1CONESTOGA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

CHARACTER COMMITMENTCOMMUNITY

Renovations to Conestoga Valley High School’s athletic stadium

are still on track to begin in the spring.

What, exactly, those renovations will be has yet to be determined—and it depends, in part, on how successful is the Buckskin Boosters’ final push in their $3.4 million capital campaign. To date, the campaign has raised just shy of $1 million.

Current plans for the facility call for renovating the bleachers, replacing the dilapidated press box and concession stand, adding storage space and installing a synthetic turf field. The CV school

board late last year authorized the district to borrow up to $3.2 million for the project.

“The Boosters’ campaign offers donors a five-year pledge period,

The extent of the stadium renovations depends, in part, on how successful are the Buckskin Boosters in thefinal push of their capital campaign.

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P U S H I N G F O R T H E G OA LBuckskin Boosters Capital Campaign Continues

> > CO N T. PAG E T WO

P 2 / TAX R E B AT E S

If you are 65 years old, widowed or disabled, you may qualify for a tax rebate from CV. Look inside to see how much you qualify to receive.

$P 5 / A N N UA L

R E P O R THow did CV fare in the state’s School Performance Profiles? Plus 2013 academic results, financial reports and district goals.

P 9 / B U D G E T O U T LO O K

Is another fiscal storm looming? See inside for CV’s projections, plus other projects the board is considering for the next school year.

P 1 0 / N E W CV L E A D E R S

Meet CV’s new director of administrative services and new school board member, plus find out the meaning behind CV’s new motto and logos.

VO L . 5 1 N O. 1 JA N UA RY 2 01 4www.ConestogaValley .org

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so financing the project was always a necessity,” CV superintendent Gerald Huesken said. “The school board needed to secure the funds now to take advantage of low interest rates and our district’s

strong credit rating.”The new

borrowing will “wrap” around CV’s existing debt level, which will drop significantly in 2019-2020, meaning the bonds can be financed without affecting future budgets or the district’s property tax rate. The campaign has already raised enough money to cover any interest

CA P I TA L CA M PA I G N

TAX R E B AT E SAre you eligible for a tax rebate?

HOMEOWNERS

INCOME REBATE

$0 - $8,000 $650

$8,001 - $15,000 $500

$15,001 - $18,000 $300

$18,001 - $35,000 $250

RENTERS

INCOME REBATE

$0 - $8,000 $650

$8,001 - $15,000 $500

> > CO N T. F R O M PAG E O N E

The new borrowing will ‘wrap’ around CV’s existing debt, meaning the bonds can be paid off without affecting future budgets or the property tax rate.

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payments in the interim.Still, campaign leaders are

urging CV supporters who have not yet contributed to the project to consider making a pledge to offset the use of taxpayer dollars for the project.

“Any additional dollars we can raise saves district resources for

use in other areas of importance,” Huesken said. “Extracurricular facilities are still the responsibility of the district and School Board to maintain. However, our Board has been very proactive in their initiatives to establish alternative revenue sources to offset a total reliance on taxpayer dollars.”

Some residents may receive up to a $650 reimbursement

for property taxes and rent paid in the previous year if they qualify.

To receive the rebate, residents must be either:

• 65 years or older;

• Widowed and 50+ years old; or

• 18 years or older and permanently disabled.

The amount of the rebate is determined by household

income up to $35,000 for district homeowners. The income limit for renters is $15,000.

This does not include 50 percent of Social Security payments and Railroad Retirement benefit payments.

If residents are eligible, they should use booklet PA-1000 to apply after Feb. 15.

Claim forms are available at www.revenue.state.pa.us

or by calling1-800-362-2050.

To date, the “Sound Mind, Sound Body, Sound Future” capital campaign has raised nearly $1 million toward the $3.4 million project.

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COMMUNITY SERVANTSCV staff members pledged $15,171 to the district’s annual United Way campaign. That total represents an increase of more than 16 percent in the district’s total giving, and it is one of the highest totals in the county. Congrats to Colleen Hovanec, Fritz principal, who coordinates the campaign.

