Column: When good people make bad decisions

School board, teachers failing to make coherent public case in labor talks By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com I’m sure, somewhere, there’s a self-help book called “When good people make bad decisions.” If so, I’d kind of appreciate it if someone would send a crate here to Unionville. The latest wrangling by the school board and the teachers’ union is a case in point — and neither...

Unionville cuts offer to teachers, cites state aid cuts

Follows Gov. Corbett’s call for pay freeze by offering no raise in current year By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — Although it appears some progress had been made in the ongoing contract talks between the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and its teachers, the district has pulled a previous offer from the negotiating table, based on a deal proposed by a state...

Unionville administrators take pay freeze, again

EAST MARLBOROUGH — The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District announced Thursday that its administrators have agreed to take a pay freeze for the 2011-2012 school year. This would be the second straight year that the district’s administrators agreed to hold the line on salaries as the district grapples with a $1.1 million dollar budget deficit, after proposed cuts in state funding. This subject,...

Dinniman to hold rally for education, April 27

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman WEST CHESTER  – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced today that he will hold a rally for residents opposed to Governor Corbett’s proposed budget cuts to education on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. on the steps of the Chester County Courthouse (corner of High and Market Streets) in West Chester. Please take note: the date for the Rally for Education has been changed to...

Deal reached in Unionville teachers’ continuing education rules

Takes one major issue off the table in the ongoing talks between the district and its teachers By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — The first concrete sign of progress in the ongoing talks between the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and its teachers union came when the two sides agreed on new rules about what courses teachers can take and from which educational institutions...

Unionville board leans against increasing tax hike

Boosting tax rate from 1.0% to 1.4% would mean about $20 increase; social workers, guidance and librarians could be in crosshairs instead By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com An average propety taxpayer in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District would see about $20 of additional taxes if the board were to boost the tax rate to the state's Act maximum. Right now, a narrow majority appears...

Unionville-Chadds Ford Community Conversation, April 14

EAST MARLBOROUGH — The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will hold a community conversation related to proposed budget cuts on April 14 at Unionville High School. All community members are welcome at the event, which will take place at 7 – 9pm in the Unionville High School Cafeteria Interested residents can reserve a seat here.    Send article as PDF   ...

School officials outline $1.7 mil. in possible cuts to budget

Slash in state funding could mean higher local taxes, bigger class sizes, layoffs and furloughs in Unionville By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com EAST MARLBOROUGH — The cuts are deep, wide ranging and would mean less employees working in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District during the 2011-12 school year and even furloughs for the remaining employees. But it remains probable that not...

Barrar’s town hall: budget takes center stage

Residents ask questions on a wide range of issues, but the bottom line reigns supreme By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-160) answers questions from local residents during Wednesday night's Town Hall session at the Chadds Ford Municipal Building. CHADDS FORD — Gov. Tom Corbett’s new budget may or may not be popular, but it sure seems to have gotten people’s...

Unionville to get bids on outsourcing busing

Board of Education members say no decision has been made, bids needed to get detailed financial information By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com POCOPSON — Stressing that the final decision had not been made, most members of the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education expressed support for putting the district’s school bus services out to bid for outsourcing in the next couple of weeks,...