Jackie to Sing in Philadelphia Next Month

The singing sensation from Richland Township will perform at the Mann Center August 25.

If you're looking for something to do next month, maybe a quick trip to Philadelphia is the answer. Richland Township's own Jackie Evancho will bring her "Dream With Me" tour to Philadelphia  August 25.  The 12-year old soprano will perform with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia at The Mann Center.   According to the Ticketmaster website, the "meet and greet" ticket packages are sold out, but other tickets are still available for the 8 pm Saturday night performance. The Mann Center is located in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park and is a covered, outdoor performance venue.  The gates open at 6 pm for Jackie's concert.  

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Grandview Estates Unmoved in Elementary Schools' Rightsizing

Pine-Richland School Board votes on redistricting plan for Richland, Hance and Wexford elementaries.

Grandview Estates primary students will not be changing schools after all, now that the Pine-Richland School Board has adopted a "rightsizing" plan. In a 7-1 vote, the school board adopted a plan Monday night that does the following starting in the 2012-13 academic year: Voting in favor were Directors Stephen Hawbaker, chairman; Dennis Sundo, treasurer; Richard Herko; Laura Ohlund; Ginny Goebel; Kevin Nigh and Peter Lyons. Director Dr. Jeffrey Banyas voted against and Director Therese Dawson was absent. Pine-Richland School District is redistricting its three primary schools that currently serve more than 1,200 students in kindergarten through third grade because of an imbalance in enrollments, that in turn creates stress on the deployment…

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Cindy Cusic Micco

10:32 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012

What do you think, Pine-Richland readers? Do you agree or disagree with this view? Did you attend the forums and meetings regarding the rightsizing? A number of Grandview residents fought hard against the change. What do they think?   more ›

Will Rightsizing Cause a Dramatic or Traumatic Change for Primary Students?

Pine-Richland School District is "rightsizing" its three elementary schools, which means a change of venue for some children in grades K-3.

Change is rarely easy. When it comes to rightsizing Pine-Richland's primary schools, Richland Elementary Principal Gene Nicastro perhaps said it best when he talked about the idea of children changing schools. Many parents are on board and understanding of the rationale of rightsizing, he said at a community forum, "as long as it doesn't affect their house." But change is inevitable. Pine-Richland School District plans to redistrict its three primary schools that currently serve more than 1,200 students in kindergarten through third grade because of an imbalance in enrollments. In a story similar to The Three Bears, Hance is too small (328 students) and Richland is too big (at 507), and Wexford is just right (418). Someone has to move. The…

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Rightsizing Options for Pine-Richland Primary Schools Narrow to Two Plans

Pine-Richland School Board will consider options at Monday meeting.

Rightsizing Pine-Richland's primary schools moved a step closer to reality Monday night as school board directors narrowed their options to two. Because of a current imbalance in enrollment, rightsizing is proposed for Hance, Richland and Wexford elementary schools, which serve kindergarten to third grade. Currently, the 1,200 students are divided unevenly with 328 at Hance, 507 at Richland and 418 at Wexford.  At the school board's operational services committee meeting on Monday, the district's administration recommended "modified Plan 3A," which affects 100 students and: Click on this link to see a map. The school board directors said they'd like to see more options, specifically a modified Plan 4 that would not redistrict Pine Ridge …

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Parents at Community Forum Question Need to Rightsize Primary Schools

Enrollment at Hance is declining, while Richland Elementary's numbers rise.

Pine-Richland parents questioned the need to redistrict or rightsize primary schools Wednesday night at a three-hour community forum attended by about 75 people. Three primary schools currently serve more than 1,200 students in kindergarten through third grade in Pine-Richland School District, with 328 at Hance, 507 at Richland and 418 at Wexford elementary schools. The lopsided numbers prompted Pine-Richland School District administrators to propose rightsizing to even out the populations at Hance and Richland. But the six proposed rightsizing plans also affect Wexford. Parents expressed concerns about uprooting their children from the schools with which they are familiar and questioned the need to do so. Residents of Pine Ridge Manor/…

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Richland Elementary Principal to Leave for Plum Borough School District Job

Guy Rossi to assume assistant superintendent post in January.

