Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Contrary to what a certain school board member reports, state education funding has not been cut again. Governor Corbett signed the state budget last night. 

From Pittsburgh Business Times:

Corbett noted the budget does not raise taxes on working families, and touted increased education and early childhood development funding, as well as funding for people with intellectual disabilities, domestic violence and rape victims, and the state's Children's Health Insurance Plan.
"This budget once again provides record levels of state funding for basic education while meeting our obligations to those in need, ensuring the safety of our citizens and supporting our job creators," Corbett said in a prepared statement.

The Trib reports:

An increase of $122.5 million for basic education is one of the budget's key features.

According to an April 2013 report, the State Basic Education Funding for Mt. Lebanon School District  increased by 3.4%.

I would like to point out that only one school board candidate sees the true picture of state funding.  Durwood Hill nailed it. Remember that when you vote in November.

Oh, we're paying attention

In today's PG article, Not concerned about budget cuts to public education? Then you are NOT paying attention, Judy Wertheimer writes:

Oh, and by the way, your school board may be considering a property tax hike (which, as of this writing, holds true for Mt. Lebanon, Pine-Richland and North Allegheny, to name just a few of the districts that are keeping that option on the table).

And...

Think you're immune? Think again. Pine-Richland saw 11.4 percent of its state funding disappear in the last round of cuts; Fox Chapel Area, 10.8 percent; North Allegheny, 8.2 percent; Bethel Park 7.9 percent; and Mt. Lebanon, 7.4 percent. Each of these cuts amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars per district.

As a certified, card-carrying fear monger/whiner (so I've been told), this is why we haven't supported the high school renovation project plans - if we're ever allowed to see them.

Bottom line: How many teachers, aides and classes can your school get by without -- who can be let go? That's the conversation.

Ms. Wertheimer, we're paying attention.  It is just that the school board isn't listening.