A vicious attack on a Quakertown Community School District student has exposed dangerously low staffing levels at one school, and highlighted a problem across the district.
The student’s mother, Maggie Ouran of Richland Township, told board members and administrators her daughter was hunted down by other children during recess, held to the ground and punched in a nearby field. One of the assailants then inserted a pine cone in the second-grader’s mouth.
It was not clear what the aides were doing, but the assault went unreported. “The school was not even aware that this even occurred to my daughter,” said Ouran, her voice quavering with rage and anguish. “That is scary. That should scare everyone in this room, especially if you have children in elementary school.”
Ouran accused the school of being oblivious to nature and severity of this event. “I had to follow up repeatedly with the school to ensure appropriate action was taken. The parent challenged school staff’s characterization of the incident as rough play. “I can assure you. This wasn’t rough play.”
Ouran said she had lost complete confidence in the district and blasted what she called “the complete lack of appropriate adult oversight and support at Trumbauersville Elementary.”
“You have been charged with making sure these students are okay,” she said. “Everyone in this room is failing our kids.”
Quakertown like many districts has struggled to attract staff since the pandemic despite raising pay for substitute teachers and support staff, many of whom are directly employed by the district.
“Unfortunately, we can’t manufacture people,” said Assistant Superintendent Nancianne Edwards. She said despite the district’s best efforts, a lot of people weren’t applying for aide positions. She said the issue didn’t seem to be pay, as those recruited by the county Intermediate Unit were paid at a higher rate.
Parent Heather Partland said the pay was keeping applicants away, and suggested the district hire volunteers to cover recess and lunch periods, a move that Edwards said had not worked in the past.
As of Monday, the district had 23 support staff vacancies, with starting pay ranging from $13.67 to $15.97 per hour depending on qualifications, hours worked and duties. Unlike contracted teachers, aides are only paid when school is in session.
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