PARKLAND

NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 47 NUMBER 4

JUNE 2015

WHAT’S INSIDE MOS Certifications pg. 2 Capital Projects Update pg. 3 SUPERINTENDENT’S pg. 5 MESSAGE 2015-16 BUDGET pg. 6-7 OVERVIEW MY TAXES? pg. 8 HOW DO I CALCULATE SUMMER CAMPS BUDGET FAST FACTS FOUNDATION GALA pg. 9 PARKLAND PRIDE: ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS pg. 11 STATE AND NATIONAL WINNERS UPCOMING EVENTS pg. 12 and much more!

Parkland high school named one of the best high schools in america

To produce the 2015 Best High Schools rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked schools on these key principles: that a great high school must serve all of its students well, not just those who are college bound, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show it is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.

Orefield Middle school receives award for reducing energy consumption by 26%

OMS won the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA) Head of the Class award which recognizes Pennsylvania schools that are leading the way in saving energy and money in Pennsylvania. To be considered, a school must have benchmarked their energy consumption, developed innovative programs to reduce their energy usage through capital improvements, operational controls, behavioral modification, and involved the school community in the effort. The award and citations were showered in Harrisburg. On hand to help celebrate are (back row, L-R): Rep. Gary Day; Rep. Ryan Mackenzie; KEEA Executive Director Brian Kauffman; PA PUC Commissioner Pam Witmer; KEEA Board President Rich Silverian. Front row: Rep. Julie Harhart; School Board Vice President David Kennedy; Energy Champion Dale Reitz; Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman; Principal Todd Gombos; Assistant to the Superintendent for Operations Tracy Smith; Technology Education Teacher Nicholas Kessler; Rep. Mike Schlossberg

Parkland Wins State’s Highest Recognition for Exemplary World Congratulations Loren Skinker and Language Program The class of 2015 enjoyed a wonderful prom Caitlin Carlson, this year’s Prom king and queen.

Others on the prom court included Alfred Hayward, Jonah Sanchez, Taj Singh, Bryan Sobczak, Flutura Berisha, Nicole Cury, Emily Monko and Vianny Reyes.

ome get h ! safe to have now. e driv ttyl.

Parkland High School’s World Language Department won a Golden Globe Award, the highest award given in the state’s competition which recognizes exemplary PA high school foreign language programs. To obtain an award, schools must provide evidence of excellence in 11 program indicators established by Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association which can be viewed by clicking on the QR code here:

Get home safe. Don’t text and drive.

5,500 Deaths are Caused by Distracted Driving Each Year (National Highway Traffic Administration)

PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 22 students receive microsoft office certifications in new it academy

A unique new opportunity was offered this year to PHS students to take courses in the Microsoft IT Academy. Sami Jo Crivellaro, a Parkland High School business teacher, volunteered to initiate and lead the district’s IT Academy, a blended learning course providing a pathway for Parkland High School students to achieve Microsoft Office Specialist certification. Crivellaro built a course curriculum around Microsoft IT Academy video tutorials and GMetrix software practice exams and delivered the course in a blended style combining the online video tutorials and online practice component along with teacher support for her students. In preparation for the implementation of the IT Academy, Parkland became a Certiport Authorized Testing Center and Ms. Crivellaro led the preparation for the administration of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams. As a result of her leadership and her work with students, Parkland’s first IT Academy class has 21 of 21 students MOS certified in Microsoft Word. Her students test on Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint before the school year ends. The ultimate goal is to have students obtain at least two MOS certifications by the end of the class. Parkland High School is one of just 51 schools in the entire state of Pennsylvania that offer testing on site. We are pleased to also note Ms. Crivillero was nominated for and received the Sungard K-12 Lead Without Limits Award, which celebrates the excellence of its customers’ ed-tech initiatives. The Lead Without Limits Awards Program recognizes school districts, schools, departments, administrators, and educators that leverage technology to improve student achievement and/or school or district efficiency. The Microsoft Office Specialist program provides computer literacy, measures proficiency, and identifies opportunities for skill enhancement. The certificate is a valuable credential recognized worldwide as proof that an individual has the desktop computing skills needed to work productively and efficiently.

PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 District prepares for next decade Explores Full-day Kindergarten and Options for Troxell

Parkland School District hired Stantec Architecture and Engineering LLC, a company ranked #1 in K-12 school design by Architectural Record magazine for 2014, to perform a Feasibility Study that will help guide the School District into the next decade. The study will explore options to implement a full-day Kindergarten program, which will help achieve a major District goal - ensuring that all children in the District read on grade level by THE END OF third grade. The study will take a specific look at the aging Troxell building and provide recommendations and a cost analysis on restoring, razing, or selling the building depending on what would be most advantageous for the community, while taking other resources into account. As part of the study, Stantec will produce a decade’s worth of demographic projections for the municipalities Parkland serves: North Whitehall, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie Townships. Those figures will yield enrollment projections for the district and help guide the decision-making process. As demographics in Parkland continue to shift, focusing on early childhood education is an increasingly important strategic goal in Parkland. Research shows that children who can’t read well by third grade struggle with every other subject as they matriculate through school. The District looks forward to sharing the results of the six-month study in future newsletters.

