Commissioners: No tax hike expected for 2016
WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Commissioners Thursday unveiled the preliminary 2016 county budget. The proposed budget does not increase taxes for county property owners — which would mark the fourth straight year without a tax increase.
Presenting the preliminary budget to the Commissioners at Thursday’s Sunshine meeting, Mark Rupsis, County Chief Operating Officer noted that the county...
Forget the fact-finding; its time to go to court
Teachers, district pitted needlessly by state’s negligence (or worse)
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Earlier this month, word got out that both the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and its teachers’ union, the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Association, both will seek fact finding on their ongoing, and apparently stalled contract negotiations.
Maybe its spending a week in the wilds...
Divided UCF board adopts final budget
Both sides claim compromise; 5-3 vote for 2.28% tax hike
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH — In the end, it was a compromise, but whether or not it was the right one, as a clearly split Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education debated heatedly at times, may well be argued for some time.
The board voted 5-3 at a raucous, crowded meeting at Unionville High School Monday night to approve...
UCF board to consider compromise budget figure
Board to also reconsider IST reduction at Unionville Elementary
By Karen Cresta, Correspondent, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH – Many residents, teachers, and members of the Unionville Chadds-Ford School District (UCFSD) Board of Education urged those on the board still considering a 2.01 percent increase in the tax rate to reconsider the higher option of 2.5 percent at the work session meeting on Monday...
One man stands between the people and medical marijuana
Our dysfunctional legislature hits new highs for foolishness
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Greetings from one of the last Internet outposts not hacked by the Chinese (we don’t rate) or calling from (allegedly) Microsoft Technical Support to assist you with your computer issues once you give us your password, credit card number and home address information.
In comparison, the recent shenanigans...
Is it time to look at the role of standardized tests in schools?
Also: if teacher unions demand raises, they should say what to cut from education programs to pay for it
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The rising tide against Common Core continues to obscure a growing, but still under discussed debate about the value and quality of standardized testing in our schools.
While it seems increasingly likely that a passing grade on the Keystone tests will not end up...
Residents argue for teacher pay hikes at UCF Board meeting
UHS principal appointed; retirees, Citadel Heart of Learning nominee honored
By Karen Cresta, Correspondent, The Times
POCOPSON – After the new principal for Unionville High School (UHS), Jim Conley, was appointed, applauded and approved for a salary of $142,290, and the six retirees and a nominee for the Citadel Heart of Learning honored, residents stepped up to the microphone at the Unionville...
UCF board gives prelim approval to 2.01% tax increase, 5-4
Teachers express offense at educator award proposal
By Karen Cresta, Correspondent, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH – After much review of what items are new to the budget and the presentation of three scenarios by Robert Cochran, the district’s director of business and operations, the proposed final budget for 2015-2016 for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Distrct was approved at Monday night’s...
Proposed UCF budget would boost taxes beyond Act 1 limits
Keystone Exams face growing opposition; health care eligibility audit discussed
By Karen Cresta, Correspondent, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH – Taxes for the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District would increase beyond the state’s Act 1 limits, if the Board of Education opts to adopt the $79.2 million proposed budget discussed in some detail during Monday night’s board work session — meanwhile...
Letter: Wolf is fighting for middle class families