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Students urge Methactton board to preserve German program, warn cuts are hard to reverse
Summary
Two Methactton High School students told the board cutting the German program would limit future study and career options, reduce educational breadth and be difficult to rebuild; they asked the district to consider alternatives such as dual‑enrollment or virtual instruction if a local teacher‑led program cannot continue.
Two Methactton High School students urged the board at the May 20 work session to retain the district’s German program and told the board that losing the course would narrow students’ academic options.
Arnov Sony, a 10th‑grade student, said German contributes to communication skills, cultural understanding and career pathways in engineering and international business, and cautioned that once a language program disappears it is “extremely difficult to rebuild.”
Ian McAdams, also a sophomore, said he and peers have taken German for multiple years and that removing the in‑person program would reduce the district’s language offerings compared with neighboring districts. He asked the board to explore alternatives that preserve learning opportunities, including college dual‑enrollment or other partnerships rather than an immediate elimination of the course.
Board members acknowledged the students’ comments and said administration will review transition plans and alternatives. The administration said program decisions consider multiple factors including enrollment trends, staffing and long‑term curricular planning, and indicated it would coordinate follow‑up with curriculum staff and the impacted students.
No vote occurred at the work session; the board’s comments emphasized exploring transition options and whether virtual or college‑partner solutions could preserve continuity for students nearing completion of multi‑year sequences.
