Dear Norwin School District,
The Norwin School Board prefers to eliminate positions through attrition to maintain a “balanced budget.” Now we are praising them for being “good financial stewards” (“Good financial stewards in Norwin,” June 13, TribLIVE). The letter-writer focused on school board member Bob Wayman’s comment of the district “hoarding” money. The legal limit of the unreserved fund balance would be approximately $6.8 million, or 8% of budgeted expenditures. This is not excessive, not hoarding.
Therefore, we need to ask ourselves: What is the most important responsibility of a school board? The Pennsylvania Board of Education states, “The most important responsibility of school boards is to work with their communities to improve student achievement in their local public schools.”
So, as the Norwin School Board looks to keep the so-called “balanced” budget, do you really think eliminating teaching positions at the expense of students’ education fits the description of “being good stewards”? And, is it ethical to keep a political promise of a “no tax increase” at the expense of the quality of education?
Pay attention, school board members — student education is your priority, not your political agenda.
Sue Teems
Penn Township, Westmoreland County
The writer is a retired Norwin School District teacher.