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Preliminary to Final 2014-15 General Fund Budget Anne Guydish, Board Secretary-Business Manager
Exeter Township School District
Vol. 39 No. 3 Spring 2014
Approximately 34,000 students
placed among the top five percent of
the more than 1.5 million students who
entered the 2014 National Merit®
Scholarship Program competition by
taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
Test. They are being recognized as
“Commended Students.” ETSHS Prin-
cipal William Cain is proud to an-
nounce that senior Victoria Waldman,
daughter of Lisa Siciliano and Jay
Waldman, has earned this distinction.
“The young men and women being
named Commended Students have
demonstrated outstanding potential for
academic success,” commented a
spokesperson for NMSC.
(continued on page 2)
2014-15 School
Calendar Preview
The board approved the 2014-15
school calendar. The beginning and
ending dates for the term and dates
when school will not be in session for
students are listed below. The calendar,
including early dismissals, is available
on the district website. The complete
Activities Calendar will be available on
the district website this summer and
distributed to students at the beginning
of the school term. Residents who do
not have students in school will be able
to obtain a hard copy of the calendar
by visiting any school or the Admin-
istration Building after August 25.
Aug 25 First student day
Aug 29-
Sept 1 Labor Day vacation
for students
Oct 13 Inservice – schools
closed
Nov 26 Inservice & Elem. P.
Conf. – no school for
students
Nov 27-Dec 1 Thanksgiving vacation
for students
Dec 24-Jan 1 Winter Holiday
Jan 19 Martin Luther King
Holiday & Inservice
Feb 13 Inservice - schools
closed
Feb 16 Presidents’ Holiday
March 6 Inservice & Elem. P.
Conf. – no school for
students
April 1-6* Spring vacation for
students
May 25 Memorial Day Holiday
June 4* Last student day
*Days that could be used as inclement
weather make-up days if needed are (in
this order): April 1, April 2, June 5,
June 8.
National Merit Scholarship Program Honoree
Victoria Waldman
Preliminary Budget Process and Exceptions
Planning for the upcoming 2014-2015 school year began in September 2013 with
the preparation of a preliminary budget that was adopted on February 18, 2014. The
preliminary revenue projections included: (1) a real estate tax revenue increase based
on an Act 1 allowable index increase of 2.7% of the current 30.795 mills; (2) addition-
al revenue generated by an Act 1 exception which the District applied for; and (3)
estimated changes in other local, state, and federal sources of revenue. The prelimi-
nary expense projections included: (1) known changes such as the 26% increase in the
PSERS pension contribution rate; (2) new staffing requests; (3) impact of attritional
savings from staff retirements; and (4) a healthcare benefit increase of 8%. The
Preliminary General Fund Budget, which included a tax rate increase of 4%, showed
revenue of $67,622,535, and expenditures of $69,285,803, resulting in a deficit of
$1,663,268.
The purpose for adopting a preliminary budget is to allow the district to apply to
the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for exceptions that may need con-
sideration during the final budget process. The exceptions provide for specific district
costs which rise at rates higher than the Act 1 index of 2.7%. Exeter received PDE
approval for an exception in the amount of $558,017 in the specific area of pension
obligations.
2 ETSD Newsletter
Preliminary to Final 2014-2015 General Fund Budget (continued from page 1)
Proposed Final
General Fund Budget
In November 2013, the state’s Inde-
pendent Fiscal Office (IFO) which was
created by Act 120 of 2010, published
the Economic and Budget Outlook for
2013-14 to 2018-19. The report high-
lights that lackluster economic expan-
sion will continue in the short-term;
revenue will increase at an average
annual rate of 3.1% due to gains in
personal income tax, sales tax, and
transfer tax; a decrease in the number
of working-aged residents will nega-
tively impact tax revenues; mandatory
pension contributions, debt service and
healthcare inflation will drive expendi-
ture growth averaging 4.1 percent per
annum; and the imbalance between
revenues and expenditures will contin-
ue to grow through FY 2018-19 under
current laws, policies and trends. The
revenue and expenditure trends pro-
jected by the IFO are equally apparent
in the future fiscal condition of the
Exeter Township School District.
Modest revenue growth, significant
growth of employer pension contribu-
tions, contract wage increases, and
projected healthcare inflation, will shift
the District’s positive fund balance
position to a negative fund balance by
2017-2018 assuming no increase in
property tax rates, or drastic cuts to
extracurricular programs, non-
mandated services, support services,
and instructional programs.
