A Mercer County school district is considering staff reductions due to a significant decline in student enrollment over the past eight years, according to a statement released by Board President Jason Powers.

The Lakeview School District, located in Stoneboro, Pennsylvania, held a meeting with professional staff in February to address the issue. Enrollment has decreased from nearly 1,100 students in the 2016-2017 school year to 797 students currently. Despite the drop in students, the number of professional staff members has decreased only slightly, from 96 to 86.

Powers said the meeting aimed to ensure transparency and notify staff of potential reductions. He emphasized that the board has a "fiscal responsibility to the community it serves."

"While reducing staff is not the Board's desired outcome, they recognize that the district's current teacher-to-student ratio of 9:1 is well below the state average of 15:1," Powers said in the statement. "The Board emphasized that while these reductions are unfortunate, they are necessary to maintain the district's financial stability."

To minimize or avoid teacher furloughs, the board has approved retirement incentives for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. These incentives include contributions to Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) and 403(b) plans. Deadlines for retirement notifications are March 20 and April 26.

Superintendent Dr. Keith Wolfe has also met with staff members identified as being on the list of potential furloughs. During these meetings, Wolfe provided information about an upcoming job fair and offered personal assistance to help impacted employees find new employment opportunities.

"The Board emphasizes that this decision followed extensive discussion and careful consideration," Powers said. "Their sincere hope is that staff members will consider the retirement incentives, reducing or possibly eliminating the need for furloughs.