Pennsbury Union to Propose Salary, Benefit Concessions

'The union committed to make a hypothetical proposal through the State Mediator in order to try and avoid outsourcing,' Chief Negotiator Jeffrey Sultanik said.

From the Pennsbury School District: On the evening of February 21, 2013, the Chief Negotiator for the Pennsbury School Board, Jeffrey Sultanik, met with representatives of the District’s support staff union, the Pennsbury Educational Support Professionals Association (PESPA), to continue negotiations toward reaching a settlement on a new contract. The 600+ employees in PESPA have been working under the terms of an expired contract since June, 2011. The last negotiation session held between the two parties occurred on January 30th. Prior to the latest negotiation session, Mr. Sultanik had shared the cost savings reflected in proposals submitted by outside vendors for subcontracting the services of five employee groups. These included …

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New Administrator Named for Pennsbury Schools

Dr. Elliott H. Lewis is the new assistant superintendent of administration for the Pennsbury School District.

From the Pennsbury School District: Elliott H. Lewis, Ed.D. was named Assistant Superintendent of Administration, K-12 for the Pennsbury School District by the Board of School Directors at the public meeting held on February 14th. Dr. Lewis will replace W. David Bowman, Ed.D., who resigned from Pennsbury in November 2012. As Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Lewis will report to the District Superintendent, Dr. Kevin J. McHugh, and serve as a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet. Dr. Lewis will work collaboratively with the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in leading, guiding, and directing building-level administrative and instructional staff to best meet the needs of each child. The two Assistant Superintendents are …

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Pennsbury Contract Negotiations Have 'Positive Tone'

Union officials met with Pennsbury School District officials last week to discuss contract negotiations.

From the Pennsbury School District: On the evening of January 30, 2013, the Chief Negotiator for the Pennsbury School Board met with representatives of the District’s support staff union, the Pennsbury Educational Support Professionals Association (PESPA). The 600+ employees in PESPA have been working under the terms of an expired contract since June, 2011. The last negotiation session held between the two parties occurred on November 28, 2012. According to Chief Negotiator, Jeffrey Sultanik, the session had a “positive tone” and was spent mostly going over language proposals by both parties. “Working collaboratively, we arrived at approximately 22 tentative agreements on contract language,” he said. “The majority of the remaining contract…

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Pennsbury School Board to Address Possible School Closures

The Pennsbury School Board will meet Thursday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m.

A special committee made recommendations to the Pennsbury School Board January 3 about closing Village Park Elementary School at 75 Unity Drive, Fairless Hills. Now the school board will be addressing the recommendations. Tonight, the school board will make an announcement of a possible school closing and will set a public hearing for that matter. On Jan. 11, the public announcement of intent and possibility of closing a school will be made since there is a 15 day notice requirement for a public hearing. The school board will be discussing other business matters at the meeting. For the full agenda, visit the district website or view the PDF attached to this article.

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Pennsbury Committee Recommends Closing Village Park, Redistricting

A committee made up of Pennsbury School District parents, administrators, board members and building representatives recommended that the school board close Village Park Elementary and redistrict the school district.

After briefing the school board and public on its findings on enrollment numbers, birth rates and building capacities, a Pennsbury committee recommended closing Village Park Elementary School at 75 Unity Drive, Fairless Hills. The committee is made up of district parents, community members, district staff and board members, who worked for three months on analyzing data ranging from birth rates, enrollment trends and building capacities. While looking at this data over the course of several meetings, the committee narrowed down closure options to Fallsington and Village Park elementary schools.  But after taking a vote, the majority of committee members voted to close Village Park. "This is choosing between two very, very good schools," …

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Pennsbury School Board to Hold First 2013 Meeting

The Pennsbury School Board will meet for the first time in the new year.

Board, PEA Meet; Impasse Continues

The negotiation session between the Pennsbury School District and the teachers' union lasted two hours.

From the Pennsbury School District: “A frank, animated session,” is how the Chief Negotiator for the Pennsbury School Board described his most recent meeting with negotiators for the Pennsbury Education Association (PEA). They faced each other in a two-hour meeting on the evening of Tuesday, December 18 in the Fallsington Administration Building. “They were as clear as can be,” said Jeffrey T. Sultanik, the Board’s Chief Negotiator. “They want the Board to raise taxes to fund their new contract. That is the essence of our impasse.” He added, “I know of no board in the region that would allow that to happen.” The PEA did not present a revised proposal at the meeting. “Despite the fact that the Board had agreed to update its contract …

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Snapshot

Pennsbury Symphonic Winds Perform Classic

The Pennsbury High School Symphonic Winds group performed at the most recent school board meeting.

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Two Pennsbury School Board Members Say 'No' to VP Pick

The Pennsbury School Board reorganized Monday night and talked about recouping the cost of their court fight against Concerned Residents of Pennsbury.

Not all the members of the Pennsbury School Board were pleased with the election of Gary Sanderson to the post of vice president. At Monday night's special reorganization meeting at Fallsington Elementary School, board members Simon Campbell and Dr. Stephan Kosmorsky voted against the election of Sanderson to vice president. Campbell, who previously served in the role, said he felt the fact that Sanderson's campaign manager, Bob Harvie, was a union teacher at Bucks County Technical High School served as a conflict of interest. Harvie is also chairman of the Falls Township Board of Supervisors. Campbell, a Republican, also claimed that registered Democrat Sanderson's campaign was financially supported by union teachers. The district has …

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Tom Sofield

10:44 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012

As pointed out by the district, Allan Weisel said he did not want "divisiveness" to fill the board. Our original story said Weisel did not want "deviousness." We also regrettably stated the next meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 13. The meeting is actually set for Thursday, Dec. 13.   more ›

Support Staff, District Conduct “Business-like and Serious" Talks

Pennsbury board negotiator and PESPA representatives met to renew contract talks.

From the Pennsbury School District: On the evening of November 28, 2012, the Chief Negotiator for the Pennsbury School Board met with representatives of the District’s support staff union, the Pennsbury Educational Support Professionals Association (PESPA). The 600+ employees in PESPA have been working under the terms of an expired contract since June, 2011. This was the first negotiation session scheduled since November, 2011. Chief Negotiator, Jeffrey Sultanik, described the session as “business-like and serious.” During the meeting, the District presented the costing results of two separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for outsourcing services in Pennsbury. A proposal from the apparent low bidder for transportation services reflected …

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