UPDATE: In a major shake-up for the Northwest Area School District, Superintendent Joe Long announced his retirement during a school board meeting on Thursday night. His departure, effective April 2, 2024, comes amid a controversial consolidation plan and ongoing community discord.
Long, who has held the position since January 2020, cited new professional opportunities as the reason for his exit, which he has been contemplating for the past 10 months. After the announcement, he revealed he secured a job with the firm Total Synnergy, promising a salary increase of around $50,000 compared to his current pay of $123,240 for the 2024-25 school year. “These new opportunities will enable me to provide for [my family] financially, emotionally, and socially,” Long stated.
This sudden leadership change comes as the district grapples with a proposed school consolidation plan that would close the Northwest Area Intermediate School. Community members have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and input in the decision-making process. Parent Karissa Kingsbury voiced concerns that the new committees formed for the consolidation proposal were not representative of the broader community.
“It makes it appear as if real input and feedback is not welcome,” Kingsbury said.
As tensions rise, the final vote on the consolidation is expected in February. Critics, including former teacher Kacey Piatt, argue that the plan is being rushed and could lead to significant challenges in accommodating an influx of students. “This should be a well thought-out process, especially since we now have learned that our superintendent will be retiring in April,” Piatt cautioned.
Long’s retirement adds to the district’s challenges, which include long-term financial instability exacerbated by rising healthcare costs and tuition for cyber charter schools. Recently, the district narrowly avoided a financial crisis when state lawmakers struck a budget deal after months of stalemate.
As if this wasn’t enough, the community is also divided over a proposed policy that would restrict transgender students from using bathrooms that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. This contentious issue resurfaced during the public comments at Thursday’s meeting, drawing impassioned responses from both supporters and opponents.
School board President Martin LeValley defended the district’s process, stating that they solicited nominees for community committees from various organizations. Meanwhile, the board also retroactively accepted the resignations of members Tara Biller and Jeffrey Pierontoni, who had already been replaced in December.
As the district prepares for its next chapter without Long, uncertainty looms. Parent Kacey Piatt reflected on the impact of these changes on families: “In the past, there would be no question that Northwest was the best placement for our kids,” she lamented.
With the community facing a pivotal moment, eyes will be on the school board’s next steps as they search for a new superintendent amidst ongoing controversies and critical financial decisions. The urgency for a stable leadership is clear as parents and residents seek reassurance for their children’s educational future.
