Credit: Morrisville Borough School District
The Morrisville Borough School District is again seeking a partner.
The school district that serves the students in the roughly 8,500-resident borough has reached out to the Pennsbury School District to talk about a merger, both sides confirmed to LevittownNow.com.
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Jason Harris, the superintendent for the Morrisville Borough School District, said a letter was sent to Pennsbury asking for an “opportunity to discuss possibilities.”
“No discussions have taken place since no definitive dates or actions have been scheduled,” Harris said.
Pennsbury School Board President Christine Toy-Dragoni said the district has received no formal proposal and only a request for a meeting.
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Harris said Morrisville Borough School District officials have only reached out to Pennsbury, which surrounds them, to discuss a merger.
Pennsbury School Board member Howard Goldberg said the district should carefully consider any possible interest in merging. He said a study should be done to see how joining the two systems would impact Pennsbury, including in terms of cost, facilities, redistricting, and transportation.
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Goldberg also said there was “political pressure” for Pennsbury to consider the merger.
Toy-Dragoni said Goldberg’s comments were based on “speculation” and Pennsbury would need to learn more.
The tiny school system that serves about 850 kids in Morrisville Borough has faced financial challenges for years, including increasing funds needed for state-mandated programs and pension costs.
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Last year, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Perry Warren and State Rep. John Galloway, all Democrats who represent the area, requested the state provide aid to help the struggling district.
Officials have raised the point over the years that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is flawed and shortchanges the small district.
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In years past, officials from the Morrisville Borough School District have sent letters to the Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bensalem, Council Rock, Neshaminy, and Pennsbury school districts to try to spur interest in merger talks. Morrisville Borough school officials have previously pointed to additional tax revenue for a suitor, two buildings in the district, and benefits for area students as selling points.
Pennsbury last turned down an offer to merge from Morrisville in 2014.
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Proposals for a merger between Pennsbury and Morrisville have been floated since the 1970s.
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