As Demographics Change, Parkland continues to meet the needs of ALL students

TURF FIELD UPDATE TURF FOR SOCCER, FIELD HOCKEY AND LACROSSE

Parkland School District is installing synthetic turf in the soccer/track stadium field behind Parkland High School. The District is submitting plans to South Whitehall Township for approval and is in the process of selecting a manufacturer for the turf field. As of the writing of this newsletter, the District predicts construction to begin in late August or early September with an estimated completion date in November. There will be a Donor Wall within the facility that will recognize any donor who wishes to make a gift to the Parkand School District Education Foundation in support of the turf project and District’s athletic program. If you have not donated to the Parkland Foundation in the past, this might be a nice way to support the athletic program - especially if you are an alumni who benefited from the ability to play on a Parkland sports team. Donations of $500 or more will be recognized on a donor wall plaque. Three giving levels will be recognized: All-Star Circle $500 - $1,000, Trojan Circle $1,001 - $5,000, and Champion Circle $5,001 and above, with each level receiving larger lettering as shown above. If you would like to make a gift and have your family’s name on the stadium wall in perpetuity, please fill out the form below and mail your payment to the Foundation. All gifts are tax deductible.

I Wish to Make a Gift to the Parkland SD Education Foundation!

Poverty rate increased from 12 to 20% of total students since 2009

Gifts of $500 or more will be recognized on a donor recognition wall plaque.

By 2020, it is projected that 1 out of 4 PSD students will qualify for free or reduced lunch

Donor _____________________________ Phone _____________________________ Email ______________________________

37 students labeled “homeless” in Dec 2014 English Language Learners rose from 136 in 2009 to 220 in 2014 16% receive Special Education Services 94% of students have a device at home, 97% have Internet access Current Demographics: 72% White, 11% Hispanic, 4% African American, 10% Asian, 3% Other

Address ____________________________________ City ______________State ______ Zip _______ PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Parkland SD Education Foundation and submit this form to: Parkland SD Education Foundation, 1210 Springhouse Rd., Allentown, PA 18104. Phone: (610) 351-5572

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 Parkland’s ‘INTO THE WOODS’ dazzles audiences Show captures 15 freddy nominations

Parkland High School’s spring production of “Into the Woods” captured 15 Freddy Award nominations including: Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra (won), Outstanding Use of Scenery, Outstanding Use of Costumes (won), Outstanding Use of Lighting, Outstanding Chorus, Outstanding Stage Crew, Outstanding Production Number “Prologue: Into The Woods” Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member - Jacob Stahl as Cinderella’s Prince & Wolf Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance - Jacob Stahl, Josiah Smith “Agony” Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Hannah Hakim as Little Red Ridinghood Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Reese Diaz as Jack Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress - Abby Kern as The Witch Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress - Megan Schmidt as Cinderella Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Victoria Bartkavage as Baker’s Wife (won) Congrats PHS Spring Sports TeamS! Softball EPC Champs Baseball EPC Champs Boys Volleyball EPC champs Girls Lacrosse EPC champs Boys Tennis EPC champs

Kahoot, Plickers, SpicyNode, MoveNote, EdPuzzle, PHoto Peach, Zaption There’s so much amazing technology available to promote learning. These are some of the workshops that Parkland is providing to staff so that our teachers can take advantage of some of the coolest new and free apps available. Check them out this summer with your kids! Also, don’t forget that many online curriculum resources can be used to help prevent summer brain drain. Visit our page of resources by clicking on the QR Code at right.

KRATZER CAPITAL PROJECT UPDATE

Kratzer Elementary is completing an 18-month extensive renovation project this summer. Above is a glimpse of a newly renovated bathroom and the new computer lab. A rededication and tour of the building will be held in the fall. We are excited to give the public a peek inside this beautifully redesigned school. Site work is in full swing and the temporary traffic patterns are in place as extensive outdoor work will continue this summer. The old bus loop has been demolished and a temporary bus entrance is being used. The parent and visitor entrance/exit and the parking area are still the same and should be used by anyone visiting Kratzer.

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 Dear Parkland residents, 2014-15 has proven to be another successful year filled with many accomplishments and much to be proud of across the Parkland community. Our students are earning top honors as we enter the last month of the school year and a whopping $2.8M in scholarship money is flowing to many students who are college-bound. We are in the midst of a very exciting Feasibility Study that will help us explore the possibility of establishing a full-day Kindergarten program that will help us reach our goal of ensuring that every child reads on grade level by the end of third grade. With rapidly changing demographics, our School Board and Administration feel that this goal is paramount to the services that we are providing to this community. You can read more about the Feasibility Study within the pages of this newsletter.

2015-16 Budget

Did You Know?

