School Budget Presentation Mar. 24 

The Manchester Township Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 24 for public presentation of the Proposed 2011-2012 School Budget. The meeting will be held at 7:00PM in the auditorium at Manchester Township High School.

The district was able to maintain programs and staff at current levels in the proposed budget because of a change in staff medical benefits that yielded a savings of $1 million.  The proposed General Fund budget is $46,364,752, and the proposed Total Budget (with debt service) is $50,081,478.  The General Fund local tax levy, which will be presented to voters on the April 27 ballot, would be $38,695,101.  The 2011 tax rate is projected to be $1.00 per $100,000 of assessed home value, an increase of 2.7 cents. The average assessed home value in Manchester is $194,100. The yearly cost would be $54 for the average homeowner. 

View Budget/Election Information

Schools Receive USDA Awards for Healthy Lunch Programs 

Manchester Township Elementary School, Ridgeway Elementary School and Whiting Elementary School are the first in the state to achieve Silver status in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's HealthierUS Schools Challenge.

The HealthierUS School Challenge is a voluntary national certification initiative for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. Sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the initiative encourages all schools take a leadership role in helping students to make healthier eating and physical activity choices that will last a lifetime. Schools work hard to make changes to their school nutrition environment in order to (1) improve the quality of the foods served, (2) provide students with nutrition education, and (3) provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.

Jeff Hanaway, manager of Sodexo food services for Manchester schools, announced the awards at the March Board of Education meeting. He explained that over the past few years, school lunch menus were redesigned with items such as whole grain breads and pastas, lowfat/nonfat milk and dressings, and a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, in order to meet the standards for the challenge. Nutrition education was also incorporated, including monthly fresh produce tastings. Dietician Tracy Kinsel-Cooper was hired last year to help with the effort.   [read more]

School Calendar Revised for Snow Days - Last Day Now June 16 
 

The Manchester Township Board of Education has approved an extension of the school year by two days to make up for snow cancellations this winter. The last day of school for students will now be June 16. Graduation ceremonies for both the middle school and high school will now also take place on June 16.

 [Updated Calendar Pages]