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Published by Communication Solutions, 2017-01-04 08:59:39

HHSD 2015 2016 Annual Report

HHSD 2015 2016 Annual Report

Keywords: HHSD 2015 2016 Annual Report

Rising to the Challenge

2015-2016

Annual Report

Hatboro-Horsham
School District

Rising to the CHALLENGE

Excellence in education is achieved by Maintaining, enhancing and improving
District facilities
addressing issues that go beyond academic
achievement. Education takes place in a world As part of its ongoing Capital Improvements Plan, the District
in which rapid technological change, economic has engaged in repairs and upgrades in all District schools and
uncertainty, changing government regulations, the administration building. Listed below are several of the more
growing environmental concerns, emerging significant projects that were addressed during 2015-2016.
threats to health and security and mounting Paving projects were completed at Blair Mill, Pennypack and
social pressures have a significant impact on Simmons. A gazebo was added to Crooked Billet’s playground.
the environment in which our children learn. A number of improvements were made at the high school,
including:
The Hatboro-Horsham School District is n New concrete entrance.
not deterred by these challenges and is n New roof on A, B and C wings.
committed to managing their potential impact n Replacement of tile flooring in all H wing classrooms.
by implementing innovative and proactive n Paving in the rear band lot and upper rear auxiliary lot.
strategies. n Paving the bus drop-off in front of building.
n Installation of ADA ramps and concrete repairs.
We invite you to review the Hatboro-Horsham
School District 2015-2016 Annual Report and A significant amount of work has been completed in the academic
see how the District is rising to the challenge. and community wings. Casework, whiteboards, tile, paint and
other interior finishes are underway throughout the building and
Hallowell construction: food service and gymnasium equipment are being installed.
on time and under budget The building’s advanced technology, security and environmental
features will ensure a state-of-the-art learning environment.
Approximately one year ago, the District broke The community will also be able to use and enjoy the building
ground on the new Hallowell Elementary School, for District-sanctioned events.
a two-level, 88,000-square-foot building located
at Route 611 near Moreland Avenue. Crooked Billet feasibility study

The project is on schedule for completion by Crooked Billet Elementary School is more than
March 2017. Administrators meet regularly with 60 years old and concerns have been raised about the
the project’s architect, construction manager and aging building. The District’s priority is to complete
general contractor to discuss strategies for improving a comprehensive feasibility study that will focus on
the building’s functionality and to continuously current conditions and options for the future.
value engineer the cost of construction without Extensive information will be collected, including
sacrificing quality. Consequently, the project is a detailed evaluation of the existing building and
currently under budget. site conditions, analysis of educational programming
needs and identifying project outcome goals.
The site has been transformed as work progresses.
Drive past the site and you will see exterior face
brick and a majority of exterior metal panels, as
well as exterior glazing that is nearly finished.

Rising to the CHALLENGE affected in any way with the switch to full-day kindergarten.
n Existing facilities are sufficient to accommodate full-day
District will provide full-day kindergarten.
Kindergarten in 2017-2018 n The District is capable of building a fiscally-responsible
budget for 2017-2018 that would support a full-day program
In June the school board tentatively approved full-day with the availability of grant funds, transportation offsets,
kindergarten for all elementary schools. The change is retirements and the reduction or reallocation of staff.
planned to go into effect at the start of the 2017-18 school n High-quality, full-day kindergarten programs help support
year. The board voted after reviewing the research findings the development of cognitive skills, social and emotional
presented by Superintendent Dr. Curtis Griffin and the competencies and patterns of engagement in school learning.
Full-day Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force. n Because the Pennsylvania Core Standards will require
more instructional time in order to meet these standards,
Embarking on the process a full-day program will allow the District to comply with
these requirements within a developmentally appropriate
In March 2015, the District, in conjunction with Hanover school day schedule.
Research, began examining the short- and long-term “Full-day kindergarten will bring the District in alignment
benefits of full-day kindergarten. with close to 70 percent of the county’s school districts and
The Full-day Kindergarten Feasibility afford our youngest learners the opportunity for greater access
Task Force included teachers, building to educational opportunities and resources necessary for
principals, curriculum leaders, school the development of a solid academic, emotional and social
board members and central office foundation,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Monica Taylor.
administrators. They collected data,
reviewed research, conferred with Full-day kindergarten registration
administrators and educators from
other districts, and reviewed the new Children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1,
Pennsylvania Core Standards for 2017, are eligible for kindergarten. The District encourages
kindergarten. Additionally the Feasi- you to participate in the kindergarten registration process
bility Task Force considered required which will be held in February 2017. Specific dates and times
staffing and facility needs. for registration at each elementary school will be included
Based on the research, the following conditions were noted: in a letter to families and posted on the district’s and schools’
n The District can realize a projected labor and benefit webpages. Kindergarten registration forms will be avail-
savings of $80,000 annually through more efficient able on the schools’ websites and on the Hatboro-Horsham
transportation if midday half-day kindergarten runs are School District website at www.hatboro-horsham.org.
eliminated and all students are transported in the morning Paper copies will also be available in the school offices.
and afternoon without adding buses.
n There is no evidence that the food services budget or
that the preparation and distribution of food would be