Richland Elementary Principal Dr. Guy Rossi will be leaving his job in January to become the assistant superintendent in the Plum Borough School District. The Plum Borough School Board hired Rossi and several other administrators during a special meeting on Tuesday. His contract begins Jan. 2 and ends Dec. 31, 2014. He will be paid $107,000 annually. Rossi said Wednesday that he was excited about the new opportunity, but sad at the thought of leaving. "I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition," Rossi said.  "Guy is a fantastic instructional leader and worthy of this promotion," Pine-Richland Superintendent Dr. Mary Bucci said. "We will miss him dearly." Rossi came to Richland Elementary 10 years ago "almost to the day," he …

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Kelly Burgess

10:47 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012

Crosbycat - love how you occasionally come out of the woodwork to say something snarky. That's an excellent example of good citizenship -- anonymous meanness.   more ›

Balancing Elementary Population in Primary Schools to be Discussed Monday Night

Pine-Richland School Board committee plans to review data and map out timeline.

Who goes to which Pine-Richland elementary school will be discussed Monday night at a meeting of the school board's operational services committee. The 6 p.m. meeting will be held in advance of the Pine-Richland School Board's regular monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the district's administrative offices building, 702 Warrendale Road, Gibsonia. The board and administration will review data and map out a timeline for rightsizing its elementary schools, Superintendent Dr. Mary Bucci said in an email announcement.     "The meeting will serve only as a work session for the board and administration, so we cannot accommodate public comment at that time," Bucci wrote. "Because we value your input, we will host a session at a later date, so you can…

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Pine-Richland School District Plans for Elementary Schools Redistricting

Superintendent urges board to act by February 2012.

Recognizing that it will be a closely watched, and perhaps a controversial decision, Pine-Richland School Board directors took the first step Monday toward drawing up plans to reassign students at the district’s three elementary schools.  Superintendent  Mary Bucci reported that the student population at Richland Elementary continues to grow and now exceeds 500 students while about 300 attend Hance Elementary. The student population at Wexford Elementary was not mentioned.  “Richland is not overcrowded, and it can handle that number of students,” said Bucci. “It’s more about finding the most efficient way to use our staff.”  The board’s first step was to schedule an Operational Services Committee meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 to discuss the …

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Cindy Cusic Micco

10:36 am on Monday, October 17, 2011

Thank you for your comments. Please keep in mind, though, we have a policy requiring posters to use their full names/true identities. Here is a link to an article explaining that policy http://pine-richland.patch.com/articles/the-importance-of-civility-on-patch Thank you.   more ›

Hance Teacher Named Finalist for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year

Caren Liberati is one of 12 finalists for the 2012 honor.

Hance Elementary teacher Caren Liberati has been named one of 12 finalists in the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year program for 2012.  The award honors excellence in teaching. Eden Hall library media specialist Beth Shenefiel, Richland Elementary third-grade teacher Kathleen Giegel and Pine-Richland Middle School eighth-grade teacher Patricia Cekella were named semifinalists. The Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year for 2012 will be named this fall. Pine-Richland High School math teacher Michele Switala received the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year honor in 2010. In 2011, PRHS French teacher Tom Joyce was a semifinalist for the statewide award.  The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Teacher of the Year  program began in 1995. The winner …

Plan to Move Students From Richland Elementary to Hance Put on Hold

School board members say more information is needed.

Parents of students at Richland Elementary let the school board know Monday that they do not want their children transferred to Hance Elementary. Pine-Richland School District's administration had proposed shifting part of Richland Elementary's student body to Hance Elementary, a few miles away. Dr. Laura Davis, director of staff development, explained that Richland Elementary's school population keeps growing, while Hance's is declining. Switching students from 65 to 75 families to Hance would ultimately result in a more "equitable distribution of resources" and smaller class sizes, she said. After hearing parents talk about the emotional impact such a move would have on their children, school board members said they thought they needed …

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