Grandparent, teacher and residents press Pitman board on elementary accessibility and staffing transparency

During two public-comment periods at the Pitman Boro School District board meeting, community members raised accessibility concerns at the elementary school and asked for clear detail about staffing cuts and restored positions as the board revises its budget.

Caroline Wesch, a grandparent and retired school nurse, described escorting her grandson to the elementary handicap entrance after a fractured ankle and said the current curbside/drop-off route is unsafe and difficult for children and adults with mobility needs. "It's not acceptable to go up to the corner, down to the walkway, then down the walkway," Wesch said, urging the district to explore options such as a cutout, designated handicap parking or use of available accessibility funding.

Resident Dave Hoagland asked the board to explain why doubling the percentage cap on the local tax levy did not produce a simple doubling of homeowner impact. Board staff explained that levy impact depends on multiple factors—assessments, ratables and timing of tax collections—and offered to meet with Hoagland to walk through the calculations.

Robert Kim Bridges, a teacher at Pentecost Elementary School who identified himself at the podium, asked the board for a clear chart showing how many positions and hours were cut, what benefits were reduced and where losses occurred across buildings so the community can better understand the human impacts of budget decisions. Board leaders said final numbers are not yet finalized following the partial return of state aid and offered to provide a summary when available.

Board members acknowledged taxpayer concerns while noting that restored state funds give the district an opportunity to restore some staff. The board encouraged residents to contact administrators for further detail and said more definitive staffing decisions will be presented at a future meeting.