Sto-Rox school district teachers speak out about safety concerns

MCKEES ROCKS — Teachers in the Sto-Rox school district say they are fed up, and that some decisions being made are only hurting their students.

Monday after school, caravans of teachers had a car parade for their students to keep them excited about education. While they honked and handed out candy, their students didn’t know about their own fight for the resources they say they deserve.

“We want our school to be safe, and right now, we don’t feel that it is,” teacher Carrie Palermo told Channel 11.

Teachers say their greatest concern is for the safety of their students and all staff.

“We are so short-staffed, and everybody is spread so thin, it’s getting really difficult,” Julie Blanc, the Dean of Students and the Primary Center, told Channel 11.

Shooting and crime in the community have led to lockdowns and a feeling of unease.

“Sometimes I don’t feel safe walking outside,” Maria Kotek says. “There has been a lot of violence around there.”

Violence has also taken the lives of Sto-Rox students. In November, 18-year-old Hassan Shakelford, a senior at Sto-Rox High School, was shot in the head and killed walking home. Police say another Sto-Rox High School student, 15-year-old Tavarius Lee, was charged in his murder.

“We don’t feel it’s a safe passage to school or from school,” Palermo added.

Teachers say students need support, but they’re losing staff and they don’t have a contract. They say five or six teachers have left the Primary Center this year alone.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been losing people and we’ve been losing good people,” Blanc said.  “If you’re looking for no raise and no hope, for one, why not look somewhere else?”

Teachers we talked to told us the district is also paying just short of a million dollars in fines to the state and IRS after major bookkeeping errors. The state has the district listed in a financial recovery status. Teachers say that money could be invested in them.

Channel 11 News reached out to the school district but has not heard back.

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