Classes on the Chopping Block?

Although Upper Dublin School Board President Joseph Chmielewski kicked off Monday night’s meeting by saying the meeting wasn’t meant to be budget heavy, the board touched on some items that could certainly affect the 2013-14 budget.

During the work session meeting, the board and administration read through a list of several high school courses that are recommended to be canceled for the 2013-14 school year due to lack of enrollment. They are:

• Advanced debate
• Young adult literature book club
• Great books program
• Contemporary law
• African American culture
• Current World
• Academic success: Preparing for college
• Chemistry II
• Latin I
• Electronics and robots
• Architecture
• Architecture II/Principals of construction
• Adult consumer resources
• Art history
• Aquatic activities
• Officiating and coaching
• Music business and
• Vocal techniques

None of the classes listed above has more than 10 students scheduled for the following year, and five of the classes had no takers.

In addition to the classes listed above, driver education and Verbal PSAT prep are also recommended to be deleted. (The PSAT prep will likely be combined with Verbal SAT Prep, and will be available to students in grades 9-12.

And the following high school courses have the “potential” to be canceled for the 2013-14 year due to “budgetary constraints:"

• Critical film viewing and analysis
• STRIVE I
• Abnormal psychology
• Marketing
• Sports and entertainment marketing

Chmielewski asked if it was essential to act on the recommended cancelations in March. Assistant Superintendant Robert Schultz said it was “somewhat critical” to act quickly so scheduling can get underway. 

Superintendent Michael Pladus said more explanation on canceling certain classes will be given at next week’s school board meeting.

“It will be clearer next week in the scope of financial discussions,” Pladus said. “The board reserves the right to ask the administration to reconsider [the cancelations] but we do have a $2.7 million deficit to make up.”

The Upper Dublin School Board will meet Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.