A delegation of teachers of the IU29 attended the school board meeting held Monday evening at the Maple Avenue Campus in Marlin, Norwegian Township.

They did not address the board but sat silently as the board took action to place 27 teachers in the furlough pool. After the meeting they released the following statement:"The teachers of IU29 have been providing quality Special Education programs in Schuylkill County to an incredible number of students since 1972. These programs include: Emotional Support, Learning Support, Autistic Support, Life Skills Support, Multi-handicapped Support, Physical Support, Speech/Language Support, Hearing/Vision Support, Early Intervention Programming, Training and Consultative Services and extra-curricular activities including Special Olympics, Maple Avenue Campus Senior Prom, graduation activities and summer programs."We continued to do our jobs while working without a contract for the entire 2009-10 school year and most of 2010-11 school year. When our contract was finally settled in March 2011, our teachers took significant concessions including a pay freeze."At the March 7 board meeting the directors voted to eliminate three Emotional Support classrooms and three Life Skills Support classrooms which resulted in 12 Special Education teachers being furloughed. On May 2 the IU Board approved additional suspensions and furloughs of professional and non-professional staff with the explanation 'due to transfer of programs or classes and reduced grants,' May 17 approximately 22 more Special Education teachers and 10 Speech/Language Therapists were furloughed without additional explanation. There has been several retirement positions not filed and several support staff positions including teacher assistants are expected to be reduced."If these furloughs are the result of budget cuts or lack of funding it is clear the sacrifice has not been shared by the Administrative personnel and the manner the teachers have been furloughed shows a lack or respect and appreciation for the expertise and work ethics and dedication to their students and their jobs."With the unexpected furlough of 44 professional staff members to date, the remaining IU teaches anticipate classrooms at maximum capacity, a lack of security measures, which in turn could result in increased staff injuries, reduction in programs such as Work Mentor and Transition Coordinator, shared teacher aides and the loss of several staff with specialized training and expertise."The IU Education Association encourages parents and the community to urge the IU Board to carefully review and reconsider the possible negative impacts their decisions will have on our students and programs. It is the teachers who are vital in providing the invaluable education and life-sustaining services they need to be successful."