Brownstown students placed gifts in front of a Christmas tree in the lobby of the school, which were distributed to children in crisis by the Children and Youth Agency. The tree is sponsored by the Character Education committee.

Fritz third-graders collected $367.70 in spare change for Water Street Ministries to help feed needy families over the holidays. Thanks to Giant Foods for matching what the students raised to present a check for $735.40 to WSM.

Smoketown students collected food during the holidays for the “Extreme Power Pack Program,”

which is a service of the Conestoga Valley Christian Community Service Organization.

Students in CV’s chapter of the National Art Honor Society shared a cross-generational service project with residents of Evergreen Estates Retirement Community on Saturday, Dec. 7. Members of the club created holiday ornaments out of clay and then helped residents paint them. The residents kept the ornaments for their own decorations in their room.

The CVHS Fellowship of Christian Students raised nearly $1,000 by challenging every student to donate $1 during first block on Dec. 20 to help victims of the Philippines typhoon.

IN THE SPOTLIGHTCommendations to seniors Thomas

Fowler and Naomi Hess for being named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. They are among the top 1 percent of our nation’s seniors and among only 13 semifinalists from Lancaster County. Four CV seniors were also commended students by the National Merit Corporation: Rachel Ashmore, Patrick Martin,

Melissa Nielsen, and Joseph Reed.

Commendations to Catie McClain and Brooke Mead for placing with the All-National Honor Ensembles in Band and Orchestra,

respectively, in

Nashville last month as sponsored by the National Association for Music Education.

Congrats to CVMS, which this year became the first middle school certified by the Olweus anti-bullying program.

EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEESCongratulations to CVHS art teacher John Myers, who received a second place award in a national juried art exhibition at Susquehanna University.

Commendations to Brownstown principal Andrew Graybill and CVHS assistant principal Dan Sahd for both successfully defending their dissertations to earn a doctoral degree through Immaculata University.

LEARNING HIGHLIGHTSThe Shippensburg University Brass Ensemble visited CVHS on Nov. 8 and performed for the CVHS

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> > CO N T. PAG E F O U R

Members of CV’s National Honor Society raised more than $6,000 to take 48 elementary students on a shopping trip to purchase gifts for family members. After the trip, the students enjoyed a pizza party, courtesy of Pasquale’s, and a visit from Santa. Congrats to NHS for their hard work on this worthy fundraiser!

Boys soccer team captain Nate Delgado, right, was named Pennsylvania State Player of the Year by the PA Soccer Coaches Association after leading the Buckskins to the school’s first-ever District 3 soccer championship and an appearance in the state title game. Delgado set single-season and career records for goals scored. His coach, David Hartlaub, was named PIAA Class AAA Coach of the Year.

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> > CO N T. F R O M PAG E T H R E E The CV girls volleyball team finished an outstanding season with a 12-4 record, good for third place in Section 1 and a berth in the District 3 playoffs.

Commendations to the inductees into our CV Athletic Hall of Fame for 2013: Lloyd Greiner (Active 1962-1998), Shelby Weaver

Wagner (Class of ‘92), Lauren Mable Bewley (‘02), Katie Ranck Byler (‘01), and Daniel Chow (‘01).

Weaver Sportsmanship Award from the officials chapter of the L-L League.

The CV girls soccer team captured its second consecutive Section I title, and finished the year with a 17-4 record and a #2 seed in the District 3 tournament.

concert band as part of their Eastern PA tour.

Dr. Bradley Genevro, coordinator for the masters in wind conducting program and director of the wind ensemble at Messiah College, conducted clinics with CV High School students in November.

Ceramic artist Cathleen Repholz spoke with Fritz fourth-graders about a career in pottery.

Brownstown Elementary held a “Marvelous Manners” luncheon in December to stress the importance of manners and meaningful conversation. The cafeteria was decorated with table linens and student-made centerpieces and enhanced by live violin. Many students wore suits and dresses to the occasion.

News 8 meteorologist Dr. John Scala conducted meteorology demonstrations on Nov. 5 for CVMS 8 Blue students as part of their meteorology unit. The students also met with students studying meteorology at Millersville University.

