Board Member Attends State Testimony Regarding Public Education Funding

As Vice President of the West Allegheny School District Board, I was personally invited to attend an important hearing regarding the Pennsylvania Public Education Fund. Several School Board Presidents and other educational experts participated in the hearing held by Senator James Brewster and chairperson Senator Lisa Boscola on June 14th, 2012 in Monroeville, PA.

As a board member I knew many districts across the Commonwealth were suffering because of cuts to education. I thought it was important to share some of the data obtained from the participating Senators.

• For a 2nd consecutive year, school districts are again forced to consider cuts to instructional programs.
• Nearly 50% of school districts said that financial distress is anticipated within 3 years if state and local funding does not improve.
• Districts anticipate using three times more fund balance in 2012-13 as was used for the current year. About one-in-five districts have diminished their excess funds by 50% or more within the last two years.
• Class sizes will increase in about 60% of districts surveyed.
• Students in 58% of districts will face reduced instruction in art, music and physical education, and will have fewer elective and advanced placement course offerings.

To download the full report visit: http://www.pasbo.org/PressReleaseReportSurvey_FINAL.pdf.

As a parent I was pleased to see some of our elected officials challenging Harrisburg. We share the same passion for ensuring that all students of the Commonwealth receive a robust education that will allow them to compete globally. However this will only happen if Harrisburg realizes that funding needs to change. I feel charter schools can no longer have an unfair advantage over public education. Unions must also participate in correcting some of this problem. We all need to work in unison because it is the children who always suffer the greatest due to cuts in education funding.

I appreciate Senator Boscola for chairing this meeting, Senator Brewster for inviting me and all other invitees who participated. I hope to personally contact the Senators to discuss ways that I can get involved, both personally and professionally, to institute change to education funding.

– Eugene Sciulli, National Sales Director