MOUNT CARMEL - District parents and concerned citizens packed the board room at Mount Carmel Area High School on Thursday night to voice their displeasure over the recent loss of educational and sports programs, teachers and administrators.
Complaints also were lodged against board members for showing too much favoritism toward the tradition-rich football program by approving extensive improvements to the high school stadium, including the construction of a new fieldhouse.
Ann and John Frasch, parents of senior volleyball and softball player Maura Frasch, criticized the board for not allowing a booster organization to support the volleyball team so the program could be retained instead of entering into a co-op agreement with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School.
In June, board members approved a co-op agreement that requires volleyball and softball players at Mount Carmel Area to play those sports at Lourdes. In May, the board approved a co-op agreement that requires football and baseball players at Lourdes to play those sports at Mount Carmel Area.
Mrs. Frasch became annoyed after the board agreed Thursday night to have parents involved with an elementary swimming program meet with the athletic committee in an attempt to continue the program through the support of its boosters.
The meeting with the athletic committee was approved after elementary swimming program parents Shannon Paul and Tracy Rhodes urged the board to continue the program at the high school pool.
"We tried to do the same thing with the volleyball team last month, but got shot down by the board," Mrs. Frasch said. "Our boosters were willing to assume all the costs of the volleyball program, but you didn't allow it."
Frasch's husband told directors, "You don't have the students' best interest in mind when you cut programs like volleyball and softball. Also, you are so uninformed about things that you didn't even know when the co-op program was approved by the PIAA."
Ann Frasch added, "Girl sports are on the outside core."
Their 17-year-old daughter said she is very disappointed that she can't play her last year of volleyball and softball with her home school. She said it is difficult to arrange transportation for the girls who have decided to play with Lourdes.
Board President Rose Marquardt said efforts will be made to provide transportation to Lourdes for practices and games. She told the parents she believes it was a mistake to discontinue the school's volleyball program after the boosters made an offer to financially support it.
Another parent, Tara Purcell, said 32 girls at Mount Carmel Area were planning to play volleyball before the co-op agreement was reached with Lourdes. Now, she said only 10 girls have decided to play.
Nancy Kaminsky, whose son plays football for Mount Carmel Area, which is the winningest high school team in the state, told the board they should support all the students and not just the football players.
Another parent complained too much money is being spent on the football program while other sports programs and educational programs are being cut. "You would rather have the school close than raise taxes," he said.
Several people in attendance at the meeting grumbled when the board approved more than $63,000 in change orders involved with the stadium renovations.
Board member Joseph D'Andrea said, "Raising taxes isn't the answer."
Fellow board member Dr. Ray Kraynak pointed out that the costs of education have continued to grow over the years and have become unsustainable for some districts like Mount Carmel Area.
In response to the parent who complained about the board not raising taxes, Kraynak said, "If you can make money grow on trees, go ahead."
Marquardt and Kraynak told the parents and concerned citizens that the money used for the stadium renovations came from a loan that can only be used for that project. Kraynak pointed out that the taxpayers are still paying for the renovations.
"The stadium project has nothing to do with us cutting programs and furloughing teachers," Marquardt explained. "We don't want to do these things, but lack of funding by the state has forced us to take some difficult measures. We also are losing good administrators because we can't afford to pay them the same salaries as other districts."
Some parents said there has been some miscommunication about how the stadium renovations are being funded and encouraged the board to educate the public as much as possible about the project.