In February, 2014, Governor Tom
Corbett released the Pennsylvania State
Budget for 2014-2015 with key priori-
ties focusing on economic develop-
ment investments to spur job creation;
ensuring children are ready to learn by
providing $400 million in new educa-
tion funding of which $241 million is
for Ready to Learn block grants for
public school classrooms; and access
to quality and affordable health-care
for all Pennsylvanians. Mandated
pension obligations continue to be a
strain on the State’s budget as well as
school district budgets. The employer
contribution rates for school districts
will increase to 21.40% in 2014-2015
from 16.93% in 2013-2014. School
District retirement contribution rates
are projected to increase to 31.28% by
2018-2019. The Governor has pro-
posed some relief to public school em-
ployers through a reduction in contribu-
tion rates but it is not expected that this
will become part of the final State
Budget. Recent news of the Pennsyl-
vania State Budget deficit for 2013-
2014 climbing to $800 million is rais-
ing serious concerns about the surviva-
bility of new education block grant
funds for the 2014-2015 budget cycle.
Proposed funding levels in the Gov-
ernor’s budget include: (1) no increase
in Basic Education Funding; (2) Special
Education funding increase of $20 mil-
lion or a 2% increase to be distributed
based on the Special Education Fund-
ing Commission’s recommendation; (3)
a $105 million increase in retirement
reimbursement; (4) a decline of $3.7
million in social security reimburse-
ment due to a reduction in salaries; and
(5) an increase of $241 million in a
Ready to Learn Block Grant which re-
places the current Accountability Block
Grant.
District local sources of revenue
continue to recover from the recent
recession and there are some “bright
spots” or improved economic trends.
Property assessed value which drives
real estate tax revenue is projected to
increase by .38% or $5.3 million, alt-
hough the total assessed value is still
below 2010-2011 levels. Other sources
of local revenue that are projected to
increase by 3% in 2014-2015 are trans-
fer taxes and business privilege taxes
due to an improved housing market and
increased consumer spending, respec-
tively. Based on the projection for Exe-
ter Township School District’s local
sources of revenue for 2014-2015, be-
fore any property tax increase, local
revenue is expected to increase by
$83,000. Currently, total Proposed
Final General Fund Revenue for FY
2014-15 is projected to be $66,567,636
at the current real estate millage of
30.795.
When compared to the February
expenditure projections of $69,285,803
the 2014-2015 Proposed Final General
Fund Expenditures have been de-
creased by approximately $258,000.
District staff wage and benefit costs
have been reduced by approximately
$500,000 due to: (1) staff retirement
and attritional savings; and (2) a de-
crease in the healthcare premium infla-
tion rate from 8% to 6.62%. Other
district expenses that have been re-
duced by approximately $142,000 in-
clude: (1) utilities; and (2) repair ser-
vices.
The major cost drivers in the 2014-
2015 expenditure budget causing a $3.5
million increase over current spending
levels include: (1) a pension obligation
increase of $1.4 million; (2) employee
wage and benefit cost increase of
$752,000;(3) special education student
contracted services and private place-
ment tuition, and charter school tuition
costs of $468,000; (4) debt service cost
increase of $298,000; (5) new math
curriculum textbook and supply costs
of $290,000; (6) student laptop one-to-
one cost of $135,000; and (7) STEM
Project Lead the Way cost of $106,000.
Other district expense line items have
been reduced or held flat.
The School Board’s goal of devel-
oping a budget that supports the Dis-
trict’s educational goals, and has mini-
mal negative impact to students, staff
and the citizens of our District, will
continue to be increasingly difficult to
achieve as the imbalance between reve-
nue and expenditures continues to
grow. Even while raising taxes by the
allowable Act 1 Index and available
referendum exceptions, the District will
have to use fund balance, reduce and/or
eliminate programs and services, and
eliminate staff through attrition or other
means.
At the current time, with 2014-2015
Proposed Final General Fund revenue
and expense projected at $66,567,636,
and $69,027,605, respectively, the defi-
cit is $2,459,969. Budget discussions
on how to further reduce the deficit will
continue. The final adoption of the
General Fund Budget is scheduled for
the board voting meeting on June 17 at
7 p.m. School real estate tax millage
will be set during this public meeting.
Members of the ETJHS Science Olympiad team display their trophy and medals after compet-
ing in the regional event. The team includes students in grades 7-9.
Spring 2014 3
(continued on page 5)
We’re Proud of All These GREAT News Items!
JHS Science Olympiad Finishes 4th in Regional Event
Six ETSHS students were recog-
nized for excellence at the 2014 Penn
International Relations Conference
held in February. They are: Hunter
Ahrens, Tommy Dolan, Amber Fer-
reira, Maia Kunkel, Pat Strawn, and
Micah Sandusky.
