is in place that allows kids to be successful. This high stakes test hinders that.”

Board President Mary Lou Sigler echoed Estep’s comments.

“We have a lot of excellent teachers,” Sigler said. “It’s a travesty that we have to take one test that impacts this so greatly.”

Board member Beth Laughlin, noted, “We’re spending a ton of money to teach specifically to one test. Now they’re (the state) telling us we need to teach the same subject in another manner for another test. We need to teach the basics of each subject and tell them to screw the test.”

Estep said the district is not only providing additional teacher training for standardized testing but for improving overall teacher performance as well.

“I have every intention to keep working in these areas,” he pointed out. “In the end we’ll probably see improvements on the test.”

Director of Secondary Education Vance Varner, after listening to a lot of discussion on the matter, offered, “I believe it’s safe to say we have a board that will support what we’re doing. We’re here to support kids and our teachers. We’re not going to have a morale problem because of low test scores this year.”

When asked how Mifflin County is faring with other districts in the area, Estep said, they were “very comparable.”

“Every superintendent I’ve talked to in the IU (Intermediate Unit #11) say their math scores plummeted,” he said.

Board member Terry Styers, himself a former teacher, said, “We have a government organization that holds us accountable but nobody holds them accountable.”

Estep said organizations lobbying for these standardized test scenarios are doing so for one reason only: cold cash.

“These are people wanting to make a profit on education,” he said. “There are people out there spending a whole lot of money on lobbyists to head in that direction. If they’re doing it to make millions of dollars privately, then that’s a problem. There aren’t many institutions doing better than public education.”

In other business Thursday, another lengthy discussion centered on the district’s athletic facilities, particularly the outdoor ones.

Earlier in the year, Athletic Director Tish Maclay presented a report with a “wish list,” so to speak, on what the needs of the district would include.

Maclay was back on Thursday to speak on proposals a committee received from three firms looking to expand or build new athletic facilities that was held in September.

Many general and a few specific proposals were discussed, including building an athletic facility, complete with synthetic playing surface, at the school, albeit with fewer bleacher seats that are currently at Mitchell Field in Lewistown.

Maclay said the district is actually in need of more than one synthetic field.

“One turf field would not be enough for us,” she stated. “We need to do something. The indoor facilities are excellent but the outdoor fields are an embarrassment.”

Maclay cited numerous instances of opposing coaches complaining about the condition of the district’s field hockey and soccer fields. Cost estimates for doing all the things on the wish list ranged anywhere from $5 million to $10 to $12 million, which raised several red flags around the board table.

“I would be remiss if I don’t bring everybody around to the full picture,” Estep, who said he does support making significant improvements to athletic facilities, said. “I’ve said before there’s great value in athletic projects. They tend to be legacy projects that meet with early resistance and later the community is grateful to have this kind of complex. We need to understand the community buy-in. I think we could get significant sponsorship but I also believe the district would have to contribute as well. In the end, do we have the community support to do this? I think it’s possible.”

On the other hand, Estep reminded board members of some significant issues facing the district, not the least of which is air conditioning for Lewistown Intermediate School, which projects to cost in the $2 to $3 million range.

“We also have a building in Strodes Mills that we could easily invest $6 or $7 million to upgrade,” Estep said. “So we have to look at the whole picture. I’m not saying we can’t do it. And I’m not disagreeing we won’t get louder squawking from schools in the Mid-Penn. Since the state doesn’t seem to be willing to provide construction assistance, if we do a project at Strodes I can’t promise you we will get 20 to 25 percent back like we have in the past.”

Following more discussion on the topic the board decided to conduct a special committee-of-the-whole meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9  to discuss the issue in more detail.

Other items discussed and to be voted on at the board’s regular business meeting next Thursday include:

¯ Recommend approval to accept Lake Ford’s bid for 2017 Econoline van at a price of $34,950;

¯ Recommend approval to accept Whitmoyer Auto Group’s bid for 2017 F650 dump truck at a price of $99,400;

¯ Recommend approval to authorize the Director of Buildings and Grounds to bid correction work as specified by the Department of Labor and Industry for propane tank code compliance;

¯ Recommend approval for 11 additional doors throughout the district to be added to the access control system as suggested by the buildings safety/security committee at a cost of  $21,000;

