[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6263039,"mediaKeyId","3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d","parentId",3108604,"title","Parents ask board for answers after fourth- and fifth-grade class-switching changes; administration says review ongoing","audioSeconds",159,"startMs",4594000,"endMs",4753000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d&start=4594&end=4753","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d/thumbnail_4594000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6263039/Pennsylvania/Parents-ask-board-for-answers-after-fourth-and-fifth-grade-class-switching-changes-administration-says-review-ongoing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263039-dfd91f6169936112c2720751296166fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941246&Signature=e8rzeJDf7l69MtRXvSnaj4Y-p3HTGGHHs7zZPGF0MhZwqW9iNgHgPGxn8WPIWgdE~qOReElmAI3ApYTjulekr6RlTEODaRWJuLe8WHUnQCb-Eit9CnE8lTx1s7tOGutPN0L9PFx~bnLobEpIShXc~ZLo7uM3iKSnf4Bgt3Ydx0oDhAq7DMj860~BGIUJV5Yk3j6OkWgKYb4e0p81T-~P6op7H0rdNM24t2rpFyW5BVrgB38Ul8UgTb0e17WIv~EYId1dO10ieZdoQPUSooblL39XQqkO1fQGMbsvWTKY87wip~Bnbfu-M7ZlhBrSyctFqXzl8X1r0Q0o9YL2ZZHfPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marple Newtown School Disctrict","date","2025-04-24T09:11:04.533Z","article","A parent at the April 22 Marple Newtown board meeting asked why fourth- and fifth-grade classes were no longer switching during the day, saying the change was not widely communicated to families.

Dean O'Neil, who identified himself as a parent with students at Wuerl and Paxton, said teachers told parents that classes in fourth and fifth grades would not switch and that parents were being informed informally rather than through district channels. “I was always under the impression that they switched learning, progressing, you know, to kinda keep at the same pace so there's no child either left behind or a child that's bored,” O'Neil said.

A staff member who answered the question, identified in the transcript only as Kevin, said the district was still “processing what it looks like” and that “that plan has not… nothing has been finalized. Once we process, we… we will” communicate next steps. The staff member said it would be premature to share a formal plan while the district continued its internal review.

Board members and administrators said they are working through the details and that timelines for parent input or formal presentations were not finalized at the meeting. The transcript does not show a formal vote or policy change had been adopted; parents asked for advance notice and an opportunity to provide input if the district moves forward with a scheduling change.

Clarifying details

• Parent concern: fourth- and fifth-grade class-switching will stop; parents were not formally notified prior to learning informally via teacher conferences.

• Administration response: review and processing ongoing; “nothing has been finalized” and formal communication is pending.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MNSD Regular Board Meeting 4-22-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A parent raised concerns about a reported change to class-switching in fourth and fifth grades; district administrators said the change is under review, not finalized, and that more information will follow after internal processing.","taxTitle","Marple Newtown SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38757,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263045,"Parents press Marple Newtown board for clearer communication after alleged threats and bullying at Wuerl Elementary",130,3254000,3384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d&start=3254&end=3384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d/thumbnail_3254000.jpg","/articles/6263045/Pennsylvania/Parents-press-Marple-Newtown-board-for-clearer-communication-after-alleged-threats-and-bullying-at-Wuerl-Elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263045-166df749e1300b98451f954e84292f51/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941246&Signature=DuHD0vFffLPZ64YDJ6PYROt8E8t~EylAGZ8NpUozPZ3jxcH0Q94qb0CBZBMJgROQidrkQe20Yxex5v72~JEucHL3yitMoZ~XfKMuNpbarAi~9OMmhIdO2qELndxmcvOKC0Zt~gr7pjQtLxhTfUNMKYOWj0Z-KODksy0F9jJS8HkWjxjj~jY0fNONjdITg5iZzA0Y4sYuLuEmXJQkMoYYE8gCnWhH~hPCxdQ5x8Y8trKpZIac6E2KJNSxDWjs1jnyOwfFUnLOqBVr1CChOOt3qAo9xRRoPxrmgZ~gUH4SNCRzeVdh0Kl2rJ9uDX8WTmoYQXcVVedZctokwE52ibuKtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several parents and a Wuerl Elementary teacher urged the Marple Newtown School District board on April 22 to provide clearer, more transparent communication about incidents of bullying and a reported threat at the school.