Twelve sixth grade Reiffton band
members were selected to participate
in the 2014 Sixth Grade County Band
Festival in March at Fleetwood High
School. Band members rehearsed six
songs with other nominees during the
day and performed a concert for the
public. The students were: Brannon
Rovins, Katie McKelvey, Evan Don-
nachie, Jack Breen, Connor Powell,
Jade Strause, Evan Kartsotis, Kelsey
Malone, Kendra Quaglia, Chris Good,
Nicolas Ciabattoni, and Rowan Datko.
The ETJHS Division B Science
Olympiad team finished fourth in the
regional Science Olympiad competi-
tion. This qualified the team to ad-
vance to the state level competition this
month at Juniata College. The students
spent hours preparing, studying and
building projects in order to get ready
for their events. The team (which in-
cludes students in grades 7-9) won
awards in 11 of the 23 events. Students
on the team are: Jackie Richards, Me-
gan Richards, Kristine Biehl, Alexis
Jeschonnek, Siddharth Mupparaju, Sai
Kurapati, Yashica Kagithapu, Emily
Gillaspy, Michelle Wang, Jon Kim,
and Michael Perkins.
Congratulations to junior Zach Ger-
mer, a member of the E3 club, for be-
ing chosen as a participant in the
Schuylkill Acts & Impacts Expedi-
tion. This week-long, service-learning
program, sponsored by the Schuylkill
Headwaters Association, involves a
physical journey (by boat and van)
along the 120-mile Schuylkill River
from its headwaters in the anthracite
coal lands of Schuylkill County to its
confluence with the Delaware River in
Philadelphia. Chosen from a very
competitive field of student applicants,
Zach will serve as one of only two stu-
dents from Berks County to represent
our region of the Schuylkill River Wa-
tershed.
Congratulations to Kiara Eisenhow-
er for winning an Honorable Mention
award in the Pennsylvania State Game
Commission Youth Wildlife Art Con-
test. Her artwork was on display at
Department of Education headquarters
in Harrisburg.
Sixth Grade Orchestra members
participated in the Berks County Ele-
mentary String Festival at Boyertown
JHS. They are: Divjot Anand, Sage
Bolonski, Abby Campbell, Rowan Dat-
ko, Robert DeMotta, Sara Dunkel-
berger, Julia Hickman, Amanda Iswalt,
Madison Juck, Kelsey Malone, Katrina
Marquard, Miranda Miller, Amber
Morgan, Adesh Randhawa, Brannon
Rovins, Jade Strause, Jessica Weidner
and Scott Ziegler.
The ETSHS Science Olympiad team
finished eighth out of 27 teams at the
KU Central Eastern Regional. Alt-
hough they did not qualify for the state
tournament, several students placed in
their events. Steph Heim and Maddi
Kochel placed first in Astronomy,
Steph Heim and Amber Ferreira placed
second in Dynamic Planet, Steph Heim
and Amber Ferreira placed fourth in
Water Quality, John Kershner and Jor-
dan Kochel placed third in Geologic
Mapping.
The Reading Public Library holds
an annual poetry contest, "Young Po-
ets," for all first through twelfth grade
students in Berks County. Poems from
two Owatin Creek students were select-
ed as winners. Angelina Bieber won
first place for "All a Poem Needs" in
fourth grade competition and Dylann
Backenstoss won an honorable mention
for "The Thingy" in the third grade
competition.
Congratulations to the following
students for prizes they won at the
April 27 awards ceremony of the 2014
BCIU Art Show which was held at the
Goggleworks. Their works of art are
among hundreds of the best from
throughout the county. Award winners
were: Madison Kochel, Tailor Hamil-
ton, Alicia DeMille, Elliot Wambold,
Taylor Himmelberger, Morgan Mis-
kovitz, Cydney Follweiler, Mike
Rinaldi, and Kiara Eisenhower.
4 Spring 2014
Technology Education “Leading the Way” at Exeter Zachary Potter, Technology Education Teacher
Facility Facts – New Field
for Don Thomas Stadium Ken Pitts, Director of Facilities
Some of you might remember the
tagline for Timex, “Takes a licking and
keeps on ticking!” If so, like me, you
are dating yourself. For those of you
who never wore a Timex and tell the
time using your I-phone, you can
search YouTube for the old entertain-
ing commercials. Now what does that
have to do with facilities at Exeter? It
describes the performance of the artifi-
cial turf field at the Don Thomas Stadi-
um for the last ten plus years. Our
field over the last decade has served
our physical education classes, athletic
teams, bands, local groups, and has
been a favorite for many championship
competitions. Regular care and
maintenance have stretched the use of
this field from a normal eight-year life
at the time of installation to over ten
years of “taking a licking and (safely)
keep on ticking.”
