[ Back to eNewsletters ] February 2010 Still time to sign up for summit It’s not too late to register for the 2010 YorkCounts Community Summit, running 9 a.m. to noon March 26 at Penn State York’s Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. We’ll present updates on our recent work, including the Stay in School Report, the York Academy Regional Charter School and the Public Safety Study Committee. Lynn Cummings, a community organizer from Pennsauken, N.J., whose work was featured in a documentary called “The New Neighbors,” will be our keynote speaker. To register, send an e-mail with your name and phone number to summit@yorkcounts.org or call the summit registration line at 650-1450. Deadline is March 19. State leaders meet with YorkCounts Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell appeared March 5 at YorkCounts to argue for his 2010-11 budget to an invitation-only gathering of business and community leaders. Gov. Rendell asked YorkCounts to host the meeting because of our role as the one organization that engages in these kinds of big-picture discussions that affect all of York County and because of our connections to community leaders. Later this month, State Sen. Jeffrey Piccola and State Rep. Eugene DePasquale will appear at a YorkCounts board meeting to discuss their efforts around the Pennsylvania School Empowerment Act. The State Senate Education Committee, which Senator Piccola chairs, recently held a hearing on the issue at York College, and their actions on this important legislation as it comes up for renewal may have serious consequences for York City schools. Partner spotlight: The United Way of York County YorkCounts held the last in a series of three town halls on the topic of the United Way’s Stay in School Report and truancy in York County schools. The most recent town hall was hosted by Northeastern Middle School, and again the poignant moment came from a student. Lakyn Deitrick, a sophomore at Northeastern High School, nearly dropped out of school after becoming a teen mom in eighth grade, but the district’s social workers and other support services helped her keep up with classes and find child care for her baby. The United Way used the town halls to spotlight the devastating community consequences of truancy and high dropout rates. In the past six months, the agency has obtained about $200,000 in funds to support the Stay in School effort. Some of the funding was used to hire a York County Truancy Coordinator. Community Events March 15 and 18: York-Adams Regional Smart Growth Coalition Quarterly Meeting What is the current status of the real estate market for York and Adams counties? What is the impact of our local real estate market on the local economy, municipal revenues and overall property values? Dave Bode, senior partner with Rock Commercial Real Estate, and Shanna Wiest, government affairs director with the Realtors Association of York & Adams Counties, will offer some answers looking at real estate market data and trends. An Adams County session starts at 7 p.m. March 15 at the Gettysburg Ag Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg. The York County session starts at 9 a.m. March 18 at the offices of the Realtors Association, 901 Smile Way, York. April 10: Building Stronger Families Conference 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 10, Horticulture Hall at the York Expo Center, York A conference to link parents with resources to help families deal with bullying, peer pressure, drug use and teen sex. Learn how to get your kids engaged in positive after-school and summer activities. Hear keynote speakers Carlos Ojeda Jr. and Marc Lamont Hill. Lunch will be served. Presented by the York County Gang Prevention Initiative, State Rep. Eugene DePasquale's office and the Route 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative. The event is free and open to the public; advance registration is requested. To register, go to www.unitedway-york.org or call 717-771-3811. To read the entire brochure, click here.   In the News Feb. 18, The York Dispatch: Central approves charter school application Feb. 22, York Daily Record/Sunday News: York board approves charter Feb. 22, York Daily Record/Sunday News: Helping at-risk children succeed Feb. 22, The York Dispatch: York board approves one charter, denies another Feb. 22, WITF-FM: Effort to reduce truancy underway in York County Feb. 25, York Daily Record/Sunday News: Op-Ed: Regional charter school OK’d March 5, York Daily Record/Sunday News: Governor meets with business leaders at YorkCounts March 5, The York Dispatch: Rendell pitches sales tax plan to business leaders March 5, Central Penn Business Journal: School set to alter makeup of York March 11, The York Dispatch: County hires expert to solve truancy problem

YorkCounts - 105 Leader Heights Road, Suite 2 - York, PA 17403 - 717/650-1450 - yorkcounts@gmail.com YorkCounts is a community-based coalition working to assess, sustain and enhance York County's quality of life. Partners include Better York, The United Way of York County, WellSpan Health, York College of Pennsylvania, the York County Chamber of Commerce, the York County Commissioners, The York County Community Foundation and the York County Economic Development Corp. For the Media - Site Tools - Terms of Service/Privacy