Board Finalizes Support Staff Contract by Solomiya Syvyk News Editor
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Middle Schools grades 5-8 for 2015-16 year: 6-7 Music Awards: 12 French Students Pennsbury grading experience football game: policy: 5 10 Board finalizes support staff contract By Solomiya Syvyk News Editor After several months of deliberation, the Neshaminy Educational Support Professional Association (NESPA) approved a new four-year contract with the school district on Oct. 24. Negotiations and talks had been going on since May, as the previous agreement expired June 30. In order to minimize costs, the district referred to the primary idea of outsourcing, a process that is included in the finalized deal, which otherwise has largely remained the same compared to the former. Following approximately 100 members of NESPA vocalizing their concerns and petitioning for their jobs at a school board meeting in June, the contract was approved on Oct.28 with a vote of 8 to 1. “From a district perspective, the new contract will help alleviate some significant resources - close to $1.5M in operation cost - that we can use for educational priorities while improving efficiency from a management perspective. From an employee viewpoint, we worked in concert to insure that as few as possible current employees were impacted by the changes, while providing incentives for those that are considering retirement,” school board member Mark Shubin said. Up to 73 union jobs may be outsourced, with a total of 52 replaced from the categories of Transportation, Instructional, Custodial, and Non-Instructional Aides. Every bargaining unit or NESPA OUTSOURCING- Secretary Jacki Gimello and custodian Kevin Huckel (L to R) are members of NESPA, which recently negotiated a contract with the school board in which 73 jobs will be outsourced. Photo/ Solomiya Syvyk See Outsourcing: pg 2 Dem. Wolf: victor among GOP red tide around nation By Jackson Haines wide margins, winning 62 percent and After a long, brutal Managing Editor 64 percent of the vote, respectively. campaign, Senate Minority Nowhere was the red tide of the leader Mitch McConnell With his wife smiling behind him, Republicans as evident as on the national defeated his opponent, governor-elect Tom Wolf approached stage. In Pennsylvania’s 8th district, Allison Lundergan Grimes the podium in Utz Stadium to thunderous the House of Representative seat went by a wide margin. With his applause. He flashed a big grin, clapped, to incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick, the party now on top, McConnell and exclaimed “Wow, this is great!” Republican candidate. This is the third will likely become Senate For him, it was. Wolf, a democrat and consecutive time Fitzpatrick has won Majority leader. businessman, was elected Pennsylvania that race. Otherwise, the Grand Old Party Republican candidates governor over incumbent Tom Corbett by Republicans strengthened their hold won the governorship in a nine percent margin (54 to 45), making on the House of Representatives, with the traditionally Democratic states Graphic/ Grace Marion Corbett the first governor in state history Republicans having a net gain of 10 seats of Maryland, Massachusetts, and any decision on the matter until after the to lose re-election after his first term. (they won 11 new seats, and lost one). Illinois. Republican incumbents held midterm elections. With that in mind, But for Tom Wolf’s party, the Just as political pundits had off Democratic challenges in many Obama is now expected to make his night of Nov. 4 proved to be a long predicted, the Senate was snatched by other states. move. Senate Minority Leader Mitch one. Locally, Tommy Tomlinson, the the Republicans. Closely watched races With congressional control entirely McConnell is expected to be Senate Republican incumbent, defeated his in Arkansas, Iowa, Georgia and Kansas held by the Republicans, pundits and Majority Leader now. Whatever comes democratic challenger Kimberly Rose went Republican. In North Carolina, observers are questioning what the of this election, pundits believe, is sure for the state senate seat. Frank Farry, a state that was expected to re-elect president’s next move will be, and how to be a gridlocked dance, crafted with the 142nd district’s state representative, democrat Kay Hagan, Republican Thom he will relate with this new Washington. giving the respective parties their best defended his position against democratic Willis won by the smallest of Margins. Obama had originally planned executive shot at winning the White House in challenger Gina Kiley. They won by West Virginia, too, went red. action on immigration, but postponed 2016. 