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Bristol Township School District's Annual Report 2020-2021 "Tiger Strong: Empowered, Engaged, Inspired."

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Published by Communication Solutions, 2021-12-06 14:12:32

BTSD Annual Report 2020-2021

Bristol Township School District's Annual Report 2020-2021 "Tiger Strong: Empowered, Engaged, Inspired."

BTSD Unveils New Brand Based
on Community Feedback

Dear Bristol Township The District unveiled its new brand “Bristol Township School District.
School District Community, Tiger Strong: Empowered, Engaged, Inspired” at the August 16, 2021
Board Meeting.
We are excited to announce our new brand
“Tiger Strong: Empowered, Engaged, Inspired” What exactly is a brand? It’s an identifying symbol, mark or
and the theme of our 2020-2021 Annual phrase that distinguishes one entity from another. Ultimately, an
Report. Our brand is a reflection of our actions, organization should commit to living up to and upholding its brand.
which you can read about throughout this
year’s report. In these pages, we outline the BTSD’s brand still contains its black and gold color combination and beloved tiger.
framework established in our Comprehensive What is new and most notable is its tagline. “We feel that ‘Tiger Strong: Empowered,
Plan and Equity Plan to empower students, as Engaged, Inspired’ represents what BTSD is striving to be as a public school district,”
well as how we engage our learners and their explained Superintendent Dr. Melanie Gehrens. “It is directly aligned with our
families through our partnerships. Comprehensive Plan – which outlines our goals and objectives for the next four years.
We are committed to living this brand throughout our District.”
This past year was filled with challenges of
virtual and hybrid learning, and although The community played a key role in the creation of BTSD’s brand. More than 1,600
we wished to say the pandemic would be residents completed the District’s electronic communication assessment and shared
over by now, challenges remain. The District feedback and ideas. Focus groups with community members and information-
perseveres and will continue to foster social gathering sessions with administrators and staff provided additional insight.
and emotional growth of our students, faculty Recommendations included more than branding ideas. Respondents also shared their
and staff, so we can all learn and lead to the desire for website enhancements, consistent communication from each school and
best of our abilities and inspire each another. greater transparency from the District. In fact, some of the content in this annual report
was created as a direct result of survey findings.
As we look towards the future, we are excited
about the progress of the new Ben Franklin The new brand will appear on communication materials including the District website,
Middle School, upcoming programs and social media, letters, flyers, newsletters and more. Several other recommendations
events, and just being together again this from the survey will lead to communication enhancements moving forward.
school year.

We thank our parents/guardians, faculty, staff,
administrators, community members and
School Board for always keeping our students
at the forefront.

Sincerely,

Melanie Gehrens, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

BTSD.US

Understanding The 2021-2022 Budget

Balancing the needs of students and programs with those of the How Tax Dollars are Spent - Total Expenditure: $150,191,596
community is always a difficult task. The pandemic created numerous
challenges in setting the 2021-2022 budget. Fortunately, the District was • Salaries : 56,899,407 - 37.9%
able to create its budget with no increases in real estate taxes for the third • Benefits: 38,282,711 - 25.5%
year in a row. To do this the District relied on monies set aside for future • Contracted Services: 13,267,263 - 8.8%
construction projects and the use of available grants and funding from • Other Purchased Services: 24,327,724 - 16.2%
ESSER II and ESSER III provided by the Federal Government. • Supplies/Equipment: 5,938,853 - 4.0%
• Debt Service/Fund Transfers: 11,325,638 - 7.5%
Adjustments in the State subsidy formula targeting underfunded schools • Budgetary Reserve: 150,000 - 0.1%
increased the District’s subsidies by $1M for the 2021-2022 school year. 
In addition, the District budgeted $2.5M of Federal grants through ESSER Where Tax Dollars Come From - Total Revenue: $150,191,596
II and ESSER II to help offset the cost of expanded student programs,
address learning loss, and foster social-emotional development. • Local Revenues: 91,949,667 - 61.2%
• State Revenues: 8,877,698 - 32.5%
Expenditure increases were primarily the result of three factors: an • Federal Revenues: 5,012,344 - 3.3%
increase in cyber charter school tuitions as a result of the pandemic, • Fund Balance: 4,351,887 - 2.9%
the settlement of employee contracts and debt service on the Benjamin
Franklin Middle School.

