Parent and township supervisor urges board to address 29‑student classes; board accepts a long‑time employee's retirement

During public comment, Marcus Simonetti identified himself as a township supervisor and parent and urged the Kutztown Area School District board to address a recent consolidation of classes after two teacher retirements. "The board's decision to consolidate those classes has led to a high student to teacher ratio of 29 students per class," Simonetti said, and he urged the board to fill vacancies and "put our children first, and support our teachers." He also questioned the discontinuation of a per‑capita tax and described concerns about local revenue projections.

Separately during personnel business, the board accepted the retirement of Wanda Herring, the district's food‑service coordinator, after 27 years of service. A written statement from Eric Johnson — read aloud to the board — credited Herring with overseeing curbside breakfast and lunch distribution at the start of the pandemic and helping reduce food waste. "Miss Herring has been an important part of our district, and she will be missed," the statement said.

A board member asked that dates and times of the negotiations committee meetings be shared with the full board (not publicly) so members can follow committee work; the negotiations committee chair said the committee operates in private and will report back when appropriate and agreed to share meeting dates with board members.

The board approved personnel items presented by the administration, pending receipt of required credentials.