KANE — During her emotional speech at the conclusion of the Kane Area School Board meeting on Thursday night, teacher’s union president Kathy Counts said, “we all need to come together. We need to be positive and we need to quit pointing fingers at each other and we need to quit blaming each other.”
Counts’ speech came after the school board voted to furlough six teaching positions and eliminate a seventh at the conclusion of the 2016-17 fiscal year as a result of a decline in student enrollment over the past several years.
During opening public comments, a total of 13 meeting attendees, including students, teachers, former teachers and residents, stood before the board pleading for them to postpone their vote until other options could be sought. Several students stood in solidarity advocating for the board to retain music teacher Matthew McClard, and senior Keaton Rounsville questioned the decision to let physical education teacher and assistant coach Tyler Smith go.
Following public comment, the board elected to withdraw to an executive session at 7:38 p.m. to discuss personnel issues and there appeared to be an air of hope to those that voiced their pleas.
Resident and borough Councilman Dave Walker stood before the board during the closing public comments stating, “When you went into executive session you heard a sigh because the people and the kids out here we thinking, ‘They’re going to change their minds.’ You all came back and you stuck that knife right to them.”
Following Walker, Counts proceeded to give her speech of reconciliation, stating, “We all need to understand it wasn’t an easy decision. It still isn’t an easy decision for any of us. We’re all losing something or losing somebody that meant something to us, that were part of us. That’s not easy and it shouldn’t be easy for any of us.”
For her part, Superintendent Ann Kearney read from a written statement she had prepared.
“These reductions in faculty have absolutely nothing to do with job performance,” Kearney said. “Those teachers who will be affected by this reduction are wonderful young professionals and highly respected by me, the school board members, the administration, their colleagues, parents and students.
“We wanted to do this early so that these employees would have the benefit of preparing resumes and getting ahead of any job openings in the area or beyond,” added Kearney. “It is a sad day in public education when we are faced with such painful recommendations that affect the very lives of those who we hold in high esteem.”
Alluding to a bigger trend within the education system, Kearney said that “dark clouds” were hovering over the public education system in the form of fiscal changes at the state and federal levels, continued financial impacts of the cyber-charter system tuitions and mandatory obligations enforced by law that were not inexpensive items to meet.
Kearney also expressed hope that the reduction in staff, although difficult, would help the school to look ahead and maintain a “well-rounded educational opportunity for all students.”
“Be sure to talk to your children about these tough decisions and provide them with the assurance that they will still be attending a safe and wonderful school district and give them hope that our country will still value the importance of a solid education for all,” said Kearney.
Kearney concluded her speech encouraging, like Counts, the community, school board, administrators, teachers, and support staff to work together and move forward with their commitment to providing a well-balanced school district to the community at large.
Concluding her time speaking and aligning with Kearney’s sentiment, Counts stated, “I have faith. That’s what I’m leaning on right now.” Then pointing to the school board and the many in attendance, “As a community I have faith in you and I’m going to have faith in everyone that is standing out here.”
“We need to come together,” Counts went on saying, “and if that means we need to go down to Harrisburg, then let’s do it. Let’s not let them get rid of us. Let’s reach out to each other. Let’s help each other get through this. I know we can do it.”
Included in the furloughs are the termination of four temporary professional contracts of the following employees effective at the conclusion of the 2016-17 fiscal year: Brittany Melfi, guidance counselor; Rebecca Mohney, elementary teacher; Stephen Joblon, mathematics teacher; and Jenelle Johnson, English and social studies teacher.
Also included in the furloughs is the suspension of the following professional employees effective at the conclusion of the 2016-17 fiscal year pursuant to 24 PS 11-1124 and based on a substantial decrease in student enrollment: Matthew McClard, music teacher; and Tyler Smith, physical education teacher.
Finally is the elimination of the athletic trainer position, effective at the conclusion of the 2016-17 fiscal year.
The board concluded its monthly meeting by stating that any resident or concerned party was welcome to attend the school board meetings the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. or any working session that falls on the preceding Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held in the Kane Area Middle School auditorium.
