JEFFERSON TWP — When primary school gym teacher Ken Elliott left the South Butler County School District, there were big shoes to fill. But Mike Pelloni did just that, and he did it with his iconic Batman socks to the joy of his young students.

But at the end of this school year, Pelloni's full-time job will be a part-time position. The same fate will befall middle school art teacher Karen Schawl.

Also, Doug Kamer, an art teacher at the high school, has been furloughed.

All those actions were taken Wednesday night by the school board.

That vote happened despite almost two hours of public comment from students, graduates, taxpayers and teachers speaking against the staff changes, including Pelloni himself after loud cheering from the more than 100 people.

“It's the perfect fit for me, and the students agree,” Pelloni told the board. “I waited my time to fill a position that fits my strengths, and since I've found it, I'm not ready to give it up. I've made a difference at the primary (school).”

Pelloni said he suggested two different schedules that he devised in his own time, implementing more health and gym classes and enabling the district to keep him as a full-time teacher.

“Believe me when I say that heath classes and PE is something that is lacking at South Butler Intermediate,” he said, stressing that the district does not meet state recommended standards for health and physical education. “Our neighboring schools have (these classes), but we don't offer it.”

In response to Pelloni's schedules, Superintendent David Zupsic said the ideas do not account for all classes and needs of the students.

“That's just a schedule for you,” Zupsic said, asking if Pelloni had brought any of his suggested changes to the administration before finding out his position was to be dropped.

Pelloni said that other teachers who were considered as options for a furlough were given the opportunity to work with the administration to find a more flexible fit, which Zupsic confirmed. Zupsic said the other teachers considered for furlough had not brought up ideas on how to use them better until they were part of furlough discussions themselves, as he had asked Pelloni.

Changes to other teachers schedules were done based on administrative recommendations, not those of the teachers themselves, Zupsic said.

Pelloni said after the meeting that he felt like he wasn't given the same opportunity to work with the district to keep his full-time position.

He said, “The issue that I have is the school did not approach me on what ideas we could implement into the school for health education and adaptive physical education, but other teachers who could've been furloughed were given the chance to make a plan to be kept.”

Pelloni's wife, Marie, also spoke to the board, saying that the district does not offer any health classes until seventh grade. She mentioned that state standards designed for third to sixth grade call for lessons on structure and function of the basic body system, nutrition, health problems and prevention and basic first aid.

“This is quite a list, and those are only a few of the health standards,” Marie Pelloni said.

Marie Pelloni wasn't the only wife of an affected teacher who spoke. She was followed by Cory Kamer, the wife of Doug Kamer.

“I want to thank everyone standing behind us,” Cory Kamer said. “There are so many teachers here that are fantastic for our students, and we want to see that continue to grow.”

Kamer was the topic of his own hashtag, #KeepKamer, that took to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit by Knoch High School senior Monica Swaney. Swaney got about 1,400 online signatures and many more on a paper petition circulated at the school.

Resident Dave McCool told the board that such a staffing decision sends the wrong signal to the children in the district.

“What message does it send to our children to tell them that these people who have cared for them so deeply are expendable? What message does it send to our children regarding how we value each other?” he said.

Overall, the district would save about $175,000 by eliminating Kamer's position and cutting Pelloni and Schawl to part-time positions, according to Zupsic.

“The savings on me are minimal, $15,000,” Pelloni said. “If that's in your best interest for me to go, then do as you may ... We can pay for it now or we can pay for it later.”

However, during the meeting, President Nelda Burd said the decision was not based on budgetary issues, but rather on declining student enrollment.

“The decision was not made based on the (preliminary 2016-17) budget,” she said. “The decision was made based on the staff needed for the enrollment. This was not budget-driven.”

Before the vote Wednesday night, the board heard from Assistant Superintendent Richard Cavett on declining enrollment.

The district has had a 17 percent decrease in enrollment since this year's graduating seniors were in kindergarten, Cavett said. In 2003-04, the district had 2,925 students. This school year, the district has 2,429.

While there has been a 17 percent decrease in student population, the professional staff has not decreased at the same amount. Since the 2003-04 school year, the district has had a 7.7 percent decrease, from 182 teachers in 2003-04 to 168 now.

If the decision was not cost-driven, the district still has time to find a solution, according to Troy McCurdy of Saxonburg with children in the district. McCurdy is a teacher in the Pine-Richland School District.

“If it's not about the budget, as was clearly stated here tonight, you find a way to keep them,” he said. “This doesn't take place until September or mid-August. We could find a fix still, and I encourage you not to give up. Please do that for our kids.”

Zupsic said the board could change that decision and decide to revote “if circumstances should change.”

The board ultimately voted 7-2, with board members Dale Fennell and Bob Goodlin voting against the staff changes.

Before the vote, Goodlin addressed the public.

“(Pelloni) was a big brother (to my son),” he said. “You can't put a price on that ... That's my heart pouring out to you. It's a mistake. That's how I feel. I love these guys, I think they're irreplaceable.”