Superintendent PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • NOVEMBER 2020 Across the DISTRICT RESOURCES GRANT AWARDED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION MOODY’S ASSIGNS Aa2 RATING Special Education Director, Regina Rausch, received TO PENNSBURY word recently from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that Pennsbury was approved as a Prior to the Board-approved recipient of the Special Education Performance bond refinancing that occurred Grant, Resources for Universal Design for Learning recently to conserve District (UDL) Implementation, in the amount of $2,000 for the funds, Pennsbury received word that Moody’s 2020-2021 school year. UDL helps give all students Investors Service had released an Aa2 credit rating for an equal opportunity to succeed, removing any the School District. Long term financial planning was barriers to learning. Everyday examples of UDL are listed specifically as a credit strength. automatic doors, closed captioning, and accessibility features on smartphones or other forms of media. “This news is most welcomed but not surprising, given the hard work of our Business Administrator, “I want to thank teacher Katie Veneziale and Dr. Christopher Berdnik, his Business Department, Cherrissa Gibson, who have committed to working District leadership, and the Board of School on this project with me,” said Ms. Rausch. “As Directors who have been committed to managing we continue to examine equity across the School finances well,” said Superintendent Dr. William District, the principles of Universal Design for J. Gretzula. “In the face of a pandemic, this report Learning will lend tools to guide our work, ensuring is certainly celebrated as it reflects the continuous equal access for all learners.” attention given to improving and maintaining the School District’s financial position. I hope that our DISTRICT TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL community stakeholders share in our pride.” HEALTH & SAFETY GRANT FUNDS “The credit rating reflects the District’s sizeable The School Safety and and growing taxable base, strong wealth and income Security Committee within levels, and healthy liquidity,” said Mr. Berdnik. the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) approved the The bond refinancing, which took place late last release of $49.8 million to address additional month, is expected to save the District upwards of COVID-19-related health and safety needs for $1.5 million in debt service over the next few budget school districts across the Commonwealth. As a cycles. The District will simultaneously issue $3 result, Pennsbury was notified that there is now million in new bonds to support capital projects, the opportunity to apply for as much as $296,716 including a partial roof replacement at Pennsbury of that funding to support the purchase of cleaning High School West. www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA • NOVEMBER 2020 1 District highlights report and sanitizing products, training and professional development of staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases, equipment purchases, modifying existing areas to support appropriate social distancing of students and staff, providing mental health services and supports, purchasing educational technology for distance learning, and other health and safety programs, items, or services necessary to address the COVID-19 emergency. This will be the second substantial grant from the PCCD offered to Pennsbury this year. 2020 PARTNERS OF THE YEAR HONORED For the 21st consecutive year, the Pennsbury Pennsbury Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula (left) presented Partners Program celebrated a Non-Profit Partner of the 2020 Pennsbury Business Partner of the Year Award to Waste the Year and a Business Partner of the Year. Management - Fairless Complex’s Senior District Manager, Bob Jones, along with Kristy Loteckie, Community Relations Specialist, Ordinarily, the Partners Program hosts a festive, and Judy Archibald, Director of Public Affairs (now retired). spring celebration to pay tribute to the Partners of the Year, with 150+ community partners, local (newly-retired), and Kristy Loteckie, Community elected officials, and staff members gathered at a Relations Specialist. reception in the cafetorium at William Penn Middle School. This year that was not possible due to the “Waste Management was the very first Pennsbury COVID-19 school closure. When it became clear that Partner when the program began 25 years ago,” said the District would not be able to host such an event Ms. Langtry. “Today, they are valued more than on a delayed basis in the fall, the decision was made ever as an active Partner.” Examples of the ways that to honor the winners with small, in-person award Waste Management has worked in partnership