[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6542493,"mediaKeyId","3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf","parentId",3459164,"title","Board approves collapsing sections including a first-grade classroom; teacher warns of larger class sizes","audioSeconds",641,"startMs",3171000,"endMs",3812000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf&start=3171&end=3812","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf/thumbnail_3171000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6542493/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-collapsing-sections-including-a-first-grade-classroom-teacher-warns-of-larger-class-sizes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542493-a226eddb655f4d96be6844371bc5c07e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914285&Signature=L9ykkeo9D9HDIpxQq7DmLL1PSz2V7TV~Fc0u9WAz~6biv00rkFkYsP5jzZgPxkFXmMRRpycQ~t6s7I1VtpPjsErhyaZxfnVI4p-T8W0ChBBd3wyVC5Blh2x1r8Q6VJF1CCd31NBIoxWnjag7ykd8YjtkUJVNlFi9y8QbDY68S~TVJNw-JxzSdKokDX-jz6sfV1GFHKLyZSqhWTS4GXsRsL4UZmKOF427uXQ-5aIx5kkxbeYTy1z7mvp4MZ-nhH5jqE~vJaRb8p78n8yVqEdZghnAKALDp9iHQ8241POL~pBrj1TMRLs~cNnZ~zk19~lYNjQHKa7zYhkgbF~80Nw6UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Area School District","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Wyoming Area Board of Education adopted the education report at the May 20 meeting; one item (extracurricular appointments) was tabled and the board approved a motion that included collapsing classroom sections the administration proposed.

The education report read into the record included this action: \"approve to collapse the following sections: first grade, science, physics, BC, IT at the secondary center.\" The board voted to adopt the education report with the specified collapses after tabling a separate item on extracurricular appointments.

At public comment, Mariah Jensen, a first-grade teacher at the primary center, urged the board to reconsider collapsing a first-grade classroom. Jensen said typical first-grade classes at the district currently average about 20 to 23 students; with the collapse she said a single classroom could rise to 27 or 28 students. She testified that many classrooms already include multiple students with special education needs, several students below grade level, several English learners and students with significant behavioral or trauma-related needs.

\"How is it expected to have one person teach with no aide and have all students master a skill?\" Jensen asked. She described scenarios in which several students need small-group time while other students require immediate attention for sickness or behavior; Jensen said the additional students would increase the number of struggling students and could raise special-education costs over time. She called the proposed collapse a risk to instructional outcomes and to students' ability to meet reading standards.

During board discussion administrators said they are examining cost-saving options, including creating in-district autistic-support classes to reduce private out-of-district placements and offering incentives for early retirements; they also discussed efforts to attract students back from cyber programs. The board did not vote to reverse the collapsed sections at the May 20 meeting; the administration and board said further programmatic and budget decisions will be finalized as the budget process continues.

The board tabled and later passed other education-report items; the vote to adopt the remainder of the education report passed by roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Combined Meeting (5-22-25)","oneSentenceSummary","The Wyoming Area Board approved an education report on May 20 that included collapsing a first-grade classroom and several secondary sections; a first-grade teacher warned the change would raise class sizes to 27–28 and imperil student learning.","taxTitle","Wyoming Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",54451,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6542497,"Wyoming Area presents proposed 2025-26 budget with $1.4 million worst-case shortfall; board adopts proposed final budget",2231,765000,2996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf&start=765&end=2996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf/thumbnail_765000.jpg","/articles/6542497/Pennsylvania/Wyoming-Area-presents-proposed-2025-26-budget-with-14-million-worst-case-shortfall-board-adopts-proposed-final-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542497-f2b3110be75cea97f88c2d45eba68bbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914285&Signature=CV2qt5NVuftr3~WGvrTfzcJ-CA~nQeu-JGqc24ot0i42d1dtnBlRQWxOe9DkMNMmPQOjXq1Gh3LovHN-E2hXaOAlRxpfSuhFuNxTGuuhXwSS8Sf---MwaZofioXWkyK1naKZbxNOjYFZLRGRwBmrEukDErTtc-pKKPfVwaVBWvJwvYkHkgJHCqJVva~rZhKIXiOg8ukH49Llivw9Vj~JKrXD4q4NedxvB3jFKQyRx-bbCY5oorbs1aYPu1C4G3p3GSJ7x8l3YLxaU81RYl8Uu35UPLMhdU3q5uxictopAVX7SGKY2CX8~H3Vj2pWOSI7-1PUy7FVb1XfCWiss3sdOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","William and Mary School Board President and district officials unveiled a proposed final general fund budget for the 2025-26 school year at the May 20 meeting, showing $47,312,083 in planned expenditures and multiple scenarios that could leave the district with a shortfall in the range of about $1.4 million under a worst-case assumption.

Albert B. Malone, the district's business consultant, described the presentation as a starting point and repeatedly emphasized the word \"proposed.\" Malone said the baseline plan assumes no tax-rate increase and does not include the governor's budget proposals; under that scenario he showed a $1.4 million shortfall. He presented alternative property-tax index increases (2.75%, 3.5% and the maximum 5.5%) and the partial revenue effects if the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopts the governor's new funding allocations.

The presentation showed the district ending 2023-24 with about $4.2 million in fund balance and noted several drivers of the district's fiscal pressures: the end of ESSER federal pandemic funding; rising health-insurance costs (Malone cited a roughly 10.5% increase in health care costs); higher retirement costs; growing charter/cyber tuition and out-of-district special-education placements; and a long-term decline in assessed taxable value that has partially recovered in recent years.

Malone said the district expects revenues for 2025-26 near $45.8 million and projected expenses of $47.3 million in the base scenario. He told the board that after subsequent state funding and earned-income-tax receipts, preliminary estimates for the 2024-25 year may reduce the previously projected $1.2 million shortfall to roughly $300,000, but he cautioned a final number will be presented at the June meeting.

