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All-day kindergarten, dual enrollment and tutoring could vanish, members say.
KINGSTON — The governor’s call on Tuesday to slash $1 billion in state spending for public schools will have a devastating impact on the district, the Wyoming Valley West School Board said Wednesday.
The proposed 2011-12 fiscal year state budget of $27.3 billion eliminates a little more than $2 million in state subsidies and grants to the district.
Board Member Barry Williams gave a breakdown of the funding sources that had been used to pay for expenses such as all-day kindergarten.
The cuts also eliminate the dual-enrollment program that allows seniors to take college classes while still in high school. It also eliminates the educational assistance program, which funds the after-school tutoring program.
“It will limit their educational opportunities, hurt PSSA scores and hurt the child,” Williams said.
“I think it’s a shame what they’ve done,” he said. “The state’s disinterest in public education is really tragic.”
Board President Joseph Mazur urged taxpayers to call state officials to protest. “This is a blatant attack on middle-class people,” he said. “Working parents depend on all-day kindergarten.”
The cuts will also cut technology funding and force the district to impose a hiring freeze on all positions.
Last month, the board approved a tentative budget for 2011-12. The $63.3 million spending plan must now be reworked to accommodate for the loss of state funding, the board said.
“We have no choice but to take (the loss) out of the budget,” Williams said after the meeting.
The board has until June 30 to adopt a final budget.
During the meeting, Donald Karwoski of Plymouth asked the board if it is considering holding off on the $28 million State Street Elementary project in light of the loss of subsidies. The project calls for doubling the size of State Street Elementary in Plymouth and closing Main Street Elementary in Plymouth and Pringle Street Elementary in Kingston, both built in the 1920s. State Street was constructed in 1978.
“Absolutely not,” said Williams, pointing out the project will enhance the educational opportunities of the students. “When it comes to educating our students, that’s what’s important,” he said.
But Karwoski pressured the board to scrap the project. “I’m just concerned that taxes keep going up and up, and you just keep going ahead and spending money,” he said.
Mazur added the two older schools are not only dilapidated but also dangerous.
He invited anyone interested, to call him to arrange a tour of the Main Street building.