with presentations at their places of business. the School District over the years include: • Free trash and recycling services - worth $110,000 The recipients of the outstanding partnership per year awards for the 2019-2020 school year included: • Donations to the Pennsbury Partners Program - • Waste Management – Fairless Complex: nearly $12,000 to date Business Partner of the Year, and • Donations to the Pennsbury Education • The Salvation Army – Levittown Corps: Foundation - nearly $2.2 million to date Non-Profit Partner of the Year • Student scholarships (five per year) - $60,000 to The Waste Management award presentation date was made by Pennsbury Superintendent, Dr. • Environmental grants to support teaching & William Gretzula, and Ann Langtry, Supervisor learning - $80,000 to date of Communication Strategies, who oversees “In addition to this extraordinary support for our the Partners Program with assistant, Dena District, our students, and for innovative faculty . Accepting the award on behalf of Waste Seiple initiatives, Waste Management is now working with Management were Bob Jones, Senior District us in the early stages of developing a comprehensive Manager, Judy Archibald, Director of Public Affairs recycling effort that will encompass all of our 2 NOVEMBER 2020 • PENNSBURY SCHOOL DISTRICT • FALLSINGTON, PA www.pennsburysd.org District highlights report buildings,” added Ms. Langtry. “We hope to share The recognition is mutual: at its annual more information about this as it unfolds.” appreciation brunch held in early 2019, The Salvation Army – Levittown Corps recognized The Salvation Army – Levittown Corps the Pennsbury School District for its exemplary presentation was made by School Director Gary community service and participation in the Sanderson, Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula, organization’s programs. “Teachers, students, and and Ms. Langtry. Accepting the award were The parents have come alongside The Salvation Army to Salvation Army – Levittown Corps Commanding provide much-needed support for the disadvantaged Officer Captain David Kelly and Community in Bucks County,” the group shared in its press Relations & Development Director Adela Davis. release. “Afton, Edgewood, Eleanor Roosevelt, Fallsington, Makefield, Manor, Penn Valley, “The Salvation Army – Levittown Corps offers Oxford Valley, and Quarry Hill elementary schools, extensive opportunities for our students to give back as well as Pennsbury High School and the Bucks to the community as well as develop leadership and County Technical High School have participated organizational skills,” said Ms. Langtry. Students at in bell-ringing during Red Kettle season. Charles every grade level and their families are invited to Boehm, William Penn, and Pennwood middle participate in the Red Kettle campaign at multiple schools have hosted toy drives.” Funds raised during locations throughout the area. At the high school each of the Red Kettle seasons helps to provide food level, there is a great deal of support demonstrated for hundreds of local families, distribute toys to each holiday season by students, families, faculty, over 1,000 children, and share items of clothing with and staff for the Salvation Army stockings and Little those in need in Bucks County. Angel gift initiatives. The Pennsbury High School Air Force JROTC unit has also stepped up as a To raise funds in support of the Pennsbury group to support the organization, in addition to the Partners Mini-Grant Program for District faculty, Salt and Light Club. Partners are invited to donate funds each year at tiered levels of sponsorship. The 2020 Platinum Sponsors included Waste Management, ShopRite of Yardley, KidsCare of Pennsbury, and D’Huy Engineering, Inc. Gold sponsors were the Pennsbury Education Association and Rudolph Clarke, LLC. Silver sponsors included McCaffrey’s Supermarkets and Wells Fargo Bank. Bronze sponsors were Fraytak, Veisz, Hopkins and Duthie, P.C., VFW Post 6393, Penn Community Bank, and Levittown-Fairless Hills Rotary. River Signs LLC provided the etched glass awards for both 2020 Partners of the Year. “We are extremely grateful for all of our generous donors this year,” said Ms. Langtry. Over the last two decades, the Pennsbury Partners Program has grown to be a highly successful, (L-R) Pennsbury Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula, Pennsbury School Director Gary Sanderson, The Salvation Army - Levittown collaborative effort involving over 1,000 partners in Corps Commanding Officer Captain David Kelly, and The Salvation the Pennsbury community. For more information Army - Levittown Corps Community Relations & Development about the program, visit this link. Director Adela Davis celebrated the 2020 Pennsbury Non-Profit Partner of the Year Award. www.pennsburysd.org PENNSBURY SCHOOL