Pa. school districts grapple with potential cuts

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Teachers. Kindergarten programs. Art and music classes.

School officials across Pennsylvania say all that and more is on the chopping block in light of the governor’s plan to reduce education funding more than $1 billion.

The cutbacks would affect districts large and small, from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to tiny Wyalusing.

Republican Gov. Tom Corbett says he is trying to close a multibillion-dollar hole in the state’s budget. But the depth of the cuts — a complete reversal from the previous administration’s eight straight years of increased education funding — has left many districts stunned and scrambling.

“We’re in such bad shape financially because of the lack of money we’re going to be getting from the state,” Wyalusing Superintendent Ray Fleming said. “We’ve seen those kinds of [deficit] numbers before, but we always assumed the state would come through.”

Students are worried, too. About 200 students in the West Shore School District staged sit-ins at several schools last week to protest cuts including the environmental education program and literacy and computer coaches.

On Wednesday, hundreds of students marched in Philadelphia, where district officials anticipate a $293 million loss in state funding.

Corbett wants to reduce public school aid by $550 million and eliminate $259 million in subsidies for programs such as all-day kindergarten. He also wants to cut $224 million in reimbursements to districts whose students transfer to charter schools.