It is the goal of the School Board and administration to continue to provide
excellent educational opportunities for the District’s children while also
being careful stewards of residents’ tax dollars.

Equity: Ensuring All Students GOALS FOR THE 2021-2022 ACADEMIC YEAR INCLUDE:
Have What They Need 
• Review and update the Code of Conduct to address disparities found in the data.
Bristol Township School District’s mission is to prepare and empower • P artner with Digital Promise, a partner of Verizon Innovative Schools, to harness
students to be productive, competitive members in an ever-
changing global society. In order to achieve this mission, the District students and community collaboration for innovative projects to address
must provide equity and access to resources that will aid in the disparities and provide students with more opportunities.
highest achievement for all students. This work is supported by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education. BTSD EQUITY VISION

WHAT IS EQUITY?  Bristol Township School District community is committed to educate and empower
each child by providing high quality learning environments and identifying and
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), removing cultural, structural, racial and social barriers that could impede their
“Educational equity means the educational system gives each student what he opportunities to live meaningful and productive lives as contributing members of
or she needs to perform. Fairness and inclusion, which removes personal and our democratic society.
social circumstances, are not obstacles that include gender, ethnic origin and
socioeconomic status.”

BTSD is dedicated to removing obstacles and providing supports for all of its students. 

In the 2020-2021 school year, the BTSD Equity Leadership Committee began its work,
which included:

• Analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data to measure the success and
disparities within the District and schools’ education programs and practices.

• Defining equity for the school District and the community.

• Building capacity for belonging and inclusion.

The first step of the action plan was to establish an Equity and Inclusion Leadership
Team, which includes key stakeholder groups such as teachers and staff, students,
parents, School Board members and community members. They are utilizing an equity
lens approach throughout their work. 

According to the Pennsylvania School Board Association, “The equity lens approach
addresses key questions districts and school boards should ask to better recognize and
mitigate inequities within their policies and practices.”

BTSD Offers Engagement Opportunities to Families

Bristol Township School District values its partnerships with community organizations. Through collaboration, many
enriching engagement opportunities are available to families. We highlight some of these invaluable partnerships
with the BTSD Business and Industry Advisory Council, The Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks, Family to
Family Initiative, Freedom Neighborhood One Community Center, Bristol Cares Coalition and 21st Century.