Two years ago two dozen tears
needed to be repaired during summer
maintenance. Last year’s inspection
turned up over 100. With safety being
the primary focus, the time has now
come for the current turf to be removed
and replaced. Just like the old Timex
Watch has fallen away to the new and
improved versions, we will be in-
stalling a new generation field. Fol-
lowing the end of the school year you
will see the old infill and carpet taken
out and replaced with a more grass-like
turf material with better UV resistance,
sand/rubber infill mix tested for best
performance and safety value for our
student-athletes, and permanent lining
for the broad range of girls’ and boys’
sports. Installation will take several
weeks and be completed in plenty of
time for the start of summer practices.
With the amount of activities we have
that enhance the Exeter educational
experience, you can be sure the new
field will also take a licking and should
keep on ticking for the next ten to
twelve years of faithful service.
STEM is an acronym used in education which stands for Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math. It includes concepts that the members of Exeter’s Technology
Education Department have been working with for many years. Teachers today and in
past years have been using mathematic and scientific principles to teach students about
technology, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. They have been incorporated
into the technology and engineering curriculum since the department changed its name
in the 1990s from Industrial Arts to Technology Education or, Tech Ed, for short.
Next year, the senior high technology department will implement a new, STEM-
based program developed by Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Dr. Todd Davies, assis-
tant superintendent said, “The courses in this program will offer high levels of aca-
demic rigor, coupled with hands-on, project-based learning that will allow students to
experience first-hand, the concepts being taught in the classes.” The first honors-level
course in the program scheduled for next term has been named “Introduction to Engi-
neering Design.” Initial numbers from the guidance department indicate significant
student interest in this new program led by incoming freshmen, who have been target-
ed for this course. Each successive year, it is expected that the program will grow by
adding one or two additional PLTW courses.
With the support of students, faculty, administration, and the community, the hope
is to turn this into another successful educational program offered to students at Exe-
ter. Efforts are already being made to reach out and gain support for this fledgling pro-
gram. In March, a committee consisting of teachers, administrators, parents, and other
members of the Exeter and greater Berks community was formed with the goal of
gathering support, resources, and materials to help the PLTW program succeed in its
first year and the years to follow. A great deal of thanks goes out to the Exeter Com-
munity Education Foundation, which has helped make this great work happen by do-
nating approximately $20,000.
If you would like to get involved or would like more information about the PLTW
program, contact Dr. Davies, Assistant SHS Principal Jeff MacFarland, or Zachary
Potter, next year’s “Introduction to Engineering Design” teacher. This is an excellent
opportunity for ETSHS students and we look forward to seeing this program succeed
for many years to come.
Danielle Jupina’s second grade class participated in the Owatin Creek APT’s Recycling Round
-Up. Her students published a book about ways to reduce what they use. Addie DeVage (above)
is proud of the sign that was created using the backs of old posters and rolled up pieces of dis-
carded newspapers. The event focused on learning about ways to help the environment such as
creating crafts using disposable items and planting native plants to help the pollinators.
ETSD Newsletter 5
Summer
Slide! Julie Kline, Reading Supervisor
We’re Proud of These
GREAT News Items! (continued from page 3)
What do we need to do to get better at something? John Lather, a renowned sports researcher, estimates that 20 hours of quality
training per week for a period of eight years (approximately 10,000 cumulative hours)
appears to be the amount of work required to reach a world class level. Lather em-
phasizes that it is 20 hours of quality training - with great intensity, not just the time
spent in training that is required for elite performance………………. That is, if you
want to be an Olympic level athlete!
We’re not looking for that level, but let’s apply this same premise to getting bet-
ter in reading. What do we know is needed to get better at reading? Read what
two third grade students have to say about how reading improves their READING,
vocabulary, background knowledge,……………and, how about pleasure!
Two of Carole Moyer’s third graders at Owatin Creek Elementary School, Aash-
veen Randhawa and Ian Lubenow, had to choose a topic and try and persuade others
that they, too, need to read to get better at a lot of things, including reading.
Our teachers know what the research
says about students needing to practice their reading! Every day, across our classrooms, time is devoted to students independently read-
ing books at their “just right level.” Our students have worked all year on increasing
their reading stamina. WE now need your help………..stopping that summer
slide. Please ensure that your child reads every day. Books, newspapers, maga-
zines, attend our summer TIPS Program, Summer Enrichment, Give a Book….. Get a
Book (informational items for these programs are available on our district web site),
attend and borrow books from the Exeter Township Library………………… as Ian
Lubenow stated in his paper,………. “Now get reading!”
