Photo via screenshot Gary Weber, Warren County School District superintendent, is pictured commending Cody Brown, Savanna Cochran, and Mary Passinger for their time and dedication serving on the school board.

The Warren County School District needs to hire another special education teacher as the number of students in English as a Second Language courses increases.

Dr. Patricia Hawley-Mead, district director of pupil services, said the needs are expected to grow from the current 18 students in the program. The Intermediate Unit has had difficulty with staffing this district due to the location and the low number of students in comparison to the larger areas, such as Erie, in which the Intermediate Unit serves. However, if the language spoken in the home is not primarily English, then those students qualify for the EL program. The population and resources are not available, meaning that regular teachers take on the responsibility of supporting the English language student in their classrooms.

State law indicates the requirement that English language services need to be offered. In the past three years there has been an increase with eight more non-English speaking students having enrolled in the district. Right now, some are sitting in classrooms and not speaking the language. Assisted technology has helped with language translation, but it is necessary to have them speaking the language, as well as reading and writing the English language.

The Warren County School District has only one special education teacher certified to teach English Learner classes.

Superintendent Gary Weber mentioned that there were conversations in the past for both foreign exchange and immigration and how many in the area are working to bring immigrants to Warren County. Weber said that push is increasing costs for the school districts to educate those students. There will be further discussion on this need in upcoming board meetings.

Meade said she hopes there will be a way to creatively come up with a way to staff this need by the 2026-27 school year. Board member Paul Mangione suggested that the district possibly work with any organizations in the area that are currently bringing in immigrants.

Weber and the board also recognized board members Cody Brown, Savanna Cochran, and Mary Passinger.

“I know that oftentimes, it is an ungrateful job and you don’t get paid obviously, regularly abused and it takes a lot for you to do this job and make very difficult decisions,” Weber said. Weber addressed each one individually and congratulated them on their devotion and work in advocating for the district.

Mangione added that getting through these past years with the pandemic as well as other challenges has been tough but that they made it through, and he thanked them as well. Certificates and pins were given to the three members before adjourning the meeting.