Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
PROTESTERS AT CASH SAY ‘ ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’
Petition calls for resignation of superintendent
CALN>> About 50 protesters rallied outside Coatesville Area Senior High Tuesday evening to again tell the board members and administration that “Enough is enough.”
The first “Enough is Enough” rally, organized by local community activists, was held prior to the school board meeting June 25.
Protesters held signs showing support for teachers in the district, and chanted “enough is enough” when school board members walked into the building for a school board meeting, which the protesters also attended.
Some of the issues protesters are concerned about include: mental health services; discipline policies; rising property taxes; legal fees; and students and teachers leaving the district.
Several of the protesters participated in public comment at the school board meeting to present their concerns to board members.
Nydea Graves presented board members with a copy of an online petition created on change. org calling for the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Donahue.
“Because of the current leadership, we have lost almost 1,400 children to charter schools, Catholic schools,
private schools and home schooling,” reads the petition. “The subsequent cost has made our budget skyrocket. With the skyrocketing budget, our taxes have been raised by almost 20 percent in the last five years.
“Because of this leadership, we have lost almost 546 employees, and we’re now seeing an uptick in home sales in our community. We are losing our tax base, along with good neighbors. Over 300 teachers and administrators have left in five years.
“In the five years under the present superintendent and assistant superintendent, we have not experienced substantial academic progress and have suffered rising disciplinary dysfunction in our school district.
“In five years we have spent over 1 billion dollars without any measurable goals or benchmarks being achieved. ‘ Enough is Enough.’” The petition had more than 1,600 signatures as of Tuesday evening.
One meeting attendee expressed support for Taschner during public comment.
He said that Taschner had quickly learned the culture of the district and has led the district to build on its strengths and overcome its weaknesses which are endemic to the district.
The silent majority of people who are satisfied with how things are going in the district do not speak up, he said, but he urged any district residents and board members who do support Taschner to make their voices heard and prevent the removal of Coatesville’s “best option” for superintendent.
She is still the right person in the right place at the right time, he added.
Taschner had not commented on the petition as of Wednesday night.