Penn Wood High School students staged a walkout Wednesday morning in protest of what they say are funding issues in the William Penn School District that are now impacting important milestones in their lives, like the homecoming dance.
A large group of students gathered outside the district administration building holding signs reading “We deserve memories, not excuses” and “Why should we suffer at the hand of your money problems?”
“We pay for every event here, so what do you mean you don’t have any more money? Where did our money go?” asks one student. (ALEX ROSE – DAILY TIMES)
The protest lasted about an hour, after which most students went back inside. Some left school grounds.
Some students led chants outside the administration building and were passing around a microphone, but due to crowd noise and technical issues, their pleas could not be heard. The overall sense of what they were trying to convey did come across, however.
“A lot of (advanced placement) stuff has been cut and they’re not paying our coaches or putting our students or teachers first,” said Nysaia, a senior. “We’re only having the (homecoming) game, which is messed up, and we’re not having a dance.”
“And they haven’t signed off on a lot of the clubs and activities,” added Layani, another senior.
Juniors Fabiana and Alina said they hope the walkout pushes the conversation forward on other quality of life issues as well, like having clean bathrooms and good lunches.
A scene from the Penn Wood students’ walkout and rally outside the William Penn School District administration offices. (ALEX ROSE – DAILY TIMES)
“We’re always paying for stuff,” said Fabiana. “Like prom tickets went up, we paid for that. We pay for every event here, so what do you mean you don’t have any more money? Where did our money go?”
“We need better funding, because you can’t cut the budget for the teachers and the students,” said Alina.
Fellow 11th-grader Masidda said she was not convinced Wednesday’s demonstration would actually do much to move the needle for either.
“It’s a peaceful protest, but it’s not really going to do anything,” she said. “It’s like, OK, at least our voices are going to be heard, but it’s not going to change much because we’re still $14 million down and the government is like, I don’t know. I really think we should start writing letters.”
Masidda and others expressed frustration with a budget impasse in Harrisburg that is now nearing its fourth month, as well as apparent mismanagement that had previously been identified in the district’s own financial office.
Teachers currently working without a contract were not holding back their opinions either.
“Due to the gross mismanagement of funds and teachers not volunteering for extracurricular activities because we don’t have a contract, our district has already canceled homecoming, and there is talk that senior prom will also be canceled,” said one teacher. “All after-school clubs have also been canceled. We don’t have enough seats or laptops for our students, and the district refuses to buy more.”
District spokesperson Deirdre Abrahamsson said some of those issues arise from ongoing negotiations with the William Penn Education Association as both sides try to finalize a contract.
“Because the new contract for the 2025-26 school year has not yet been finalized, the hiring of supplemental positions for teachers and staff is delayed,” she said. “These positions are connected to extracurricular activities.”
WPEA President Andrea Fink indicated in a missive to membership earlier this month that the main sticking point was supplemental contracts, which had not been board approved as of Sept. 5.
A scene from the Penn Wood students’ walkout and rally outside the William Penn School District administration offices. (ALEX ROSE – DAILY TIMES)
Abrahamsson said the seating issue is being examined and a plan is being developed. Meanwhile, she said, temporary seating like benches and stools will be deployed.
“This long-term need has also been addressed in our 10-Year Facilities Master Plan,” Abrahamsson said. “School staff and administration are completing a full audit of available seating, which is expected to be finished this week. Once complete, the school and central office teams will determine the appropriate next steps to ensure every student has an appropriate classroom seat.”
But she said concerns about the district not having enough Chromebooks are overblown. Every student has a Chromebook in class, she said, and those who need to take one home are able to do so without issue.
Abrahamsson also confirmed there would be a homecoming football game Friday, homecoming court and a pep rally, but the dance has been canceled this year due to the staffing situation and the planning required to prepare for it.
The Daily Times reached out to the WPEA for more information on negotiations, but did not hear back Wednesday.
Abrahamsson said the district values the voices and experiences of its students and respects their right to express themselves.
“We remain focused on continuing to support them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” she said.
As to contract negotiations, Abrahamsson said those are in the “final stages” and the administration is optimistic that an agreement would be reached soon. Once finalized, she said William Penn could begin filling supplemental positions that support extracurricular programs and student activities.
“Like all school districts in Pennsylvania, we are also awaiting the passage of a state budget — delayed since July 1st — which has a direct impact on our operations,” Abrahamsson added. “Despite these challenges, we are committed to providing quality instruction, access to technology, and meaningful learning experiences for all students. We are proud of our dedicated staff and the resilience of our students, and we remain committed to working together with staff, families, and community partners to ensure that every Penn Wood student is prepared for future success.”
Originally Published: September 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM EDT