Merging Schools
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Merging Baldwin-Whitehall with Brentwood is the current topic of these two school boards.
Kevin Fischer of Baldwin-Whitehall school board suggest a meeting with Brentwood officials. To learn more about this go to the South Hills Record.
Do you have a strong opinion about merging the two districts? Add your own comments below.
- Kelly Ann's blog
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As I said,,,,merger is best for the kids and the community,,,,dont wait, do it before it is too late.
thinking again,,,,BHS still a good school district.....we dont need the problems Baldwin having now with NEW kids....
I am a product of the Baldwin-Whitehall school system. I have two kids and live in Brentwood now. We decided to move to Brentwood specifically because the school district was a lot smaller. If you like a big district that is fine with me; just move to one don't and bring it to Brentwood.
The issues I encountered when attending BHS from 91 - 95 were:
-getting lost in the crowd (probably less likely in Brentwood)
-dealing with inner city type behavior from some of the residents of the Knolls and Prospect Park (probably less likely in Brentwood)
-high availability of drugs of all types (happens anywhere)
The reason we chose to stay in Brentwood when purchasing our new home was due to the smaller school. We have two young children and want them to have the benefits of education in a smaller school district. More one on one, being and individual instead of a number, stronger community values. I am not sure what we will do come school age if the merge takes place. The answer to lower taxes isn't merging the schools.
I live in Brentwood and I think it would be best to merge the school districts. I think it is ridiculous for a town this small to have 2 elementary schools and a highschool. I believe that to curb this horrible taxing by our local gov. we need to merge schools.
Brentwood may be a decent school, I don't know I don't have kids. But I don't think quality would drop off by moving everyone in the area to a BBW school. If you want a small school move to the rural areas around Western PA.
BIG BIG BIG mistake to merge these schools districts! Yes taxes are sky high in Brentwood but what everyone is forgetting is that BW is building their own "tax hiker" right now! The taxes in Brentwood may go down a little if the schools merge but not by much in the end. Why uproot all these kids that are used to a small school and knowing every student in their class to dealing with types of children coming out of the Green Meadows, Prospect Park and 600 other students! Not to mention all the BW students that will black ball the Brentwood students quicker than you can say boo!!!!!!!! I don't agree with it and those people that live in Brentwood better get up off their behinds and do something about it before it is too late!!!!!!!
Keep the Brentwood School District. just lower all salaries, by 25 percent.......no problem with the budget then,,,,from the Superintendent on down.....and I bet you would not lose more than 5 teachers.....why, there are no jobs in the area....salaries too high.....very simple.
If they do find a job....its down south,,,,where salaries are as much as 50 percent lower....so why leave BHS and pay to relocate for even less money.
I agree totally to lower the salaries of these teachers to lower these taxes! It is ridiculous how much money they make. I understand they are teaching the next generation which is a difficult job however, they only work 9 months out of the year! According to my calculations, a teacher making $60,000 makes roughly $42 an hour! $42 AN HOUR!!! Out of 52 wks in a year they work about 36 weeks due to scheduled holidays off! I know it takes time to plan for classes, grade papers and such BUT they do not work a normal 8 hour day either and HAVE THE WHOLE SUMMER OFF! I am so tired of hearing these teachers cry about benefits and such! There are people out there that don't have benefits or are paying 100% for them and these teachers have the right to complain!? I think not, but these school districts are letting it happen! These teachers need to get out into the real world and face reality that they gave cake jobs! Those teachers that are teaching in the difficult areas are the ones that should be making more money, they are putting their lives at risk but Brentwood is not a difficult area. NOT yet at least but that is a whole other issue.
Such a huge portion of the Brentwood School District budget is wrapped up in the cost of health care benefits. I would like to see new contracts for all district employees (teachers, administrators, and all other personnel - maintenance etc) which require a greater participation by the employees in the cost of their benefits. And I don't mean $50 per month! Health insurance costs need to be shared by employer and employee to the tune of 60 - 40 or something similar. The industry average employee's share of health benefits for a family plan is approaching $300 per month. Somewhat less for a single person. I believe in paying our professionals well - but they MUST bear more of the cost of health care insurance - or the district WILL GO UNDER. Duquesne is gone - Brentwood IS NEXT in line!