School district tackles budget issues, remains true to students 

by Janine Logue 

“Times are tough, and we need to do something about it,” said New Hope-Solebury Superintendent Raymond Boccuti, at his first community forum held at New Hope-Solebury High School.

Mr. Boccuti decided to hold the forum so that he may outline the school district’s preliminary budget for 2009/2010 to the community and address any questions or concerns that parent and community members may have.

To start off the evening, Mr. Boccuti shared some points of pride with the small group of community members.

According to Mr. Boccuti, every single school in the district has either met or exceeded the ever-increasing Adequate Yearly Progress expectations of the No Child Left Behind Act. The entire teaching staff has also been deemed “highly qualified” under the Act.

Mr. Boccuti also pointed out that 99 percent of 2008 graduates from New Hope-Solebury High School have gone on to college. The average SAT scores of New Hope-Solebury students is 1618, whereas the state average is only 1478 and the national average is 1511.

The school district has also implemented a full-day kindergarten program, making them one of only a handful of districts in Bucks County to do so.

Lastly, Mr. Boccuti mentioned the work of the recently instituted finance committee, who, through better planning, bidding and investments, has managed to save the district $1.2 million over four years.

Moving on to the actual 2009/2010 budget numbers, Mr. Boccuti explained that the current preliminary budget calls for a 6.58 percent tax increase (about $287), but stressed to the community members in attendance that budget talks are far from over.

“The preliminary budget tax increase will not be the tax increase brought to the School Board for final approval in June,” said Mr. Boccuti to the crowd.

According to Mr. Boccuti, both he and the board are working hard to tighten the budget and bring the tax increase down to the Act 1 index of 4.1 percent (about $179). To get to the 4.1 percent goal the board must cut another $579,627 from the budget.

Mr. Boccuti warns, however, that making the necessary cuts in staff and programs to eliminate the nearly $600,000 will be a “painful process.”

To bring the budget from its original 14.75 percent increase down to the current 6.58 percent, the board has already agreed to cut after school “late busses,” eliminate all new position requests, reduce equipment purchases and freeze all current year spending.

Because the district has maintained a high credit rating, the finance committee was able to refinance much of the district’s debt for a lower rate.

The board was also able to save money by teaming up with other districts in the county for joint purchases of goods and services. As a larger group they were able to negotiate a better prices.

One major cause for the budget deficit this year was the dramatic down turn in the housing industry. In years past the district could count on up to $1.2 million in funding from the real estate transfer tax. The estimated amount for the 2009/2010 budget is only $600,000.

However, real estate taxes are only part of the problem, the district also faces contractual salary increases, increased costs of health insurance and a growing student body.

Despite all the obstacles in front of them, Mr. Boccuti remains confident that he and the board will be able to reach their goal of 4.1 percent, an amount that is 2.06 percent lower than the school’s 10-year average of 6.16 percent.

Civil War era bible finds its way home 

by Janine Logue 

It all started in 2006, when book collector and author Kathleen Greco of Southampton bought a small red pocket bible at Stephenson's Auction.

Returning home with the book, Kathleen put it aside and didn’t really think about it again until this past winter.

While exploring the book, Kathleen noticed a signature and several handwritten locations among the bible’s pages.

The signature was that of Anderson Pidcock and the locations were places that he had been stationed while serving with Company H, 6th Regiment, N.J. Volunteers during the Civil War.

Also, among the pages were four neatly pressed 4-leaf clovers.

The book, for some reason, struck a cord with Kathleen and she decided that she had to know more about this man, Anderson Pidcock.

Anderson was a young Yankee soldier, just 17 when he left home to fight for the Union and just 19 when he gave his life for it.  He was killed in the line of duty during the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia on May 6, 1864.

An Internet search lead Kathleen to the Pidcock family website. It was through that website that Kathleen was able to track down the great granddaughter of Anderson’s younger brother, Clark Pidcock.

Cathy Pidcock Thomas agreed to meet with Kathleen at Anderson’s Lambertville area gravesite in Holcombe-Riverview Cemetery.

It was there that Kathleen presented the book to the Pidcock Family Association and informed them that she would be leaving the book in their care as a donation.

“Anderson Pidcock was a direct descendent of John Pidcock the trader who settled where Pidcock's Creek empties into the Delaware just south of New Hope,” said Cathy. “Pidcock's settlement appears on a 1680 map, placing him in Pennsylvania before William Penn. William Penn honored his settlement by granting him the 505 acres that now make up much of the northern section of Pennsylvania's Washington's Crossing Historical Park.”

The whole Pidcock family was given the opportunity to view the bible at their annual family reunion.

“We had our family reunion on Saturday May 16th and the family enjoyed seeing the bible,” said Cathy. “Folks were surprised how small it is - just a pocket sized new testament. Interestingly, the passages he marked with 4 leaf clovers deal with Jesus raising Jairis' daughter from the dead, Paul being freed from prison and Paul's letters from his travels. Travel, imprisonment and death were all hazards this young soldier faced and I think his Bible reflects his prayers for divine protection.”

According to Cathy, Anderson’s great-great-grandparents are buried just off the parking lot at Bowman's tower, further emphasizing the Pidcock’s strong family connections to the area. 

For more information about the Anderson Pidcock bible visit the Pidcock Family Association website at www.PidcockFamily.org.