Jim Thorpe Area School District officials say they are reducing expenses without hurting education by leaving some paraprofessional positions vacant.

“It is a position that is quite expensive. We are looking to continue to find what the balance will be, where we can function,” Superintendent John Rushefski said.

At the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, the district had 55 paraprofessionals. Today they have 44, with the openings created through resignations and retirements.

Paraprofessionals are school employees who assist teachers in the classroom, often working one-on-one with students.

At Jim Thorpe the positions are hourly, with employees working seven hours per day. Each para costs the district over $50,000 per year, Rushefski said.

He said the total savings from the open positions has been about $600,000 per year, the equivalent of 1 mill of tax revenue.

Other districts in the area have laid off paraprofessionals. Last year Pleasant Valley furloughed 55 aides.

“There were no furloughs, no reduction of hours, we’ve maintained the same calendar in terms of work schedule. It’s just whenever we have a retirement or resignation, we reduce that and we haven’t posted and filled that position,” Rushefski said.

During a school board meeting last week, a parent questioned why the district isn’t filling para positions. Amber Everett said in an email read during public comment that paras provide extra one-on-one and small group support, helping children during class without interrupting the lesson for their classmates.

“This is something that affects all the children in the district. You are refusing to hire new paras and the numbers of them are dwindling. Paras are a crucial part of our children’s education,” Everett said.

Board President Scott Pompa said that the school board has replaced every teacher, guidance counselor and administrative position when there is an opening. But the board is asking the district to look at spending amid ongoing budget deficits.

“We have to look at ways to cut. Unfortunately the paras were some of the positions we decided not to fill,” Pompa said. “We will continue to revisit it and see in the future if we need to bring them back.”

Everett also wrote it appears that the district only wants to make cuts to its budget for education, while spending for athletics increases. She pointed to the board hiring new assistant coaches, and considering the purchase of a utility vehicle, which administrators say is needed for medical emergencies on the new turf field and all-weather track. The recently completed track, turf field and lighting improvements cost the district a total of $2.7 million.

Board member Paul Montemuro said that the top students at Jim Thorpe have all benefited from the district’s athletic programs

TJ Garritano added that 40 percent of students in grades 7 and up participate in sports. He said it takes up a much smaller percentage of the budget compared to education and teaches students to be competitive and overcome adversity while building team skills.

“You don’t build that in the classroom, you get that from coaches, you get that on the field,” he said.