Pa. school districts need support from Congress

To the Times:

I enjoyed Joseph Batory’s Nov. 23 guest column where he outlined the basic principles for educational success and how they can still be achieved despite the pandemic. However, I would argue that his first six principles largely rest on the success of the seventh and eighth principles: Seeking out help from the community and fighting for more government dollars.

Intuitive teachers (principle one), student connection (principle two) and engaging curriculum (principles three and five) are instrumental factors in a valuable education. But you also need to be able to pay those teachers, provide a safe learning environment for students, and develop new curriculum that survives Zoom transmission or a newly socially distanced space. And offering seminars and workshops for parents (principle four) and cultivating school leadership (principle six) takes time and money.

Pennsylvania school districts — many of which were struggling before COVID hit — are expecting to lose $1 billion in local revenues this year as a result of COVID-driven economic slowdown. In order for them to effectively handle challenges brought by the pandemic, they need financial support. While many businesses and nonprofits have generously stepped in to help our schools, their support is just a drop in the bucket compared to what Congress could provide.

We’re lucky to have so many wonderful educational leaders in our community who are well-equipped to take this pandemic on. Now we need support from Congress to help them do it.