Methacton Mobile News
Learn, Lead, Succeed - Together....................July 2015
Congratulations to the Methacton High School Class of 2015!
We hope the entire Methacton community will share in our Warrior Pride as we honor these find young men and women. Just a few facts and figures about this group...
- 43 of these seniors are members of the top 10% of the class, and they boast a 4-year cumulative GPA of 98.8 and better!
- 95.8% will be furthering their education beyond high school.
- 7 have elected to enlist in the military after graduation to represent us and serve our great nation in two military branches. We thank you for your future service.
- 2.6% will enter the work force immediately after graduation, strengthening the economy of our community, our county, and beyond.
- 48 members volunteered for a collective 6,155 hours, and
- members of the Class of 2015 earned scholarship and grant monies in excess of $6 million to further their post-high school education!
DVDs of the commencement ceremony, and the "Year in Review" are available for purchase online! Click here to buy yours, supplies are limited.
See photos of graduation at www.methacton.org.
Final 2015-2016 Budget Adopted
The Methacton School District Board of School Directors voted to adopt a final budget of $101,124,091 for the 2015-16 school year during the Board's regularly scheduled meeting on June 25, 2015. The 2015-2016 budget is balanced without the need for a tax increase, resulting in no change in the millage rate for the first time in nearly 30 years.
This was accomplished by using $858,813 of projected surplus funds from our 2014-15 fiscal year end projection. Our projected surplus for 2014-15 is achieved by non-recurring revenues resulting from the $1.7 million dollar sale of the District’s school buses to First Student, Inc. as well as approximately $1.1 million dollars in settlements from our health insurance providers.
The surplus funds/fund balance to be used to balance the 2015-16 budget will not decrease the audited fund balance, which was $5.2 million as of June 30, 2014. Following the 2014-15 financial audit due in October of 2015, the remaining balance (net of that used to balance the 2015-16 budget) will be reviewed by the finance committee for recommendation to the Board for placement into the fund balance and/or capital reserve.
Read more at www.methacton.org/budget
MHS Fields Improvement Project Update
Progress on the Methacton High School (MHS) field’s improvement project continues. Our previous update noted that early delays could impact the initial timeline established for substantial completion by August 7, 2015. “At this point, while we are making progress, we have concerns about meeting the initial timeline which may impact season start on August 17, 2015,” Superintendent Dr. David Zerbe explained.
In order to take a proactive approach to addressing these concerns, Dr. Zerbe recommended that the Board authorize the hiring of a construction management firm, and during their May meeting, the Board approved a contract with Fidevia, of Litiz, Pennsylvania to assist the district with keeping the construction project on schedule, while keeping costs and change orders to a minimum. At the June meeting, Dr. Zerbe asked that the Board extend the terms of the agreement with Fidevia, in order to allow the firm to address the administration’s further concerns with the progress on the project, and work with the district through the project’s completion.
“Our concerns require Fidevia’s assistance in managing both the agreement and the scope of the project outside of what we are currently doing in house, and as such for us to be successful in meeting our target dates,” Dr. Zerbe explained during the meeting.
The substantial completion of the two synthetic fields, stadium track, and the two softball fields was originally slated for August 7, 2015. Substantial completion means that the improvements are safe to use for practice and play, but are not finalized with all construction details. This original substantial completion date was established to allow for Methacton High School athletics and marching band practice to begin as planned for August 17, 2015. The original contract stated that final completion of the improvements were due September 19, 2015.
Since the project began in March, change orders totaling $349,165.74 have been submitted for work including modifications to the stormwater management areas, rock relocation, electrical conduit installation, removal of excess rock, and modifications to the turf infill material. Based upon a these change orders, as well as a number of issues including weather, additional unforeseen requirements, and on premises revisions; the substantial completion dates have been extended. The new dates are as follows:
- Auxiliary Field to be substantially completed on August 7, 2015.
- Stadium Field to be substantially completed on August 15, 2015.
- Stadium Track to be substantially completed on August 31, 2015.
- Seeding and Sodding of Softball Fields to be substantially completed on September 7, 2015.
- Stadium Rest Room Building to be completed by September 21, 2015.
Our intent is to have the auxiliary field ready for practice and play first. This allows for multiple sports/band to utilize this area while the stadium field is completed the following week. This also allows the new track surface to cure for an additional two to three weeks. This means that the stadium field will not be accessible for use until the stadium track surface, which surrounds the field, has cured. This access is planned for August 31, 2015.
As a result of these changes, the formulation of contingency plans for the fall athletic season are being communicated. MHS Assistant Principal for Athletics and Activities, Paul Spiewak, has prepared a field contingency plan with alternative field locations for practices in August and games in September. These plans have been distributed to coaches, who are communicating directly with student athletes and their families. An additional detailed update on the field project and these plans will be presented to parents, coaches, and athletes in August; as well as posted to the district’s website.