Students & Leaders Collaborate Health Sciences Day in the 2021-2022 school Minton, M.Ed., Family Strengthening Program
in Business & Industry Advisory year. In addition to the MLT program, students Coordinator at Family Service. “We are excited
Council will learn about other health sciences programs to be back in person making connections with
including Licensed Practical Nursing, Radiography families in Bucks County.”
In the spring of 2019, Bristol Township School and Certified Nursing Assistant.
District started the BTSD Business and Industry The goal of all
Advisory Council to build connections between “We want to continually find ways to partner with of our programs
business leaders and students. the District so that the students can grow with us is to be a voice
and discover the opportunities Bucks can provide for the voiceless
The initiative is a win-win for businesses and them,” said James Sell, Campus Dean. and make those
schools. Business leaders meet students who are unseen, feel seen.
hardworking, talented and strong candidates Truman students who are looking to get a
for positions available in their companies. At the head start on college credits are encouraged to - Brittany McClain, Vice President,
same time, students gain real world experience participate in Bucks’ Dual Enrollment Program. Pre-
and can make more informed career decisions. selected by Truman High School, the courses are Freedom Neighborhood One
college-level and take place during the school day.
In previous meetings, students gave presentations Bridging the Gap with Freedom
to showcase the District’s engineering, television, Family to Family Initiative Hosts Neighborhood One
marketing, business and architecture initiatives. Family Nights Community Center
They also participated in interactive resume Bristol Township School District began a partnership
workshops, mock interviews, a Q&A session on Held on the first Wednesday of each month, with Freedom Neighborhood One Community
careers with industry leaders and developed Family Nights revolve around family well-being, Center, a nonprofit organization that serves
internship partners. and are hosted by the Family to Family Initiative, individuals and families in the Lower Bucks area, at
a cooperative program of Bristol Township, Bucks the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
Business and industry representatives from County Children and Youth Social Services, and “Our community has underperformed for
manufacturing, banking, communications, Family Service Association of Bucks County. years” said Brittany McClain, Vice President of
consulting, higher education, nonprofit, retail, Freedom Neighborhood One. “The leaders in
government and business were inspired to Prior to COVID-19, each Family Night featured our communities, who have benefited from
collaborate with BTSD to enhance classroom three components: an educational presentation, good mentoring and teachers, feel an obligation
education by offering experiences, networking, parent-child interaction such as an activity or to be what someone was for us. Freedom
job shadowing and workshops. game, and a focus on child development. Food Neighborhood One is committed to bridging
was also provided for the convenience of parents
Currently, fall and spring conferences are being attending right after work.
planned at Bucks County Community College’s
Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks. Once COVID-19 hit, Family Nights moved to
Facebook LIVE and adjusted the structure for a
The Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks virtual format. These online sessions featured an
Provides Opportunities to Truman interactive discussion with special guests, and
Students viewers were encouraged to enter comments and
questions in the chat.
During the 2020-2021 school year, Bucks County
Community College’s Gene and Marlene Epstein Themes from the previous school year included
Campus at Lower Bucks held a few virtual events managing stress and fatigue, financial literacy,
for Truman students. They were invited to a live engaging children in activities, and self-defense
open house on Zoom for the Medical Laboratory and personal safety. While some events were
Technician (MLT) program as well as a virtual more adult-focused, many had both parent and
Truman Advising/Registration Day. child components, and all revolved around family
well-being. Family Nights are back to in-person for
For this school year, The Epstein Campus is the 2021-2022 school year.
hoping to resume the Bucks + Truman = Success
program in full swing. This includes a student visit “Family Nights are designed to promote
to campus, Truman Day at The Epstein Campus, parent-child interaction, development-centered
financial aid and FAFSA nights, and much more. parenting, and family well-being. Our Parent
Educators provide families with skills and
Students should also be on the lookout for a resources to strengthen families,” said Rachel

the achievement gap and rebuilding the family you showed that it’s easier to say no to drugs than social emotional learning (SEL) support to students
system in our community.” we thought; and lastly, that you showed us how to and families as we all try to get back to some
deal with problems without hurting anyone!” sense of normalcy this school year,” said Kate
Many students struggled to receive all their class Barszczewski, 21st Century Project Director. “We
credits during the global pandemic, so Freedom The workshop culminated with the Youth Summit, are hoping to have family events monthly that
Neighborhood One and BTSD partnered to which featured guest speakers and experts on encourage SEL in the home and not just in school!”
create a summer credit recovery program to help substance use prevention and healthy decision-
students stay on track for graduation. The program making. Presenters included members of the For the 2020-2021 school year, Barszczewski
took place from June 21 – July 30 and all credit Bristol Cares Coalition, Family Services of Bucks was proud of the way the staff was able to pivot
recovery coaches from Freedom Neighborhood County, A Woman’s Place and No Longer Bound’s to run a completely virtual after-school program.
One were Truman graduates as well. Teen Prevention Taskforce. “We were able to keep most of our offerings the
same right down to physical activity,” she said.
Far more than an academic credit recovery For the 2021-2022 school year, all events will “Our staff members created weekly ‘take-home’
program, it also developed social and emotional be in-person and similar workshops will be kits for students and would often drop them off
skills, allowed students to build self-efficacy and implemented for third grade. at doorsteps or find other ways to get supplies
self-advocacy skills, and provided students with to students so they could continue to participate
nutritional meals, brain breaks and guest speakers. “My goal is that we’re opening the door to healthy with us.”
discussion and giving students the confidence
“The goal of all of our programs is to be a voice for to reach out to the resources we provide them,” Monday through Thursday students could meet
the voiceless and make those unseen, feel seen,” said Damita Harvey Harris, Prevention Manager of with staff members in a live Google classroom
said McClain. Bristol Cares Coalition and No Longer Bound.

