Shenandoah Valley superintendent continues call for action on education funding

SHENANDOAH – Shenandoah Valley School District Superintendent Brian Waite continued to call for action on education funding to close what he calls “catastrophic funding gaps” at Wednesday night’s school board meeting.

Waite said that superintendents from across the region were invited to a roundtable discussion, hosted by Senator David G. Argall and Representatives Dane Watro, Tim Twardzik, and Jamie Barton, all Republicans, to discuss Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget.

“Building on the progress made in the 2023-24 budget, the 2024-25 budget proposal includes a historic nearly $1.1 billion increase in basic education funding – the largest increase in Pennsylvania history, recognizing the work of the BEFC and the need to direct these investments to the schools that need them the most,” Waite said. “As a district that was part of the Fair Funding Lawsuit and has an equity gap is $10,000 per student or $12 million per year, I applaud Governor Shapiro for taking real action for public schools in communities like ours by putting forward the first year of a transformative plan.”

“Facing enormous funding gaps, educators in Shenandoah Valley make impossible choices for our students every day, shifting insufficient resources to some students who need them at the expense of others,” Waite added. “The seven year plan would give us the chance to make choices based on maximizing our students’ amazing potential, not minimizing collateral damage.”

Waite said that Argall is the only state senator who represents three petitioners in the school funding lawsuit — Shenandoah, Panther Valley, and Wilkes-Barre Area — and also is the only senator to represent three of the top ten underfunded districts in the state.

“It is imperative representatives and senators from both sides of the aisle work together to pass the Governor’s budget, which does NOT include a tax increase, so districts across the Commonwealth can begin to adequately plan for the future of our most precious citizens, the students,” Waite said. “The catastrophic funding gaps are not isolated to Democrats or Republicans, they are funds district like ours deserve and we look forward to providing the necessary resources and facilities they deserve.”

“It is my hope legislatures representing our area can help lead, drive, and move the Governor’s budget forward for the betterment of the students across the Commonwealth,” Waite added.

In other business, the school board approved:

• STEM Teacher/Angie Brayford to attend “STEM Con and Beyond”
• The following staff members to attend “SHAPE America National Convention”
  o Elementary Vice Principal/School Psychologist Lesley Matus
  o Elementary Principal/Federal Programs Coordinator Brooke Wowak
• The following staff members, retroactively,to attend “Building Capacity and Promoting Instruction Through PASA DLM”
  o Special Education Teacher/Brittany Dombrosky
  o Special Education Teacher/Kelly Engle
  o Special Education Teacher/Melissa Litwhiler
  o Special Education Teacher/Trisha Maksimik
  o Special Education Teacher/Lisa Reidler
  o Special Education Director/Michelle Zinkus
• A request for maternity leave
• A revision to the 2023-24 school calendar, adding an Act 80 Day on March 27;
• A 28-day public review period for the district’s special education plan beginning Feb. 29;
• Several PSBA developed policies, first reading;
• A partnership agreement between the district and the Keystone/Red Rock Job Corps;
• The 2024-25 school calendar;
• The repository sale of a property on East Coal Street in Shenandoah;
• The 2024-25 IU29 administrative and program budget;
• The Schuylkill Technology Center secondary budget;
• The following coaches:
  • Baseball
    • Jeff Maksimik, head coach;
    • Mick Jacavage, assistant;
    • Chris Chaklos, assistant;
    • Frank McCole, volunteer;
    • Randy Maksimik, volunteer;
    • Tom Lauta, volunteer;
    • Nick Mikita, volunteer;
  • Softball
    • Joe Michalik, head coach;
    • Michele Bereschak, assistant;
    • Mark Mamrosh, assistant;
  • Track
    • Rick Werner, head coach;
    • Cathy Crawford, assistant;
    • Megan Mehalick, assistant
• The following support staff resignations and posting and advertising:
  • Victoria Chernesky, full-time paraprofessional;
  • Lisa Milillo, 5-hour housecleaning;
  • Larry Stremba, 3rd-shift custodian;
• The use of Rotary Way by the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library;
• The use of the high school gym by the boys’ basketball team;
• Advertising the 1994 Ford band van for sale;
• A leave of absence for an employee.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home.

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