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At its September
meeting, the PARSS Board of Directors took action to endorse the legislation
known as the Successful Schools Budget (SSB). Representative Nick Micozzie
is the prime sponsor. It has been introduced before, but suffered the same
negative fate as the PARSS legislation sponsored by Senator Rhoades.
Micozzie, unlike Rhoades, is still willing to champion major school funding
reform legislation.
The reason the
board took this action is not because they believe the time is particularly
ripe for a big increase in the state’s share of the cost of education.
Rather, they think that, if school funding reform and equity are still our
most important goals, we need to have something specific to support, not
merely tell legislators, gubernatorial candidates and others, what we are
for, or against, in a general way.
A second reason
is property tax reform. With all the hooting and hollering that is going on
in Harrisburg about property taxes, none of the proposals on cutting them
comes near the relief offered by SSB. It also has the advantage of actually
improving funding for public education, rather than just providing token tax
relief.
An additional
reason is that, should the stars align for such a change to occur, we need
to be ready to take advantage of that proverbial window of opportunity. As
educators you know all about teachable moments.
A copy of the
letter Representative Micozzie put out to seek cosponsors can be viewed
here. It presents the major
elements of the bill, but if any of you want more information, or have
questions, send us an email. Good Schools also supports this bill and is
holding a series of public meetings on it around the state. Its website,
www.goodschoolspa.org, has more
information, including spreadsheets that show how districts and taxpayers
would fare with SSB.
Joe and Woody |
