WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – Reaction continues to pour in following the Whitehall-Coplay School District’s approval of a reorganization plan that will eliminate dozens of jobs.
Since the vote, 69 News has been in communication with people who are reaching out, upset about the decision to eliminate teachers and other staff. Some are saying that since the decision, morale is low.
“I was upset they didn’t address the points I made. That they are citing decreasing enrollment based on false facts, instead of the financial hardship that would actually affect the administration. If the teachers are being cut, so should administration,” said Allison Brobst, a parent and former school board member.
Brobst has been vocal about the impacts the cuts will have on the district. She says it should have never come to this.
“All that’s going to happen is that the kids are going to learn less, the teachers are going to do more — they’re going to have larger class sizes and a whole lot less impact on their students,” she said.
The plan will eliminate more than 30 positions, including a biology teaching position; multi-tiered systems support math teaching position, three elementary STEM teaching positions, and a middle school STEM/industrial arts teaching position. Twelve secretarial positions, six paraprofessionals and eight substitutes are also included in the cuts.
Brobst said she has been in contact with teachers in the school district.
Staff and teachers feel morale is the lowest it has ever been, Brobst says. She says some are wearing black to send a message on a day they would normally wear school colors.
The plan comes as the district faces a $6 million deficit, and the board is unable to move forward with the budget without a reorganization plan.
“If we are able to make additional changes, then we would make amendments to the reorganization plan. No cut makes any sense, no cut that we would make. Everyone can argue whatever they want … no cut we would make is good for our kids,” said Superintendent Christopher Schiffert at the meeting.
Many community members are still upset that getting finances in order means cuts, and they are asking for other options to be explored.
“This didn’t just happen overnight,” said community member Richard Gierula. “I wish somebody would recommend a forensic audit done on the spending of this school district.”
The proposed budget features a 4.7% tax increase. The proposed budget will be up for a final vote in June.
Many of the people 69 News spoke with say that they want to believe there is at least a chance things will change.