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In your recent story about possible furloughs and tax hikes in the Lake-Lehman School District, Drew Salko was correct in noting that state funding for public schools has not kept pace with the cost of educating students.
Your readers also should know that Pennsylvania currently ranks 46th in share of public education funding and, in fact, if the state would fully fund the fair school funding formula it passed three years ago, Lake-Lehman schools would see nearly $646,000 in additional funding annually. If the state would have funded public schools adequately in the past, not only would staff reductions be unnecessary, but the district would be able to make additional investments in school infrastructure and curriculum. More state funding would have put less pressure on property taxes and could have reduced the need for property tax increases to fund the school district. This budget will mark the ninth straight year of tax hikes for Lake-Lehman taxpayers.
The governor has proposed increasing state funding for basic, special and career and technical education by $260 million for next school year. All of our state senators and representatives should commit to provide at least that much. They must also commit to solving the long-term education funding problem.
Susan Spicka
Executive Director, Education Voters of PA