Palisades School District

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 1ST YEAR TEACHERS AT PSD!

When these teachers were hired to begin their first year as employees of the Palisades School District, they could never have imagined how the year would end.  Yet the calendar keeps moving on, and these individuals are prepared to continue teaching in ways they could never have guessed.  Congratulations to our first year teachers who have completed the Teacher Induction Program according to the guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).  Please see the attached presentation and celebrate our newly inducted faculty:

Teacher Inductees 2019-20

TINICUM’S LITTLE MERMAID:

Have some fun and take a peek at this online production!  Congratulations to Principal, Janet Link, Production-Karen McDermott, Director- Erin Jividen, Stage Director-Susan Kozlusky, and Tech Support- Brian Gilbert.  Congratulations to all of the students and families who participated in this awesome production!  The students must be so proud of their work! 

Click Here: Little Mermaid

Coming soon...a pre-recorded, virtual production of Fairytale Academy will be shared with the community on Wednesday, June 10.  We are all looking forward to seeing this performance which includes students in grades 4 & 5 from Springfield Elementary School.  Thank you to Justin Fayne, Polly Manchester, and Nicole Atler (Scholl) for directing and rehearsing with students in a virtual setting.  Stay tuned!

MORE FROM OUR MUSIC DEPARTMENT:

On Thursday this week, our Music Department posted an ONLINE Virtual Jazz Concert on the Marching Band's Facebook Page.  It featured the Madrigals, Senior Solos, the Jazz Band and a couple soloists as well.  Congratulations on our students’ performances!  The performances can be accessed here:  https://www.facebook.com/PHSMarchingBand2019/

ATHLETIC PRACTICES FOR OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES ON HOLD:

For those that attended the Athletic Committee meeting on Tuesday, you are aware that based on Bucks County Department of Health guidelines, we were ready to begin school-affiliated practices; they were to be optional, non competitive, no contact, socially distanced, medically screened with numbers not to exceed 25 practices/workouts.

 

However, PIAA issued a press release that stated "Presently, school-affiliated activities are not permitted."

 

In addition, according to PDE guidelines released on Wednesday to resume in-person instruction the Board must approve and post a Health and Safety Plan which extends to "all school reopening activities." 

 

Our facilities will remain open but no school sports may begin for optional practices/workouts until our county moves into the green phase and a health and safety plan is developed and approved. 

 

More information will be presented and more information on this topic will be made available at the SB Meeting on Wednesday, June 17th at 7PM.

 

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS - BUDGET FOR 2020-21 PASSED:

At our School Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd, our Directors passed the district budget for the 2020-21 school year, with a 0% increase in taxes for residents.  Please see additional highlights of this budget listed below:

 

Budget Highlights:

The Board passed the Final Budget for 2020-2021 that included a 0% tax increase. The millage rate will remain at 115.0 mills. It is important to point out that over the last ten years, the District has faced several unfunded or underfunded mandates, including:

• Charter school tuition (state mandate) costs have increased 178.8%
• PSERS (state retirement system) costs have increased 615.9%
• Special education (federal mandate) have increased 41.8%

In those last ten years, the real estate tax millage rate has increased 5.6%. The only way it was possible to keep taxes down with those large increases, was because of prudent fiscal planning throughout the years which now includes 4 years of 0% increase in tax rates for our residents.

This is the seventh year the School Board will use funds from the Retirement Spike Fund (a savings for mitigating increasing retirement expenses) to cover a significant increase in retirement contributions, topping more than 34.5% of eligible salaries; all school districts across the state have been facing this problem.  These funds are being utilized to offset this increasing cost, while not overburdening taxpayers with high spikes in the retirement rates. 

Other projects funded in this budget for the 2020-2021 school year from district savings (not requiring additional tax dollars) include: completion of the PHS Science Wing renovation, upgrading teacher laptops, PHS chiller replacement, and several important safety and security upgrades.

