As Hempfield Area administrators consider changes to the high school gifted education program and renovations to the district’s pool, parents and students laid out their concerns to the school board.
Three parents and two middle school students spoke during a board meeting Monday night about changes being considered for the high school gifted program.
At Hempfield Area High School, the Hempfield Enrichment Program could be switched to a non-credit course, according to a proposal presented to parents last week. Administrators have cited the decrease in teachers being certified each year, a multitude of teacher retirements slated for the district in the coming years and transportation difficulties as reasons for adjusting the program.
“We’re trying to look at (options), knowing that we’re going to anticipate probably about 100 to 120 teacher retirements over the next couple of years,” said Superintendent Mark Holtzman. “And meeting the needs of filling those gaps is going to be very, very challenging — nearly impossible.”
Nearly 2,500 teaching positions were vacant in Pennsylvania classrooms as of October, according to data released by the state. And in a February 2024 report released by education coalition PA Needs Teachers, the number of certified teachers produced by the state’s colleges and universities has fallen 75% in the past decade.
Parent Kristen West said switching the gifted program to a non-credit class could leave students to choose between continuing their gifted education and taking an elective like a college-credit class, art course or foreign language.
“I understand that there’s challenges with budget and there’s challenges with staffing. I’m in higher ed. We have the same,” West said. “But I do really want us to think about what is best for these students and how do we give them access to their gifted education without asking them to sacrifice something else which is very beneficial to them in their long-term goals.”
Middle school student Stella Speese said she was excited by the prospect of taking honors and college-level English courses when she starts at the high school in the fall.
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“I’m also passionate about chorus, art and Spanish. The new system would mean that I would have to drop one of those electives for my gifted enrichment,” she said. “I am no longer excited about high school enrichment, since I am being forced to choose between my electives that reflect my other talents and gifted courses. It’s a lose-lose situation.”
Holtzman said he will work with other district administrators to revamp the gifted program.
“It’s not something that’s going to fall on deaf ears,” he said, referring to the parent and student feedback.
District considers renovations to pool
Sarah Cooper, president of the high school swim board, shared concerns with the board about the high school pool — namely the narrow pool deck, limited spectator capacity and lanes that are more than a foot short of regulation size.
Cooper also highlighted that the stands and pool deck are not handicap accessible.
“I want you to think about these things in thinking about the future of the pool, the future of swimming in our district — that it is not just a varsity consideration,” Cooper said, noting about 350 swimmers use the pool for the school’s learn to swim program, Hempfield Aqua Club and middle and high school swim teams.
The board hired in December consultant American Engineering Testing to assess the high school pool ahead of its school-wide renovation project.
The consultant is assessing the pool’s overall functionality and testing for stability in the bottom of the pool and the ground under it. Their services will cost the district $12,500.
“We’re aware of all the shortcomings,” Holtzman said.
“Some decisions are going to be out of our hands … but the pool will be addressed. How it will be addressed, nobody really knows yet, but the ADA compliance, I agree with you,” he said. “We are all in agreement that the space is inadequate.”