Declare schools distressed, group urges governor

Associated Press

CHESTER, Pa.

A bipartisan group of suburban Philadelphia lawmakers has asked Gov. Tom Corbett on Friday to declare a long-struggling school district financially distressed, which would trigger a state takeover.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says the Delaware County legislators called Friday for an emergency meeting Tuesday on the Chester Upland School District.

District officials have said they won’t be able to pay staff Wednesday without an $18.7 million advance on expected state funding. The state has accused the district of mismanaging its finances.

Corbett spokeswoman Janet Kelley says the governor wants to meet with lawmakers “at the earliest possible time”.

Chester Upland was declared financially distressed in 1994, and the schools were governed by state oversight boards until 2010.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.philly.com