¯ Consideration of the Central Keystone Football and Cheer League request to waive the fee of $1,500 for the use of Mitchell Field on Oct. 15, Oct. 22, and Oct. 23, 2016.  The Central Keystone Football and Cheer League will be responsible for all custodian and event staff fees.  The custodian and event staff fees for these 3 dates are estimated at $3,645;

¯ Consideration of the Mifflin County Community Christmas Musical request to waive  fees for use on Sunday, Dec. 11.  The Mifflin County Community Christmas Musical will be responsible for the cost of $600 for event staff and $262.50 for custodian fees. Additional costs for staff to run sound equipment will also be the responsibility of the Mifflin County Community Christmas Musical.  Also, request to waive the fee of $500 for the use of the Mifflin County High School Auditorium and request to waive the fee of $250 for the usage of the sound system;

¯ Recommend approval of the following drivers: Howard G. Niman, Fisher Brothers; Matthew A. Decker, KV Bus Line; Lindsay A. Knepp-Hill, J&D’s Inc.;  Erin N. Ronk, Yoder Tourways, Inc.; and Tami Y. Kenepp, C.H. Fisher, Inc;

¯ Recommend that the resignation of LeAnn Shaw, board secretary, be accepted effective at the close of the Dec. 15 board meeting;

¯ Recommend that Brent Hartman be added to the Event Staff List for 2016-17;

¯ Recommend that Jessica D. Poorman be hired as a permanent Music Teacher at LES effective upon release from current district, at a starting salary of $43,609;

¯ Recommend approval to dissolve the MCO/Alpha/District Wide Special Education Teacher position effective immediately;

¯ Recommend approval to displace Becky Robb effective immediately;

¯ Recommend approval to transfer Becky Robb to the Autistic Support Teacher position at SMES/LES, effective immediately;

¯ Recommend that David H. Haubrick be hired as Second Shift Buildings and Grounds supervisor effective Oct. 31, at a starting salary of $40,000;

¯ Recommend that the Lead Custodian position at LIS be dissolved effective at the end of the work day on Oct. 28;

¯ Recommend that a custodian position be created at LIS at the end of the work day on Oct. 28;

¯ Recommend that the resignation of Tracy Bastress, three-hour position at MCMS, be accepted effective Oct. 21;

¯ Recommend that Irma Jerzerick be removed from the Cafeteria Substitute List effective Sept. 19;

¯ Recommend that Kimberly A. Oburn be hired for the temporary three-hour part-time cafeteria position at MCMS effective Oct. 24, 2016 through the remainder of the 2016-17 academic year or less.

¯ Recommend that Patricia Bodmer and Tracy Bastress be added to the Cafeteria Substitute List;

¯ Recommend that Lori Hall, Larry Reed Jr., Rodney Wilson and Nathan Gramley be added to the custodial substitute list;

¯ Recommend the following coaching hires for the current school year: Justin Mayo, assistant junior high boys soccer; L. Dale Searer, first assistant wrestling; Charles Curry, baseball; William Snook, junior varsity baseball; Jack McCurdy, assistant varsity softball; Jessica Henry, assistant varsity softball; Holly Harman, junior varsity softball; Carolyn Kline, head girls junior high soccer; Barrett Knepp, assistant junior high girls soccer; Robert Lepley, head junior high boys soccer; and Krystena Brown, head junior high volleyball;

¯ Recommend the following volunteer coaches be approved: Kevin Diven and Charles McConaughey, bowling; Sean Gingrich, junior high boys basketball; Joab Carter and Dan Shomaker, boys soccer; Tim Searer, Nolan Schaaf, Alex Pupo, Jeff Lusk, Elliot Searer, Joe Ughetto and Kip McElwain, baseball; Craig Bubb, Dave Stuck, Katurah Klein and Ray Hopple, softball; and Jennifer Freed, winter and spring track;

¯ Recommend approval of $1,000 stipend for supervision of two classes at Hide and Seek Daycare for 2016-17 for Jackie Shinskie at no cost to the district.  The stipend is paid through the Pre-K Counts Grant;

¯ Recommend approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Mifflin County School District and the Mifflin County Educators regarding 3-9 Employment Beyond the normal school term;

¯ Recommend approval of the Professional Education Plan section of the Comprehensive Plan.  The Professional Education plan was publicly posted for the required 28 day period on Sept. 28.  The plan is now ready for submission upon board approval.

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