Diverse group of Pa. schools joins Philly in call for more state money

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

by Holly Otterbein for NewsWorks

A group of unlikely allies descended upon Harrisburg on Tuesday to lobby for additional school funding.

Pennsylvania charter school leaders, as well as local officials from Republican-controlled counties, joined Philadelphia in the call for more state aid for basic education.

"This isn’t a Republican or Democrat issue," said Ronald Williams, a GOP member of the Pottstown school board in Montgomery County. "This is an issue that has to do with the future of our children."

Cuts and skyrocketing pension costs

Throughout the last few years, Pennsylvania schools have been reeling due to state cuts, skyrocketing pension costs and the economic downturn.

The Philadelphia District, despite cutting such expenses as nursing staff and moving to close dozens of schools, is facing a $304 million budget deficit next year.

School leaders are requesting an extra $60 million from the city, $120 million from the state and more than $100 million in labor union concessions in order to close the gap.

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