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Wednesday, February 11, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Ridge plan applies Band Aid to school districts needing tourniquet &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those who believe that an educated citizenry is essential to a healthy and
strong democracy are not happy with one aspect of the budget Gov. Ridge has
proposed. It fails to give adequate support to basic educationHis budget does
propose a $120.7 million increase for the elementary and secondary public
school system. This is in addition to the current allocation of $3.45 billion.
However, it is only a 3.3 percent increase to a budget that- while the total
dollar amount allocated to education has increased- still accounts for only 37
percent of the cost of basic education in this state. Further, the current
allocation already is far short of the 55 percent support the state was giving
just 23 years ago under Gov. Milton Shapp. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Moreover, the distribution of the additional funds as proposed by the
governor would continue a legislative practice that only has increased the
inequities that have resulted from how these funds were allocated in the past.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer "30 percent of the $120.7 million would
go to the poorest 125 school districts, which have 15 percent of all public
school students (while) another 7 percent would go to the wealthiest 125
districts, which have 30 percent of the students." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Why, at this stage, should any of the proposed increase go to the
wealthiest? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On the surface, the distribution formula would seem to recognize that the
sheer number of students who are served in any one district deserves some
sharing of the state money. However, an article by Jane Rice, an education
specialist, in the Winter edition of the League of Women Voters "Pennsylvania
Voter," puts this in a different perspective when the definition of a "poor"
district is considered. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As the state has reduced its share of the cost of basic education, the
local school districts have been forced to increase local taxes to make up the
difference. Not only does the bulk of local tax support for the school
districts come from the property tax, but any shifting of this burden to an
income tax could not improve the problems of the "poor" districts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Most of the "poorest 125 school districts" are those located in counties
like Elk, Forest, Potter, and scores more. They are "poor" and have only half
as many students as the "wealthiest" districts because they have fewer people,
homes, businesses, and industries- a much smaller tax base- than do the
"wealthiest." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Moreover, according to Ms. Rice, the upper income school districts have 704
percent more wealth than the lower-income school districts. "Using personal
income as a guide," she writes,"residents in 134 districts have incomes above
the median personal income of the state. Residents in the other 367 districts
have incomes below the median." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the same time, the "poor" districts have crucial problems of
transportation, building maintenance, acquisition of new facilities and
technologies, and an ability to compete in the marketplace for qualified
teachers- but with far less resources with which to pay for their solutions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yet, if they are to meet their basic goal, and if Pennsylvania and the
nation are not only to benefit from, but to receive effective guidance from
its children when they become adults, there must be equality in education at
every level everywhere in the state. Obviously, what is proposed won't begin
to do it for the majority of the state's school districts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another figure that may intrigue you in trying to wrestle with this issue,
also came from the Philadelphia Inquirer. It assembled data showing that in
the last decade, while Pennsylvania has increased its investment in building
and operating state prisons by 212 percent, its increase in the funding of
basic education increased by a measly 7 percent. The increase in the cost of
living was greater. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ultimately, the state government has a responsibility for the quality

Ridge Plan Applies Band Aid To School Districts Needing Tourniquet 
Those Who Believe That An Educated Citizenry Is Essential To A Healthy And 
Strong Democracy Are Not Happy With One Aspect Of The Budget Gov. Ridge Has 
Proposed. It Fails To Give Adequate Support To Basic Education.

Ridge Plan Applies Band Aid To School Districts Needing Tourniquet Those Who Believe That An Educated Citizenry Is Essential To A Healthy And Strong Democracy Are Not Happy With One Aspect Of The Budget Gov. Ridge Has Proposed. It Fails To Give Adequate Support To Basic Education.