Books Should Be Read! Aashveen Randhawa
People enjoy reading books every-
where. Most people like a certain type of
book such as fiction or nonfiction. I think
everyone should have the privilege to have
any book they want!
One thing that would be splendid
about getting more books is that the per-
son’s vocabulary will expand. Also, if you
read more books you’ll have something to
do besides watching T.V. Besides, books
can give you good information about al-
most any subject in the world! And best of
all, you can become better at reading!
Now, since you read all my reasons,
do you think you agree with me? So,
books can really help you a lot with things.
Let’s all have fun reading!
Read Longer Ian Lubenow
“You can’t read any longer.” That’s
what I hear every night from my parents.
I oppose. I want to read longer, but they
don’t. Let’s see what you think.
My first reason is that reading is just
like a different way of learning things.
Grab a book, it might be about math,
social studies or science. You never
know. Next reason, many kids do not
like reading but there are some books that
are for all interests. If kids could read
longer, maybe they would get a better
interest in reading. Last one, it could
make kids better readers. I hear teachers
say it all the time. They can’t deny it.
Well, those are my reasons. I’ll
make a copy, give it to your parents.
You think they’ll be convinced. Tell
them it’s about reading. Now get read-
ing!
Junior Elliot Wambold was the top
prize winner in the Exeter Women's
Club Festival of the Arts and the Dis-
trict-Level Women’s Club contest. His
artwork also appeared in the state level
festival.
The Literacy Council of Reading-
Berks is very appreciative of the Exeter
Schools for making the 2014 “Readers
Win” campaign a success. Exeter stu-
dents raised more money than those in
any other district and provided more
than a third of the campaign’s total
funds. Three of the top six schools were
in ETSD and Lorane had the greatest
improvement over the previous year,
earning $125 as a bonus for their li-
brary. The county’s top two earners
were SHS student Logan Gettis and
Lorane student Zane Ciabattoni. The
generosity of the Exeter community has
brought a smile to everyone at the Lit-
eracy Council.
Reading Olympics is a book trivia
competition held annually in which
teams of sixth through eighth graders
compete against teams from other dis-
tricts in the county. Exeter's team
placed second out of 54 teams! The
2013-2014 ETSD team was comprised
of Reiffton students Neha Adda, Gabe
Epler, Adesh Randhawa; junior high
students Michelle Wang, Yashica Ka-
githapu, and Siddharth Mupparaju; and
other resident students Sarah Saboori,
Joshua Angstadt, Ethan Hale, and
Nicholas Griffith. Reiffton library aide,
Wendi Strain and Reiffton librarian
Lindsay Stilwell coached the team,
along with Exeter Community Library
Children's Librarian Laura Kauffman.
6 Spring 2014
EXETER TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Carrier Route Presort
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Reading, PA
Permit No. 810
The NEWSLETTER is the official publication of the
Exeter Township School District 200 Elm Street Reading, PA 19606
Telephone: 610-779-0700 FAX: 610-779-7104
www.exeter.k12.pa.us
Beverly Martin, Ed.D., Superintendent
Todd Davies, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent
BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS Robert Quinter, Jr., President
Dr. David Bender, Vice President
James Brady, Jr. • Russell Diesinger
Michael Jupina • Carole Kutscher • Patricia O’Brien-Pieja
Joseph Staub • Dr. Timothy Timura
Appointees: Anne C. Guydish, Secretary
Patricia O’Brien-Pieja, Treasurer
Questions, suggestions, and/or information concerning
the NEWSLETTER should be directed to Don W. Cramer,
Editor, in the Instructional Support Services Office.
WHAT’S INSIDE . . .
New STEM Program 2014-15 Budget Information Great News Items Facility Facts 2014-15 Calendar Preview National Merit Honoree Prevent the Summer Slide!
The Exeter Township School District is an equal opportunity educational institution and in compliance with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the Americans with Disa-
bilities Act. The district will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, disability, or handicap. For information regarding civil rights or grievance
procedures, contact Dr. Elizabeth Weber, Compliance Officer, 200 Elm Street, Reading, PA 19606.
Exeter Community Education
Foundation Golf Classic
Friday, August 1 Reading Country Club
For more information contact Carole Kutscher at
ecefgolfsponsor@gmail.com or Edwin Yoder at
ecefgolf@gmail.com
Proceeds from this event assist ECEF in its mission to provide programs and services to students attending schools in the district.
Exeter Township School District Provides a Quality Education
Learn more at: paschoolperformance.org
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