Lancaster City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution in support of Gov. Tom Wolfâs proposal to overhaul education funding in Pennsylvania.
As part of his annual budget proposal, Wolf in February requested the state Legislature fully implement the stateâs fair funding formula when distributing basic education funding in 2021-22.
Enacted in 2016, the formula considers enrollment, poverty, the number of English language learners in a district and other factors when funding schools. Presently only 11% of basic education dollars flow through the formula.
If passed, the governorâs proposal would bring an additional $19.1 million â a 30% increase â in basic education funding to the School District of Lancaster. Schools countywide would see a $59.5 million, or 32% â funding boost.
Itâs been nearly a year since Marilyn Langeman joined around 80 fellow residents of Landis Homes for a silent, outdoor vigil following the death of George Floyd.
âA number of people who were there, afterward, said we need to continue our work,â Langeman says. âWe decided to begin with education and examining our own racism that we maybe donât recognize.â
An anti-racism resident group formed at Landis and now meets monthly, primarily via Zoom. Members have added a related bookshelf to the library and have amassed a virtual mailing list of residents who are given updates with suggestions for books and online courses.
Lancaster County school district superintendents will join state lawmakers and education funding activists in a virtual forum on education funding at 2 p.m. Thursday.
The forum, moderated by Democratic state Rep. Mike Sturla, of Lancaster, will feature presentations and discussions about how to make basic education funding more equitable in Pennsylvania. The public is invited to view the forum at RepMikeSturla.com.
Sturla is expected to speak on his legislation that would accelerate full implementation of the stateâs fair funding formula established in 2016. Currently, only new additional money allocated in each yearâs state budget runs through the formula. Sturlaâs bill would establish a plan so all basic education dollars would flow through the formula in 10 years.
When: School District of Lancaster board meeting, May 4.
What happened: Board members appeared reluctant to raise real estate taxes despite the administrationâs recommendation of a 2.12% increase to help offset a $15.8 million budget deficit for 2021-22. Instead, they asked Matt Przywara, the districtâs chief financial officer, to analyze and present data on how a 1%-2.5% tax increase would affect the district and the community.
Discussion: âIt doesnât look like anyone here is looking at 3%,â Salina Almanzar said. The district can raise taxes as much as 4.3% using an adjusted index, which would generate $3.3 million. Board members could also approve the regular 3% index, which would raise $2.2 million. âI feel going above 2% is a little bit uncomfortable,â Kareena Rios said.
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