I remember days when visionary leaders of school districts took pride in solving major problems by using their ingenuity, creativity and acumen to create solid educational programs and strong work communities. Today it seems that more of these leaders choose to throw money at problems, as they outsource services, instead of figuring out solutions themselves.

Outsourcing is fashionable. It certainly has become the course of action at Pleasant Valley School District. Transportation is outsourced to First Student; PV Cyber School is outsourced to Seneca Valley teachers via Edgenuity; substitute teachers are outsourced to ESS Northeast; food services now will be the next, impacting about 35 employees with the director losing her PV job.

It seems that working at PVSD has little guarantee of a stable career venture as teachers and paras had been recently furloughed while enrollments continue to fall (3900 brick and mortar). No longer can many applicants coming to the West End district feel confident that they will have a lifelong career as in the past.

As the number of district leaders have increased back to 28, I wonder how many more professional and non-professional staff will lose PV benefits, PV retirement and PV job security as these management companies grow stronger roots within our school community.

What will be outsourced next? Technology? Secretarial? Custodial? Maintenance Services? More Special Education?

While outsourcing may seem to provide “profitable” benefits in the short term, many disadvantages do occur as the district loses control over services, ultimately paying higher costs in the long term (First Student contract), struggling with poor communication between school and provider, noticing lower morale and decreased productivity while quality standards are lowered.

PV needs another visionary leader more than ever now. I feel John C. Mills would agree.

Donna M. Yozwiak

Saylorsburg

(Editor’s note: Donna M. Yozwiak is a candidate for the Pleasant Valley school board).