Pennsbury-Morrisville School Merger Options Dismissed By Residents

FALLSINGTON, PA —Residents and parents in the Pennsbury School District heard a presentation Tuesday night regarding a potential merger with the Morrisville school system. And they weren't thrilled with the options.

After a 45-minute presentation by Public Financial Management on the Pennsbury-Morrisville Merger Feasibility Study, residents stepped before the podium to address the school board, stating that they don't believe any of the three scenarios presented would benefit Pennsbury.

"I don't see any reason for this to turn out well. What's the value to Pennsbury homeowners, taxpayers, and kids?" said Barry Summers, a 20-year resident who had two children graduate from the school district.

Philadelphia-based PFM Group Consulting LLC outlined the highlights of the 161-page report in an overview in the Pennsbury High School East Auditorium Tuesday night. The presentation was also live-streamed on the district's website.

PFM's Dean Kaplan presented the scenarios, which included:

• A merger scenario where all Morrisville students are educated by the Pennsbury School District.
• A tuition scenario where Morrisville sends its students in grades 3-12 to Pennsbury’s schools.
• A tuition scenario where Morrisville sends its students in grades 6-12 to Pennsbury’s schools.

The 161-page report is available on the Pennsbury school district website.

Under each scenario, projections over the next decade were offered regarding real estate taxes, financial solvency, transportation, employment, redistricting, busing, and even the size of the school board.

Any merger or tuition agreement would not begin prior to the 2024-25 school year, providing substantial time for preparation and transition, the study suggests.

Kaplan added that there are other alternatives outlined in the report if the school district decides that the options aren't worth pursuing. He said those alternatives might allow Pennsbury to provide school services to Morrisville that are cheaper.

The school board did not make a decision regarding the study at the meeting.

Schools Superintendent Thomas E. Smith said a FAQ page would be put on the district's website to answer questions.

More than 10 Pennsbury district residents spoke at the meeting, most of them living in Lower Makefield Township.

Tim Daly wondered whether he and his wife would be able to remain in their Lower Makefield Township home if the merger plan was adopted.

"Very little ends up positive for Pennsbury while Morrisville makes a killing," Daly said. "In short, the report is a mess. And there is very little to believe in it."

Daly said that a family of four in Lower Makefield would wind up paying $1,460 more in taxes on top of a $6,600 tax bill if the measure gets the nod. He said the costs would be $700 more in taxes for residents of Yardley, Falls Township, and Tullytown, who all foot a $3,200 school tax tab.

"I'm heading into my final 10 years of personal earnings," Daly said. "Retirement is drawing near. If my wife and I want to stay here in the home where we made memories raising our children, we'd have to pay an additional $300,000 to maintain those memories. This is an awful excuse of a document."

Allyn Barth questioned the assumptions outlined in the report and also the length of the document.

"It's a challenge for the local taxpayer to understand," she said. "We're taking on a lot of assumptions, but we need some certainties if we're going to move forward with this with clarity."

Robert Abrams of Lower Makefield Township said the report only benefits the Morrisville School District.

"This is a meeting of how to relieve Morrisville's tax burden and get Pennsbury to pay their debt. You people (school board) are being played for as suckers," Abrams said to a round of applause.

Three speakers —Alison Smith, Sandra Kolander, and Mike Combs, called for a referendum before voters in November.

"Once we go forward, it's very difficult to go back," Combs said. "Everybody should have the opportunity to vote on this. If we can do this as a community, I think we have to be on sure footing. If we do this together, then it has a chance."

Few spoke in favor of the options, except for a student from Morrisville who briefly addressed the school board.

"I excel at math and reading and want to go to Pennsbury," the fifth-grader said because it would further his education.

School board member Lois Lambing thanked the public for attending the special meeting.

"Thank you for coming out and sharing your feelings and views," she said.