For the first time under Gov. Tom Corbett, area school districts could see slight increases in basic education funding.
Under the 2013-14 budget he proposed Tuesday, districts statewide would see basic education funding increase by $90 million, or by 1.7 percent. The 37 school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania would see a combined $6.8 million more than they are receiving this fiscal year. The first increase in two years, however, still leaves districts millions short of the funding levels before Mr. Corbett took office.
In a budget that also proposes major pension reform and the privatization of the state's wine and spirit stores for the funding of education programs, area superintendents say there is at least one positive aspect: funding is not being cut.
In Mr. Corbett's first two budgets, the Scranton School District saw a total decrease in funding of $11 million. Under the proposed basic education funding, Scranton would see an additional $588,097 over this year's level. Basic education funding is the largest state funding stream for districts and is not tied to a specific program.
"I'll take a half a million any day of the week, but keep in mind where we were a few years ago," Superintendent William King said.
The Susquehanna Community School District, which has seen significant cuts because it relies on the state for a greater overall portion of its budget, would see an increase of 1 percent.
"Obviously it's movement in the right direction, but it's not going to help us recover from the changes we've had to make in the last two budgets," Superintendent Bronson Stone said.
The additional $61,217 is not enough to restore the district's kindergarten program for 4-year-old students back to full-day status and will not even cover increases in health care and other costs.
"We're just trying to make ends meet," Mr. Stone said. "It becomes harder and harder."
Pensions, which continue to be a major cost for school districts, could see reform under the governor's proposal. Mr. Corbett estimates the plan, which would change benefits for current and future employees but would not change benefits for retirees, would save districts $138 million in the 2013-14 school year.
Districts could see part of a $1 billion grant for school safety, early childhood learning and math and science initiatives, only if the Legislature agrees to privatize the state's liquor stores. The grant, called the Passport for Learning Block Grant program, would be administered over four years.
The budget also includes:
- Flat funding for higher education, special education and Accountability Block Grants, which many districts use for full-day kindergarten.
- $6.6 million for a teacher evaluation tool. Classroom teachers will be evaluated with the new evaluation system beginning with the 2013-14 school year. The budget also provides $2.7 million for continued development of the new specialist and principal evaluation system, which will be implemented in the 2014-15 school year.
- A mandate waiver program in which districts can apply to the Department of Education for a waiver from provisions of the Public School Code. The program would provide greater flexibility for districts, according to the governor.
- An investment of $775,000 to protect students from "potentially dangerous individuals." The funds would be used to establish a division within the department to prosecute misconduct by professional educators. Funding would be provided by increasing the fee paid by educators to obtain a teaching certificate by $25.
- The moratorium of the department's acceptance of school reimbursement requests for construction and renovation projects would be extended by one year.
- Early childhood education programs would receive a total of $348.4 million, which is an increase of $11.4 million, or 3.4 percent. Early intervention would receive an increase of 2.3 percent, and Pre-K Counts would see an increase 5.4 percent. Head Start Supplemental Assistance would receive an increase of 5.1 percent.
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