“Our main focus is to mitigate any disruption to the students’ season, and I’m confident that these plans do that,” Mr. Spiewak noted, “It’s disappointing that we can’t start off the school year on the new fields, but our community has waited a long time for these improvements and we won’t let these minor delays dampen our excitement for what’s to come for many years down the road.”
Photos of the project's progress can be found in the fields update area of the district’s website here. Currently, the stormwater management portion of the project is nearly complete, as basins and swales have been established with stabilization seeding having taken place on some berms, slopes, and in the stormwater basin. Additional plantings will be forthcoming. Rough grading of walkways to the softball fields has begun; and on the auxiliary field, excavation of the surface and installation of the electrical conduit for the future installation of lights is complete.
In the stadium, demolition has occurred removing the old scoreboard, as well as the old fencing and other existing features. New electrical conduits have been installed to support lighting and power requirements. Subgrade has been established on the field in order to prepare it for the next steps in installing the artificial turf. Drainage pipe has been installed around the perimeter of the stadium, and forming is underway to accept the attachment of the artificial turf.
In the shotput area, curbing is completed and stone is in place to prepare the shotput landing area.
Field lighting remains in the Court of Common Pleas where we are hopeful that a resulting action will allow a timely opportunity to install lighting services at the pole height and illumination levels appropriate for safe play while remaining compliant with the township ordinance and minimizing overall expense associated with a retrofit of lighting following completion of all other aspects.
“Even as we face continued construction challenges, I remain excited for the completion of this project,” Dr. Zerbe said, “These improvements will provide for safer practice and play conditions along with creating lasting improvements for the high school, placing our athletic facilities on par with our excellence in education. This ultimately provides benefit to our community by creating a highly attractive destination for families to make Methacton their home,” he added.
Follow the project and see photos at www.methacton.org/fields.
School Consolidation
In 2014, the Methacton Board of School Directors approved a capacity and enrollment study to be conducted by the Pennsylvania Economic League (PEL). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the state of the district’s enrollment over the next several years, assess the capacity of our school buildings, and make recommendations based on results of this analysis.
Public hearings were held in February which included presentations by the Superintendent and consultants, as well as public comment. Following these hearings, the Board asked Dr. Zerbe for an updated recommendation. His recommendation, approved by the Board, included the establishment of several committees consisting of parents, business and community leaders, and district employees to help gather information necessary to assist the superintendent and the Board in making a decision on the matter of school consolidation. The recommendation included the stipulation that the Board will make no decision on the potential closing of Audubon Elementary School sooner than December 2015.
These committees include the Enrollment/Capacity/Education, Student and Staff Transition, Finance, and Redrawing of Attendance Areas committee. The Board also authorized a Communications Committee that will not have membership, but will serve an important function in reporting progress of committee work. Meetings of the committee of the whole were held on April 22 and May 22. Two goals of the committees' early work included the evaluation of questions that were raised relative to the enrollment report presented to the Board by the Pennsylvania Economy League and the formulation of an RFP for the engagement of a consultant to assist with the potential redrawing of attendance areas (the RFP can be reviewed on the district's website).
PEL presented their responses to the committee’s questions at a public meeting before the Board on June 23. The presentation, and the more detailed written PEL response, can be found on the district's website. Following the PEL presentation, the Board directed Dr. Zerbe to continue the work of the committees, bringing back more information for their consideration as they continue to consider the potential closing of Audubon Elementary School.
Reports of the work of these committees will continue to be posted to the district's website at www.methacton.org/enrollment; along with presentations, documents, and other information.
School Board Authorizes Energy Conservation project
During the Board's June meeting, the Methacton School Board entered into an Energy Savings Agreement with Schneider Electric, an energy service company.
This important work is aimed at improving the overall energy efficiency of Methacton's buildings, while taking full advantage of electric utility rebate programs. This energy conservation project, valued at $2,428,935, will provide improvements within Skyview Upper Elementary, Arcola Intermediate and Methacton High schools.
This work will include the improvement of interior and exterior lighting, improvement to the management of water and sewage, and improvements to the overall energy efficiency of the district's buildings by reducing loss of heated and cooled air. By implementing the project, the District will realize a net positive cash flow of over $670,000 over a 20 year term, affording the district the ability to complete important maintenance that has previously been deferred. Read more about the project on the district's website at www.methacton.org/news.
Dates to Remember
August 27 - Skyview Back to School Scavenger Hunt for Students - 6:30 p.m.
August 26 - MHS Freshman Parent Presentation - 6:30 p.m.
August 31 - MHS Freshman and New Student Orientation - 1 p.m.
September 1 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ALL STUDENTS
Download the 2015-2016 Instructional Calendar from our website. Look for the full online student activities calendar on the district's website in the coming weeks.
Methacton.org Quick Links
Methacton School District
Email: information@methacton.org
Website: www.methacton.org
Location: 1001 Kriebel Mill Road, Eagleville, PA 19403
Phone: 610-489-5000
Twitter: @Methacton