•Among the challenges impacting Parkland are increasing special education costs, $2.4M in projected payments to Cyber/Charter Schools, rising healthcare costs, and increasing state-mandated contributions to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System •The 2014-15 Budget required a tax increase of .26 mills or 1.88% totaling 14.09 mills with a total budget of $152,182,566 •The Act 1 Index for Parkland for 201516 is 1.9% which equals $1,946,192 or 0.26 mills •This is the second consecutive year that Parkland has not sought approval to go beyond the Act I Index by applying for “exceptions” to increase taxes above the Index •We are appropriating $5.5 Million in Fund Balance to offset a larger tax increase which equates to 0.73 mills •Our Proposed 2015-16 General Fund Budget of $157,677,695 depicts a tax increase of 0.26 mills or 1.85% totaling 14.35 mills •As of May 19, 2015, one mill of property tax produces approximately $7,485,355 at a 97% collection rate •The Governor’s proposed budget includes approximately $1.2M in additional state funding/reimbursements for Parkland, but due to the uncertainty of the state budget, these appropriations are not guaranteed as of the printing of this newsletter.

June’s Superintendent message and a large portion of the summer newsletter focus on the budget as the School Board is required to approve an annual budget no later than June 30th each year. As a result of the collaborative effort between the School Board and Administration, a conscious decision was made in January 2015 to opt out of the accelerated budget adoption time line required under Pennsylvania’s Act 1 law. By doing so, the district is locked into creating a budget that is limited to increasing the tax rate for Parkland residents to no more than the Act 1 Index of 1.9% assigned by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This is the second consecutive year that Parkland has not sought preliminary approval to go beyond the Act 1 Index assigned to Parkland by applying for “exceptions” to increase taxes above the Index to balance the budget. In doing so, we are putting forth a budget that will raise taxes by 1.85%. While the short-term trends on the revenue side are cause for optimism, we still have challenges to overcome and concerns we need to continue to address. Among our challenges and concerns are the following areas: • Increasing Special Education costs • School Choice comes at a Cost -----Next year we are budgeting approximately $2.4 Million in payments to Cyber/ Charter schools which illustrates the cost of a School Choice program to our local taxpayers. • Rising healthcare costs • Increased state mandated contributions toward the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) • Uncertainty about the amount of state funding that will be approved by the legislature Our administrative team remains resolved in our effort to achieve the greatest return on our investment educationally and operationally even as these challenges persist. The 2015-16 Budget was therefore prepared below the allowable Act 1 Index approved by the state for Parkland’s 2015-16 Budget, which totals 14.35 mills representing a 1.85% millage increase or 0.26 mills. For comparison purposes, last year’s final millage increase was 0.26 or 1.88%. While the new Governor has proposed changes that could offer additional state funding for education and reimbursements for Parkland, as of today’s date, there are many uncertain factors that need to be approved by legislators in order to make the funds come to fruition. Unfortunately, we are required to pass and approve a budget by June 30th and, therefore, we simply can’t count on the proposed finances. Rather, we have to move forward with what we know for sure today. This is why there is currently a huge movement for a fair, predictable and sustainable funding formula for Pennsylvania’s public schools. If you would like to get involved with that effort, I invite you to call my office and we will connect you with a state team who is working tirelessly to lobby our legislators for a fair and predictable state funding mechanism that won’t keep us guessing what the state’s support will be for public education each year. We have been working on this budget since last fall and I appreciate the efforts of the School Board who dedicate countless volunteer hours to scour through the budget over the course of the year and offer valuable input as well as our administrators who have continually been challenged to think outside the box to do more with less. The Core Team of Rod Troutman, Tracy Smith, John Vignone and I have a great partnership and the four of us, along with my Cabinet and administrative team, strive to deliver the best possible program in the most affordable manner. As stated in the past, I believe our collective professional responsibility is to bring forward a responsible budget that represents the most essential educational needs of our students by incorporating academics, the arts, and athletics, while considering the ability and willingness of our community to support our quality comprehensive educational program. With much appreciation for your continued support, Richard T. Sniscak Superintendent of Schools The Board will vote on the final budget during our regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 7 PM. Please feel free to call the Superintendent’s office at 610-351-5500 should you have questions about the budget prior to the meeting or join us in the Board Room at 1210 Springhouse Rd. for the meeting.

Lehigh County School District Millage Rank Comparison School District 2014/15 Millage (Highest to Lowest) Northern Lehigh 20.76 Allentown City 18.33 Salisbury Township 17.50 East Penn 16.66 Catasauqua Area 16.31 Northwestern Lehigh 15.96 Bethlehem 15.77 Whitehall-Coplay 15.42 Southern Lehigh 15.37 ***Parkland*** 14.09 Average 16.62

How Do I Calculate My Taxes? The 2015-16 Proposed Budget plan calls for a property tax rate of 14.35 mills. To calculate your school district property tax, find the current assessed value of your property and multiply that value times the millage rate of 14.35. For example, a house assessed at $100,000 would be calculated as follows:

$100,000 x .01435 = $1,435 property tax for the school district. This represents a $26 increase over last year. The median assessed value of a home in Parkland is $222,050. At a mill rate of 14.35, the tax increase would be $57.74 for a home assessed at this value. The money generated by casinos across the state of Pennsylvania will supply every approved homestead/farmstead with a property tax reduction of approximately $107. This will be clearly marked on your tax bill. Please note that if your property tax bill is below $107, your tax bill will only be reduced by the smaller of the two amounts. Gaming monies do not offset the real estate tax levied to fund the Parkland Community Library.

PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 HOW EACH DOLLAR SUPPORTS PROGRAMS IN THE

REVENUE SOURCES .98% 3.49%

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS 60.91 CENTS

Instruction includes all activities dealing directly with the interaction between teachers and students and related costs which can be directly attributed to a program of instruction. Costs encompass all programs including regular classroom instruction, special education, early intervention services, vocational education, remediation services, driver education, required payments to charter/cyber schools, and support of the community college. Related costs include instructional expenditures for salaries and benefits (teachers, substitutes, and teacher aides), contracted services, new and replacement equipment, supplies, books, maintenance costs directly attributable to instructional equipment and other expenses such as sabbatical leaves.

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES 28.1 CENTS

This category includes the cost of all services which provide administrative, technical, and logistical support to facilitate and enhance instruction.

17.55%

INSTRUCTIONAL – This area includes pupil personnel, guidance counseling, and student accounting services. It also includes the district’s library, audio-visual and computer-assisted instruction programs, curriculum development and the professional development and training for the instructional staff.

77.98%

LOCAL SOURCES $122,964,203

FEDERAL SOURCES $1,540,178

STATE SOURCES $27,673,314

FUND BALANCE APPROPRIATION $5,500,000

LOCAL

Real Estate Taxes Earned Income Tax Real Estate Transfer Tax Earnings on Investments Local Services Tax Public Utility Realty Tax Per Capita Taxes District Activities Tuition, Rentals, and All Other From Educational Agencies (pass through)

TOTAL LOCAL

$108,367,378 $10,163,917 $1,500,000 $63,041 $570,000 $130,000 $0 $109,000 $536,600 $1,524,267

$122,964,203

PUPIL HEALTH – This area includes all expenditures related to health services provided by the district, including salaries of physicians, school nurses and health room aides and medical and dental equipment and supplies. BUSINESS/FISCAL – Those activities that involve the fiscal operations of the district are included in this category. This includes salaries, supplies and contracted services associated with budgeting, purchasing and disbursing, financial accounting, payroll, asset inventory, and auditing as well as district postage, advertising and data processing costs. OPERATIONS/MAINTENANCE – This includes the salaries of all employees involved in plant maintenance and operation, maintenance and custodial supplies, heating fuel, utilities (water, sewer, gas, electric, telephone), property insurance, equipment for buildings, roof repairs, vehicle maintenance and buildings and grounds upkeep.

Attention Parkland School District Property Owners

STATE

Basic Education Funding $7,418,135 PA Accountability Grant+Ready to Learn Grant $0 Special Education Subsidy $3,276,903 Transportation Reimbursement $1,408,759 Construction Reimbursement (PLANCON) $1,285,000 State Property Tax Allocation $1,757,205 State Share of Social Security $2,826,875 State Share of Retirement $9,356,998 All Other State Subsidiaries $343,439

TOTAL STATE TOTAL FEDERAL OTHER TOTAL REVENUE USE OF FUND BALANCE TOTAL

ADMINISTRATION – The administration of the educational program includes all board expenses, salaries and supplies of the central administration, principals and their supportive clerical employees, as well as the costs for tax collection services. This area also includes legal and programming services and the generation of computerized report cards and class scheduling.

$27,673,314 $1,540,178 $0 $152,177,695 $5,500,000 $157,677,695

The 2015-2016 Parkland School District Real Estate tax bills will be mailed on or after July 1, 2015. Any property owner not receiving a bill by July 10, 2015 should contact their respective township tax collector. Property owners who have taxes paid by a mortgage company or other lender should forward their bill to the lending institution as soon as possible to avoid penalties.

REAL ESTATE TAX COLLECTORS

North Whitehall Township: Susan Gelinas – 610-799-2032, 3861 Hickory Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078 South Whitehall Township and a portion of Allentown: Alvin Thompson – 610-398-4050, 2814 Walbert Ave., Unit 3, Allentown, PA 18104 Upper Macungie Township: Barry Moyer – 610-481-9191, 8330 Schantz Rd., Breinigsville, PA 18031

Parkland Homestead/Farmstead Gaming Credit

Gaming monies in the form of property tax relief will offset property taxes by approximately $107 per approved homestead and/or farmstead in the Parkland School District. This assessed value reduction will be shown on your 2015-16 property tax bill which will be mailed to all property owners on or after July 1, 2015.

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 2015-16 PARKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET TRANSPORTATION – Pupil transportation expenses include all costs associated with transporting students to public and non-public schools on district operated buses.

EXPENDITURES

CENTRAL – This area includes activities other than general administration which support each of the other instructional and supporting services. These include public information services such as the district newsletter, human resources, planning and research and system-wide technology services.

10.02% .97%

OTHER – The district’s support of the Intermediate Unit’s administrative budget as well as instructional material services.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES .97 CENTS

28.1%

STUDENT ACTIVITIES – This budget area includes the salaries of advisors of student activities, coaches’ salaries for athletic programs, athletic equipment and supplies, contracted services and insurance.

