News

February 12, 2009

Area’s lawmakers lobby for deaf school

Legislators, school officials meet with Department of Education in Harrisburg.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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State Sen. Lisa Baker on Wednesday said she supports Senate Majority Leader Robert Mellow’s proposal to halt the closings of the Scranton State School for the Deaf until a thorough legislative study and review can be conducted.

Baker made the statement after meetings in Harrisburg between members of the Northeast Legislative Caucus, the state Department of Education and officials of the Scranton school.

Dr. Monita Hara, superintendent at the Scranton school, said the legislators were supportive of the school and “did their homework” in preparation of the meeting.

Baker, R-Lehman Township, said the Department of Education has not offered a convincing argument about deficiencies in the school’s program.

“Gov. Rendell’s decision is a wrong one, and the way the Department of Education wants to carry it out is seriously flawed,” Baker said. “They announced this closure with no plan in place. It is very unsettling that parents are being forced to make decisions now, with no real assurances that their children’s unique needs will be met. It is not the fault of the students or the school that Pennsylvania has a budget problem.”

Mellow, D-Peckville, has come out in strong support of the school.

“I remain committed to keeping the school open at least until the legislature has more time to study the ramifications that closing the school would have on our children and community,” he said.

State Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, said the meeting offered “a frank discussion” on the future of the school and its students. It costs the state about $82,000 per student at the Scranton State School for the Deaf; the school currently has 92 students enrolled in its pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade program.

“The Commonwealth is in the throes of a budget crisis … we must never waver from our responsibility to educate students with special needs,” Yudichak said..

Hara said there was discussion on increasing enrollment, noting that the school can accommodate 200 students. Hara was accompanied by Sandy Hyman-Mehaffey, director of instruction, and Robert Boyce, a board of trustees member and parent of a graduate. Boyce’s son, Stephen, is a student at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester, N.Y., majoring in computer-aided design.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski said Rendell’s proposed budget will “evolve” into something quite different in June.

“As we face an unprecedented deficit of $2.3 billion, everyone must understand that everything is on the table – open for discussion – and cuts and temporary discontinuation of programs will indeed occur,” Pashinski said.

Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township, said the governor’s budget is a starting point for the discussion.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

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