The Winter 2008 edition of the newsletter of the York Jewish Community Center features a profile on one Leadership for Diverse Schools participant.
"My eyes were opened through being in this program," says North Hills Elementary fifth grade teacher Michael Headings.
Through a YorkCounts Engagement, Leadership York and the York Jewish Community Center (YJCC) joined forces in 2004 to develop a training program that will prepare York County educators to take a lead role in promoting and embracing diversity in their classrooms and communities.
Read the profile here... and read more about Leadership for Diverse Schools here.
News and views from YorkCounts and its partners about the work we are all doing to create a vibrant York County.
15 January 2008
YorkCounts E-Newsletter - January 2008
The YorkCounts E-Newsletter
found on the blog at yorkcounts.org
January 2008
In this issue:
Metro-York implementation gains steam
Before and across the holidays – and as 2008 began – YorkCounts volunteer leaders got started on the ambitious task of implementing the Metro-York recommendations.
Each of the eight Metro-York ideas for building a better, stronger community is likely to have a separate implementation committee. Most of them have formed or are forming – and meetings populate the January calendar.
The first official Metro-York follow-up meeting took place January 9 at Penn State York, involving more than 20 educators and other participants – including four area school superintendents, several school board members, state Rep. Bev Mackereth and the chief of staff of state Rep. Eugene DePasquale. This panel, which has become known as the Educational Opportunities Committee, has been tasked with pursuing one or more of the ideas from the following Metro-York education recommendation:
Attack the root problem: a school district can’t succeed when poverty and its related problems are concentrated the way they are in the York City schools.
In York city, 85 percent of public school students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (which, according to government classifications, means they are living in poverty). Across the country, numerous strategies are being employed to de-concentrate school poverty in a given area, and it’s time that one or more of them be tried here. A task force must be formed to consider, prioritize and plan the implementation of:
Commissioners, others applaud Metro-York
York County Commissioners Lori Mitrick, Doug Kilgore and Steve Chronister unanimously approved a resolution in December commending Metro-York participants “for producing a thoughtful and detailed plan for improvement” and urging “community-wide participation in the conversation about the… future of our community.”
The Board of Commissioners was joined later in December and early January by the boards of PeoplesBank, Wagman Construction, G.A. and F.C. Wagman and Better York in endorsing the Metro-York output.
The resolutions noted that “a guiding Metro-York principle was to identify regional solutions to regional challenges.”
YorkCounts in a statewide context
YorkCounts is drawing attention not only around York County, but also across the state for efforts to sustain and enhance the quality of life in York County.
The Metro-York effort in particular is highlighted in a report called Putting the Pieces Together: Five Case Studies of Regional Cooperation in Pennsylvania.
The report is available online (http://www.renewpa.org/downloads/putting_the_pieces_together_report.pdf) and reviews Metro-York as well as regional cooperation in the Lehigh Valley and in Elk, Cameron and Clearfield counties.
“For the business and civic leaders who constitute Metro-York’s participants,” the report notes, “there is no question that suburban communities must work more cooperatively with the city.”
The document was prepared for and distributed at the Path to Prosperity summit, a statewide event staged in December by the Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania (RenewPA) and IssuesPA – a project of the Pennsylvania Economy League – with support from the Team Pennsylvania Foundation.
Mark your calendars for 2008 summit
The 2008 YorkCounts Summit has been scheduled for Thursday, April 17 at the Yorktowne Hotel. Further details will be available soon, but now’s the time to circle the date.
Governor Rendell is expected to speak at the event, which will coincide with the release of YorkCounts’ Annual Report.
For questions about the Summit, contact the Director of YorkCounts, James DeBord, at (717) 815-6436 or jdebord@ycp.edu.
The YorkCounts E-Newsletter is written by Beau Boughamer. Reach YorkCounts by mail c/o the Center for Community Engagement at York College of Pennsylvania, 605 South George Street, Suite 160, York, PA 17401, by telephone at (717) 815-6430 or by e-mail at yorkcounts@gmail.com. Visit YorkCounts online at yorkcounts.org.
found on the blog at yorkcounts.org
January 2008
In this issue:
- Metro-York implementation gains steam
- Commissioners, others applaud Metro-York
- YorkCounts in a statewide context
- Mark your calendars for 2008 summit
Metro-York implementation gains steam
Before and across the holidays – and as 2008 began – YorkCounts volunteer leaders got started on the ambitious task of implementing the Metro-York recommendations.