On charter and cyber tuition, the presentation noted a long-term increase in costs: about $668,000 in 2016-17 versus a projected roughly $2.7 million in 2024-25. Dr. John Pollard, the superintendent, estimated the number of students in cyber programs \"about 35,\" a figure he gave during the discussion. A different speaker during board discussion referenced roughly 135 students in cyber placements; that comment was not tied to a named staff figure in the transcript.

Malone laid out how the governor's proposed increases would affect the district: roughly $83,009 in basic education aid and $75,009 in special education aid for Wyoming Area (per the presentation), plus a multi-year adequacy payment stream the district expects to receive in installments. He also showed a possible charter-cyber funding relief of about $381,000 under the governor's proposal.

At the end of the finance report the board voted to adopt the finance items and to advertise the proposed final general fund budget according to law. The proposed final budget as presented includes the $47,312,083 expenditures and reflects a tax rate the presentation described as 22.2112 mills for certain Luzerne County municipalities and 10.7973 mills for Exeter Township in Wyoming County, plus a $5 per-capita tax for persons over 21 in some municipalities, a 1% real-estate transfer tax, and a 12% wage (earned income) tax as described in the motion.

During the roll call on the finance report, four members recorded “no” votes specifically on item 13 (the proposed final budget line): Ketchmarski, Dutera, Campeni, and Del Borigi. Other voting members recorded “yes” on the finance package; the motion passed.

Malone and the administration told the board they will return in June with updated 2024-25 closing numbers, clarified amounts for state aid once the Commonwealth’s allocations are finalized, and refined estimates of any required tax-rate change.

Votes at a glance: the board adopted the finance report, including the motion to advertise the proposed final general fund budget for 2025-26. The motion passed; four members voted no on the budget line as noted above.

The board did not set a final tax rate tonight. Malone said the district will continue to analyze options and will bring a recommended final budget (and any tax-rate action) back at the June meeting when state funding clarity is expected.","District business consultant Albert B. Malone presented a proposed 2025-26 general fund budget with a $47,312,083 spending plan and multiple scenarios depending on state aid and a possible property-tax index increase. The board voted to adopt the proposed final budget for advertisement; four members recorded \"no\" votes on the budget line item.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6542488,"Parents and advocates press board for girls wrestling program and equitable resources",219,3751000,3970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf&start=3751&end=3970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3459164-7fec08bac61337d809fbf32a1c241bdf/thumbnail_3751000.jpg","/articles/6542488/Pennsylvania/Parents-and-advocates-press-board-for-girls-wrestling-program-and-equitable-resources","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6542488-deca2c643f805e64f6f3c38f0a3ac96a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914285&Signature=bItVRocxDkwJSdtTFcvB0ur10FDbC7y0hirD9QDMewGWrO0r4TOhXreZxOts4EpgHt6TSDdUkjc7Q~v57sRO1cvBdYDqNXSso0CcEkfujAgBRaOA1DtHxagejpk0im7RmnVFZbkJnKLD1wROKunfubnkKYNISrkrdxbaLc8ixelamZYOtyRzwTxeG4YZHwp2Iomz4dpj7Riy8PoGFz3ZFaF-z-UVbjFjzWCLx3SKLRxj3kT5BXteBwblOpDAyQApDoW-dM0Ut~fiQS~PLMGI0DL5id79MQcnbiMG8R8vRBmECmeX0Eklj1NX7qhXCw4W6U~5RQ41BDzF1Ss6gIX4wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters at the May 20 Wyoming Area School Board meeting pressed the district to address what they described as unequal treatment of girls involved in the wrestling program, citing lack of locker-room access, no designated scale for weigh-ins, delayed uniforms and the absence of a formally recognized girls team.

Tiffany Bonnie Harding told the board she has repeatedly raised these concerns and said the athletic director’s response at a prior meeting focused on procedural or personal matters rather than addressing the girls’ access and resources. \"The issue isn't whether I reached out to the AD. The issue is that he had to practically reach out to any of the girls or their families to ask about their experiences,\" Harding said. She said that if there is no girls program, the existing program must be run as coed with equal resources and access.

Todd Bonning, who said he submitted a written proposal to the board, asked three specific questions: for an update on survey results showing interest from girls (he referenced more than 30 girls who signed petitions), a timeline for when the written proposal will be added to the agenda and a contingency plan to ensure fair distribution of PIAA points if a girls team is not formed in the next year. He also noted there are female-only wrestling tournaments in the area and urged the board not to allow another year without giving girls the opportunity to compete at the school level.

The administration response in the meeting: a district representative said the survey results had been shared with the board and that staff would double-check legal questions about sharing the survey and then contact petitioners directly with the results. That reply was read during public comment and recorded as a commitment to follow up; the speaker said he would check with the solicitor about sharing the survey and then contact the parents.

Board members and administration did not take immediate formal action on the request for a girls wrestling program during the May 20 meeting. Commenters said they will return to future meetings until the district addresses the resources and recognition they seek.

Speakers calling for action asked the board to treat the girls’ competitive opportunities and program supports as an equity issue rather than an individual or personnel dispute.","Multiple residents asked the board to address equity issues in the district wrestling program: lack of a girls team, unequal locker-room access, missing scale for weigh-ins and delayed uniforms. Parents said more than 30 girls signed a petition seeking support. The district said it has shared survey results with the board and will follow up.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves collapsing sections including a first-grade classroom; teacher warns of larger class sizes

Wyoming Area presents proposed 2025-26 budget with $1.4 million worst-case shortfall; board adopts proposed final budget

Parents and advocates press board for girls wrestling program and equitable resources