60.91%

COMMUNITY SERVICES – Contributions to the Allentown Art Museum and Historical Society and support of the Lehigh Valley Business Education Partnership as well as costs to provide crossing guards are expended from this budget area.

OTHER FINANCING USES 10.02 CENTS DEBT SERVICE/FUND TRANSFERS – This category covers principal and interest payments on bond issues for school building construction and educational technology.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS: $96,048,817

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES: $1,524,986

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES: $44,301,486

OTHER FINANCING USES: $15,802,406

REFUND OF PRIOR YEAR’S RECEIPTS – Payments made from the current budget for refunds of prior year expenditures. BUDGETARY RESERVE – These funds are used for unanticipated or emergency expenditures not provided elsewhere in the budget. Included are expenditures for unanticipated state and federal grants for which expenditures are not yet allocated by program.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS Regular Instructional Programs Special Education Vocational Education Other Instructional Programs Community College Support

TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS

2015-16 Snapshot: At the proposed school district property tax rate of 14.35 mills, a residential property assessed by Lehigh County at $100,000 and $200,000 would be taxed at the following amounts: Example #1 - $100,000 Assessed Valuation: $100,000 x .01435 = $1,435.00 Estimated amount of tax relief per homestead/farmstead is $107. Example #2 - $200,000 Assessed Valuation: $200,000 x .01435 = $2870.00 Estimated amount of tax relief per homestead/farmstead is $107.

Pupil & Instructional Staff Support Administration Pupil Health Business/ Fiscal Operation & Maintenance of Facilities Transportation Central Support & Other

$70,565,307 $20,210,973 $3,390,986 $677,758 $1,203,793

$96,048,817

$9,982,644 $7,033,688 $1,966,066 $1,585,418 $12,814,283 $7,973,147 $2,946,240

TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES $44,301,486 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES Student Activities Community Service Capital Projects

TOTAL NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES OTHER FINANCING USES

Debt Service & Fund Transfers Refund of Prior Year’s Receipts Budgetary Reserve

TOTAL

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

$1,491,034 $33,952 $0

$1,524,986 $15,252,406 $50,000 $500,000

$15,802,406

$157,677,695

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 Budget Facts that May Surprise You Special Education expenditures were $14.4M in 2008 and are projected to be $20.2M during the 2015-16 school year. The state has not increased funding in this area since 2008 and federal money has decreased, strapping local districts with the financial burden of figuring out a way to pay for these mandated costs. You, the Parkland taxpayer, have literally picked up the tab for the more than $6M dollar increase in costs associated with providing special education services to our neediest students. PSERS (Public School Employees’ Retirement System) requires school districts to pay a percentage of staff salary into the aforementioned retirement system. The employer contribution rate in 2010-11 was 5.64%, but will be 25.84% in 2015-16, up 4.44% from last year. As of the publication of this newsletter, the state has not yet developed a plan for pension reform. School Choice Comes at a Cost - Next year, Parkland is projecting to expend $2.4M to charter and cyber schools for tuition. Many of the cyber schools that receive these funds are for-profit agencies. The Parkland School Board has no control over how funds are expended or what programs are offered. Students in public schools are consistently performing better in math and reading than most attending charter and cyber schools across the Lehigh Valley. If we had this additional $2.4M, it would help mitigate our tax increase.

Who won a Senior Academic Award? Was the Final Budget approved? Are we getting turf? Stay informated by following @ParklandSchools on Twitter or like Parkland School District on Facebook.

Summer Youth Camps & Activities

Summer youth camps and activities are constantly being updated on our web site. Visit us online at www.parklandsd.org/community/summercamps

for a list of opportunities in our community.

In Parkland, this year alone, we saved the District approximately $480,000 by utilizing our own cyber program. Our cost to educate a cyber student is about $4,800/year, far lower than what the state requires us to pay tuition to a cyber charter school (approximately $9,700/year for a regular education student and $19,000/year for a student with special needs) costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. If any of these facts are surprising to you, please consider calling your legislator and ask them to help remove unfunded mandates from public schools.

Check out the year’s best moments: www.parklandsd.org/ blog/category/districtnews/

PARKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES 1,052 BOOKS FOR STUDENTS IN NEED

With approximately 350 students who have been identified as needing reading remediation across the school district, District Elementary Curriculum Supervisor Diane Neikam wrote to First Book for a book distribution grant and received 1,052 books in an effort to promote literacy. Books will be given to children to inspire a love of learning at various reading workshops this summer at Camp Discover where struggling readers will receive extra help in achieving literacy goals from Parkland staff. The books were funded by Domtar, one of First Book’s corporate sponsors. In the picture from L to R are Elementary Curriculum Supervisor Diane Neikam, Master School Board Director and School Board President Roberta Marcus, and Superintendent Richard Sniscak.

PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 400 Attend 4th Annual Parkland School District Education Foundation Gala

FIVE Inducted into Distinguished alumni Wall of Honor

-- by Caitlin Carlson PHS ’15 and Samantha Holender PHS ‘15

Parkland School District Preserving Excellence, Building a Dream

This year marked the fourth annual Parkland Education Foundation Gala. The 1950’s-themed festivity was held on May 4th at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. Foundation members, Parkland staff, sponsors and community volunteers gathered together to honor five Parkland graduates. The event would not have been possible without the generosity of local businesses and individuals. Major sponsors were given VIP tickets and were invited to bring guests to the gala. This year’s lead sponsors were Computer Aid, Coordinated Health and Service Electric Cable Communications.

www.parklandsd.org/foundation

The emcees for the evening were Mrs. Stacy Stauffer, a Parkland alumnus who now works for QVC, and Mr. Erich Joella, music teacher at Orefield Middle School and Assistant Director of the Arts at Parkland. The guests were also treated to performances from the Schnecksville Elementary School Ringers, the Middle School chorale, the Parkland High School Jazz Band and Joe Sibilia, Parkland graduate of 2014, who sang Frank Sinatra tunes. The evening’s main event was the induction of five distinguished alumni to Parkland’s Wall of Fame. Donna Katcher and Dawn Spence, Ken Zellner, Curtis Schneck, and Jason Toff were all recognized for their impressive achievements following their high school graduations. Sisters Donna Katcher (‘67) and Dawn Spence (‘84) began Donna’s DugOut after Donna was diagnosed with ALS. Katcher was a member of Parkland’s first state championship softball team, and has carried her love of the game with her in her fight against her disease. The sisters, who host softball tournaments to fundraise for a cure, have raised over $100,000 in the last seven years. Ken Zellner, Class of 1963, selflessly spent 37 years educating in the Parkland School District. During those years, he received the Pennsylvania Education Association’s Outstanding Educator Award, was promoted to Director of Elementary Education, and founded the Kernsville Environmental Laboratory. Zellner said that his favorite part about teaching was “seeing one of [his] students have an ‘aha’ moment during a lesson.”

Above left: Schnecksville Ringers entertained guests in the lobby during check-in. The middle school chorus students dressed the part and put on a great 50’s show for guests during dinner. Above right: Members of the Parkland Middle School Chorale perform a 50-s inspired routine.

Curtis Schneck graduated in 1951 and became a successful home developer within the Parkland community. Some of his most prized creations can be found in the Fairland Farms development in Schnecksville. His love for architecture began in his high school wood shop classes, where he built desks and tables that he still uses today. He encouraged all current students to work hard and be nice in order to maximize their chance at luck later in life.

Inductees are pictured from left to right: Jason Toff (‘04), Dawn Spence (‘84) and Donna Spence Katcher (‘76), Curtis Schneck (‘51) and Ken Zellner (‘63)

During his impressive career, Schneck earned the position of President of the Lehigh Valley Homeowners’ Association and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lehigh Valley Homebuilders’ Association. Schneck was also recognized for founding the Lehigh Valley Historical Society. Jason Toff, who graduated in 2004, was honored at the gala for his success in entrepreneurship. After graduating as a National Merit Scholar from Parkland, and then Magna Cum Laude as a business major from the University of Pennsylvania, Toff is the General Manager at the incredibly popular social medium, Vine. Vine, which allows users to post six second videos and share them with the world, has been one of the most downloaded apps over the last few years. However, his success is no surprise to the teachers who had him as a student at Parkland. Inspired by his aunt who suffers from Downs Syndrome, Toff nearly single-handedly established a chapter of PALS Club (Peers Assisted Learning Support) at Parkland as a junior in high school. The club’s goal was to include students with special needs in regular day-to-day high school activities. Today, the club thrives and stands as one of the largest clubs in the school. The Education Foundation would like to sincerely thank all of the volunteers, companies and individuals whose donations and time made the event possible. The Education Foundation’s commitment to preserving the excellence of Parkland would not be feasible without the generosity and commitment of the community. We especially thank the following businesses for their extremely generous support:

Special thanks to Frank Mitman Digital Photographic Imaging for donating time to be the official photographer of the Gala.

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015 Parkland WINS Best community for music Education Award

The Parkland School district has been awarded the National Association of Music Merchants Best Communities for Music Education title for the second time. The NAMM designation acknowledges districts across the United States for their commitment to and support for music education. Parkland is one of only 388 school districts to receive this designation. To be selected, districts are evaluated on funding, staffing of highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards, and access to music instruction. Additionally, evidence is given to show how the community supports music in our schools. The Parkland community shows their support by attending concerts and encouraging children to be involved in music, the Festival of the Arts, and various performance opportunities offered by the District. NAMM asked, “What uniquely qualifies the Parkland School District to be designated a “Best Community for Music Education?” Parkland teachers responded with this statement: Our music department is unique in its breadth and depth. The sheer number of ensembles, chamber groups, and performing arts electives are staggering. While our offerings are deep, our students truly excel and thrive. We are well represented in auditioned Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District, Region, and State Festivals. While we pride ourselves on our music accomplishments and offerings, the most important part is the relationships that are forged with students, teachers, and the community. Music brings everyone together. The trust, respect, and camaraderie that our students and teachers have for each other are like none other. A frequent mantra is, “I do not teach music, I teach kids.” Music is our medium. We have a passion for instilling a love for the arts in our students.

