Don’t Stop (’till we get enough)
With Governor Wolf affixing his signature on the state budget, we’re finally turning the page on one of the saddest chapters of Pennsylvania’s legislative history… well, not exactly.
School Districts are still tending to the gaping wounds caused by the impasse. Short term loans of over $1 billion, required to keep districts open, pushed up the cost of the education by at least $40 million — and the state is MIA when it comes to paying for those borrowing costs.
Moody’s and the other Wall Street rating agencies had a quick negative reaction to the failure of the legislature to send a sustainably balanced budget to the governor’s desk. Wall Street may reduce the state’s bond rating. As a result, next year most school districts will have to pay even higher interest costs for the annual borrowing necessary to carry them between tax payments.
If that’s not enough of a financial hit on school budgets, many districts will receive less in new state funding for the current year than they will have to pay in additional state-mandated pension costs.
The state budget impasse also sent a highly damaging signal to the labor market that public education is no longer a stable sector for employment. Principals and superintendents didn’t miss the distress signal. Across the state legions of educational leaders have had enough and are tendering their resignations or retirements in record numbers.
We all want the dereliction of duty in Harrisburg to end, but we cannot settle for on-time passage of a FY 16-17 budget as evidence that our lawmakers have returned to their senses. The only indication worthy of improved respect of our legislative leaders would be an on-time, balanced-budget that, at a minimum funds increases to public schools and pre-K as proposed by the Governor.
Join the Campaign for Fair Education or the Pre-K for PA Campaign in Harrisburg. Both campaigns need volunteers to meet with legislators to make the case for stable, sustainable and substantially more ambitious investments in our kids. Click here to sign up.
#RKIDSRWORTHIT
Harrisburg may not know how to deliver for kids, but it’s an entirely different story in Philadelphia.
The Mayor’s ambitious proposal to move-toward universal pre-k for every child; repair crumbling recreation centers and libraries; make vital upgrades to parks; and establish community schools should have heads nodding and hearts warming. This proposal will transform Philadelphia for generations of kids and redefine what it means to live and raise a family here. It’s a tremendous opportunity that needs strong public support. Act now to help make this happen.
You can act now by signing this petition.
Over the next few weeks you’ll be hearing more about the Mayor’s proposal to pay for these projects through a tax on sugary drink. In the run up to a late June vote in City Council on the sugary drink tax, at budget hearings and testimonies, your elected officials need to hear what they already know: Our kids are worth it.
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We’re driving ahead! Sign up to join our Capitol Caravan at our May 2nd rally in Harrisburg.
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“It’s unfortunate that we’re now judging the quality of the investments PA makes in its students by celebrating the fact that their schools might not run out of money before June.”
Did you catch CBS3’s Stephanie Stahl report on our record breaking Smile Day event?