Springdale students disciplined over walkout

Springdale High School students who participated in a walkout last week over an alleged teacher shortage apparently will be punished.

Last week, dozens of Springdale High School students staged a walkout to protest what they claim is a severe teacher shortage, which the Allegheny Valley School District denies.

“I can’t speak about specific discipline matters due to confidentiality, but the Code of Conduct is being followed,” district spokeswoman Jan Zastawniak said. “Students did walk out of class, which constitutes a class cut. It’s my understanding that information went out to students and parents explaining the matter prior to last Wednesday.”

According to school code: “No student will be excused from class without permission; absence from class without written permission is an unexcused absence and an act of truancy. Any student absent from class in excess of 10 minutes will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Behavior Code. An accumulation of 10 class cut periods may result in truancy charges being filed with the District Justice.”

A Nov. 22 letter sent by Principal Andrew Leviski to families before the walkout warned of consequences:

“Students are expected to follow the established rules of the school and attend classes. If a student causes a disruption or cuts class, the consequences outlined in the student handbook will be followed.”

Related:

• Springdale High School students claim teacher shortage, walk out in protest

“I think it is very unfair that the students are begging for an education, and we are being punished,” said Kaitlyn Claus, who organized the protest, Wednesday in a statement. “Being told that during detention we will talk about what the school can do better.

“I think it is clear enough that we want more teachers and a better education. Students and parents are very upset about this, especially because the walkout was not destructive, and we all remained on school property. Also, with the district saying we did not have a teacher shortage, making it seem like we were only missing one teacher, is completely untrue.”

Students participating in the protest remained on school property, which was a requirement to avoid further punishment, they said.

Allegheny Valley School District officials dismissed the claim there is any form of teacher shortage.

Although two teachers have left in the past year to take other opportunities, one position remains vacant, Zastawniak has said.

“Allegheny Valley employs 38 teachers at the high school,” she said last week. “Current enrollment for the school is 407 students. Class sizes remain small for most courses.”

There is, however, a shortage of substitute teachers in the area and statewide, she said. When they aren’t available, other staff members fill in.

Pennsylvania faces an “educator workforce crisis,” according to a report released in July by the Department of Education.

“While the overall numbers of new educators entering the profession continue to decline, the rate of educators leaving the profession continues to accelerate,” the report states. “As a result, schools are facing a harder time filling critical staff positions than ever before.”

Allegheny Valley School Board President Larry Pollick and Vice President Kathleen Haas did not respond to requests seeking comment.