Woodland Hills residents worry over district cuts

Some fear budget proposals will hurt students

As the Woodland Hills School District eyes more than 60 job cuts in a plan to address a budget deficit of more than $5 million, residents say they understand the need to address the financial troubles but worry it could come at the expense of students.

The school board is considering the plan that would also raise property taxes by 3% in a district that has one of the highest property tax rates in Allegheny County.

Employees have raised concerns, too. Dozens of members of the teachers union protested before the first bell on Tuesday morning outside the junior-senior high school in Churchill, wearing red in solidarity. Union officials say the cuts could pose safety issues, a contention that is disputed by district Superintendent James Harris.

Lee Davis, a Woodland Hills alumnus and local business owner, said he spent a chunk of his Tuesday morning mulling the challenges facing the district.

Although he worries foremost whether the proposed cuts would hurt students, he said that taxpayers and district officials should take heed of the enormous financial hurdles afflicting the Penn Hills School District, which is more than $170 million in debt.

“Do we want it to get out of hand like that?” said Mr. Davis, who served on Woodland Hills’ Commission on Youth Development and Learning, which studied school culture and disciplinary practices.

He said, above all, the community desperately needs more resources for outreach and violence prevention.

“I know that’s one of the big things, whether the school is part of that or not,” Mr. Davis said. “People are going to start moving out of the district if we don’t get in front of the violence and poverty situation.”

The proposed cuts include 15 elementary teachers; more than 10 secondary teachers; 14 paraprofessionals; seven climate coordinators; five special education staffers; 2.5 secretaries; two guidance counselors; and two school resource officers.

Bahiyyah Jefferson, a former parent in the district who also served on the commission last year, said in an email that the proposed cuts are “very upsetting.”

“I think nothing good will come of this, not for the students or the schools that house the students,” she said.

Woodland Hills faces budget strains from several directions, including special education costs and charter school tuition payments. Roughly a quarter of its operating budget is tied up in outside tuition, including to charter and private schools — more than any other Allegheny County district, according to state Department of Education data.

The proposed budget would alleviate a more than $5 million deficit this year but would leave a razor-thin margin — $52,000 — in the district’s fund balance, the money left over at the end of the fiscal year after all expenses are paid.

Mr. Harris said in an email that the district would aim to bring the fund to between 8% and 10% of the overall budget within three years.

“With careful management of our funds by all we should be able to grow the fund balance to a comfortable level,” he said. “And, yes, it’s tight.”

Tina Doose, president of Braddock council, said she wants the district to succeed and understands that sometimes involves tough choices.

“I’m willing to wait that out,” she said. “My concern is that with the shifts and changes, will the supports be there?”