Board approves in‑building Laurel Life program despite student pleas to keep STAR classroom

Students and a teacher told the Shippensburg Area School District board on May 11 that removing the STAR (Shippensburg Therapeutic Academic Resource) classroom would harm students who depend on its specialized environment, but the board voted 7–2 to approve a contract with Laurel Life to provide an in‑building therapeutic placement and support services.

Ben Stains, a sophomore who addressed the board during the public comment period, said STAR is “the reason we are able to walk through the school doors” and described the program as a place where he felt safe, seen and able to learn. Teacher Cody Moser, identified himself as a Shippensburg Area Senior High School teacher, told the board he created a classroom culture that families and students rely on and said he opposes removing STAR from the high school.

The board and administration framed the Laurel Life agreement as a way to bring therapeutic programming into the high school rather than sending students to costly out‑of‑district placements. Administration described Laurel Life’s proposed program as an enhanced, in‑building placement offering counseling and other supports that could absorb students previously served out of district and generate financial efficiencies by reducing transportation and tuition costs.

At the meeting the board took two related votes. Under action item 5a the board approved the High School Laurel Life service agreement and, under 5b, a memorandum of understanding; both measures passed by roll call vote, 7 in favor and 2 opposed. The motions were recorded as carrying after roll‑call tallies. The board previously separated personnel item 4c for discussion before the votes.

Board members who spoke in favor emphasized the district’s need to serve intensive students in‑district when possible and to control rising out‑of‑district tuition and transportation costs. Several board members asked administration to provide additional structural details about how Laurel Life would be staffed and how it would fit with existing programs such as STAR.

Cody Moser told the board he supports more behavioral and mental‑health supports across the district but objected to “removing the environment, particularly which I’ve created under the misguided assumption that STAR is redundant.” Students who spoke echoed his concern, saying STAR’s trust‑building environment cannot simply be replaced by a program that looks similar on paper.

Votes at a glance:

- 5a — High School Laurel Life service agreement: Approved (roll call 7–2). Motion recorded as carried. - 5b — Memorandum of understanding with Laurel Life: Approved (roll call 7–2). Motion recorded as carried. - 4c — Personnel item related to program staffing: considered separately during discussion; motions on related personnel were addressed as part of the action agenda.

What happens next: Administration will implement the Laurel Life agreement per the approved contracts and any specified personnel changes; board members requested follow‑up details on program structure and staffing and asked administrators to provide additional information as the program is operationalized.

The meeting transcript records students’ appeals and the board’s vote but does not record a formal plan in the room that replaces STAR exactly; administration said Laurel Life would provide similar supports in‑building and produce transportation and tuition savings.

At the end of the meeting the board continued with other routine approvals and adjourned.