East Penn Schools are Frugally Staffed, Seidenberger Says

East Penn Superintendent of Schools Thomas L. Seidenberger told the East Penn Board of School Directors that the school district is pretty lean and mean – at least as far at staffing numbers go.

Referencing an annual staffing survey by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Seidenberger told the board at its Sept. 10 meeting that according to the survey results, East Penn staffing tends toward the “frugal” side.

In particular, Seidenberger pointed out that when comparing East Penn to districts of a similar “wealth factor,” East Penn runs a fairly streamlined operation.

Among the many numbers Seidenberger recited include the fact that districts in a comparable income bracket to East Penn reported a ratio of 12.9 students per faculty member and 187 students per administrator, while East Penn’s numbers in these areas are 15.5 students per faculty member and 217 students per administrator.

The state average for students per administrator is 157.4 students.

“We are not heavy in faculty or management,” Seidenberger said. “I think that people can say at least that we are frugal on staff. We are above the state averages. For people who think we are overstaffed, I don’t think that is the case at all.”

Seidenberger’s presentation came on the heels of the board’s Aug. 27 meeting at which School Director Lynn Donches made a last-minute motion to eliminate an assistant principal at Emmaus High School.

During the discussion of her motion, Donches said that taxpayers had been asking her about the number of administrators in East Penn and termed the district “top heavy.” The measure was defeated 5-2.