Despite funds restoration, Unionville unlikely to rehire layoffs

Administrators preparing plan for $827K; teacher contract talks seen as stalled again By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — While the restoration of some $827,000 in state funds gives the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education some options in the coming weeks, it appears that one option won’t be restoring any of the support positions slashed in the 2011-12 budget. Superintendent...

State budget restores funding to Unionville

Board of education faces choices on saving, cutting taxes, saving jobs or a mix of all three after some $827,000 restored By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to sign a new state budget of $27.15 billion that comes which much smaller school funding cuts than expected for Unionville-Chadds Ford. Finally, some good news from Harrisburg, at least for the Unionville-Chadds...

Unionville finalizes tax hike at 1.1%

Compromise wins unanimous support from board members; district still has to lay off staff By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — When it came to picking between tax increases of 1.0% and 1.4%, in Chester County,  the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education came up with an interesting pick: neither. Instead, during Monday’s Board of Education meeting, the board opted unanimously...

Unionville tax increase rate less certain

Board president signals support for higher rate, but it remains unclear whether there are enough votes to go from 1.0% to 1.4% By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — What had seemed to be a firmly decided tax increase — 1.0% in Chester County — became just a tad less secure when Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education president Timotha Trigg said Monday that she now...

Letters: Thought’s on Monday’s school board meeting

To The Editor, For what its worth, I attended the recent regular school board meeting at Patton middle school on May 17th and thought you might appreciate reading my observations and analysis. First off, I must say that I was impressed with all members of the board. Several members seem to play the roll of the “bad cop” but that  (in my opinion) is healthy and brings balance to the nine-member...

Unionville board opts for $1.1 M in cuts

Board votes 6-3 not to boost tax hike, some staff positions likely to be cut for 2011-12 school year By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com Although the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District approved $1.1 million in cuts to the 2011-12 budget, the impact to the district's four elementry schools, including Pocopson Elementary, is expected to be minimal. EAST MARLBOROUGH — The Unionville...

Letter: Response to Knauss

To The Editor: I am writing in response to the posting Mr. Knauss wrote in his response to Victor Dupuis’ letter.  I have included direct quotes from the Citizens for Efficient Education home page – the organization launched by Mr. Knauss and Mr. Hellrung originally to defeat the referendum regarding funding of the high school renovation project a few years ago.  My replies are beneath...

Unionville board poised to slash $1.1M from budget

By 5-4 margin, board straw poll says keep tax hike to .99% in Chesco, 4.61% in Delco By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Administrators used dark clouds to illustrate the current financial challenges the district fces during Monday night's public hearing on the school budget. EAST MARLBOROUGH — The Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education — by...

Column: We should take Parker at her word

Pointing fingers about why Sharon Parker is retiring seems counter-productive By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com Retiring Unionville Superintendent of Schools Sharon Parker enjoys a laugh with members of the Board of Education after being presented with a sash by ember Holly Manzone, after Parker announced her retirement Monday night. It didn’t take long for it to happen. Fingers were being...

Teachers, district spar publicly over contract talks

Both sides claim the other is putting out inaccurate information on the web By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — So much for the era of good feelings. The ongoing talks between the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and its teachers turned publicly angry Monday night at the Board of Education meeting, as both sides alleged the other is posting misleading information...