CVHS biology students and teacher James Hovan are in the process of hatching and caring for 380 brook trout as part of the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s “Trout in the Classroom” program. By early spring, Hovan will release 50-125 trout fry into the waters of Hammer Creek in northern Lancaster County.

ATHLETICS ROUND-UPCommendations of the CV football team, which received the Lamar

CV Middle School student council leaders, below, celebrated raising $9,667.11 in the school's second annual Mini-THON fundraiser, nearly doubling the school’s goal of $5,000. Mini-THON benefits the Four Diamonds Fund, which assists families with children battling cancer, supports the medical team at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and funds pediatric cancer research.

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SCHOOL DISTRICT

A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 01 3

Academic Achievement, Growth Remain Strong

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILE SCORES

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%93.6

76.085.1 88.5 88.5

96.4

LeolaFritzBT ST CVMS CVHS

Read

MathPA Avg.

PA Avg.

Conestoga Valley School District uses

data from Pennsylvania’s School Performance

Profile (PA SPP) as part of regular, comprehensive evaluations of the academic performances of each of its schools. While schools previously received a No Child Left Behind designation known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), all Pennsylvania public schools will now receive a performance score.

The PA School Performance Profile provides a building-level score for all schools in the commonwealth. It gives parents a measure to compare their child’s school with neighboring schools, informs teacher evaluations and encourages best practices.

Acting state education secretary Carolyn Dumaresq said a score of 70 “starts to be the mark of moving toward success.”

The score for a school is based upon indicators that define a high performing school. Many data elements contribute to the score (see page 6).

ADVANCED

Satisfactory academic performance; solid understanding and adequate display of skills

Superior academic performance; in-depth understanding and exemplary display of skills

BASIC

PROFICIENT BELOW BASICInadequate academic performance; little understanding and minimal display of skills.

Marginal academic performance; partial understanding and limited display of skills

Reading Math

4 3 %

3 4 %

1 4 %1 0 %

5 8 %

2 9 %

9 %4 %

PSSA PERFORMANCE LEVELS (GRADES 3-8)

In addition to proficiency, CV tracks the percentage of students who score advanced, basic and below basic on statereading and math tests. A plurality of CV students are advanced, including nearly two-thirds of all students in math.

All Conestoga Valley schools posted scores the PA Dept. of Education calls ‘moving toward success.’

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”Brownstown Elementary

posted the highest score of any school in Lancaster County, and

J.E. Fritz Elementary was also among the county’s top scoring schools.

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ACADEMIC GROWTH - MATH (GR. 3 -8)

Average Growth Index (Across Grades)

% P

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Ad

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ced Leola ST

Fritz

BTCVMS

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100%

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20%

60%

70%

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40%

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10%

0 8 10 12 14 16642-16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2

ACADEMIC GROWTH - READING (GR. 3 -8)

Leola

ST

Fritz

BTCVMS

Average Growth Index (Across Grades)

% P

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0 8 10 12 14 16642-16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2

G E T T I N G R E S U LTSCommitment to Each Student’s Academic Growth

RIGHT: CV has long been committed to each student’s individual growth, more so than overall aggregate scores. Data from the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS) measures student academic growth from year to year. On the graphs to the right, CV schools are plotted above the aggregate results for all PA schools.

CV students are showing both high achievement (vertical axis) and even higher growth rates (horizontal axis).

ADVANCED

BASIC

PROFICIENT

BELOW BASIC

2013 KEYSTONE EXAM RESULTS (CVHS)High school students no longer take the PSSA Exams. They are now evaluated on end-of-course Keystone Exams, which are given as finals in Literature, Algebra I and Biology. These scores count for CVHS’s SPP score.

Literature

1 7 %

7 0 %

1 1 %2 %

Algebra I

3 2 % 4 4 %

2 1 %4 %

Biology

3 1 %

3 6 %

1 9 %

1 4 %

How are PA schools graded?CRITERIA DATA

Academic Achievement

(40%)

Student scores in math, reading,

science and writing

Closing the Achievement Gap

(10%)

Progress toward full proficiency among

all students and low-performing groups.

