MNSD Press Releases

(June 2010) Emergency Preparedness -- Marple Newtown School District joins every other Delaware County School District as well as county government and health institutions for emergency preparedness with a full scale Strategic National Stockpile exercise on June 21-22. Please click here to read the press release.

(May 2010) DARE Program Information provided by Dr. Connie Bompadre, Assistant Superintendent

As Director of Elementary Education, Dr. Connie Bompadre has worked closely with Sgt. Brandon Graeff and our teachers to schedule classes for students in first, fourth and sixth grades. DARE officers focus on educating students on the importance of understanding how drugs and alcohol affect the body both physically and mentally. Discussions lead into preventative measures students can take to stand-up to peer pressure. Health and PE teachers along with our guidance counselors reinforce what the officers teach when they have students in their own classes or when counselors meet with students in support groups. It is very much a collaborative effort.

Funding for this program had been declining over the past few years and then was finally eliminated last year. Because it was such a valued program, the police chief committed to continuing the program at the department’s expense. Even when there was funding, it never covered the entire cost of what time was given to our school district.

For a long time, there were no funds for supplies. The Marple Newtown School District Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO’s) offered support to the DARE program by providing funds for supplies for the officers to share with students (pencils, T-shirts, etc.) We also are thankful to our parent organizations for helping this worthy endeavor.

The Marple Newtown School District along with our teachers wanted to show our appreciation for all that the Marple Police Department has done for our students – Thank you!!

To our teachers, Amy Miller, Deb Havrilla, Christine Ward and Renee Cahill for accommodating their teaching schedules and promoting this curriculum to make this program a success – Thank you!

First and foremost I must thank Chief Murray because without his unwavering support and commitment the DARE program simply would not exist. Since all state funding for DARE ceased prior to the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year Chief Murray decided to allow the program to continue and pay for it solely through the police department's budget. Many surrounding departments and communities have dropped the program completely due to the monetary commitment necessary but Chief Murray stands out as a chief whose actions support his words.

Thank you to Dr. Horowitz for her continuing support and allowing the officers into the schools and Dr. Bompadre for all her work behind the scenes, particularly with the enormous amount of work she put into the annual grant application work from 2001-2009. The upside to no state funding is now Dr. Bompadre does not have to jump through so many hoops to obtain those monies. She still acts as a liaison between me and the PTO'S and principals and continues to have an open door policy for me. She is a true professional in every sense of the word.

Without the mentoring of the teachers our time in the classroom would be very difficult and the kids would get nowhere near the education they deserve. Their patience and willingness to share their expertise and suggestions has made each one of us officers far better teachers than we ever could have imagined. Their contributions to us individually and the program collectively are invaluable.

Officer Eric Miller and Detective Mike Sharkey are even pursuing Masters Degrees in education due in large part to their experiences with DARE and our teachers.

I am very proud to be a part of such a successful collaborative effort that DARE has proven to be. Just ask the kids.

(April 30, 2010) PUBLIC NOTICE Budget Adoption -- The Proposed Final Budget for 2010-2011 was adopted by the Marple Newtown School Board of Directors on April 27, 2010. The budget is available for public inspection in the Business Office of the Marple Newtown School District, 38 Media Line Road, Suite 204, Newtown Square, PA, all schools, the local libraries, municipal buildings, the post offices and District website (available here for download). Said proposed final budget will be presented to the Board of School Directors for final adoption at a public meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7:30 PM prevailing time, in the Board Room of the Gauntlett Center, 40 Media Line Road, Newtown Square, PA.

(February 10, 2010) MARPLE NEWTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC NOTICE -- The Marple Newtown School District intends to seek approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and/or the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas for referendum exceptions in accordance with the provisions of Act 1 of 2006. The Marple Newtown School District’s Act 1 index for 2010-11 is 2.9%. If granted, the referendum exceptions will allow the Marple Newtown School District to increase taxes above the index without voter approval. The Pennsylvania Department of Education and/or the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas will determine whether or not the Marple Newtown School District’s exceptions will be granted. ~~ Joseph Driscoll, Business Administrator, Marple Newtown School District

(February 1 , 2010) Kindergarten registration for the Marple Newtown School District will be held at all elementary buildings on the following dates: Monday, March 1 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. and Tuesday, March 2 from 9:30 to 3:00 P.M. Children who will be five years old on or before the first day of school are eligible and should be registered at their neighborhood school. Late registrants may be scheduled to attend other district elementary schools where there are openings. More information, including what is required for registration, can be found on the attached flyer.

(January 4, 2010) DR. HOROWITZ APPOINTED TO PASA BOARD OF GOVERNORS -- Marple Newtown School District Superintendent, Dr. Merle Horowitz, is the new representative of the Delaware County Superintendents to the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators Board of Governors. Horowitz replaces Dr. Anthony Costello, Superintendent from Garnet Valley, who is retiring in January 2010. Each of the 29 Intermediate Units in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sends a representative to the PASA Board of Governors, which meets five times a year in Harrisburg. The primary duties of Board members include making association policy and communicating with members. Board members are expected to communicate the interests, views and opinions of the members of the region they represent with the full Board, and to report PASA activities to the members of the region. The Board discusses major issues impacting education in Pennsylvania and meets with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Horowitz will discuss PASA issues and solicit suggestions on PASA policy positions and the improvement of PASA to the other 14 Delaware County Superintendents at their monthly Intermediate Unit Superintendents’ Advisory Council meeting.

Press Releases 2010