Whitehall-Copley board approves reorganization plan over community objections

The Whitehall-Copley School District Board of School Directors voted 5–4 on May 26 to approve a reorganization plan that will curtail multiple staff positions, drawing sustained public comment from teachers, parents and students who said the cuts would harm instruction and student supports.

The plan — described by the administration as a necessary step to advance the district budget process — would eliminate or reduce roles including STEM positions (four total across elementary and middle grades), at least one MTSS math position at the middle school level and a number of building substitutes, paraprofessionals and secretarial positions. The board placed the reorganization resolution on the floor after a brief discussion and a presentation of enrollment and program projections from district staff.

Why this matters: community speakers repeatedly linked staffing to student outcomes, saying program reductions could reduce standardized-test revenue and classroom support while increasing instability. Kevin Swartz, a first-grade teacher, told the board, “Before you act, consider the consequences of your choices,” and urged members to think about the untenured teachers and other employees most vulnerable to furloughs.

Public pushback: More than a dozen residents, parents and students addressed the board in the allotted public-comment period. Several speakers cited specific programs named in the plan. Sarah DeLeo, a district employee, asked the board to reconsider cuts to MTSS and special-education facilitation, saying the district’s special-education population is growing. Shirley Chanitz, a building substitute at Steckel Elementary, said the district’s listing understates the number of building substitutes (she said there are 11, not eight) and warned that reassigning paraprofessionals and subs would disrupt small-group instruction and daily operations.

Students and parents also spoke: parent Jennifer Michalak described hands-on STEM instruction she had seen in a first-grade classroom and said that cutting STEM would reduce career-readiness and student engagement; senior Elani Ortiz described the library’s role in providing accommodations and testing space. Student Isabella “Bella” Roseri separately urged the district to honor a current reservation at the PPL Center for graduation, citing heat and accessibility concerns if the ceremony is moved outdoors to Zephyr Stadium.

Board discussion and administration presentation: District staff walked the board through slides showing a long-term decline in biology course enrollment, a projection of one MTSS math position reduction at the middle school, and a proposal to restructure STEM by combining some STEM standards into a hybrid library/STEM curriculum. Staff said the hybrid would change both library and STEM curricula and would require further work to implement. Board members asked how librarians would absorb additional responsibilities and how the hybrid would affect student access to STEM instruction.

Motion and vote: After discussion and community comment, a motion to approve the reorganization resolution was moved and seconded. Doctor Holland polled members by roll call; the chair announced the motion passed by a 5–4 vote. The board noted the reorganization approval is a step needed before finalizing the budget, and members said amendments could still be made to the plan going forward.

What happens next: The reorganization vote advances the district’s budget process; the board signaled it will continue to consider amendments if feasible. Several community members urged the board to pursue alternatives — including refinancing debt and identifying administrative savings — to avoid furloughs. The district must finalize its budget by June 30 and has said additional changes could be presented before that deadline.

Source material: Public comments and board discussion at the Whitehall-Copley special meeting on May 26, 2026.