The Kutztown Area Teachers’ Association expressed concerns about programming and staff cuts in Kutzton School District.
On Monday, March 16, the Kutztown High School Library looked more like an airport waiting area than a room housing the school board’s monthly meeting. The people in attendance outnumbered the seats, leading to a standing room only section toward the rear of the room.
According to Josh Chambers, a Language Arts teacher at Kutztown High School, a large majority of those present were teachers throughout all levels of the school district. The teachers came out en masse in support of the Kutztown Area Teachers’ Association, of which Chambers served as the spokesperson.
During public comment, Chambers addressed the Kutztown Area School District school board with a prepared statement regarding staff demotions and how they impact the student body.
“We – teachers and administrators alike – keep our kids interested and driven because we have shown them we care. We advise. We mentor. We coach. But most of all we teach,” Chambers said. “Naturally our position is simple: cutting positions doesn’t make good sense – educationally or fiscally. On the contrary it shows a lack of foresight for potential earnings, in terms of both monetary and human capital.”
Chambers went on to address how teachers pay it forward, helping young students who will benefit the community (and world) in future years. He asked the board not to allow immediate monetary challenges to negatively affect the “standard of excellence that we pride ourselves for being a part of” throughout the Kutztown Area School District.
Chambers said that his prepared statement was prompted in large part by the demotion of a full-time employee in the music department at the high school to part-time status. With the board currently working on the 2015-16 budget, he said it raised the question – were other cuts being considered?
Although the board did not respond directly to the comments, Board Vice-president Randy Burch addressed concerns regarding the music department later in the public comments, stating that the board was working on a survey to administer to students to “hopefully begin to revive areas of the music program.”
The survey is expected to provide the board insight into what interests students on a musical level.
In related news, Gale Peluso, a teacher aid at the high school, also addressed the board with concerns about aids’ jobs being outsourced to outside companies. She was asked to speak before the board by a number of her co-workers.
Burch and Superintendent Katherine Metrick dispelled rumors of outsourcing. “That is not a road that the board is going to be taking at this time,” Metrick said.
After the public comment, the board continued to work on the district’s 2015-16 budget, which must be finalized no later than June 30. Thanks to a health insurance rate decrease and a teacher taking a leave of absence, the district’s expenditures dropped over $120,000 for next school year.
Business Administrator/Board Treasurer David Miller reviewed Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed Budget for 2015-16, which if passed in its entirety, could save the district over $250,000 that they are currently spending on charter school tuition for students, and possibly more money for special education tuition. Unfortunately, a decision on the Governor’s Budget is not expected until fall.
“We may have to pass our budget under the assumption that some or none of those proposed [Governor cuts] happen,” Burch said.
Despite no assurance of the proposed Governor’s Budget reducing expenditures, Burch said that the board’s goal remains the same – no tax increase or as little as manageable.
“That’s what we should be working towards every year,” Burch said. “I don’t see that as an unattainable goal at this time.”
In other news, the Herbein + Company Agreement, which was voted down at the board’s previous meeting on March 2, came before the board once again. Similar to the previous discussion, board member James Shrawder asked the purpose behind a multi-year agreement with the company, which provides auditing services.
Miller offered an explanation, which he gathered after the board’s prior meeting when the agreement was denied.
“It allows them to keep our fee flat throughout the entire period,” he said.
Without the agreement, the district would have to haggle over changing rates every year. Miller stated that Herbein + Company has proven very helpful and reliable over the years that the district has employed their services.
The motion passed, with one member abstaining from voting. With the approval, Herbein + Company will provide auditing services starting now through June 30, 2017, with the option to renew for 2018 and 2019.
The board’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Administration Building.