Youngsville residents are still pushing the Warren County School District to reconsider closure of Youngsville and Sheffield high schools.

Community members voiced their concerns over the district’s approach to equitable education, particularly in relation to the recent school closures affecting Youngsville. Community members continue to call for further discussion and reconsideration of the decision to close Youngsville schools, urging the district to prioritize equitable access to education for all students across the county. Barb Lutton of Youngsville addressed the board, emphasizing the need to uphold the district’s commitment to equitable education.

“I want to bring up and keep talking about equitable education,” Lutton said. “I looked at the website and kind of started back at base one. Goal one of the Warren County School District is to evaluate data and develop a sustainable model of school reconfiguration to provide students with equitable, high-quality education opportunities across the district. Goal two–and I think you guys know these, but I feel like it is necessary to repeat them because of the equitable piece of all of this–the Warren County School District will assess and provide support and services to all students’ and employment needs in the community. That’s your goal. You are leaving out the Youngsville community specifically.”

Lutton continued, criticizing the district’s approach and urging the board to reconsider their decision.

“Goal three states that the district will advocate and act on behalf of the local taxpayer community to maintain a local tax base on equity. It’s not being met. There is no other way to say it. When you look up equitable education, it means to provide equal opportunity to all students, not just the ones in Warren. We still don’t get our questions answered, even on a fact sheet. Add more things to that. Here’s how it’s going. I also think it’s possible to go back on this decision or I wouldn’t be standing here. It’s okay to go back on that decision.”

Harold Dunkle of Pittsfield echoed these concerns, challenging the district’s justification for the school closures.

“The district is claiming there are two reasons why they closed the Youngsville schools: one being the district’s financial situation and the need to save money, and the other being equitable education. However, neither of these goals will be achievable the way the district is going about it,” Dunkle asserted.

He warned that the closures might lead to greater financial strain for the district.

“The district will see savings in this move due to the number of kids that will be leaving the district to go to PA Cyber or to another school district. On top of that, revenue will be further cut when property owners in both Youngsville and Sheffield see their taxes lowered due to no longer having a 9-12 school in their area. There will be no new growth in these areas, as families will not move into them with no schools in close proximity.”

Dunkle also highlighted the challenges students will face in participating in extracurricular activities due to increased transportation difficulties.

“The district is actually creating unequal opportunities for Youngsville students rather than equitable education. Many of the 9-12 students will no longer be able to participate in activities due to lack of transportation,” Dunkle said.