Teachers, staff protest furloughs of 50+ employees in Woodland Hills SD

PITTSBURGH — Teachers and staff in the Woodland Hills School District gathered outside the high school before the start of classes Tuesday to protest the furloughs of dozens of positions.

Superintendent James Harrison said about 30 teachers and 25 support positions will be furloughed. Harrison said the district will offer early buyouts for retirement. He added the district was cutting back on extra staffing, and this will save money in the process.

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“You’re putting the students of Woodland Hills School District at great risk by adopting this plan. You’re putting them at risk intellectually by fewer teachers, emotionally by guidance counselors. It’s a security problem,” Matt Edgell, of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said.

Harrison said the environment in the district this year has been the least toxic in the last few years. He said officials took a careful look at program gaps and staffing, and they came up with a plan he’s proud of for next school year.

District officials said the changes are a result of declining enrollment, schedule changes, a building closure and finances. The changes also included adding a middle school dean and a district-wide safety coordinator.

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These changes are expected to go into effect for the upcoming school year. Harrison said if enrollment increases over the summer, there’s a chance some of the employees who are being furloughed could be called back.

Wearing red for education, the teachers and staff who marched into the high school Tuesday morning said they hope their protest sent a strong message to district officials.

“It’s something we need to stand up for each other and for the students of Woodland Hills School District,” teacher Raymond Milligan said.

Cox Media Group