Class of 2016 by the numbers University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh,
Virginia Tech and West Chester University,
Number of graduates: 396
National Merit Finalists: 3
Post high school plans: National Merit Commended Scholars: 5
Scholarship dollars provided to graduates:
• 93% enrolled in formal post-secondary education More than $6 million
• Of the above, 71% will attend a four-year college Percent of students passing the 2016 AP Exam: 89%

or university

• 7% of the Class of 2016 either entered the

workforce, joined the military, enrolled in career
education or took a gap year.

Hatboro-Horsham graduates enrolled in Auburn University,
Bucknell University, Cornell University, Drexel University,
Georgia Institute of Technology, George Washington
University, Johns Hopkins University, Mount Holyoke
College, New York University, Northeastern University,
Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University,
Swarthmore College, Syracuse University, Temple
University, Tufts University, University of Michigan,

Rising to the CHALLENGE

With appreciation: Hatboro-Horsham n Innovate! Collaborate! Interact!
Educational Foundation Amy Orlando; Simmons Elementary School (kindergarten)

The Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation, a nonprofit n KV Maker Space
501(c)(3) established in 1987, works to expand and enrich Valerie Fasy and Carol Miller;
educational opportunities offered to the students of the Keith Valley Middle School
Hatboro-Horsham School District. The HHEF partners (grades 6 – 8)
with the community, businesses and the District to provide
inspiring programs and innovative learning grants to enhance n LEGO Robot Invasion
the educational experience of all students. Kevin Deissler, Dan Beck, Amy
Ambler, John Schumann, Eric Glemser
Ten grants totaling more than $48,000 were recently awarded. and Nicole Miletto; Blair Mill,
Crooked Billet, Hallowell and
Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Pennypack Elementary Schools
Innovative Learning Grant recipients: (grades 3 – 5)

n Creating a 21st Century Digital Art Room n Minding Our Minds
Michael Kapusta; Hatboro-Horsham High School (grades 9 – 12) Meg Class; Simmons Elementary School (grade 1)

n Growth n Movement in the Classroom
Through iPads Julie Maloney; Crooked Billet Elementary School (grades K – 5)
Tara Grow; Simmons
Elementary School n Trout in the Classroom
(grade 3) John Schumann and Sarah Carner; Pennypack Elementary School
(grades 2 and 4)
n Hybrid
Learning Classroom n Ultimaker 3D Printers and Form Scanner
Megan DiLossi; Simmons Elementary School (grade 4) Adam Killion; Hatboro-Horsham High School (grades 9 – 12)

Providing universal access to technology

The District has been preparing to provide one-to-one access learned. Students acquire
to technology to students in grades 5-12 for several years. information in a manner
When fully operational, students and teachers will receive that is compatible with
their individual skills and
personal computing devices, abilities, and technology
which will ultimately creates opportunities for them to demonstrate their learning
enhance the educational beyond traditional ways of assessment.
experience. One-to-one
will be introduced in the How is the District preparing to implement
high school and the new one-to-one technology?
Hallowell Elementary
School in fall 2017 and The District has refreshed and upgraded its network and
will roll out to other servers to provide reliable high speed connectivity and is currently
buildings and grades in evaluating end user devices. Select pilot classes at the high school
the ensuing years. The gradual timeline allows for the and Hallowell Elementary School are experimenting with a range
redistribution of existing funds over several years to of potential student devices. Student feedback will factor into
support the initiative. the final decision.