A valuable education with heroic results. Christina Schoemaker

School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Class of 1998 Director of Development Valley Youth House

2 015 Su m m e r You th C a m ps July 13–17, 2015. For students entering grades 1–12. Each camp is ½ day from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. or 1–4 p.m. Cost: $100. Visit sycroar.org, email [email protected], or call 610-285-5058.

A heroic career starts with a valuable education. Gain the wisdom, independence, and determination of a ‘superhero’ when you attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. A bold future starts with a valuable education. Contact Admissions today at 610-799-1575.

Start Here | Go Anywhere LCCC.edu

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015

8 students earn full tuition

53 EARN Academic or athletic Scholarships Total equates to more than $2.8M over 4 years

FULL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS:

Nicholas LaCesa, Lehigh Carbon Community College Rachael Lowe - Penn State University Erin Jordan - United States Naval Academy Kyle Nichols - University of New Orleans Kaleena Ortiz - Bloomsburg University Meehan Rahman - Temple University Sujay Rajkumar - Temple University Brooke Robertson - University of Delaware

25% or more Academic Scholarship: Partial Athletic Scholarship: Alexandra Bodnar - University of Notre Dame Stephen Chenworth - Univ of Mary Washington Sydney Cope - Ursinus College Brittney Daniel - Eastern University Kelsea Davis - Elizabethtown College Rebecca Davis - West Virginia Wesleyan Harrison Eckert - Wilkes University Katrina El-Kik - Saint Joseph’s University Sonali Govande - Drexel University Ethan Happel - Clarkson University Madeline LeFrock - University of Delaware Benjamin Martin - Drexel University Katherine Mazur - University of Delaware Jennifer Miller - Delaware Valley University Colin Orlowski - University of Denver Ali Pany - Saint Joseph’s University Rehana Persaud - Elizabethtown College Ishan Phadke - Penn State Schreyer Honors Col Angela Quaglio - DeSales University Kristina Redmond - Philadelphia University Jessica Rocchino - Ithaca College Joshua Shaffer - Muhlenberg College Brooke Sherwin - Fairleigh Dickinson University Daniel Shussett - Gettysburg College Saran Singh - Muhlenberg College Morgan Snyder - Wilkes University Bryan Sobczak - Alvernia University Daniel Szewczak - Monmouth University Zachary Trexler - Widener University Emma Varrato - Elizabethtown College Jacob Wilkinson - Manhattan School of Music Sarah Zakin - Temple University

Justin Afflerbach - Kutztown University Jacob Bissell - Lafayette College Sophie Castillo - University of Colorado Jessica Cattone - Gannon University Rebecca Davis - West Virginia Wesleyan College Jarey Elder - West Chester University Blaise Fugazzotto - Chestnut Hill University Mackenzie Galli - Virginia Commonwealth University Connor Higgins - Arizona State University Rhett Jacoby - Millerville University Hannah Pany - Ohio State University Preston Saylor - Lock Haven University Avery Semler - University of Iowa Jonathan Warg - Hofstra University

congratulations to all senior academic award recipients! click on the qr code below to view the entire list

