“World-Class?” Not a Single Student Shows Up.

Nearly 300 students from across Berks County competed in the 74th Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair. Wilson and Conrad Weiser dominated. Governor Mifflin sent zero students — not one, from any grade level. For a district that calls itself world-class while ranking 15th out of 18 in the county, the silence is deafening.

Nearly 300 students from across Berks County walked into Albright College to compete in the 74th annual Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair. They came prepared. They presented real research. They competed for opportunities that can lead to national and international recognition. Districts like Wilson, Conrad Weiser, and LaSalle Academy showed up ready. Governor Mifflin did not. Not four students. Not one student. Not a single student. 0 Students from Governor Mifflin Total district presence ~300 Competitors from Berks County Other districts showed up 74 th Annual Fair Over 70 years. No excuse. Nearly 300 students competed from across Berks County. Governor Mifflin sent zero students. Not one. Winners of the 2026 Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair senior division: William Ferenchick, Wilson High School (grand champion); Heidi Ding, Wilson High School (champion); Scarlet Neider, Conrad Weiser High School (reserve champion). (Courtesy of Gregory Przyjemski) Grade 6 champion Maeve Quirk, Conrad Weiser Middle School, and Grade 7 champion Kyrill Reinard, LaSalle Academy. (Courtesy of Gregory Przyjemski) THIS IS NOT A PARTICIPATION PROBLEM. IT’S A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM. There is no way to soften this. A district that calls itself “world-class” failed to produce even one participant in a county-wide academic competition that has existed for over 70 years. No middle school. No high school. Zero. That is not bad luck. That is not coincidence. That is systemic failure. SEVENTEEN YEARS IN — WHERE IS THE PIPELINE? After 17 years under Dr. T. Hess, the expectation is simple: a functioning academic pipeline that prepares and pushes students to compete. Instead, the result is absence. We hear about initiatives, “teacher learning experiences,” and evolving educational approaches. But here is the truth: If the system is working, students show up. When no one shows up, the system is not working. The evidence is consistent: ✕ No visible high school presence in a major STEM competition ✕ No visible academic pipeline from classroom to competition ✕ Programs that exist on paper but fail to produce measurable results THE NUMBERS DON’T HELP THE ARGUMENT This isn’t just about one event. The competition absence fits a broader pattern. Metric Governor Mifflin What It Means Berks County Ranking ~15th of 18 Near the bottom of the county Statewide Ranking 444th of 606 Bottom quarter statewide Math Proficiency 32% Below state average by nearly 20 points HS Science Fair Competitors 0 At a 74-year-old county event All Schools Meeting Targets 0 of 6 Two consecutive years When a district ranks near the bottom and fails to show up in major academic competitions, the pattern becomes clear. This is not isolated. This is institutional. WHILE MIFFLIN TALKS, OTHERS COMPETE Wilson High School Grand Champion William Ferenchick & Champion Heidi Ding. Dominated the senior division. Conrad Weiser Reserve Champion Scarlet Neider (senior), Grade 6 Champion Maeve Quirk. Competed at every level. LaSalle Academy Grade 7 Champion Kyrill Reinard. A smaller institution connected to St. John’s Elementary. Producing high-level competitors. When schools with fewer resources outperform you, the issue is not money. It’s priorities. It’s expectations. It’s leadership. THE BIGGER PATTERN This is not happening in a vacuum. The science fair absence fits into a widening picture of institutional drift: Music Program Band and orchestra participation declining. Parents raising concerns publicly at board meetings. Academic Rankings 15th of 18 in the county. 444th of 606 statewide. Every school failing proficiency targets two years running. Spending Over $15,000 per student annually. $5M+ approved in a single board meeting. Continued capital projects. The Messaging The district continues to present success. Meanwhile these outcomes pile up. The contrast is clear. THE QUESTION LEADERSHIP WON’T ANSWER How does a “world-class” district send zero students to one of the most accessible and important academic competitions in the county? No financial barrier No cost to participate No access problem Just no results A world-class district doesn’t rely on slogans. It produces results. Pipelines. Competitors. Outcomes. Right now, after 17 years of leadership, the result is this: not one student showed up. And the district sits near the bottom of the county. That is not perception. That is performance. And no amount of messaging, programs, or “learning experiences” can cover it up. SOURCES: Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair — 74th Annual Competition, 2026, Albright College, Reading PA Reading Eagle / Berks County local media — 2026 science fair results and winner photographs (Courtesy of Gregory Przyjemski) SchoolDigger.com — Governor Mifflin School District rankings, Berks County and Pennsylvania, 2025–2026 Pennsylvania Department of Education — PSSA and Keystone proficiency data, Governor Mifflin School District, 2024–2025 Governor Mifflin School District — Comprehensive Plan 2026–2029 (public document) Governor Mifflin School District Board Meeting — March 16, 2026 (public session)