Each of the eight Metro-York ideas for building a better, stronger community is likely to have a separate implementation committee. Most of them have formed or are forming – and meetings populate the January calendar.
The first official Metro-York follow-up meeting took place January 9 at Penn State York, involving more than 20 educators and other participants – including four area school superintendents, several school board members, state Rep. Bev Mackereth and the chief of staff of state Rep. Eugene DePasquale. This panel, which has become known as the Educational Opportunities Committee, has been tasked with pursuing one or more of the ideas from the following Metro-York education recommendation:
Attack the root problem: a school district can’t succeed when poverty and its related problems are concentrated the way they are in the York City schools.
In York city, 85 percent of public school students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (which, according to government classifications, means they are living in poverty). Across the country, numerous strategies are being employed to de-concentrate school poverty in a given area, and it’s time that one or more of them be tried here. A task force must be formed to consider, prioritize and plan the implementation of:
- New academic programming that appeals to parents throughout York County, with the added benefit that it would result in interaction between city, suburban and rural students. Enrollment would always be by choice.
A “student exchange” could allow individual students from the city to go to school in the suburbs, or those from the suburbs to go to the city, for a limited period of time such as one year. Such a program would broaden academic experiences and, perhaps more importantly, break down the barriers between people.
A public magnet school could be open to students across York County and could be funded by those districts. It could be located centrally, but apart from any existing schools. Such a school would offer new academic opportunities to children inside and outside the city. It would also ease overcrowding in the suburban districts.
A public charter school could house a maximum of 49 percent city students and 51 percent non-city students – potentially, the children of parents who work in the city. This school would be located in the city.
A public school choice program could grant some number of York city kindergarteners admission to other districts’ elementary schools each year. Once there, they would receive special support to stay, holding the other districts harmless financially.
- An education-based incentive for middle-class parents to return to the city with their children. Scholarships can be powerful incentives. The Kalamazoo Promise is one example. It’s providing four-year scholarships to graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools to colleges in Michigan. The program has dual educational and economic appeal, as the city’s population decline has reversed, housing values have jumped and businesses have relocated to Kalamazoo.
State Secretary of Education Dr. Gerald Zahorchak is expected to address the Educational Opportunities Committee in late January or early February.
Commissioners, others applaud Metro-York
York County Commissioners Lori Mitrick, Doug Kilgore and Steve Chronister unanimously approved a resolution in December commending Metro-York participants “for producing a thoughtful and detailed plan for improvement” and urging “community-wide participation in the conversation about the… future of our community.”
The Board of Commissioners was joined later in December and early January by the boards of PeoplesBank, Wagman Construction, G.A. and F.C. Wagman and Better York in endorsing the Metro-York output.
The resolutions noted that “a guiding Metro-York principle was to identify regional solutions to regional challenges.”
YorkCounts in a statewide context
YorkCounts is drawing attention not only around York County, but also across the state for efforts to sustain and enhance the quality of life in York County.
The Metro-York effort in particular is highlighted in a report called Putting the Pieces Together: Five Case Studies of Regional Cooperation in Pennsylvania.
The report is available online (http://www.renewpa.org/downloads/putting_the_pieces_together_report.pdf) and reviews Metro-York as well as regional cooperation in the Lehigh Valley and in Elk, Cameron and Clearfield counties.
“For the business and civic leaders who constitute Metro-York’s participants,” the report notes, “there is no question that suburban communities must work more cooperatively with the city.”
The document was prepared for and distributed at the Path to Prosperity summit, a statewide event staged in December by the Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania (RenewPA) and IssuesPA – a project of the Pennsylvania Economy League – with support from the Team Pennsylvania Foundation.
Mark your calendars for 2008 summit
The 2008 YorkCounts Summit has been scheduled for Thursday, April 17 at the Yorktowne Hotel. Further details will be available soon, but now’s the time to circle the date.
Governor Rendell is expected to speak at the event, which will coincide with the release of YorkCounts’ Annual Report.
For questions about the Summit, contact the Director of YorkCounts, James DeBord, at (717) 815-6436 or jdebord@ycp.edu.
The YorkCounts E-Newsletter is written by Beau Boughamer. Reach YorkCounts by mail c/o the Center for Community Engagement at York College of Pennsylvania, 605 South George Street, Suite 160, York, PA 17401, by telephone at (717) 815-6430 or by e-mail at yorkcounts@gmail.com. Visit YorkCounts online at yorkcounts.org.
