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