Student WINNERS TAKE 1st or 2nd PLACE AT STATE & NATIONAL COMPETITIONS Parkland Pride is at its best when students earn state or national recognition in academics, the arts, or athletics. Here are some of this year’s highlights: lehigh Career & Technical Institute State Winners: Mckenzie Alvarez, Elayne Bodisch, Antonella DiStefano, Christopher Droney, Cheyenne Fenstermaker, Londynn Jones, Marissa Kula, Nathalie Lalande, Brian Romig, Mason Rumble, Maya Sheed, Anthony Sorrentino, Keri Weigman and Tyler Young National HIGH School History Day: Hannah Hakim Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Perfect Scores: Christian Antry, Jackson Fahey, Jason Feichtel, Louise Gottwald, Atharv Gupte, Priyanka Hanumaihgari, Grace Knauss, Arvind Parthasarathy, Seungkwon Son, Sriyaa Suresh, Daniel Wilcox Pennsylvania State MIDDLE School Computer Fair Champions: Willie Hawley, Faizan Datoo and Alex Cevicelow middle school k’nex stem state competition: Pierce Bell, Luke Gutman, Prathysha Kothare, and Blake Ziegler FBLA State Winner: Arvind Parthasarathy All-State Band: Max Stempel, Grace Lerew ALL-EAST BAND: Matt Latshaw All-State Chorus: Jillian Krempasky, Jennifer Ondrey, Natalie Ondrey, Josiah Smith, Jacob Stahl, Lisa Stein, Bryan Sobczak All-State Orchestra: Saagar Asnani, Guinevere Connor, Michael Wu National Scholastic Art Awards: Alyssa Tauber INTEL SCIENCE WORLD WINNERS: Roy Ghosh and Vikram Pandian Power-Lifting Team State - 1st Place: Anthony Mallia, Collin Watson, Tyler Dupre, Christian Blangger, Will Kroboth, Nick Palopoli, Liam Maxwell, Jake Puia, Mason Malozzi, James Gallagher, Alex Reede, Liam Gallagher, Matt Atiyeh, Zack Davies, Theo Evangelou, Alex Van Woert, Ben Geinosky, Nate Wieder, Jake Williams, Marios Delis, Zack Bauer, Amir Wallace, Jahan Worth, Andrew Parry, Andrew Bennett, Brody Boyer, Noel Brousse, and Patrick Ferry - Coaches are Erik Steiner, Paul Hagadus, Chris Kinane, Tim Moncman, Matt Hagelgans - Student Assistants are Steve Fehr and Dan Geinosky SWIMMING STATE champion: Siena Salvaggio, two-time gold medalist - Coach Rob Robitaille VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONS: Girls Volleyball team: Sam Graver, Morgan Sherwin, Brooke Robertson, Avery Perosa, Erika Foote, Megan Shaw, Siena Salvaggio, Kristin Krause, Kirah Dreisbach, Sam Webber, and Kristin Keck - Coach is Mike Krause and Assistant Coaches are Heather Wealand, Jesse Krasley and Heather Tice SCIENCE OLYMPIAD MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM STATE CHAMPIONS: Thwisha Anantasagar, Vidhyasai Annem, Karthik Chavan, Nishant Chitluru, Roy Ghosh, Nehali Gupta, Priyanka Hanumaihgari, Sahil Inaganti, Aryaman Khandelwal, James Kim, Aditi Pallod, Neha Pamidi, Vikram Pandian, Rashmi Raghuraman, Praneel Rajkumar, Habeeb Salau. Head coach - Dr. Sam Ghosh, Assistant - Mrs. Zubeda Ghosh, Student Coaches: Sabrina Ghoshm Shaumik Phadke

PHS Botany students create hydroponics systems

Schnecksville 5th graders were invited to explore the PHS Greenhouse when teachers collaborated to provide a fun STEM Challenge for both elementary and secondary students to embark on. Fifth grade designed and then participated in a water dispersed seed "vessel" race. They built mini Recycled Greenhouses, toured the PHS Greenhouse and viewed the hydroponics and aquaponics systems that PHS students designed. Seedlings went back to Schnecksville to plant during their Annual Earth Day celebration.

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PARKLAND

PARKLAND NEWSLETTER JUNE 2015

BULLETIN BOARD

The Parkland High School Library will be open all summer Monday – Friday from 9 AM 12 noon and 1 - 3 PM. Due to summer maintenance projects, students from Kratzer will attend summer library at Cetronia and Springhouse students will attend Orefield’s library program June 23 through August 6, 2015 as follows: NOTE: ALL LIBRARIES WILL BE CLOSED JULY 2 & 3

TUESDAYS - 9:30-11:30 AM - KR at CE and KV TUESDAYS - 1:15-3:15 PM - IR WEDNESDAYS - 9:30-11:30 AM - CE and FO WEDNESDAYS -1:15 – 3:15 PM - PM and JA THURSDAYS - 9:30 – 11:30 AM - SV THURSDAYS - 1:15 - 3:15 PM - SMS and OMS at OMS **The FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL for the 2015-2016 school year will be SEPTEMBER 8th, 2015. If your child will be starting school for the first time at Parkland School District, please call the school they will be entering and make a registration appointment at your earliest convenience.**

855-DrGhosh GhoshOrtho.com

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PARKLAND

NEWSLETTER 1210 SPRINGHOUSE ROAD, ALLENTOWN, PA 18104

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PARKLAND NEWSLETTER VOLUME 47 NUMBER 4 Published 4x annually in September, January, April and June. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Roberta M. Marcus, President, Master School Board Director David M. Kennedy, Vice President Lisa A. Adams Robert E. Bold, Master School Board Director Robert M. Cohen Mark A. Hanichak David J. Hein Barry D. Long Jef Reyburn Richard T. Sniscak, Superintendent Dr. Rodney R. Troutman, Assistant Superintendent Tracy E. Smith, Assistant to the Superintendent for Operations John A. Vignone, Board Secretary/Dir. of Business Administration Nicole Mehta McGalla, Editor/Dir. of Community Rel. & Development www.parklandsd.org NONDISCRIMINATION IN PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT POLICY In accordance with TITLE VI, TITLE IX, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Parkland School District does not discriminate either in the educational or vocational programs and activities which it operates or in the employment of personnel, on the basis of sex, handicap, disability, race, color, national origin, age, or religion. If your are physically or mentally disabled, visually or hearing impaired, you may qualify for special services/ instruction/ equipment modifications so you can successfully complete the education program or participate in activities. All inquiries concerning this policy/ questions regarding specific programs, services, and facilities for the handicapped should be directed to the district equal rights officer, Assistant Superintendent, Parkland School District, 1210 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA at (610) 3515505.

TO advertise in this publication, please call nicole at 610-351-5630.