2 Longtime Bensalem School Directors Honored

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Two longtime Bensalem Township School Directors are among those being honored across the state at local school board meetings for their years of service.

At Tuesday's Bensalem Township School Board meeting, Directors Marc Cohen and Heather D. Nicholas were honored for service from eight years to 36 years.

Nicholas, who was honored for 16 years of service, was presented with a certificate adding her to the PSBA “Honor Roll of School Board Service.” The same went for Cohen, who has served on the school board for eight years.

Both are running for re-election in the Nov. 7 general election.

School officials said that Nicholas has a strong belief in the value of public schools and local control of public education for the benefit of all students. She gives unselfishly of her time and talents for the betterment of Bensalem schools.

Nicholas has served as a PSBA Representative to the Federal Relations Network. She has also
served on the following committees: Bensalem Education Foundation (BEF), assisting in BEF's founding as a board member representative; Charter School; Instructional Affairs; Business; Technology; Facilities; Board Policy; Bucks County Technical High School Joint Board; and the Just for the Kids Education Foundation.

"Mrs. Nicholas has been a tireless advocate for the students of Bensalem," Schools Superintendent Samuel Lee said. "Her 16 years of service on the Bensalem Township School Board has seen the introduction of full-day kindergarten, Pre-K Counts, a massive renovation of our High School combined with expansion of program options including district-wide STEM, a career pathways model with the Bensalem High School Class of 2023 earning 235 micro-credentials, Dual Enrollment, One to One technology for students, sound and effective district governance during the pandemic, and the district’s return to budgetary structural balance."

The superintendent said that Nicholas has kept taxes well below the Act I index and increased our senior citizen’s tax rebate.

Under her leadership, the district maintains effective staffing levels in both transportation and health services in the midst of a severely challenged market.

Additionally, Bensalem was named Best Community for Music Education for the past four years and the Bensalem High School Marine Corps JROTC was recognized as a Naval Honor School for the third consecutive year. Nicholas was on the negotiating team for several collective bargaining agreements as well, Lee said.

"To know Heather Nicholas is to have a first-hand account of dedication, hard work, and positive values," School Board President Eric Price said. "All things necessary for keeping Bensalem a great place to live and raise a family, and she has proven year after year to be a key player in that strive."

Price said Nicholas was part of the negotiating team that helped reach an agreement on the teachers’ contract during an early-bird negotiation, the first in Bensalem school history.

During her time, she has served as President, Vice President, and Chairperson of the Instructional Affairs Committee.

"Heather has been a great mentor, friend, and colleague to me during my tenure on the Board and I look forward to continuing to learn from her invaluable experiences," Price said. "She is an incredible educator herself and understands what makes a school system a winning ecosystem. For dedicating 16 years to this School District, our children, township, and our community, all-volunteer, might I add, we are extremely grateful."

School officials said Cohen gives unselfishly of his time, energy, and talents to support and guide our students and staff for the betterment of the schools. He enjoys working with many student groups, including Bensalem High School Community Service Club, Multi-Cultural Club, and the Tennis team. His efforts, along with those of his fellow board colleagues reflect the district's mission to provide opportunities for all students to succeed.

Cohen serves or has served on the following committees: Business; Budget; Technology; Facilities; Personnel; Wellness; Bensalem Drug & Alcohol Advisory Committee; Bensalem Township Council Board Liaison; Bensalem Education Foundation; and Just for the Kids Education Foundation.

He also serves as treasurer of the Bensalem Education Foundation. Cohen is actively involved with Bensalem High School’s Community Service Club.

"We are immensely grateful for Marc Cohen’s unwavering dedication and tireless commitment to our school district over the past eight years," Lee said. "He has been a steadfast advocate for our students and a driving force behind our educational initiatives. His leadership, vision, and deep passion for public education have been instrumental in shaping the future of our schools. Mr. Cohen is a founding member and treasurer of the Bensalem Education Foundation and an active member in the Bensalem Rotary. As superintendent, I can confidently say that Marc has played a pivotal role in advancing our mission of providing the highest quality education for all students."

"Marc is one of a kind in Bensalem and a great and caring human being. During his time as School Board Director, he has served on numerous committees and as Chairperson of the Personnel Committee," Price said. "Marc is highly dedicated and understands what makes a school system a winning ecosystem. For Marc’s dedication of years to this School District, our children, township and our community, all-volunteer, might I add, we are extremely grateful."