Academic Growth (40%)

PVAAS results (below) for % of students making

academic growth.

Other Indicators (10%)

Including graduation and attendance rates, AP courses and PSAT

participation.

Extra Credit(up to 7%)

For advanced scores on PSSA/Keystone

Exams and 3 or higher on AP exams.

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O U R F I N A N C E S

Instruction ................... $35,373,811Pupil Services ...............$4,978,008

Transportation &Support Services ............ $3,865,438

Student Activities ................. $998,889Other .................................... $113,681

Debt Service .................$7,321,784Plant Operations ............$4,225,537Administration ..............$2,363,280

2012-2013 Total ....$54,262,420

Real Estate Tax ............ $36,786,185State Subsidies ..............$9,239,355Other Taxes & Revenue ..$4,978,008

Amusement Tax ................... $348,836Occupational Priv. Tax .......... $234,704Per Capita Tax ..................... $191,903Other Revenues ................ $3,042,144

Wage Tax ......................$3,936,701Federal Subsidies ..........$2,034,840

2012-2013 Total ....$55,814,667

Responsible Investment in Strong SchoolsEXPENSES

OperationsAdministration

Instruction

Debt Service

Pupil Services

REVENUES

Wage TaxFederal Subsides

Other

StateSubsidies

Real EstateTax

BUDGET FAST FACTS

Per Pupil Expenditure ........$13,344

2012-2013 TuitionElementary ....................$8,307.61Secondary .....................$8,491.47

Avg. Class Size (K-2) .................. 19Avg. Class Size (3-12) ................ 21

New Teacher Salary ............$44,000Avg. Teacher Salary ........... $59,794

State Subsidy Percent ..............18%

Millage Rate ........................ 14.528 vs. County Average .......... 18.8369

One Mill Generates ..... $2.6 million

Avg. Single-Family Home ..$166,341 Mill Costs Homeowner .......$166.34

Act 1 Index 2014-15 ............... 2.1%

O U R CO M M U N I T YDiverse Students, Experienced Teachers

CONESTOGA VALLEY EMPLOYEES STUDENT DIVERSITYDistrict Area ...... 56 Square Miles Total ...................................... 571 Caucasian ........................ 68.6%

Population ........................ 31,804 Teachers ............................... 321 Hispanic ........................... 15.5%

Administrators ....................... 18 African-American ............... 7.1%

STUDENTS Subject Area Supervisors ......... 7 Asian .................................. 5.1%

District ............................... 4,354 Support Staff .......................... 245 Other (incl. multi-racial) ..... 3.7%

High School ........................ 1,382 Native Languages in CV ....... 40+

Middle School ...................... 690 TEACHING EXPERIENCE Students Enrolled in ESL ...... 190

Brownstown .......................... 483 Avg. Years Teaching .............. 14.3 (direct-instructed and monitored)

J. E. Fritz ............................... 659 One Year Experience ......... 4.4%

Leola .................................... 452 20+ Years Experience ...... 28.7% GRADUATESSmoketown ........................... 688 Master’s Degree ............... 68.2% Number of 2013 Graduates .. 319

4-year College ............... 38.3%

TECHNOLOGY STUDENT/TEACHER 2-year College ............... 26.3%

Student:Computer Ratio ........ 4:3 Avg. Class Size Grades K-2 ..... 19 Missions or Military ......... 2.4%

HS Wi-Fi Internet .... 600MB/room Avg. Class Size Grades 3-12 ... 21 Entering Workforce ....... 31.4%

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STRATEGIC

FOCUS AREAS

PRACTICESManagementImproving Student

LEARNING

• The district will implement and meet the requirements of the Keystones to Opportunity Grant (KtO) with midyear and year-end reports to the School Board in the following areas:

• Building-level literacy plans

• Student transition plans

• Budget plan for staffing needs

• The district will institute two new initiatives to help foster a learn-ing environment for students, staff, and parents that encourage all post-secondary pathways and flexible career choices by June 2014.

