Another school is taking over the Scranton State School for the Deaf and planning some big time changes. The proposal announced Friday doesn't make teachers and students there very happy.
If passed by lawmakers it means a private company from western Pennsylvania will take over operations at the 129-year old school for the deaf.
At the Scranton State School for the Deaf Superintendent Dr. Monita Hara addressed her students about the state's plan to make big changes.
The school would no longer bear Scranton's name. The state would cease ownership and operations there by June. That's when the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh would take over, calling the school it's northeast campus.
Next school year things would remain the same for students but two years from now, the private school could close the dorms in Scranton and drop high school classes, leaving only kindergarten through eighth grade day programs. High schoolers would have to go to Pittsburgh.
"I live in East Stroudsburg, near the New Jersey border. Pittsburgh is a huge distance. There's no way I could commute," said junior Ahron Riola.
Students couldn't believe the news.
"Honestly, life will change significantly, I am very angry. I really don't how I will handle it. I mean I'm going to have a choice, go to WPSD, I don't want to and I can't be mainstreamed," said another student who didn't give a name.
Students took their frustrations to paper and marching outside. They showed drivers along North Washington Avenue just how they feel about the state's proposal to hand over the century-old school.
"We want a school here forever. I'm going to graduate next year, lucky for me. But what about the other kids who are here now and the kids of the future. It's just unfair," Riola added.
"I am extremely upset. I'm just at a loss for words," said English teacher Gina Colarossi. "It's sad, extremely sad. There's 129 years of history here, starting back with the Pennsylvania Coal Company. I grew up four blocks in that direction. I live a block and a half in this direction. I'm committed to this program. It's not over."
"Here at SSSD I have a great education, great opportunities for my future. I mean, I want to go to college from here. SSSD is giving me everything I need. I don't want to go to WPSD," said another student.
"My heart breaks for the students here because, as you can see, they love it here," said Janey Greenwald of Waverly. She is an interpreter at the school but she is also the parent of a deaf child. She worries, loke other students and staff, that soon deaf children won't have any close options for specialized education. "They will have to sacrifice greatly to get to a program on the other side of the state."
The proposal is exactly that, a plan prepared by the department of education and with help from state Senator Robert Mellow. It won't be definite until legislators pass the state's budget.
That could come by early summer.
If passed by lawmakers it means a private company from western Pennsylvania will take over operations at the 129-year old school for the deaf.
At the Scranton State School for the Deaf Superintendent Dr. Monita Hara addressed her students about the state's plan to make big changes.
The school would no longer bear Scranton's name. The state would cease ownership and operations there by June. That's when the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh would take over, calling the school it's northeast campus.
Next school year things would remain the same for students but two years from now, the private school could close the dorms in Scranton and drop high school classes, leaving only kindergarten through eighth grade day programs. High schoolers would have to go to Pittsburgh.
"I live in East Stroudsburg, near the New Jersey border. Pittsburgh is a huge distance. There's no way I could commute," said junior Ahron Riola.
Students couldn't believe the news.
"Honestly, life will change significantly, I am very angry. I really don't how I will handle it. I mean I'm going to have a choice, go to WPSD, I don't want to and I can't be mainstreamed," said another student who didn't give a name.
Students took their frustrations to paper and marching outside. They showed drivers along North Washington Avenue just how they feel about the state's proposal to hand over the century-old school.
"We want a school here forever. I'm going to graduate next year, lucky for me. But what about the other kids who are here now and the kids of the future. It's just unfair," Riola added.
"I am extremely upset. I'm just at a loss for words," said English teacher Gina Colarossi. "It's sad, extremely sad. There's 129 years of history here, starting back with the Pennsylvania Coal Company. I grew up four blocks in that direction. I live a block and a half in this direction. I'm committed to this program. It's not over."
"Here at SSSD I have a great education, great opportunities for my future. I mean, I want to go to college from here. SSSD is giving me everything I need. I don't want to go to WPSD," said another student.
"My heart breaks for the students here because, as you can see, they love it here," said Janey Greenwald of Waverly. She is an interpreter at the school but she is also the parent of a deaf child. She worries, loke other students and staff, that soon deaf children won't have any close options for specialized education. "They will have to sacrifice greatly to get to a program on the other side of the state."
The proposal is exactly that, a plan prepared by the department of education and with help from state Senator Robert Mellow. It won't be definite until legislators pass the state's budget.
That could come by early summer.
