Parents voice concerns to Tabernacle BOE and district superintendant

“This is about more than just cupcakes.”

That statement and ones like it came up several times at the most recent Tabernacle Township School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 23 as a sort of rallying cry from parents who shared a list of concerns and complaints regarding multiple issues in the district.

And although several of the concerns from the more than 100 parents in attendance did in fact focus on cupcakes and treats in reference to the district’s recent changes to what foods can and cannot be consumed and brought in for school activities such as grade sales, holidays, birthdays and international feast day, the complaints did not stop there.

In addition to the recent food changes, just some of the issues referenced by parents included parents feeling ignored or bullied by Superintendent George Rafferty, the issue of how and why students are or aren’t cleared to play school sports, concerns about the district’s spelling and language arts programs, the upcoming Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exams and the job status of district director of special services John Tirico.

Parent Sara Eisenhuth, the first to speak, focused on the food issue and listed a number of changes and suggestions to help kids eat healthier while still retaining tradition of how and when kids could bring in snacks, and summarized what she thought was the general feeling among parents.

“I think basically the big thing parents got upset about is that we’re to remain supportive of a lot of the choices that are being made for us instead of being involved in the decision-making process of policies,” Eisenhuth said.

Parent Kelly Kemps said she first started to believe parents did not have an active say in the direction of the district when many raised issues regarding full-day kindergarten, but it seemed apparent the board was going to pass the issue regardless.

Since then, she said she and other parents have heard about “intimidation and bullying” being “imposed on our staff and parents” by the superintendent.

“Everyone in this town is tied together in some small way, and many feel threatened if they speak out,” Kemps said.

Parent Donald Shearer said he had now been at five board meetings since October trying to find out why the school physician won’t clear his middle school-aged son to participate on the cross country team and is requiring an ophthalmologist exam.

Shearer’s son has Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, an undeveloped optic nerve from birth that cannot be medically fixed or improved with glasses, although Shearer’s son regularly participates in gym classes and has been cleared for cross country by his personal physician.

“Admit this has been a mistake and move forward,” Shearer said.

After Shearer spoke, board president Michael Lee took time to make a general statement toward all students who wish to play sports in the district, saying the policy as it stands says no child can play a sport without clearance from the school’s physician, and sometimes extra examinations are required.

Lee also took time to respond to comments at the last meeting and what he called rumors that the district did not have a spelling program.

“That is not accurate,” Lee said. “We do have a spelling program. It is incorporated in our word study program, which is a K-6 model.”

Another issue several parents raised was the status of Tirico.

One parent, Jennifer Husted, spoke about how her child was succeeding in the district’s programs because of how Tirico “enabled this program to succeed and to shine” and questioned why Tirico’s job was listed online as soon to be open.

“He is one of the best educators we have and that is saying something because we have great educators, and you’re going to let him go,” Husted said.

Husted said it was the board’s job to make decisions in the best interests of the district’s children and ensure that the people the board supervises and oversees are making decisions based on what’s best for the community and children.

When another parent asked about if Tirico’s position now requires a certification he does not currently have, Lee said he could not comment on personnel issues.

Regarding the meeting in general, Rafferty said he was proud of having a district where people can voice their concerns, and recognizes that means he and the board might not always hear things they like.

“The board of education meetings are certainly a forum for people to come and voice their concerns, present questions, make comments, and we, by we I mean the board, we take such input under advisory and consider them when making decisions whenever appropriate,” Rafferty said.

Rafferty said parents know all Tabernacle Schools are places for conversation, dialogue and input, and noted that there are also mechanisms in place for those who need to have individual issues addressed.

“There’s a place for public comments, but the place to go to get individual issues and problems resolved is at the school house door talking to your children’s teacher, principal, superintendent or director of curriculum,” Rafferty said.

The next meeting of the Tabernacle Township Board of Education is scheduled for March 16.