I don't understand how the school could possibly schedule every after school activity to one day - that is completely illogical thinking.

Agree, Leigh. What about kids who are in more than one extracurricular, or teachers who run more than one thing?

Why is the district even providing busing for after school activities anyway? They are extracurricular, so perhaps parents need to pick up their children ...

Well Q, thats how its ALWAYS been here. I'm guessing you probably moved to our town from somewhere else within the last 12 years as Horsham boomed? Well, as those of us, born and raised here and some of us 3rd, 4th and 5th generation know, its ALWAYS been that way.

Let me guess, you think the kids should have to pay a $100 fee for the "privilage" to play sports or be in the band?

They already scaled back the busing schedule at the high school several years ago. There used to be two pick up times - 4:30pm and I believe either 5:30 or 6:00pm. It makes school activities impossible and puts pressure on the student to somehow find another ride. For students like myself that couldn't get their mother to pick them up after 4:30, there was a bit of pressure on me to somehow stay later.

I agree with Jd maybe we should have less officials at the top, who also make less money and then these budget problems could be solved.

The issue is that our school district, like our government and many American households, is spending money it does not have to spend. You have to deal with financial issues prior to going 90 million dollars in debt. And to throw extracurricular schedules into an upheaval to save less than $40,000? It doesn't make sense and it is insulting.

Unfortunately, just because "it's always been that way" doesn't mean it should continue to be so... JD, if the choice is higher taxes or the kids that utilize the extracurricular activities pay a small stipend, which do you prefer?

And to ask the " suits" as JD calls them ,to take a pay cut, it would not come close to solving the deficeit. Probably provide the same amount of money as scaling back bus routes for after school activities and adding activity fees

How about we stop all this half day Bull!!! All those bus's for 1/2 a day! Other districts don't even allow 1/2 days. STOP scheduling all these half days and the KIDS can still do clubs and after school activities. We have too many teachers, aids, helpers etc... I say start cutting costs with letting go extra staff.

Where I grew up there was and still is no bus for kids who were in extra curricular activities. It was up to the individual and the parent to take responsibility provide the transportation home.

If you all just take a step back and listen to each other all of your points are valid and in some way could help the short fall of the budget. Do we have too many suits in this district absolutely way to many, but the school boards past and present just keep allowing more administrators and assistants to them and then secretaries for all. Check out the inactivity some day go visit a school! Counselors- Are the teachers who will take over the jobs able to separate their positions enough to fight for the child to the degree where it will not conflict with their contracted position? And your support staff to some degree are actually better able to inform you about the students than some teachers. Yet there still might be way to many. If you think about the activity fee, you will probably have less students in activities, therefore one day might work. And before there was all the after school bussing there were parent car pools. Some kids do live close enough to walk.
The half day issue does occur in other districts but it is not necessary and truly ridiculous for kindergarten. Let them stay all day and split it up or not at all. then you are not running busses for a handful of children. In staff days have them for a full day and less of them and keep the kids home for the whole day and no other activities on those days either. Then you will not run any busses.
But you must voice your opinions and ideas go to the April meeting, School board member are elected by you.

Q, you sound like YOU, yourself are a suit at the top of some company getting rich at the expense of those beneath you.... Am I right? Your statement sounds just likeone if the greedy trying to figure out how to stay rich while exploiting the working class. Amigo, that thinking has been the demise of our nation on a scale of grand proportions.

Wow. Some of you have never balanced a budget before. If there is no money, the activities can be cancelled. Some districts stopped offering all extra activities and varsity/jv sports to make ends meet. I would rather have a little less bussing than that option. Get a grip. No one in education is getting rich.

JD, far from the description... I just don't blame everyone else for problems...as a parent i believe we should shoulder some of the costs of activities our children are involved in...Should the retired members of our community continue to experience tax increases so we can have the latest and greatest sports fields,equipment etc..NO... Should all areas of the school district (employees,students,classes,extracurriculars,busing) be up for review and cost cutting? YES...

Leigh, First of all NOT ALL districts allow half days. 2nd if we have 8 half days on the calendar and instead made them 4 full days off then that would be 4 less days of running bus's and gas. FYI-I am entitled to MY opinion even if it differs from yours!

Am I the only one that read that there is a deficit in their "90 million spending plan"....I interpret that they WANT to spend 90million but there is a shortfall....I don't see where it say's that there IS a 90 million dollar deficit.....The total budget is 90 million, not a deficit of 90 million...google it.....last years budget was approx 86million.

......And the latest news I have read, tge district has HIRED 2 "consultants" to help find corporate advertisers.... If we are so strapped, how can they justify HIRING anyone to find corporate sponsors? I'm sure that the SUITS could easily find advertisers without HIRING "consultants". They are SUITS, they are at the top as a result of their "brilliance", right? Over educated idiots.....

Won't disagree that hiring consultants to find advertisers is a very bad move in light of finanancial constraints,but i have a problem with JD and his choice of words.

Too bad you have a "problem" with my choice of words.... Thats what I love about America, my RIGHT to FREEDOM OF SPEECH, so cry me a river Q. There must be an element of truth to what I'm sayibf if it bothers you so much, ya SUIT!

It really goes to show, you can waste a fortune on education, it doesn't mean it'll make you any more intelligent.... The lack if intellectual superiority in today's society completely astonishes me....

It is a shame you need to insult those who may or may not be more educated then you, or perhpas more affluent then you by calling them " Suits"....If it helps your self-esteem by doing so, then by all means continue....It seems you have a HUGE chip on your shoulder,and there likely isn't anything that can be said to remove it....

Yup Q is a suit probably on the board...

Wasn't trying to insult yiu Q, just calling it how it is.... Let's be real, our NATIONS problems come from the SUITS who have entirely too much power and THINK that they are so bright. Thomas Jefferson, Ben Fraknklin.... They were bright men. Thus financial crisis facing our NATION down to our SCHOOLS was caused by the GREEDMONGERS at the top. I harbor NO ill feelings twords the affluent, as long as it was earned hinestly with hard work, their OWN hard work. YOU Q, sound like a SUIT of the variety that thinks they are entitled. This is the type that should be taken to the gallows.

Also, believe me when I tell you, I don't have any self-esteem issues. Sometimes, I'm a little too confident in myself. I am quite happy with my existence. I'm just sick of the ordinary people like myself, not waking up to the bullshit the SUITS are shiveling out to

us.

Suit? I own several...Am i a "suit" on the board, no...and if you want to get into politics, i will just say way too many people believe they are owed something, they believe they are ENTITLED...i believe i am NOT entitled to anything,

If all the walls could talk I am sure there is more garbage that could be totally thrown out to Q.... public .

Your kids are LAZY, plain and simple

You get what you ask for. Since the schools were allowed to dig deeper into our pockets with the earned income tax, spending has gone way up almost as high as the arrogance of the government school SUITS, teachers and staff. Sorry to say it won't change until the whole mess crashes down around us. The question will be - did we learn from it?

I have 2 kids in HH school district. I occassionally have to drive them in the AM because they are late or sick etc. Same in the PM. I sometimes have to pick them up. I am amazed at how many people drive their kids to school daily both ways. They aren't even utilizing the buses. The car line at Simmons is like 1/4 mile long to pick up. In Philadelphia, buses are not part of your school tax dollars. Perhaps HH should make busing available for a small fee. If you want it, pay an extra $100 a year or something like that for a bus pass. If you don't want it, don't pay and drive them or pick them up from the after school sports. It's your choice. I don't think we should inhibit our kids availability to after school activities. It's an important part of their school experience and makes them more rounded students. Gas prices are going up and no one wants their taxes to go up to cover that expense.