ORWIGSBURG - Shortly after the first bell rang Wednesday morning, students at Blue Mountain High School marched down the hill to the football field to protest threatened teacher layoffs and program cutbacks.
Nearly 1,000 students gathered at the bleachers in Eagles' Nest Stadium, where they cheered and chanted, many of them holding signs that read "Save the arts" or "Stop the cuts." Some students also carried art supplies such as paint brushes or musical instruments. State police watched over the students as they left the school.
Blue Mountain's proposed 2013-14 budget projects $37,238,475 in revenue with expenses at $38,655,880, a shortfall of about $1.4 million. The administration previously said the district faces increasing costs in pension, health care and contractual obligations. A budget must be approved by June 30.
At an April 4 budget meeting, Superintendent Robert Urzillo outlined three proposals to cut costs, which include the possibility of teacher furloughs and "curtails" in programs such as guidance, music, health and physical education, library, world languages, family, consumer sciences, art and business.
The school board meets at 7 p.m. tonight. In anticipation of a large crowd, the district has moved its board meeting today and next week from the administration building to Blue Mountain Elementary East, 675 Red Dale Road, Orwigsburg.
The students were outside for about 15 minutes Wednesday before Urzillo said he preferred to address the crowd in the school auditorium. The students went back into the school and filed into the auditorium, where they remained for the entire first class period.
A Republican-Herald reporter was not allowed in the auditorium as the students questioned Urzillo, but loud cheers could be heard from the hallway. Students said there was standing room only in the auditorium, which seats about 800.
"When you have something like this, you have to listen to the kids," Urzillo said shortly after leaving the auditorium.
As of March 31, there are 2,824 students in the school district - 917 at the high school, 675 at the middle school and 1,232 at the elementary schools.
"I think the students here, who I think would be least impacted (by budget cuts), have some concerns," Urzillo said.
Steve Beres, 18, of Cressona, acted as a spokesman for the students during the protest Wednesday. Beres, who is president of the school's art club, said it was important for the students to voice their concerns.
"All of these classes have been important to me and all the students at this school," he said.
Beres said the goal of the protest was to engage Urzillo and school board President Mary Jo Moss in a conversation to keep arts and music programs at the school.
"Just to show them there are plenty of people that will be affected by this," Beres said.
Urzillo said no programs will be eliminated, only altered. He said he expects four or five furloughs as opposed to the seven to 14 eliminations in the proposed plans. Although he did not provide details, he said there are ongoing discussions that may prevent teacher layoffs and program curtails.
Urzillo said the students also asked about the roofing project at Blue Mountain Elementary West and the school district is using its funding.
"I'll meet with them anytime, just not during class time," Urzillo said.
Urzillo said the students were respectful during the protest but suggested they organize a committee to meet with him and school board members.
Moss, who was also at the school Wednesday morning, encouraged the students and general public to attend board meetings.
"There was a lot of misinformation and this helped clear up a lot of it," Moss said.
As of Wednesday morning, High School Principal Kevin Berger said there was no disciplinary action planned against the participating students.