Roxborough High Starting Year Off With a Little Less

You could say last year was a good year for .

It increased its scores in both the math and reading Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests, upped the number of students applying to college by 15 percent and began offering nine, up from three, advanced placement courses and reinstated its music program. The school also reduced its number of serious incidents by 65 percent and was taken off the city's persistently dangerous list. 

But Steve Brandt, an alum of school and principal, said the outlook might not be so bright with this year's budget cuts. 

"Due to the budget our funding was reduced by $1.6 million," he said at a "That's a 26.7 percent decrease."

The cuts caused the loss of approximately 20 positions including:

• One enrichment, one special education, five English and three math teacher positions were lost
• A social service liaison position, that helped students deal with out of school issues, was terminated. 
• School police officer, librarian and secretary were also lost

"The ramifications are going to be major," he said. "A reduction in our instructional staff will increase class sizes, cut planning time for teachers which conflict with best practice."

The loss of a police officer and social service liason may also affect the school's decrease in serious incidents. 

"We lost the social service liaison when the demand for one is continually rising," he said. 

In regards to programming, Brandt said the school is losing:

• The fall cheerleading squad
• Elimination of planning time for teachers
• The elimination of programs that allow students to re-take the first semester of a course if they are struggling

"This is jeopardizing everything we accomplished last year, it will take time for the students to rebound from this," Brandt said. "And we are just one school of out of 260 in city. We've lost our foundation."

While it is still unclear whether more funds will be allocated to the schools, Brandt said he doesn't know how funds can be better spent. 

"There is no better investment than in our children," he said. "The cuts we are making now will affect us later."