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Teacher warns board that staffing cuts and heavy schedules are hurting instruction; cites falling PSAT benchmarks
Summary
German teacher and parent Rick Hadley told the board the district’s reduced staffing has produced unsustainable schedules and cited PSAT benchmark declines (43% to 27% meets/exceeds from 2023–2025), urging rehiring of subject teachers and attention to instructional quality.
At the March 16 meeting, German teacher Rick Hadley told the Kutztown Area School District board that staffing reductions and an unsustainable teaching schedule are reducing instructional quality and urged the board to prioritize rehiring.
"Since January 2020, I've been the only German teacher running the German program, which is a program set up for 2 teachers," Hadley said during the public‑comment portion. He described teaching multiple preps each day, large classes and limited planning time: "This schedule ... comes at a cost to our students," he said, and warned that if the second German teacher position remains vacant next year he could face five levels in four periods, up to nine preps and no planning time.
Hadley also cited district assessment data and argued the trends require action: "Our benchmark scores on the PSAT ... have dramatically declined since 2023 when they went from 43% meets or exceeds expected growth to 40% in 2024 and now an all‑time low of 27% in 2025," he said, adding the 2025 cohort posted the lowest average PSAT score on record for the district.
He asked the board to "seriously consider rehiring our second German teacher, each year until the position has been filled again, as well as the fourth high‑school English and history teachers," and to keep staffing trajectory central in budget discussions. Board members thanked him for presenting and administration noted the constraints of a multi‑million‑dollar budget gap that they are addressing.
The public comment set a tone for later remarks from community members who voiced support for teachers and cautioned against simplifying the causes of budget pressures.
Next steps: Hadley’s concerns were placed on the record; the board and administration will continue budget deliberations and the superintendent outlined a timeline for principal hiring and other staffing processes.
