Superintendent
Letter from the
Dr. Gary Peiffer –
Superintendent
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends of the
Greensburg Salem School District,
I
n 1955, my father enrolled at Kutztown State Teachers College. This
was after he spent time working in the furnace at Bethlehem Steel in
1950, followed by 4 years serving in the Navy on the USS Darby and
USS Sarsfield while the Korean War raged on. As a veteran, he was one of
almost 10 million servicemen who benefited from the opportunities the
GI Bill provided. Because of that opportunity, he became the first one in
our family to attend and graduate from college. As a new teacher in the
booming post war economy of the 1950’s, my father was able to take
advantage of the opportunities the job market provided with the influx
of students entering American schools. Dad’s experience led him to
encourage my sister and I to attend college as well. The thinking was that
a college degree in and of itself would lead to our achieving our own
version of the American Dream. So, like several of our friends- whose
parents also served in the armed forces and benefitted from the GI Bill,
we each went to college. It wasn’t just an option that was presented to
us, it was the ONLY option that was presented- the job market wasn’t
really a part of the equation.
To be responsive to the needs of our students and to meet the
demands of the workforce, families should consider all career and
training options available for them. Educators have to work with local
businesses and industry to determine what the work force needs will
be and how best to fill them. A college education could be one of the
ways to meet those needs. However, a college education is expensive.
The average annual in-state college tuition for Pennsylvania was $22,299
for the 2017-2018 school year, as stated on the site Collegecalc.org. This
is $8,187 higher than the national average. This makes Pennsylvania,
according to Collegecalc.org, the 5th most expensive state in which to
attend college.
In order to pay for these costs, many people are forced to take out
student loans. The website Studentloanhero.com states that the average
student loan burden for the Class of 2017 is $39,400- which is up 6
percent from the previous year. There are 44.2 million Americans who
have student loan debt, and pay an average monthly loan payment of
$351.00, making it difficult to pay for other things like rent, utilities, and
food.
With college costs and debt accumulation so high, one may wonder
what other options are available for someone looking for a dynamic
job fitted to meet the workforce needs in our region. It is projected
for our area that jobs will be needed in the fields of healthcare, oil
and gas, petrochemical, biotech, robotics, artificial intelligence, and
building construction. In many of these fields, there is a need for skilled
and technically trained workers. In the building trades, for example,
for every five people retiring, only one person is entering the field.
Often, these dynamic jobs provide employees with opportunities for
advancement and a change in job type as a person progresses through
the position. As noted by the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania,
57% of the careers emerging in our region require two-year degrees,
certifications, and high-end skills. These are highly professional, hands-
on and engaging jobs. Opportunities for training and partnerships for
these jobs are provided through local high schools, career technology
centers, community colleges, and technical training centers. With
average base salaries for positions like an HVAC Service Technician being
$49,925, an Electrician at $52,497, a Field Service Engineer at $69,589 or
“To be responsive to the
needs of our students and
to meet the demands of the
workforce, families should
consider all career and
training options available
for them.”
a Construction Project Manager at $71,866 (as noted on Payscale.com)
one can see that these jobs not only meet employment demands of
the region, but also can help students achieve their own version of the
American Dream.
As Superintendent, I recognize the need, benefit and value of having
a college diploma and post graduate study. A college education
opens doors and provides opportunities for students personally and
professionally while fueling the engine of science, commerce, research,
industry, education, healthcare, and the humanities. However, I also
recognize that there are many options also available to students that
will provide them with similar professional and personal opportunities.
Without incurring the crippling student loan debt, students may find
fulfilling and dynamic jobs in the many growing fields in our region that
will also them to become productive citizens and valued community
members. A college degree in a field in which there is little prospect of
economic growth or demand could lead a young adult to a dead end
job with little prospect of getting out of oppressive debt. If students
and parents are considering career options, I encourage them to talk to
their local school counselor about opportunities for growth and work
in technology and business fields. If possible, they should contact their
local career and technology center to talk with a staff member or to take
a tour and see for themselves what career paths are open. It may just be
the path to the achieving the American Dream.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gary Peiffer
The Greensburg Salem School District pages are edited and compiled by the Community Relations Department. For more
information please contact Melissa O’Brien, at 724.832.2907 or [email protected].
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