Bristol Cares Coalition Teaches Another highlight of the 2020-2021 school year experience for homework assistance, academic
Healthy Decision-Making was the virtual town hall It’s Time to Talk About: enrichment activities, credit recovery, SEL activities
Race and Equity. A team of panelists answered and movement activities. “Students work to
This past school year, the prevention-based questions about education, voting, racial equality meet or exceed academic standards, but most
Bristol Cares Coalition, in collaboration with No and policing. More than 100 viewers tuned it to importantly, they learn how they can continue to
Longer Bound, offered the Too Good for Drugs learn what it takes to build a better, more inclusive be confident, supported and important citizens,”
and Violence workshop to fifth grade students. community in Bristol Township. said Barszczewski.
Over a ten-week period, sessions reinforced
basic prevention concepts of decision making, 21st Century Continues After-School She also said 21st Century could not do the work
goal setting, bonding, managing emotions and Programming they do without BTSD, especially since many of the
conflict resolution. staff members are BTSD staff as well. “The entire
The 21st Century in Fairless Hills is excited to have administrative team, at every level, does nothing
When surveyed about the top three things its after-school program back in person for the but support our mission to support students and
students liked about Too Good for Drugs and 2021-2022 school year. families,” said Barszczewski.
Violence workshop, one student said “The fact that
you show that addiction can be stopped; the way “We are looking forward to offering increased

Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Designed To Maximize Learning

The Benjamin Franklin Middle School is being
designed, modernized and adapted with
present-day student learning at the core.

Replacing the aging Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School built in the 1950s, Ben automation and robotics, and a Verizon Maker Lab. The Media Center and art rooms
Franklin Middle School will immerse students in an environment designed to are adjacent to the STEAM labs.
foster 21st century, 5 C learning ideals: critical thinking, creativity, communication,
collaboration and character. Rather than construct a new building, this middle school project is a smart adaptive
reuse of the original building with measures taken to ensure its structural integrity
At the core of the building, the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and and replace all major systems and finishes. Modernization of the core public spaces
Mathematics) areas will enhance 6-8 curriculum through project-based learning and include the auditorium, cafeteria and gymnasium. The building façade will receive
implementation. Learning stairs and collaborative, large group instruction spaces improvements, including new windows. Brand new athletic facilities, including a turf
for each grade will support student learning. Designed for flexibility with technology football field and track, will be added to the site to support physical education and
support, computer labs will be structured around coding, design and modeling, athletic programs.

Other upgrades include improvements to wall insulations and roof replacement, and
an energy-efficiency system designed to improve comfort and air quality. To prioritize
building safety, a secured entrance vestibule, security cameras and card access are
also included in the project. The bus loop and drop-off point for students driven by
parents will have separate queue lines to improve traffic flow.

BTSD hired SCHRADERGROUP as the architect, T&M Associates as the civil engineer,
Snyder Hoffman as the mechanical engineer and SitelogIQ as the construction
manager. Estimated completion is November 2022 and the new school will
accommodate 900 students. With a 38,000 square foot addition, the total square
footage of the project is 156,500 square feet.

