WORK TO BOOST PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING

By Gary Sieling

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While we're distracted by national news, PA still doesn't have a budget. In Wissahickon School District, current costs are increasing at a rate greater than covered by the maximum allowable increase in local taxes. This covers important things, like making sure that the largest sixth grade class to enter middle school at Wissahickon has enough math, science, and ELA teachers.

The PA Senate leadership is failing our children and communities. rather than passing a budget that covers education and transit, they have proposed a flat budget. We've all experienced price increases at the grocery store - no new money is the same as a cut.

While there are many discussions to be had about how each district should allocate resources, the fact remains that the vast majority of children across the state attend public school, regardless of whether they live in rural, suburban, or urban areas.

Earlier this year, Power Interfaith, Coalition4Justice, Or Hadash, and the members of the Renew Community held a town hall to advocate for an end to inadequate public education funding in PA - a system that unfairly disadvantages the most diverse districts in the state, and which has been declared unconstitutional by the PA Commonwealth Court. As a multi-faith, multi-racial coalition, we want to see our children , our families; children, and our neighbors' children receive a great education, regardless of their zip code. So far, we have seen no movement because the Senate has blocked a budget from the PA House.

The national administration has indicated that they would like to return power over education to the states. Consequently, the time to fund our schools is now. Please call your state representatives and insist that they pass a budget with real funding for public education. If they already support public education - great. Call and thank them for their support, so they know we are paying attention.

Gary Sieling is a member of the Renew Community and the Power Interfaith Education Justice Committee.

Additional Resource: Pennsylvania administrators warn of budget impasse’s consequences on schools - WHYY