03 December 2007
YorkCounts E-Newsletter - December 2007
The YorkCounts E-Newsletter
found on the blog at yorkcounts.org
December 2007
In this issue:
Metro-York recommendations announced
Write a letter to the editor supporting Metro-York!
The community is already talking about the Metro-York recommendations. So this is a good time to encourage Metro-York supporters -- and friends and neighbors: express yourselves!
Loren Kroh takes on key YorkCounts roles
Kroh also has been appointed to the YorkCounts Board itself.
Kroh is the Co-Founder and President of Corvus, LLC, a company committed to improving student success rates at career colleges. Prior to Corvus, he was the President/CEO of Bradley Academy.
Kroh serves as the Chairman of the York County Economic Development Corporation and is a member of the Board of Directors of the York County Community Foundation, Crispus Attucks Community Center, Byrnes Health Education Center, Wm. F. Goodling Advanced Skills Center and York County Alliance for Learning. He previously served as Chairman of the York County Chamber of Commerce.
YorkCounts welcomes Loren Kroh to a committee chairmanship and the board and applauds his commitment to forging a better, stronger York County!
found on the blog at yorkcounts.org
December 2007
In this issue:
- Metro-York recommendations announced
- Metro-York ideas enjoy favorable news exposure
- Write a letter to the editor supporting Metro-York!
- Loren Kroh takes on key YorkCounts roles
Metro-York recommendations announced
YorkCounts, York County's community-wide quality-of-life coalition, this month presented eight forward-thinking recommendations for improving municipal prosperity and education, with the aim of a better, stronger heart of York County. Known as the Metro-York recommendations, the ideas are the outcome of YorkCounts’ ambitious Metro-York project.
The recommendations can be found in their entirety on the web at yorkcounts.org/metro.
Those related to municipal prosperity are to:
- Establish a consolidated Metro-York police department;
- Engage in additional meaningful regional planning, ideally incorporating all of the municipalities in the heart of York County;
- Reform taxation through a local tax study commission;
- Study ideas for modernizing York County’s form of government.
- Establish a permanent and well-funded Metro-York Schools Consortium to research, develop and implement new public school models and make all schools in York County truly world-class;
- Attack the root problem – a school district can’t succeed when poverty and its related problems are concentrated the way they are in the York City schools – with new academic programming that appeals to parents throughout York County and an education-based incentive for middle-class parents to return to the city with their children;
- Invest $3 million per year in each of the next ten years in “intensive care” for at-risk students: intense, targetted programming to at-risk students, as they enter grade school to keep them focused and/or in middle and high school to keep them from thinking that dropping out is an option;
- Use the soon-to-be-established Office of Workforce Development as a catalyst to strengthen relationships between employers and the Metro-York workforce.
“These recommendations are the product of a broad-based, citizen-driven community collaboration,” said YorkCounts Board Chair Larry Miller. “Be the first to say, 'Count me in!'”
“Many of these approaches are working in other communities – places similar to York County,” noted Metro-York co-chair Eric Menzer. “One idea, for regional police, already has traction and made the front pages in September. Let’s have as much momentum for the rest of the recommendations. What’s in it for you? Good jobs, good schools, safe neighborhoods – the kind of prosperity that everyone in York County wants.”
YorkCounts launched Metro-York in 2006 to address core concerns in the heart of the county, including a concentration of poverty, rising crime, tax burdens and inequities, a lack of job opportunities and challenges within our schools. Primary obstacles to success were identified as the “small box” divisions between school and governmental entities that make for inflexible systems, so the recommendations urge a breaking down of these divisions, although YorkCounts does not propose merging municipalities or school districts.
Metro-York co-chairs Menzer and Bill Simpson joined Miller and other participants to present the recommendations November 15 during a press conference at the York Jewish Community Center, where they emphasized the importance of thinking beyond borders.
“Our communities have outgrown the borders that supposedly contain them,” Menzer said, noting that the Spring Garden Township-York Township border runs right through the York JCC’s property, but the neighborhoods on each side have common concerns. For people within the Metro-York geography – York City, North York and West York boroughs and Manchester, Spring Garden, Springettsbury, West Manchester and York townships – chances for a better quality of life are interdependent, Menzer said.
