From Channel
6 (March 2013): “Officials contended the cash-strapped system
couldn't afford to keep open the 27 buildings, more than 10 percent
of the district's schools. Many of them are under-enrolled and in
poor condition. But opponents said the move would irreparably damage
dozens of neighborhoods and further fuel a student exodus from the
district.”
The closures were
defended as a response to declining enrollment and a consolidation of
under-attended schools. But money was also a factor. Governor
Corbett tries (April 2013) to get
clever with the school budget so that he can pretend that
privatization is necessary. But what's really
causing
PA to be short of money are Corbett's tax cuts. A study by the
Pennsylvania Budget and
Policy Center showed that “corporate
tax breaks that will continue to shift costs to individuals and local
taxpayers, while failing to restore deep cuts to public schools, keep
college affordable for middle-class students, or ensure working
families can obtain basic health care.” Backgrounder
from Truthout as to how private charter schools are
sucking money out of the system and causing public schools to be
starved for funds.
Video
of reaction in front of the School District Building.
Media
summary from PCAPS.
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