We'll start in Scranton, where the district faces massive debt, and it appears the district is one step away from a state take-over. Scranton laid off 16 teachers last week. Physical education, the arts, and librarians were cut. It reminds me of a struggling retail store. Workers lose their jobs. Customer service struggles, and the downward spiral accelerates. Remaining teachers will have to pick up the slack.
On the other hand, what are your options? Taxpayers are maxed out. The debt isn't going away.
It's easier said than done, but we have to find new and different ways of doing things. The old model isn't working.
In Wilkes-Barre, there is considerable resistance to combining the city's three high schools, and constructing a new building in Plains Township.
Neighborhood schools are great, and I feel very sorry for children who never had that experience. Schools add quite a bit to the areas they serve.
Again, what are your options? Wilkes-Barre's three existing buildings are old. They need plenty of work. I will repeat it: Taxpayers are maxed out. While a new building will be hugely expensive, and transportation costs will go up, there are many who believe it will be more efficient in the long one. Kids get modern facilities-- all in one place.
It's not an easy call. The Scranton and Wilkes-Barre stories will be in the news for years to come.
