Who Cares about the School Budget?

Today, someone asked me why I didn’t repost the Daily Times cover story about on the Chester Democrats threat to shut down the schools if the state cuts $20 million.

Because no one cares!

I’ve been trying to raise this issue since April, and only now are a few folks beginning to realize that the schools are in trouble. 

Actually, people in other school districts are making more of a fuss than Chester folks. 

Just the thought of Chester kids having to come to a neighboring school district has awakened a number of people who, I’m sure, will be contacting their representatives to make sure something is done...and quickly... to save the Chester school district from extinction.

Honestly, I believe that even without the new county focus on the Chester schools, the state is already working on ways to correct their budget formulas that has hit Chester schools unfairly hard.

It would have meant a lot if Chester folks had waged a protest campaign months ago. And you can’t say I didn’t give you fair warning. 

It appears that the school district has been more willing to accept the cuts and design a compromise budget (which they must do), than exert any pressure on Harrisburg to reconsider their budget. (Letting Gov. Corbett come to town and not demand a meeting to discuss the budget is all I have to go on for my belief).

As a reminder, here are the Blog Posts on the education budget; the number of comments; and a sample of the few comments that were made since April.

 June 2. Chester Upland officials address budget concerns, staff cuts. 

7 comments. 

• I didn't come out because not only do I know that the school district would not implement my suggestions but I know that they could not implement my suggestions. 
• These meetings are all for show. They are going to do what they plan to do anyway no matter how many people come out to meetings.
• How is a packed room going to stop the budget cuts? Is it in the control of the community to stop the states from cutting school budgets from across this country?

May 30. SURVEY RESULTS: Can the Chester-Upland School District survive a $20million budget cut? YES: 8%. NO: 91%

0 comments

May 26. Chester Upland School District propose budget cuts. 

0 comments

May 22. Finally some word on the School Budget. 

0 comments

May 2. School Budget and Vouchers. Who Really Cares? 

6 comments. 

• When their child is kept from recess for missing homework for a week or misses a field trip due to fighting that is cause for a protest, not losing educational funding.

April 17. PA Budget Watch Town Hall Meeting to be held at Widener on April 18. 

0 comments.

April 15. St. Rep Kirkland and the House Democratic Policy Committee hosting a hearing on Senate Bill 1 on April 20. 

0 comments

April 13. Senator Pileggi really cared about school vouchers. 

0 Comments

April 12. I asked if Chester cared about school vouchers. 

0 comments

March 27. Chester-Upland School district was facing the largest budget cuts in the state. 

9 Comments.

• One of them call me an A-Hole for bringing up the topic.