Please Note: Our School Board and administrators were able to put forward this budget while maintaining the programs and services for students and families in which we take pride at Palisades!  #palisadesproud

 

Also at the last Board Meeting, we acknowledged the retirement of Leslie Patience. Congratulations to Leslie Patience, 3D Art Teacher at Palisades High School who is retiring after 39 years of service to our students and the community.  Leslie was instrumental in leading projects to engage and excite our students and families - Operation Flour Power (baking cookies for military personnel overseas), 9-11 Community Memorial Ceremony, our Blue Ribbon and US News and World Report celebrations, as well as many Spirit Week activities throughout her many years of teaching.  No one will soon forget Leslie’s infectious laugh and her witty banter.  Good luck in your retirement, Leslie!

 

UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS:

6/10/20 - Education Programs and Serving Committee Meeting @ 6:30PM

6/15/20 - Fiscal Committee Meeting Meeting @ 9AM

6/17/20 - Regular Meeting of the School Board @ 6:30PM

6/18/20 - Joint Operating Committee of UBCTS @ 7PM

 

PALISADES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CONTINUES MEALS THROUGH SUMMER!

If you or someone you know would like to receive a free meal next weekend, courtesy of Palisades Community Foundation (PCF), please fill out this form:  https://forms.gle/cw2HiTifeXrFMKCU6

This meal is being provided to families in the Palisades School District thanks to the generous donations made to PCF to support those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please share this information with friends, neighbors or senior citizens who may wish to receive a meal.  You may fill out the form on their behalf and pick up the meal for them if you would like.

Meals will be distributed again on Friday, June 12th from 3-5PM at Palisades High School in a drive through fashion.  We ask that you remain in your vehicles when picking up the prepared meals for your family, friends or neighbors. 

If you are interested in donating to this COVID relief project, please mail your tax free donation to PCF at PO Box 194, Kintnersville, PA  18930 or go to https://www.palisadescommunityfoundation.com/ to make an online donation using PayPal.

Again, if you would like to reserve meals to pick up on Friday, June 12th at PHS between 3 and 5PM, please fill out this form by the end of day on Wednesday, June10th (that will give us enough time to prepare and package the meals for distribution on Friday).  Click here:  https://forms.gle/cw2HiTifeXrFMKCU6

We are very excited to have had an outpouring of compassion and commitment to this project by our community members!  We are all proud to be a part of this project and are thankful for your support!  We WILL CONTINUE to provide weekend meals through the end of the summer!  Thanks to all who have donated!

Special thanks to Springfield’s PTA (SEPTA) for their $500 donation to this project and to Tinicum’s PTA for their $100 donation in the form of gift certificates for food purchases for those in need.  Our community is a giving community - your generosity is very much appreciated!  Thank you!

REMINDER - OTHER IMPORTANT END OF YEAR DATES:

6/10/20 - Last day of new instruction for students in grades K through 11

6/11/20 - Virtual Class Day and Promotion Ceremonies for 5th Grade Students - premiers of the ceremonies will air at 7PM

6/12/20 - Virtual Graduation Ceremony for the Senior Class - pre-show begins at 5:30PM; commencement ceremony begins at 6PM

6/15/20 - Virtual 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony airs @ 6:30pm

Virtual celebrations will be aired on YouTube with the link posted on our web site - www.palisd.org - stay tuned for the links to join in the fun!

GRADUATION FLOWER SALE:
To make our 2020 Palisades grads feel more special, Bucks County Nursery has kindly paired with the Class of 2021 to create optional flower orders for our graduates! Each order will be custom made for your grad, with the order options in the highlighted link. Please note: these prices do not include tax, orders and payment will be placed over the phone, all roses will be 50-60cm with color choices of red, yellow, and white, and orders will be picked up at Bucks County Nursery (across from the high school) on Friday, June 12th. To learn more about ordering flowers, please click this link.

LIST OF RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES FROM SENATOR MENSCH:

This is a listing of COVID-19 resources for parents/families:  Senator Bob Mensch's COVID-19_ Resources for Parents.pdf