The Norristown Area School District is staring into an almost $6 million dollar budget hole. They need to cut, cut, cut AND increase taxes. The district is looking to outsource some in-house functions, layoff 15 teachers, freeze wages and raise taxes to keep the district on a level playing field.
If the cost cutting measures are implemented by the board, district homeowners still face a 2.17 percent tax increase. The increase comes to $83 a year in additional tax for the average homeowner.
The Norristown Area School District has six elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools (one is an alternative high school). There are 6,727 students. The district spends $14,075 per pupil and has 12 students for every full-time equivalent teacher. In 2008 the dropout rate was 5 percent, 22 percent of students have an IEP and 10 percent of students are ELL. Data from Wikipedia and Education.com
Just a NOTE for 222 Chestnut Street aka Mount Olympus. Norristown has twice as many students as Pottstown but only has one more elementary school. Plus NASD covers Norristown Borough along with East and West Norriton Townships, so their district is far more spread out.
The elephant in the room – why does “Responsible Tom” feel we need to have five elementary schools in Pottstown when THREE would be sufficient??? Yet the plaid one has the chutzpah to wag his glossy finger at others and call them “big spenders” while advocating keeping two schools open that we do not need and cannot afford. And please do not forget Mr. Hylton’s push to put in pretty windows and geothermal heating on top of keeping five elementary schools open.
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