SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Hundreds of people attended the Schuylkill Haven Area school board meeting Wednesday, during which the council decided to stop doing assessment appeals but took no action on furloughing teachers.
Superintendent Lorraine Felker did not return a call for comment Wednesday night. The board remained in an executive session after the meeting late Wednesday, but board President Scott Jacoby said no decisions were going to be made.
Jacoby said at the start of the meeting that the board would not respond to questions but would hear the concerns of the students, teachers and residents gathered at the meeting.
Students in several grades spoke about the role teachers play in their lives.
"Under no circumstances whatsoever is the elimination of teachers in the best interest for the students," said student Michael Potts, in response to the school district's consideration of furloughing nine teachers.
Several students also spoke about ways the district could save money, including changing light bulbs, reconsidering the laptop initiative in which laptops are provided to students in certain grades and cutting the pay of administrators.
"Will you dismiss other unnecessary expenses or will you compromise our educations and our futures?" Potts asked.
Kyle McGarry, 16, a junior, said the auditorium, which seats 697, was the fullest he has ever seen it Wednesday.
"As you can see, much of our student body has decided to gather here tonight to exercise our First Amendment rights in support of our teachers. If it were not for our social studies teachers, we would not understand these rights. If it were not for our math teachers, we would not recognize these numbers that are behind these potential furloughs. If it were not for our librarian, we would not have a place to meet and conduct our research. If it were not for our English teachers, we would not have had the help we needed to prepare these statements so that we can exercise our rights in a civilized, competent and efficient manner. We come here tonight asking that you think not only of our teachers who push us and inspire us on a daily basis but also the future of our education at Schuylkill Haven Area High School and beyond," he said.
Dr. Dan D'Arco, an orthopedic surgeon in Pottsville who lives in the Schuylkill Haven area, said he understands the situation the district is in.
"I don't envy you at all," he said. "You're going to have to fix this, because you did break their hearts," he said, referring to the students.
"Just like in Boston (after the bombings Monday), we saw people who didn't know what they could do but they could do something ... You don't know what you should do but you're going to have to figure out what you can do," D'Arco said.
Jacoby said there would be another public budget meeting before the school board adopts its final budget, which must be approved by June 30. A tentative budget also must be adopted and advertised.
Also during Wednesday's meeting, the board voted to not do any more reverse appeals in the district effective the upcoming budget year.
The only "no" vote to the motion by board member Gerald Reichert was cast by board member Dr. Bernice Machamer. In such an appeal, a school district decides to appeal the assessment of a property once it is sold. If the property is assessed at a higher value, it means increased tax revenues for the county, township and school district.
Ryan Achenbach, a realtor, said the burden on homeowners is often too much, while Carl Swartzentruber, Auburn, said his property was reassessed and it is a financial difficulty.
Swartzentruber said he was happy with the school board's action.
"I'm excited. I'm very, very pleased. It's high time this happened."