2 The Playwickian News November 19, 2014 Student body misuses entertainment app By Tim Cho been reported, including a mass shooting Neshaminy and the MTPD as, “NHS often that “bullying can lead to many physical, Student Life & threat and the circulation of a sex tape.” consults with MTPD on issues. We have a mental, emotional and social health Web Editor Originally created as a news hub type great working relationship,” said McGee. problems. It can decrease a person’s of social media, it allowed people to post Parents have voiced their concerns self-esteem. All of these harmful effects “If you act like comments for others to see. However, Yik as well. Stanley Esposito, Langhorne could limit a person’s ability to achieve Graphic/Grace Marion an adult, we will Yak has become a center of “word vomit,” resident and parent of a Neshaminy in school, organized sports/clubs and treat you like an said Kelsey Duff, 19-year-old sophomore student, expressed his worries to his own socially with peers and family.” adult. We eat, enjoy coffee and drink in at the University of San Francisco, to children. “My first thought was to see if Students have spoken out as well. the hallway, use iPod and phones at NHS Forbes. Whether to each other (Neshaminy High School) because the Nevertheless, once word of Yik Yak or on social media, students behave like adults. Today some reached the administration of Neshaminy, many have frowned did not act like adults,” said principal they took immediate action. McGee’s first upon the anonymous Robert McGee as he addressed the thought: “What is the quickest way to postings. Christina entire student body by public address resolve a problem involving potentially Chen, junior, believes announcement on Oct. 29 regarding over 2,500 teenagers? Ask the teenagers that, “Anonymity recent abuse of a social media app. and parents to help solve it.”Teachers and grants kids more power This app, Yik Yak, allowing parents were asked via e-mail to “flag’ than they should have, anonymous posts to be seen by anyone in a posts for removal,” as two “flags” will and of course when one and a half mile radius, has become an remove the post within a few minutes. presented with power, infamous name in Neshaminy. Days before Students were asked to act responsibly and kids are gonna abuse Halloween, Neshaminy administrators remember that “today’s decisions affect it.” were notified of cyberbullying on Yik Yak. tomorrow’s opportunity.” YIK YAK - Colleges and high schools around the coun- Likewise, Quickly taking action, administration sent Neshaminy then adopted a temporary try have had their students misuse an app through its “Some people were an e-mail to parents informing them of the suspension of cell phone privileges for the quick to join because anonymity feature to make bomb threats. The app app and encouraged them to speak with next day, and saw a decline of victimizing they believed it was their children about its consequences. posts by Oct. 30. As an added precaution, has both enhanced violence and cyber bullying in the actually anonymous, Students posted offensive and Neshaminy contacted and worked with nation. Photo/ www. albany,edu when in reality it was otherwise inappropriate comments under Yik Yak to create a “geofence,” a no- not,” said junior Cole other students’ names, and the situation access zone for anyone attempting to my kids had the app. My daughter did not Tiemann. This false sense of anonymity soon escalated. Comments targeted connect to the app. have it. My son grew tired of it and lost was addressed by McGee as well, “Posts physical appearances, specific friends, After stabilizing the high school’s interest.” are not anonymous, they can be tracked and other vulnerable aspects of teenagers’ atmosphere, Neshaminy began working Mirroring McGee’s “today’s decisions with an IP [Internet Provider] Address lives.Yik Yak has recently seen an with the Middle Town Police Department affects tomorrow’s opportunities,” back to the phone, to the Service Provider uprising of negative uses of the app. The (MTPD) to investigate the initial cause Esposito “always emphasizes that their and then to the billing address of the Guardian reported that, “Myriad threats of of the inappropriate posting on Yik Yak. future could possibly ride on every post. phone.”While Neshaminy administration violence, sex crimes and hate crimes have Not uncommon is the correspondence of I tell them if they would not want their has blocked Yik Yak from the high family to see their post, don’t hit send.”He school’s campus, Esposito believes, Hazing taken to extreme fears social media apps, like Yik Yak, will, “Banning apps won’t matter to me “take over their lives. I fear that they will because there will always be another CB West: by players on football team lose their people skills. It is very important app.” He believes the issue is not the By Jess McClelland to retain communication and verbal skills. social media apps themselves, but in Student Life Editor also given new and involuntary haircuts. I’m afraid their grammar and writing skills how kids use them; teach kids how to The players returned to the picnic looking are taking a hit.”Grammar and writing responsibly use social media, not take Throughout the years, football hazing, unaffected.