School funding parity remains priority

I would first like to thank our legislators and governor for the state budget passed in early July. I am looking at the budget through the lens of education. The additional money placed in this year’s budget for this purpose was very much appreciated by school districts throughout the state. For example, Pottstown School District in Montgomery County received $3.9 million well-deserved dollars which have been used to hire much needed school counselors at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.

Mental health issues, already overwhelming schools and high on the list of priorities for children, have been exacerbated by the pandemic and desperately need to be addressed. Pottstown has hired a principal for each grade level in the middle school to address the needs of both students and staff members, a model that wealthier school districts have had for years and take for granted.

The money has also allowed the district to increase the amount educators are paid, as well as address facility issues that have been let go and pushed under the rug for a number of years due to lack of funds. Pottstown School District has also been able to add after-school intramural sports for students which have been lacking for years.

I encourage our legislators and future governor to continue the support of funding to our public schools. Public schools have always been the bedrock of our nation, and many of us have received an excellent education and had successful careers through the dedication of our public-school staff members. We know there are $5 billion dollars in the PA “rainy day” fund, so lack of money in not an excuse to not fully fund public schools. Please know that today is the rainy day and underfunded schools all have their umbrellas up!

Even though Pottstown received $3.9 million dollars, they are still in the hole over $9 million this year, and $67 million over the past 6 years. When vouchers, tax credit scholarships, Lifeline Scholarships, or whatever name politicians give to funding for private and parochial schools are discussed, it is a difficult concept for many people to swallow, and rightly so.

My husband and I sent our son to a private high school because it was our choice to do so and our money that paid for it. We would never have expected the state to pay the bill for our choice. The words “underperforming schools” seem to always be used in tandem with the voucher concept. An “underperforming school” is always a school that is highly underfunded by the state and has a tax base that is either void of much industry or business and has low-cost housing which generates a low tax base.

Because Pennsylvania public schools are mostly funded by real estate taxes, the poorest schools have the least ability to perform at the highest levels. Lack of books, computers, staff, educational equipment, as well as the presence of lead paint, asbestos, and other issues that wealthy districts would never put up with for two seconds are part of the lives of these precious children who suffer because of their zip code. A majority of these students are of color, so racism is alive and well in Pennsylvania in regard to our politicians’ decisions on educational funding.

More people than ever were engaged in this year’s push for education funding parity. Please don’t think we are going away, because we are not. Children of all races are important and need the same things for a high-quality education. All Pennsylvania children are our children and their education is our responsibility.

It is time that the tax structure changes, and the state government takes on a much higher percentage of school costs as they did in the past, and as many states are doing. Pennsylvania is behind the times when it comes to public education funding; the facts and numbers show it, and the public knows it. We thank our legislators for this year’s additional funding, but expect much more of them in the future, especially for our underfunded schools.