Pennsbury To Furlough Up To 200 Workers During Virtual Start

FALLSINGTON, PA — Pennsbury School District will furlough up to 200 employees during the first semester of the 2020-21 school year, as students begin the year attending classes remotely.

School board members unanimously approved the cost-cutting measure Thursday night, after agreeing to begin school remotely through at least January due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

The vote orders Pennsbury administration to furlough support staff workers beginning on Aug. 26. Specific furloughs will be decided based on seniority, according to the order.

"This is a very hard vote," board member Joshua Waldorf said. "It's hard because it impacts a lot of the people who are our partners in the school district."

The furloughs will be in the following areas:

• paraprofessionals (up to 48 positions)
• bus drivers and transportation aides (up to 50 positions)
• school, teacher, hallway, library and other aides (up to 95 positions)
• management assistants (up to 6 positions)
• lifeguard

"I think we all hope this is a really temporary thing," said board member Chip Taylor. "This is a really hard thing to do."

District officials said they plan to bring all workers back when students return to in-person instruction.