What is the one-to-one technology initiative? Other upgrades include the introduction of cloud-based
productivity software with Microsoft 365 and the introduction
A one-to-one learning environment is created by providing of a learning management system, Canvas. The goal is to ensure
students and teachers with personal computing devices. that everyone is operating under common software platforms
Students use their devices to collaborate with others as they to provide students and families with student-focused and
learn and teachers can individualize the learning experience consistent learning experiences across classrooms and buildings.
for their students.
To prepare District teachers to manage the one-to-one classroom,
Why one-to-one? professional development has begun to focus on designing
“deeper learning” that builds communication, collaboration,
The single most important benefit of one-to-one technology critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
is that teachers can differentiate both in terms of how
they teach and how students demonstrate what they have

Rising to the CHALLENGE District officials and participating agencies evaluated
the responses. After a debriefing principals received
Creating a safe and secure school performance feedback and suggestions for improvement.
environment: A District priority “Overall, the schools reacted to the emergencies in accordance
with District protocol. Some schools functioned like clock-
Spring emergency drill work, others ran into glitches. These drills are barometers
of where our schools are and how they can improve so
In the spring of 2016, Hatboro-Horsham Security that in the event of an emergency, the District is well-
Director Rick Kerrigan, along with Superintendent prepared,” said Mr. Kerrigan.
Dr. Curtis Griffin, conducted a day of emergency drills.
Fire drills are routinely scheduled, but the emergency School buses
drills tested each school’s ability to respond to complex
emergencies, which required implementation of multiple In an effort to deter and
protocols from the District’s Emergency Management resolve verbal conflicts,
Plan. All schools, except the high school, participated. disagreements, bullying
High school drills will be conducted in 2017. and undesirable behavior,
An emergency operations center was created in the the District now activates
administration building and building principals assumed the audio component of
the role of incident commanders who led staff through the its buses surveillance systems when transporting District
simulated emergency, which occurred simultaneously and students only.
in quick succession.
Hatboro and Horsham Police Departments, Fire Departments Stop arm bus cameras
and Emergency Management Offices, along with Mont-
gomery County Emergency Management participated. The first District school bus equipped with a stop arm
Simulated Disasters began with a bomb threat and video camera hit the road in April. To date, six buses are
rumors of a suspicious package at Keith Valley and by using the technology.
afternoon of the same day the following had occurred: Stop arm cameras keep drivers focused on safe off-loading
n Crooked Billet: Train derailment in close proximity and on-loading of students by automatically capturing
to the school with reports of noxious gas. stop arm violations and tagging them with details such as
n Blair Mill: An impending tornado, which appeared date, time and GPS coordinates required for law enforce-
to be tracking along Blair Mill Road in line with Blair ment review. Without photo evidence, drivers must get a
Mill Elementary. description of the vehicle and driver and write down the
n Simmons: A gas leak within the building causing license plate number of the offending vehicle to get a
nausea and other symptoms. ticket written that will hold up in court.
n Hallowell: A top secret U.S. Military unmanned All buses will eventually be wired for cameras and the
drone crash that may have strewn top secret parts onto equipment will be moved from one bus to another as
Hallowell’s property. required.
n Pennypack: A lockdown situation created by an
irate parent who gained access to the school and Environmental testing
threatened staff.
A proactive plan for conducting environmental testing is
Addressing drugs, alcohol and coordinated by Director of Operations Joe Crowe. Indoor
mental health issues air quality and—as of spring 2016—water monitoring are
conducted annually. Drinking water is tested for lead.
National and state data show alcohol and drug use and
depression among students is trending upwards. Decisions Through her efforts even the youngest students in the
students make at a young age can profoundly alter their District are educated about the negative impact drugs
lives. Awareness and early intervention have been shown and alcohol can have on the brain, achievement and
to be effective strategies for equipping youth with coping performance.
skills. With older students, classroom lessons address drug,
Dawn Tucker is K-12 District Coordinator for Student alcohol and mental health concerns. The District also
Assistance Programs, serves as the conversation liaison for offers peer-to-peer opportunities for discussion, which
Be a Part of the Conversation, staffs the Drug and Alcohol contribute to creating a culture of understanding and
Executive Committee and is responsible for developing sensitivity by encouraging students who are wrestling
programs aimed at maintaining the well-being of students. with drug, alcohol, stress, anxiety and mental health
issues to express their feelings.
The District is addressing the needs of student athletes
and raising awareness about performance risks associated
with substance abuse and alcohol use.