Energy Efficient Updates Coming To Truman High School

Work on Truman High School will soon begin to make the building more SitelogIQ is the energy services company (ESCo) for this project. “The energy use
energy efficient and cost-effective. Heating system repairs, a new chiller, reduction in Truman High School will come from a combination of the efficiency
console unit ventilator replacement and the addition of cooling the classrooms mark of equipment, improved control HVAC systems and better insulated exterior door
the most significant project scopes. The exterior doors will be replaced with energy systems.” said Damion Spahr, Program Executive of SitelogIQ. This is the second
efficient door systems as well. major upgrade provided by the team members at SitelogIQ to BTSD. The first project
was converting Clara Barton Elementary School to the current Administration office.
Repairs and replacements of systems will be performed under the Guaranteed
Energy Savings Act (GESA), a Pennsylvania Act generally known as an Energy For the timeline of the improvements, equipment is being ordered now and limited
Performance Contract (EPC), and the District is utilizing ESSER Funds. work will begin in the spring during non-school hours and in minimally occupied
areas. The majority of the work will be completed in the summer of 2022 with any
GESA’s main goal is to provide major maintenance upgrades to systems with outstanding work being completed in the fall of 2022.
guaranteed performance to conserve energy and save costs. Building automation
system controls and new corridor lighting will also provide reductions on utility costs.

Comprehensive Plan for 2021-2024

Bristol Township School District recently completed a comprehensive and strategic planning process
that will guide student achievement for 2021-2024. The planning process involved representation
from all stakeholder groups and was finalized with School Board approval.

Although the Comprehensive Plan is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, it is more importantly a tool
that will guide BTSD to achieve its goals by laying out the detailed action steps needed to accomplish them. The plan focuses
on three main pillars: the whole child, student growth and achievement, and parent and community engagement.

The Whole Child Student Growth & Parent & Community
Achievement Engagement

STANDARDS ALIGNED TEACHERS & STANDARD
CURRICULUM TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATION

Goal: Goal: Goal:

To focus on the whole child, BTSD’s goal is to For the success of all students, BTSD In order to promote all students’ educational
create a school climate that promotes student will foster a vision and culture of high development, BTSD wishes to build strong and
growth intellectually, socially and emotionally. expectations by maintaining a focused effective partnerships with families. Additionally,
system for continuous improvement. reach a 35% increase in student growth and
Action Steps: achievement on the PA Future Ready Index.
• Establish a system for continuous Action Steps:
• Use effective social emotional learning Action Steps:
improvement supported by all stakeholders • Develop a family and community engagement
for the success of all students, educators approaches designed to cultivate all
and families. students’ social and emotional skills, plan, which will strengthen partnerships between
• Develop a Multi-Tiered System of Supports attitudes, and behaviors. families, schools, and community/business
(MTSS) Action Plan for academics, behavior, members to ultimately ensure equity and
and social and emotional learning that is • Deepen staff knowledge about how the excellence for all students.
unique to each buildiing. brain learns and how to use the knowledge
to develop lesson plans that meet the • D evelop and implement a plan to promote cultural
• Implement the MTSS Interventions with needs of all students. proficiency, which will address five key components:
Fidelity and report on progress bi-annually. assesses cultural knowledge, values diversity,
• Develop the culture within each building manages the dynamics of difference, adapts to
• Administer and analyze the annual needs by using data and peer-reviewed research diversity and institutionalizes cultural knowledge.
assessment each year to determine next steps. to inform discussions and drive decisions
about instruction and interventions. • Ensure cultural proficiency; review and audit current
curriculum, instructional practices and assessments.

5 Blue Lake Rd., Levittown, PA 19057 NON-PROFIT
btsd.us ORGANIZATION

Best Wishes to the Class of 2021 U.S. POSTAGE
PAID

LANGHORNE, PA
PERMIT NO. 1227

The Class of 2021 is represented at the following colleges and universities:  NUMBER OF GRADUATES: 327

Arizona State University Kentucky Christian University Post high school plans:
• 29.7% enrolled in 2-year college
Bennett College Millersville University • 35.6% enrolled in a four-year college or university
• 19.8% entered the workforce
Boston University Pennsylvania State University • 3.1% entered the military
• 5.1 % enrolled in a technical school
Cedar Crest College Shippensburg University • 6 .7% are special education students who

Delaware Valley University Stony Brook University graduated and returned for post-grad
Drexel University Temple University
Edinboro University University of Maryland
Gwynedd Mercy University Eastern Shore
Holy Family University University of the Sciences

SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS PROVIDED TO GRADUATES: $2.5 MILLION

Tell Us What You Think!

Answer this 6 question survey to express your opinions
about our Annual Report and the District.


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