Daniel Boone School Board members said June 8 they didn’t know where the task of furloughing teachers would lead them, or the effect it would have on next year’s juniors and seniors.
District administration said months ago that furloughs of approximately 11 district teachers would be required to balance the 2015-16 budget.
That task took on a personal note when several juniors and seniors relayed on June 8 how next year’s schedules are already being changed — and their futures affected.
“These classes that we want to take would allow us to apply to Georgetown [etc.],” said Lindsay MacGregor, Douglassville. “If cutting to furlough, what are we doing? I’m not a number; I’m a student at Daniel Boone High School.”
Two High School seniors said they have completed three years of art class prerequisites to qualify for this year’s Art IV class, now also eliminated because it typically enrolls less than 10 students.
Two juniors said the elimination of Art IV will change the course of their future course selections — and all art students’ futures.
Parent Kelly Heffner, Douglassville, said the popular High School Forensics class would be eliminated with the furlough of a High School science, biology, and chemistry teacher.
Board members said they didn’t realize the “trickle down effect” of eliminating two High School teacher positions from the 34 classes that had 10 or fewer students, and which violate district policy.
“I thought we would eliminate unpopular classes, not a science teacher and a physical education teacher,” said Board President Richard Martino.
District Superintendent Marybeth Torchia said the selection of those two teachers was also based on seniority and certifications.
“It’s not something that is an easy decision — there is so much that goes into play with it,” said Torchia.
“The 2015-16 course selection guide was approved by the board in December and kids signed up for the classes [from which guidance counselors are now asking students for backup classes].”
High School Principal Preston N. McKnight said of the High School’s more than 200 courses, he is considering a two-year rotation for AP European History, Shakespeare, and AP Art Studio, as well as combining Yearbook classes, Personal Keyboarding with Publishing Design, and Music with AP Music.
The June 8 Committee of the Whole agenda asks board members to consider for the June 22 voting meeting the furlough of one third grade teacher, three fourth grade teachers, one fifth grade teacher, and an elementary gifted teacher due to a “substantial decrease in pupil enrollment,” as well as one sixth grade teacher and the High School physical education and science teachers.
“There isn’t a choice to keep all those classes,” said board member Andrew Basile.
“We have to allocate our money to the state retirement fund and healthcare whether we like it or not. It’s a trade-off at this point. I hear the students, and it’s not as though we’re not considering it, but what’s the alternative? Is it band, sports? We’re not going to increase class sizes beyond the policy. I don’t see how you get from here to there without cutting positions.”
Board members will examine and consider past, present, and future projected enrollments prior to their votes on personnel at the June 22 voting meeting.
Also on June 22, the board will vote on its award of the food services contract and the possible appointment of a new food services manager.
Martino and Basile said the two bid offers by The Nutrition Group, Irwin, Westmoreland County – to assume the role as Food Services Management Company – includes the district’s current 30 cafeteria workers.
Martino said two recent meetings scheduled by The Nutrition Group to meet with and assure the cafeteria workers, were cancelled by the union.
“The company has assured us that they would hire the employees,” said Martino, adding, “They want to meet with you. It was 6 p.m. tonight, and 5 p.m. on June 11, and now it is scheduled for June 16.”