School District Awaits Additional Details on Corbett Budget Plan

Peters Township District Superintendent Dr. Nina Zetty said the administration and the school board will have to take a “wait and see” position for the current time on what impact the proposed new budget for Pennsylvania will have on local schools.

Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday introduced a new plan for state spending with sweeping cuts in spending in all areas including basic education. According to a news release from the governor’s office, the budget resets basic education funding to 2008-2009 levels. According to the same release, school districts across the state will share about $8.6 billion, including $5.2 billion in Basic Education Funding.               

It is not clear how funding to Peters Township schools will be affected. According to the district’s 2010-2011 budget, the state provided revenues of a little over $2.036 million.

“We have not received official notification as to what the specific cuts are that will affect the Peters Township School District,” said Zetty. “The only thing we have received is an e-mail from the state that the Keystone Exams will be delayed, but financially I have not received any specifics, so we’ll have to wait and see."

State senators were told Monday by Acting Education Secretary Ron Tomalis that the exams will be delayed, due in part to the state budget deficit. They were to have been available this spring, but it’s not known when they will be available.

The governor’s proposed budget also proposes a property tax referendum, which would require voter approval for any school district spending increases above inflation. Early childhood education programs will receive funding at above this year’s level, according to the governor’s press office.

Much of the governor’s budget proposal affects teachers and professional staff. The proposed budget by Corbett allows more flexibility to districts including furloughing professional employees for economic reasons. Currently, school districts across the state must cite a change in educational programs or a dramatic change in enrollment to lay off teachers. It also eliminates support for salary bumps for teachers with master’s degrees.

Zetty said she doesn’t see any changes on the near horizon.

“We entered into a five-year early bird contract with our teachers last year, and that of course dictates whether teachers stay or go,” she said. “However, it may impact us in the future with respect to adding staff and adding new programs. Currently, we don’t see an impact with class size or teachers with the information we have right now.”

The Corbett budget also proposes changes in charter schools, by expanding their choice of schools and cyber school quality and accountability.

The Peters Township Board of Education budget and finance has a meeting scheduled for Monday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. They could learn additional details about the proposed budget at that time if they are made available by the state.

The meeting's agenda will be posted here.