Yeadon, PA (August 18, 2015) – With just a few weeks remaining before the start of the new school year, Delaware County school district Superintendents and school officials called on the state to pass a new budget and restore cuts to Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts. Officials representing Chichester, Haverford, Interboro, Upper Darby, and William Penn School Districts expressed major concerns on behalf of the 30,000 students in their districts.

At a press conference held Tuesday at Ardmore Avenue Elementary School in Lansdowne, school leaders expressed an urgent need for lawmakers to get back to work and approve the budget.

“The fact that we still don’t have a budget should be a grave concern for every Pennsylvanian who cares about our communities,” said Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Sherman of Chichester School District. Without the budget, we have no idea how much money we’ll receive or when we’ll receive it. Our bills won’t wait for this to be settled.”

The budget standoff is now 49 days old with Governor Wolf and legislative leaders making little progress on budget items, including new funding for schools. The Governor’s proposed budget calls for $410 million in new state funding for education. The budget approved by the legislature and vetoed by the Governor called for $100 million in new funding for education.

“For the past four years, school districts and local communities like ours have been forced to make tough revenue decisions.  It is of the utmost importance for our children that the state pass a budget that puts the $410 million in new state funds for schools in place before the school year begins,” said Dr. Richard Dunlap, Superintendent of Upper Darby School District.

Rafi, Cave, School Board Director for William Penn School District added, “School boards have picked up the slack all across this state by passing our budgets on time, increasing taxes despite the deep burden it puts on our communities. It’s time for our lawmakers to do their jobs.”

Larry Feinberg, school board director of Haverford School district noted, “It’s patently unfair that the students and districts with the least wealth are consistently being hit the hardest by state inaction. We need to move beyond partisan bickering and get the job done.”

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) has been leading the charge in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Harrisburg for fair and adequate funding for schools. PCCY finds that implementing minor reforms in this year’s budget can save school districts millions of dollars.

“Two things need to happen. First the state needs to implement common sense reforms to cyber and charter schools. Doing so would save Delaware County schools $51 million. Second, the state must find revenues to fund our schools,” said Shanee Garner, Director of Education Policy for PCCY. “Last November’s statewide election was a clear voter referendum in favor of public education.”