Jacqueline Cornejo, a resident and parent, said she has three children in the district and that two were removed from Wuerl because of bullying that she said was not adequately addressed. “There was a threat made to children several weeks ago that has been swept under the rug,” Cornejo said during public comment. She told the board parents were being given general responses such as “we can't share because of HIPAA” and said she wanted to know what the district was doing to protect students emotionally and physically.

A district staff member who responded in the meeting said the district had not “swept” the situation under the rug and that “we are taking seriously the situation. Plans have been developed. They’re being carried out.” The staff member also noted that state and federal laws limit what the district can share publicly. The transcript does not record the staff member’s full name or title.

Several parents said they were frustrated by inconsistent communication and by reliance on informal channels such as parent text threads. One parent said she had to consult the police to address an issue because she felt the school had not resolved it; the parent said the family then faced out-of-pocket costs to enroll a child in private school.

Third-grade teacher Maureen Leon, speaking in the public comment period, defended Wuerl principal Doctor Sturtevant’s leadership: “Doctor Sturtevant does everything that she can to support both probably first and foremost students,” Leon said. Leon called the principal “an amazing principal that loves and cares about her students so much.”

Board members acknowledged the parents’ concerns and said communication is a difficult balance between transparency and legal constraints. The board and administration said they would continue to review procedures and consider whether additional messaging or policy steps are needed; no board action was taken at the meeting.

Clarifying details

• Parent statement: two children removed from Wuerl because of bullying (specific dates and actions not provided in the transcript).

• Administrator statement: plans to address the reported threat had been developed and were “being carried out.”","Several parents and a teacher raised concerns at the April 22 meeting about bullying and an alleged threat at Wuerl Elementary; parents said communication from the district felt lacking, while administrators said plans were being carried out within legal limits.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263049,"Marple Newtown bus drivers tell board low morale follows ban on internal 50/50 fundraising",120,2799000,2919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d&start=2799&end=2919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d/thumbnail_2799000.jpg","/articles/6263049/Pennsylvania/Marple-Newtown-bus-drivers-tell-board-low-morale-follows-ban-on-internal-5050-fundraising","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263049-0bd9619f5315266728850f74d1726fde/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941246&Signature=L6sCtfrp~M19QyfdxMUVe~FHM3cVgXAO2D5iuS4irQV5o47p0lugk3HoWEmyQzJYMHkwuJ7gPV4AJ8yL16aMEylmf3hoMrdH9ahC3bh2IFsWBhd1UwwG7hUJDpQNEABA7bFepLZNmQszEeTuKbYy~ezqYPVruh~OwKgYoK652GZ5iam7sIamY1ct7JTyBF6YylGQ95GzydB88IZUpvj4OyY3ME4vAfs9LFTYj-1sOoyexdv2UasaB01WL15RiMhmT0hrssOWfwgWFWPirveSIFCG~OCi1I0r-d52xpCiu4gYRujdTh9sVvJwbeMRXsABWOYVSJWOY9GuE57QAaf6Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jim Farrell, a Marple Newtown school bus driver and district resident, told the board at the April 22 meeting that transportation staff morale is low after the district prohibited an internally run weekly 50/50 raffle that employees used to fund small morale events.

“We transport over 3,600 students twice a day,” Farrell said during public comment. He detailed the department’s scale: “we are a staff of a 25 drivers and aids, a fleet of 42 full size buses, 9 mid size buses, 30 micro buses, and 16 student vans. That's 97 vehicles in all.”

Farrell said the drivers previously funded small events such as pretzel Thursdays and a year-end party through a weekly 50/50 in which only transportation employees could participate and only employees could win. He said transportation staff were told that the 50/50 “was against school policy and that no such small games of chance are permitted within the Marple Newtown School District.”

Farrell contrasted that direction with a recent school “fun fair” where raffle tickets were sold to the public and “over 60 raffle prizes” were offered. He said the fun fair raffle allowed anyone to purchase tickets and win prizes, while drivers’ internal 50/50 fundraising was prohibited. He asked the board for clarification about the policy and for direction on whether the drivers could reinstate their internal 50/50 to support morale.