• The district will initiate two new options for advanced learn-ing by June 2014, such as early graduation, testing out options, online learning, etc. TECHNOLOGY

Using Modern

• The district will implement the 1:1 technology initiative at the high school with midyear and year-end reports to the School Board.

• The district will institute PA-ETEP (Pennsylvania Electronic Teacher Evaluation Portal) to coordinate a successful implementation of the new teacher evaluation system mandated by the state with a report of progress to the Board by January 2014.

• The district will launch two new initiatives to enhance two-way parent communications and pro-gramming, especially through the use of technology, by June 2014.

• The district will investigate and provide options to the School Board by January 2014 for an operational audit to improve organizational practices.

• The district will inaugurate at least two new initiatives to ex-pand district connections with our stakeholders in the business community by June 2014.

• The district will support efforts to broaden the community phase of the capital campaign as a new alternative revenue source to help support improvements in the stadium complex by June 2014.

PARTNERSHIPSBuilding Community

• The district will sponsor at least one new community-wide event that will be open to multiple school buildings and their stake-holders by June 2014.

• The district will continue its collaboration with local school districts in order to launch open campus options for students by June 2014.

• The district will finalize a plan to establish community-based providers of Pre-K programming by January 2014.

• Preparation for the Common Core Standards and Keystone Exams

• Data analysis to drive curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development

• Formal implementation of the CV Instructional Framework (CIA) into lesson planning and curriculum writing

• Response to Intervention and Instruction (RtII) at all levels

• Continued support of the ISTE standards for staff and students

• School-wide positive behavior programs, including character education and bullying prevention

• Learning opportunities (especially online options) beyond the regular classroom

• Subgroup achievement growth

• Dependable connectivity to support mobile technology initiatives in all schools

• Cost-saving energy initiatives

IN IT IATIVESLong-Term

O U R G OA L S

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The exploding cost of employee health

insurance could cost the average Conestoga Valley homeowner hundreds of

dollars annually if no changes are made to the district’s current plan, according to the district’s director of administrative affairs.

Healthcare is one of several challenges the CV school board is

facing as it works on a proposed preliminary budget for the 2014-2015 school year.

According to projections, the district’s health insurance costs will almost double from $3.76 million in 2011-2012 to nearly $6.5 million in 2018-2019. For next school year, health costs are projected to be 15 percent, or $750,000 higher than the current year.

H E A LT H CA R E LO O M S L A R G E

Growing share of CVSD budget

STRATEGIC

FOCUS AREAS

By 2019, the projected cost of employee health benefits will average nearly $1,200 for every single-family homeowner—growing every year.

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BUDGET UPDATECVSD FACING $500,000 IN LOST REVENUE

Ten business have appealed to have their property assessments lowered, the results of which could further reduce the district’s revenues by nearly a half-million dollars. These losses are permanent —no future action by the board can reverse them.

PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS APPROACH $6 MILLION

Employee and employer contributions to the state pension system, PSERS, are out of the board’s control. The state Legislature has set those contributions at 7.5 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively. This will cost CV taxpayers nearly $6 million in 2014-2015.

NEW STAFFING REQUESTSThe school board is considering several new staff requests for next year, including full-day kindergarten teachers and technicians to enhance CV’s web and network infrastructure.

STRONG TRACK RECORDThe CV school board has a long history of prudent fiscal management. The board’s budget for 2013-2014 came to $57.9 million and included a tax increase of just $40 per average homeowner. The district’s Act 1 index limits tax increases in 2014-2015 to 2.1 percent.

CAPITAL PROJECTSIn addition to the stadium project, the board is considering additional technology upgrades, new science equipment, a new HVAC system at Smoketown, new Rill Gym bleachers and new band uniforms.

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CommunityBULLETIN BOARD

NEW LEADERS, LOGOS AT CVDistrict selects “Character. Community.Commitment.” as motto

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The design of Buckskin News is not the only new

thing about Conestoga Valley in 2013-2014.

The district welcomed a new director of administrative services in August and welcomes a new director to the school board following the November election.

