Students,Parents,Teachers Fight for T/E PhDs

A gruelling, nearly four hour, T/E School Board Meeting laid out frustrations on all sides and ended with a stunning, unheard of gestrure by a grateful parent Monday night.

Hundreds of frustrated students, teachers, parents and community members packed the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Board room, two overflow rooms and the hallways of the District's Administration Offices Monday night.

"What's up, Doc?"

Many students held handmade signs reading "What's Up Doc?" The message behind the signs was delivered over and over and over again at the podium:'don't demote the best teachers in the district (many of whom have doctorate degrees) to save money.

One-by-one students from grades 8-12 took to the podium making the case for not demoting teachers they admire and who have inspired them. Many read statements that closely mirrored language used by the teachers' union in laying out the case against demoting many teachers with PhDs.

The school board is considering a proposal to demote teachers from full time to part time in an effort to save money on salaries and benefits.

How the Board Got to this Point

The T/E School District is facing a $6 million budget shortfall in the short run that is projected to climb to more than $15 million within five years.

Conestgoa High School senior Kelsey Sheronas summed it up in three words: "This just sucks," she told board members. Many board members agree with the sentiment. Board President Karen Cruickshank told the overflow crowd that the board has tried to consider every option for finding ways to cut spending and that the public is welcome to join the conversation with any ideas.

School boards are limited in the amount they can raise property taxes to generate revenue. At the same time, pension costs that local school districts must pay are mandated by state law

How One 11th Grader Sums it Up

Conestoga junior Phoebe Wang moved to the district before her freshman year. After learning about the budget projections and the financial realities presented to the public at Monday's meeting she told the board "I was proud to move here and now I'm just glad to be getting out of here before the fecal material hits the fan."

Cruickshank and other board members urged the students, parents, and taxpayers who flooded Monday's meeting to contact their lawmakers in Harrisburg. She wants the public's help to push for drastic changes in the way the state mandates expenses and provides funding to T/E and all local school districts in Pennsylvania.

Surprise Ending

At the very end of the meeting, David Levine of Devon went to the podium and said he wanted to thank the school district for all it had done for him and his family.