Members of the community participated in Metro-York in 2006 and 2007 through three committees. A strong, credible cross-section of elected officials, municipal administrators, business and nonprofit leaders and retired Yorkers took part. These panels listened to testimony and analysis from experts and leaders, then met numerous times to discuss and debate key concerns and formulate proposals. The results were presented to the YorkCounts Board, which adopted the recommendations.
The rollout event represented the first chance for many to see the Metro-York recommendations, but the public at large has weighed in on the underlying issues before, and these concepts appear to enjoy popular support.
Miller, Menzer and Simpson noted the results of a poll of 403 York Countians conducted at the beginning of the Metro-York process by the Marttila Group. According to the survey, 89 percent of the residents of older suburbs, 91 percent of those in newer suburbs, 89 percent of urban dwellers and 89 percent of rural residents said that “smaller communities should work together to create regional police forces.” At least 89 percent of each sub-group also wanted governments to “work together on planning and development issues.”
YorkCounts will be a driving force in advancing these ideas in the coming months and years, Simpson said. “We’ve identified champions for several recommendations. And we want more community input. This is a beginning, not an end, to the process of making York County a better, stronger place to live,” Simpson said.
Metro-York ideas enjoy favorable news exposure
The evening and days following the rollout saw widespread coverage of the Metro-York recommendations. Links to and quotes from news pieces:
- Members of Metro-York say students could achieve better if school district boundaries are erased, at least for some schools, and if students from different socio-economic groups can intermingle. -- Metro-York has advice -- York Daily Record, 11/16/2007
- "For thousands of students in failing schools, time is a luxury they don't have," Eric Menzer, co-chairman of Metro-York, said.... "We must no longer let dropping out be acceptable." -- System failure -- York Sunday News, 11/18/2007
Editorial reviews have also been positive. From an enthusiastic piece headlined "Join the Metro-York team" that appeared in the November 18 York Sunday News:
"The folks behind the Metro-York proposal have taken an important step forward... with the release of eight things we can do to break down barriers and begin working together for the overall good of our region.... These are things that can and must be done.... Connect the dots, connect the people. There is hope."
The Daily Record just finished presenting a series of eight follow-up editorials -- one on each Metro-York recommendation:
- Municipal #1: Regional police the way to go
- Municipal #2: Broad regional planning needed
- Municipal #3: Pick one tax reform proposal
- Municipal #4: Rethink county government
- Education #1: Schools must work together
- Education #2: Schools need incentives
- Education #3: Invest in city school success
- Education #4: New office to be a catalyst
Full copies of each of these pieces -- and many more, including stories from the Central Penn Business Journal, WITF, WGAL and other outlets -- will be kept at the YorkCounts website. You can find some YorkCounts press coverage from 2007 here -- and the archive will be growing.
Write a letter to the editor supporting Metro-York!
The community is already talking about the Metro-York recommendations. So this is a good time to encourage Metro-York supporters -- and friends and neighbors: express yourselves!
A concise letter to the editor can make a strong case for Metro-York and YorkCounts generally -- or for one or more specific ideas. Write:
- Daily Record/Sunday News: sfisher@ydr.com
- Dispatch: letters@yorkdispatch.com
- Evening Sun: mcharisse@eveningsun.com
- Dillsburg Banner: dillsbgban@aol.com
- Delta Star: thestar@starprinting.com
Remember that you can find the recommendations in their entirety, as well as some background information, online at yorkcounts.org/metro ...should you need additional information and inspiration.
What makes a good letter to the editor?
Keep it short. Letters are more widely read than op-ed pieces.
Be positive. Ideas endure on their strengths. -- Encourage friends and neighbors. Familiar letter writers are helpful, of course, but new names can help to illustrate broad support.
Avoid inside baseball. Remember that the average reader has still heard very little about the Metro-York recommendations.
Address readers at large, not specific opponents of the ideas. There are more than 416,000 residents of York County. Not all 416,000 will be swayed. The energy and enthusiasm are most productively directed at persuading the many, many, many undecided readers.
For more information, contact Beau at the YorkCounts office: 717/815-6430 or dbougham@ycp.edu.
Loren Kroh takes on key YorkCounts roles
At its November meeting, the YorkCounts Board approved the appointment of Loren Kroh to chair the YorkCounts Community Solutions committee. Community Solutions is an implementing committee, primarily concerned with putting into action and assessing the progress of YorkCounts ideas.
Kroh also has been appointed to the YorkCounts Board itself.
Kroh is the Co-Founder and President of Corvus, LLC, a company committed to improving student success rates at career colleges. Prior to Corvus, he was the President/CEO of Bradley Academy.