The school board also approved a new district motto: “Character. Community. Commitment.” In conjunction with the motto, the board approved a new district seal and associated school district logos, including new logos for CV’s athletic teams.

PHYLLIS HEVERLY FLESHER

As director of administrative services, Phyllis Heverly Flesher provides strategic leadership in CV’s budgeting process, finance, policy, human resources, food service, operations and maintenance, transportation, security, records management and enrollment projections.

She was previously the assistant director of

business

affairs at Cornwall-Lebanon School District in Lebanon County and a senior managing consultant at Public Financial Management.

Heverly Flesher holds a master’s in public administration from Penn State.

MICHAEL TALLEY

Elected to the board in 2013, Michael Talley is a Procurement Manager for GlaxoSmithKline in Marietta. He was a Naval Officer for six years and holds a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and an MBA from Clarkson University. He and his wife have three children.

NEW LOGOS

The new CV seal represents the mission, vision and foundations

of the school district. The three tenets of the motto are represented by three stars.

The new district logo is a modern, clear textual and graphic representation of the school district. It features a bold “CV” and a star rising above the “V” to represent

the district’s motto as areas of excellence and

inspiration for all.

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CommunityBULLETIN BOARD

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717-207-7946w w w . o n e h o u r a i r l a n c a s t e r . c o m

24/7 Emergency Service

“Steve A. did a great job yesterday. This is a new service for me and his work has given me great piece of mind for a winter with reliable

heating I can count on.” - Myrna L.

CLICK

SAVE

$75TO

SENIOR GOLD CARDS

Senior Citizen Gold Cards

are available for residents

over 62 who want to attend

CV sponsored activities, such

as sports, concerts, etc., at

no charge. Due to demand

and increasing costs, free

admission to drama department

productions will be on Gold

Card Nights only.Seniors will also be invited

to a complimentary holiday

breakfast at the high school in

December. To sign up, contact

Denise Martin at 399-1545.

LANCASTER DOLLARS FOR HIGHER LEARNING

Applications are now available for interest-free loans from the Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learnings program. Loans are available to Lancaster County residents with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing post-secondary education.

Applications are encouraged from non-traditional students, home-school students graduating in 2014, as well as from Lancaster County high school seniors.

Visit www.lancdollars.org.

CVSD CENSUS FORMS

The school district census

will be mailed in late February.

If your household does not

receive a census form by March

15, please contact Denise Martin

in the district office at 399-1545.

Thank you for your

cooperation in this state-

mandated census.

CAMP INVENTION 2014: EARLY BIRD SPECIALCamp Invention 2014 will be held July 14-18 at the Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13. Register before March 28 and save $25!

Camp invention is a nationally-recognized elementary enrichment program. For more, visitwww.CampInvention.org.

WANTED: CV ALUMNI

Recognize outstanding

alums! Nominate accomplished

alumni to be recognized as CV

Distinguished Alumni or to be

featured in the 2014-2015 school

calendar.For nomination forms, contact

Adam Aurand at 397-2421, x1007

or download online at:

www.cvsd.k12.pa.us/alumni

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CONESTOGA VALLEY SCHOOL BOARDJohn R. Smucker, PresidentMerle Esh, Vice PresidentTodd D. Shertzer, TreasurerCraig Esbenshade, SecretaryIdette B. GroffCharles R. MainesDaryl StoltzfusMichael G. TalleyElizabeth Ulrich

Dr. Gerald G. Huesken, Superintendent

The board generally meets the third Monday of every month in the Lloyd S. Greiner Board Room at the Harry W. Wirth Administration Center.

QUESTIONS?Contact Adam M. Aurand, Editor717-397-2421 ext. 1007Adam_Aurand@cvsd.k12.pa.us

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDLancaster, Pa.Permit No. 957

SCHOOL DISTRICT

2110 Horseshoe Road • Lancaster, PA 17601

Nothing is learned at an empty desk.

Find YOUR seat at Conestoga Valley’s annual community forums.

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m.@ J.E. Fritz Elementary

2014-15 Budget Report

These programs are for CV parents, taxpayers, students, and staff.

SCHOOL DISTRICT