`through Our Trial, We Might Help Someone' 
In 12 Months, I've Gotten To Know Judy Kester Better Than My Own Mother.

Anna Holodick 
Jan. 30, 1996 
Anna C. Holodick, Of El Cajon, Calif., Formerly Of Plains Township And Lee 
Park, Hanover Township, Died Tuesday At El Cajon Convalescent Center.

By RENITA FENNICK; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Saturday, February 03, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





Luzerne County's school districts might receive up to $1.4 million less in
Title I funding next year but local and state officials say it is too early to
tell if remedial programs will suffer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday that Title I Funding
would be reduced by $1.1 billion nationwide, or 17 percent. Title I funds are
used to help low-income students improve their math and reading skills. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The county's 11 districts received $8.2 million this school year and would
receive $6.8 million in the 1996-97 year, according to U.S. Department of
Education predictions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Blaming it on the failure of Congress to pass a 1996 budget, U.S. Education
Secretary Richard W. Riley called the cuts "devastating for schools and
children." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The state Department of Education on Friday said it would not comment until
final figures are available, spokesman Dan Langan said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lake-Lehman School District Superintendent William Price labeled the
federal Department's predictions "political hysteria. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The federal government always says we will lose 20 percent funding but it
usually ends up being between 3 and 10 percent," Price said Friday. "A lot of
this is panic surrounding the federal budget controversy. We'll know from the
president's budget, when we get one." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Price said districts experienced a funding cutback last year. He plans to
stay ahead of the federal government by taking a new approach. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Instead of thinking about remedial reading from elementary through middle
school, we've started a kindergarten through third-grade approach. We call it
`elimination' rather than `remediation,' " Price said. "We want to eliminate
the reading problems in the early grades so we won't have a need for remedial
programs later." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Northwest Area School District absorbed the cost of one of its four
remedial instructors last year when Title I funding was cut about 13.5
percent, Margaret McClure, administrative assistant, said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jeff Namey, acting superintendent of Wilkes-Barre Area, said the school
district probably will take on the additional costs to keep the program
operating. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's critically important to not cut the remedial reading and math
programs," Namey said. "Last year we lost funding for one school and the board
reached into the general fund to pay for it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Aid Cuts Near, But Schools Refuse To Panic Districts Rely On Title I Funds To Help Low-income Students Improve Math And Reading Skills