Teacher Furlough Notices Spark Debate In Penn Hills

64 Teachers Notified By School District

POSTED: 11:23 pm EST March 5, 2010
UPDATED: 12:18 am EST March 9, 2010

PENN HILLS, Pa. --

It's become a familiar site in Penn Hills in recent months -- teachers and parents attending meetings regarding jobs in the classroom.

On Monday night, they came together again after 64 teachers in the school district were notified last week that they could be in jeopardy of losing their jobs.

"First, it sends a message to established, good teachers to run as fast and as far as you can because, no matter how good you are, you are damaged goods," said teacher Kelly Shiring.

Parents and students argued that fewer teachers will result in crowded classrooms.

"When we have how many kids in a classroom that aren't being educated now because you keep telling me that there are too many kids in the classroom to educate them, yet we're going to put more kids in a classroom?" said parent Erin Vecchio.

Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesman Butch Santicola said the teachers were told of the potential eliminations on Friday.

The district is required to notify those affected by March 15.

The moves would go into effect next school year, but a decision won't be known until a budget is passed in June.

"That's when we'll know how many folks are going to be furloughed. There might not be any, there might be some, there might be a few. There might be the number that's on that furlough list, but that's highly questionable at this point," said district solicitor Craig Alexander.

Channel 4 Action News' Jon Greiner reported that the district has 500 fewer students than it did two years ago.

In February, more than 400 teachers hit the picket line after 150 days without a contract.

However, they returned to work without a new deal in place.

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