“This situation didn’t come out of nowhere. Prices increased, choices were made, priorities were set, and money was spent,” Matthew Nakhla, a student in the Whitehall-Coplay School District, said in his address to school board members during the May 11 meeting.

His message at the meeting, packed with attendees, continued a discussion about the district’s ongoing financial struggles, arguing students should not bear the consequences.

“The consequences of those decisions are being handed down to students, who had no say in them,” Nakhla said.

The district is currently facing a significant budget gap driven by rising mandated costs, including salaries, healthcare, PSERS retirement contributions, special education services and charter school expenses. After reviewing other options, district leaders said a staffing reorganization would be necessary to help address the shortfall.

The proposed reorganization was expected to include staffing reductions and layoffs as the district works through its financial crisis.

Several students who spoke during public comment expressed concerns the music department and band program could be eliminated. However, school board members clarified those claims are false and based on rumors circulating throughout the community.

After multiple students and parents voiced concerns about the future of the band program, board President William Fonzone addressed the crowd directly.

“Again, I will tell you — we are not eliminating the band,” Fonzone said. “I don’t know where that started from, but it’s not true. It is not true. Period.”

Superintendent Christopher Schiffert acknowledged the challenges surrounding the 2026-27 budget and said cuts will need to be made.

“We started looking at all the building budgets, bussing and things that would not affect the staff first and foremost,” Schiffert said. “We went back and prioritized all of those cuts.

“We have to have some discussion about what we are going to do to address our budget shortfall,” he continued. “There’s no magic to this. We have to do it.

“There will be cuts made. It’s the only way to meet that shortfall and pass the budget by the end of June,” Schiffert said.

Many community members also spoke during public comment, raising concerns about a potential tax increase and blaming the board for the district’s financial “mess,” which some attributed to poor decision-making.

The reorganization plan was expected to be discussed during the May 18 meeting.

The board is scheduled to adopt the final 2026-27 budget during its June 8 meeting.

Beyond public comment, the board also reviewed several operational and financial items tied to the 2026-27 budget, including curriculum updates, district service agreements and emergency preparedness planning.

Board members also discussed a proposed policy governing the use of generative artificial intelligence in education and reviewed the district’s projected finances and Act 1 tax index figures. The base Act 1 index for 2026-27 was listed at 3.5%, while the district’s adjusted index was 4.7%.