Board of Education is considering not rehiring counselor, art teacher
Palmyra High School students made a passionate plea to the Board of Education on May 9 to retain the school’s counselor and the art teacher at the Charles Street School.
The Board voted to approve a list of district reappointments at the May 9 meeting for the 2018–19 school year.
Not included on the list were high school student assistance counselor Christina Birch and Charles Street School art teacher Jeff Graiff, leading to rumors in the school community that their positions were going to be eliminated.
“We need someone to be able to talk about our problems with,” Mattie Wentz, a junior, told the Board. “Removing this position would be a big mistake. I hope you all realize that.”
Superintendent Brian J. McBride said the district was required to approve a list of reappointments by May 15. He said the Board could still come back and offer Birch and Graiff contracts, but that officials are exploring options to make the district more efficient.
A final decision on their employment will come at the Board’s June 20 meeting, according to McBride.
More than a dozen students and several parents and residents spoke up at the meeting in support of keeping Birch and Graiff.
Several high school students said Birch was there for them while they were experiencing mental health issues. Others said she has prevented fights, dropouts and even suicides.
“She just gets it,” student Kaya Robinson said.
During the public comment section of the meeting, a group of students sat on the bleachers crying as their classmates recounted emotional stories.
“I cannot tell you how many times I have sat on a bathroom floor with a student in complete meltdown,” said Birch, who also addressed the Board.
The changes appeared to be precipitated by a state report that found the district’s schools are in need of comprehensive support.
At the same May 9 meeting, the Board established three new positions — a chief academic performance officer and two teacher coaches.
High School Principal Kenneth Holloway was appointed as the chief academic officer. McBride said Holloway will be analyzing data to help the district improve student absenteeism, discipline issues, academic performance and the high school’s graduation rate.
Those were some of the areas identified by state officials as in need of improvement in the Palmyra district, McBride said. He also said the district will be searching for a new principal for the high school.
“We’re missing marks, and I’m the first to admit it,” he said. “I’ve missed marks.”
Palmyra Councilwoman Mindie Weiner, who is Wentz’s mother, questioned whether district officials were focusing on the right areas.
“To me it kind of feels like we have a lot of administrative positions, and I’m also hearing that we’re losing a lot of other positions that are just as valuable,” she said.
Birch said her position improves academic achievement and decreases incidents of violence and vandalism. She also said the Board eliminated the position eight years ago only to bring it back two years later.
“It proved to be detrimental to the students and Palmyra High School,” Birch said. “Why try something that has already been proven ineffective and costly to the well-being of your student body?”
Graiff, who also spoke at the meeting, said the art program at Charles Street School has made great strides since he started teaching there seven years ago.
“You can’t put a price on what these students will lose if they lost the art program at the Charles Street School,” Graiff said.
He also said that art classes help improve test scores because visual and performing arts help expand a student’s range of learning.
Robinson said art served as an outlet for her in fourth grade when her mother had cancer. Graiff helped her get into an art program at Moore College of Art & Design during that difficult period, she said.
“Let’s not cut off the outlets that students have because our students are going through a lot,” Robinson said.
The situation at the meeting became tense after McBride asked the students who spoke whether they were doing their best in school.
“I challenge you this: Many talked about fights, not doing work, getting in trouble,” he said. “I’m not blaming you, but what is your responsibility? You go to someone for help. That’s wonderful. I also say to you: Each human being has to be responsible.”
After those comments, several of the students in the bleachers started to stir.
“I’m not taking questions,” he told them. “You had your chance to speak. This is mine.”
Even though several members of the public brought up test scores, McBride said the personnel decisions come down to a variety of factors — many of which local officials can’t control.
“Whether we want to say it’s a money issue or not, the reality is there’s only so much cash,” McBride said.