Kroh serves as the Chairman of the York County Economic Development Corporation and is a member of the Board of Directors of the York County Community Foundation, Crispus Attucks Community Center, Byrnes Health Education Center, Wm. F. Goodling Advanced Skills Center and York County Alliance for Learning. He previously served as Chairman of the York County Chamber of Commerce.
YorkCounts welcomes Loren Kroh to a committee chairmanship and the board and applauds his commitment to forging a better, stronger York County!
15 November 2007
Metro recommendations announced. Share your thoughts here.
YorkCounts, York County's community-wide quality-of-life coalition, on Thursday presented eight forward-thinking recommendations for improving municipal prosperity and education, with the
aim of a better, stronger heart of York County. Known as the Metro-York recommendations, the ideas are the outcome of YorkCounts’ ambitious Metro-York project.
The online content depot for the recommendations is http://www.yorkcounts.org/metro. Find the ideas themselves, background, survey results, lists of participants and more at http://www.yorkcounts.org/metro. E-mail YorkCounts to get involved at yorkcounts@gmail.com. And comment on the recommendations here at the YorkCounts blog.
aim of a better, stronger heart of York County. Known as the Metro-York recommendations, the ideas are the outcome of YorkCounts’ ambitious Metro-York project.
The online content depot for the recommendations is http://www.yorkcounts.org/metro. Find the ideas themselves, background, survey results, lists of participants and more at http://www.yorkcounts.org/metro. E-mail YorkCounts to get involved at yorkcounts@gmail.com. And comment on the recommendations here at the YorkCounts blog.
01 November 2007
Metro-York recommendations to be announced Thurs., Nov. 15
YorkCounts, York County's community-wide quality-of-life coalition, is set to announce forward-thinking recommendations for improving municipal finances and education, with the aim of a better, stronger heart of York County. Known as the Metro-York recommendations, these ideas will be the outcome of YorkCounts’ ambitious Metro-York project.
YorkCounts board chair Larry Miller and Metro-York co-chairs Eric Menzer and Bill Simpson will make the presentation Thursday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at the York Jewish Community Center, 2000 Hollywood Drive, York. If weather permits, the event will take place on the lawn in front of the building. If not, the venue will be the auditorium.
"One idea, for regional police, already has traction and made the front pages in September," noted Metro-York co-chair Eric Menzer. "This event will be about building momentum for all of the recommendations. What’s in it for you? Good jobs, good schools, safe neighborhoods -– the kind of prosperity that everyone in York County wants," Menzer added.
YorkCounts launched Metro-York in 2006 to address core concerns in the heart of the county, including a concentration of poverty, rising crime, tax burdens and inequities, a lack of job opportunities and challenges within our schools. Members of the community participated through three committees. A strong, credible cross-section of elected officials, municipal administrators, business and nonprofit leaders and retired Yorkers took part.
These panels met numerous times to discuss and debate key concerns and formulate proposals. The results were presented to the YorkCounts Board, which adopted the recommendations.
Visit yorkcounts.org/metro after noon Nov. 15 to read more about the Metro-York recommendations -- or, better yet, join us at 10 a.m. that day at the York JCC!
YorkCounts board chair Larry Miller and Metro-York co-chairs Eric Menzer and Bill Simpson will make the presentation Thursday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at the York Jewish Community Center, 2000 Hollywood Drive, York. If weather permits, the event will take place on the lawn in front of the building. If not, the venue will be the auditorium.
"One idea, for regional police, already has traction and made the front pages in September," noted Metro-York co-chair Eric Menzer. "This event will be about building momentum for all of the recommendations. What’s in it for you? Good jobs, good schools, safe neighborhoods -– the kind of prosperity that everyone in York County wants," Menzer added.
YorkCounts launched Metro-York in 2006 to address core concerns in the heart of the county, including a concentration of poverty, rising crime, tax burdens and inequities, a lack of job opportunities and challenges within our schools. Members of the community participated through three committees. A strong, credible cross-section of elected officials, municipal administrators, business and nonprofit leaders and retired Yorkers took part.
These panels met numerous times to discuss and debate key concerns and formulate proposals. The results were presented to the YorkCounts Board, which adopted the recommendations.
Visit yorkcounts.org/metro after noon Nov. 15 to read more about the Metro-York recommendations -- or, better yet, join us at 10 a.m. that day at the York JCC!
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