Four area school districts and Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) joined this week to voice concerns about how the budget standoff in Harrisburg will affect Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts in the upcoming year.

Chichester, Haverford, Upper Darby and William Penn school district officials met on Tuesday at Ardmore Avenue Elementary School in Lansdowne to call on Pennsylvania state legislators to approve a $410 million budget for education.

“For the past four years, school districts and local communities like ours have been forced to make tough revenue decisions. It is of the utmost importance for our children that the state pass a budget that puts the $410 million in new state funds for schools in place before the school year begins,” said Dr. Richard Dunlap, Upper Darby School District superintendent. 

Rafi, Cave, school board director for the William Penn School District added, “School boards have picked up the slack all across this state by passing our budgets on time, increasing taxes despite the deep burden it puts on our communities. It’s time for our lawmakers to do their jobs.”

Chichester School District Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Sherman expressed her thoughts.

“The fact that we still don’t have a budget should be a grave concern for every Pennsylvanian who cares about our communities,” Sherman said. “Without the budget, we have no idea how much money we’ll receive or when we’ll receive it. Our bills won’t wait for this to be settled.”

The Spirit – August 19, 2015 – Read article online