Pennsbury Seeks State Input On Merger Options

FALLSINGTON, PA —The Pennsbury School District has reached out to the state to see how it would be involved in any merger agreement with Morrisville, school officials said.

A little more than a month ago, the school district held a public hearing in which three options with the Morrisville School District were presented to the public: a merger and two tuition agreement scenarios.

Jennifer Neill, the district's supervisor of public relations, said that Pennsbury's administration has reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to see what its involvement would be if both districts choose to move forward with a merger or one of two tuition agreements.

No vote is scheduled for either Pennsbury or Morrisville's school board on the options, Neill said.

"We are in a holding pattern," she said.

Philadelphia-based PFM Group Consulting LLC outlined the highlights of the 161-page report during a special Jan. 31 public hearing before a crowd in which more than 10 residents spoke.

The scenarios include:

• 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.

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.

At its first meeting last month following the special hearing, two critics of the merger options appeared before the school board to say they've dismissed the options and the study.

"I'm not wasting my time," said Tim Daly of Lower Makefield Township. "There's no reason to. Either vote to move forward or end it. I encourage you to vote no. I support the kids coming over, but not for these three options. We will be screwed royally."

Robert Abrams of Lower Makefield Township also agreed with Daly that "there's no reason to read the feasibility study."

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