Rising to the CHALLENGE

Creating A Workforce Pipeline Manufest 2016, a youth
manufacturing expo for
Manufacturing is back! students, parents and educators
that spotlighted positions in
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, manufacturing, including:
between 2009 and 2014, U.S. manufacturing output grew apprenticeships, machinists, design, sales, marketing,
by 46 percent with 646,000 manufacturing jobs added and engineering, customer service, accounting, and more.
another 243,000 positions waiting to be filled. Tech Futures Fair, which featured 50 exhibitors that
This trend has also been reported by regional manufacturers demonstrated the ways technology is being applied in Arts &
who are working with the District to raise awareness among Communication, Business, Finance and IT, Health/Life Sciences,
teens who may be unfamiliar with the highly-skilled and Engineering and Human Services.
lucrative positions available in the industry. Manufacturing Day is an open house for students, hosted
The District is represented and is an active participant in the by manufacturers at their workplaces for the purpose of giving
Manufacturing Alliance of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, teens a first-hand look at manufacturing.
a group that promotes careers in manufacturing.
During 2015-2016, District students participated in a number Tours are an invaluable tool to help students understand how
of large-scale events that took them inside the industry. STEM subjects learned in school apply in advanced manufacturing
industries and offer insight into exciting high tech and high
wage career opportunities.

Approved 2016-2017 final budget to generate savings. Furthermore, careful management of
below Act 1 index District health care programs helped to minimize cost increases.
Achieving a balanced budget for 2016-2017 also presented
The $100,046,828 final 2016-2017 school year budget challenges. Cost increases associated with the District’s
adopted by the Hatboro-Horsham School Board balances state-mandated contributions to the Pennsylvania Public School
the District’s delivery of quality educational programs to Employees Retirement System were up $2.1 million, with the
students with its commitment to fiscal responsibility to District responsible for half.
taxpayers. An initial $404,000 deficit was addressed as the District
Throughout the process the District was steadfast in its strategically utilized funds from its reserve accounts. Other
commitment to stay below the Act 1 index of 2.4 percent. factors that helped balance the budget include additional state
Expense-cutting strategies used do not impact the delivery revenues, a successful reversal of real estate appeals, benefit
of student services. Reductions were made in departmental reductions, re-negotiation of several District service contracts
budgets and efficiency initiatives in technology consolidations, and additional departmental budget cuts. Retirements and the
bulk purchasing of utilities, further streamlining of the bus reallocation of existing staff enabled the District to reduce
routing system and competitive bidding on services helped expenses without the need for professional staff furloughs.

Three-year agreement reached additional 1 percent of the plan premium in addition to their
respective employee copay contribution.
The Hatboro-Horsham School Board ratified a three-year n Employees will be able to choose between two Personal
contract with the Hatboro-Horsham Education Association. Choice Plans and one Point of Service plan in year one.
Highlights of the contract, which spans from July 1, 2016, Thereafter, the costly Personal Choice 1 plan will be replaced
through June 30, 2019, include: with a more economical plan following a careful review of
options by both the District and the HHEA.
Salary
Tuition reimbursement
n Average salary increases of 3.5 percent over the course
of the contract, including step movement each year. n Tuition reimbursements have been increased to a maximum
n Salary increases of 1 percent, 1 percent and .5 percent of $350 per credit.
respectively over the course of the contract for teachers at n The District will reimburse up to 18 credits per year.
the top of the salary scale. n In order to qualify for placement on the Masters +30
n Elimination of the Bachelors +15 column. column of the salary scale, teachers must earn a second
master’s degree, National Board Certification or certification
Insurance in a subject area of need.
n Teachers leaving the District within 18 months of receiving
n Employee and family deductibles have been introduced the tuition benefit will be responsible for paying back all
for those enrolled in the Rx program, all medical coverage reimbursement money.
plans and dental coverage.
n Employees seeking spousal coverage will contribute an


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