Special-needs bus aide Ron Burling, also at the microphone, supported the call for action and urged the district to provide trained points of contact and processes to address student behavior and safety concerns on buses.

Board members acknowledged the comments and thanked the drivers for their work. The transcript does not record an immediate policy change; the drivers’ request for explicit direction was left for the district to address after the meeting.

Clarifying details from public comment

• Driver-stated student transport load: “over 3,600 students twice a day.”

• Fleet described by speaker: 42 full-size buses, 9 mid-size buses, 30 micro buses, 16 student vans (97 vehicles total).","School bus drivers told the board they transported more than 3,600 students twice daily, operate a fleet of 97 vehicles, and want clarity after district officials said their internal 50/50 raffle violated policy while larger public raffles continued at school events.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263054,"Marple Newtown board posts $115.7 million proposed final budget for public inspection",74,2626000,2700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d&start=2626&end=2700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3108604-765d93ec56ec0b62aef16fc3ef6b2f9d/thumbnail_2626000.jpg","/articles/6263054/Pennsylvania/Marple-Newtown-board-posts-1157-million-proposed-final-budget-for-public-inspection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263054-e0d610aa97486dec75e178911dcf31f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774941246&Signature=TXOziqRjMCDbIo2S-ppMmGO7OP8Dk~GakiIm8xYejuNsbvzFTiZalIC5GQvMompLQ7ABdaUsVhKzn5kpiTAX1xRM~XM~W1Vakq6pgLIBa96BH4majBAVyUccuVWOLGK96LKDqcMlinWIowKSL44HfXV8yhzOMACdF90EB~27JT415nwcMBqaWWh4134-nbF30DjQwpRrke4cEI2WSeXAEYFlQ7ptxxtOtpdKJjjKViAv03BuQR9XC97eGpP-6d0xJAYbv~EPRp~Wb0OYn7omyCfEVV-FPq7aLvKQQjqoICXasEpcIouZ5F1dGFJGhersM4XFH8hUHj4dTO0JwNMn4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marple Newtown School District Board of School Directors voted April 22 to adopt a proposed final budget of $115,700,000 for the 2025–26 school year and to make the document available for public inspection.

Board member Miss Harvey moved the motion for the board to “adopt the 20 25 26 proposed final budget as presented on PDE 20 28 in the amount of a hundred and 15,700,000 and to give notice that is available for public inspection,” saying the proposed figure “may change prior to the adoption of the final budget.” The motion passed with the board announcing the ayes had it during the meeting; seven members were present.

The district indicated the proposed final budget was filed in the format referenced in the motion and that the number is subject to change before the final budget adoption. The board did not provide an itemized breakdown of revenues or expenditures during the motion; the motion language refers to “PDE 2028,” the form cited in the transcript, as the format used for the filing.

Board members approved several consent items during the same segment of the meeting, and the budget vote occurred as part of action items labeled 11:02 through 11:10 and a separate call-out for item 11:04. No formal roll-call tally naming how each director voted was read aloud in the transcript; the board chair announced the motion was approved.

The board will present a final budget for adoption at a later meeting, and the district stated the proposed final budget is available for public inspection as required by state practice for budget notices.

Votes at a glance

• Agenda item 11:04 — Proposed final budget for 2025–26 filed as “PDE 2028” format, amount $115,700,000 — Motion to adopt proposed final budget and make it available for public inspection — Moved by Miss Harvey; second not specified in the transcript — Outcome: approved (board announced “the ayes have it”).","The Marple Newtown School District board voted to adopt the 2025–26 proposed final budget totaling $115,700,000 and made it available for public inspection; the board noted the amount may change before final adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents ask board for answers after fourth- and fifth-grade class-switching changes; administration says review ongoing

Parents press Marple Newtown board for clearer communication after alleged threats and bullying at Wuerl Elementary

Marple Newtown bus drivers tell board low morale follows ban on internal 50/50 fundraising

Marple Newtown board posts $115.7 million proposed final budget for public inspection