If some parents and taxpayers in Porter Township have their way, the Wallenpaupack Area School District may get a little larger in the future.

A group of parents is currently collecting petitions from parents and property owners to support moving Porter from the East Stroudsburg School District to Wallenpaupack. If approved, the change would move about 48 students from ES’s north complex to Wallenpaupack and return Porter to the district it was in until the mandated jointures were formed in the late 1960s.

In fact, one parent of a senior at ES said that since his child has graduated he would support the change. Johnson said many times parents will avoid changing schools when their children are in high school, something schools in the region have found in the past when families were moving into the area during the 1980’s and 90’s.

Johnson said many of the parents supporting the change cited concerns about safety in the middle or high schools in ES.

He noted the other reason is for a better education. In a press release announcing the movement, the group cites better tests scores at WASD compared to ES. It notes ES has met 50 percent of the standards in the Adequate Yearly Progress, compared to WASD which has met 80 percent of those standards. It notes SAT scores are also higher at WASD, as well.

The group also notes WASD has a better special education program.

He added seven of the 48 children are already enrolled in private schools. '

Johnson said that is the main reason for the change — a better education. The fact that it comes at a less expensive cost helps.

Johnson noted the property taxes in the ES for Porter Twp., is 47 percent higher then the WASD rate in Pike County. ES is receiving, according to the group’s news release, over $1.8 million to educate 48 children. He said that is something that will benefit all the taxpayers in Porter.

The group points out Porter Township is more closely related to WASD than ES, in that it is more rural like WASD.

Neither of the school districts are taking sides in the issues. WASD Superintendent Michael Silsby said the District is in the business of educating children not recruiting townships to make a bigger district.

Silsby said the majority of the children in Hemlock Farms already attend school in WASD. Johnson noted eight children from Hemlock Farms go to ESD.

Silsby said the students would go to the North Complex of schools with the rest of the students from that part of the district.

One of the big concerns would be how the debt is split. Once approved the school districts would have to prorate the debt currently carried by ES which built the schools in the district. How much that will cost WASD is a concern, Silsby said.

“We hate to see anyone go,” said ES Assistant Superintendent Sharon Laverdure, but added they were not taking sides either way at this point.

Johnson noted the petition was the first step in the process to change school district. He noted it could take a long time for the change to take place if it is approved.