I’d like to offer clarification on the graduation requirements policy passed by a narrow 5-4 vote at the December Pennridge School Board meeting.
First – the claim that we had a nearly year-long discussion of whether to cut social studies requirements from 4 to 3 credits, and eliminate World History as a required course, is false. That specific plan was not shared until late this summer.
When the public became aware, the outcry was immediate, strong, and in one direction: please don’t do it. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, alumni, and four board members all made the same plea to the five who proposed the change (Banis-Clemens, Blomgren, Chaikin, Cormack and Reiss). To this day, not a single person has spoken at a meeting in support of the proposal. In my entire board service (7-plus years), I’ve never seen such alignment on an issue.
Since the public wasn’t given a clearly defined, consistent proposal, nor a compelling justification for it, they asked us to slow down and do our due diligence. In my Oct. 24 President’s Report, I listed six options stakeholders wanted to explore and suggested we do that. The request to publicly discuss all options was rejected by the five members.
At the Nov. 7 Policy meeting, the five decided to advance their proposal to the December board meeting. They were still suggesting we reduce the social studies credit requirement from 4 to 3 and eliminate World History as a required course to offer it as an elective only.
Then, on Dec. 1, Mrs. Banis-Clemens sent an email offering a “compromise.” The five still wanted to lower social studies from 4 to 3 credits, but would now allow a required World History course, and change our 9th grade course to government and civics (and perhaps other subjects). In other words, the five board members wanted to change what they’d presented to the public at the work/committee meeting, but still vote on it on Dec. 5.
Besides the obvious issue of voting without proper public notice and discussion, the compromise wasn’t new. It was one of the six options mentioned in October. Meaning, it very well could have been vetted, had the five not rejected repeated requests to do so. Instead, they suddenly added it to the agenda, after previously rejecting it and preventing research and public discussion of it. That caused even further upset and confusion among stakeholders, who again pleaded with us to not make the change. Those pleas were once again ignored by the five directors.
This situation is analogous to an issue Bucks County recently faced, regarding the Water and Sewer Authority. When county residents learned a private company wanted to acquire the authority, they were very upset. They sent emails, made calls, and gave comments at commissioners’ meetings. Opposition to the plan was strong and universal.
To their credit, the county commissioners listened to that feedback and ended discussion of the purchase. The same could’ve been done by the five Pennridge directors in response to the feedback we received. In fact, it could still be done.
None of the curriculum changes have been made yet. The five members could honor the wishes of our stakeholders by suspending that work. Doing so would allow us to properly evaluate options for social studies and Health & Physical Education (which was also reduced) – and all our courses, really – as well as our scheduling.
If we board members truly want to honor parents, be transparent, respect our professional staff, and ensure we’re doing the best by all students, it would be prudent to do as we’ve been asked, i.e., take a more reasoned, comprehensive approach, instead of working in a piecemeal, haphazard fashion.
I want every Pennridge student to be put on the best footing – regardless of his or her chosen pathway. I remain hopeful that the five board members who voted for the policy change will rethink the path they’ve placed us on – and adjust accordingly.
Joan Cullen, Hilltown Township
Pennridge School Board
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