The community group that fought to save art programs at Upper Darby School District two years ago now seeks to better education across the state.
Save Upper Darby Arts announced Monday that is has created a political action committee to advocate for high-quality public education throughout Pennsylvania. The PAC will support candidates for statewide offices in both the primary and general election.
Founder Colleen Kennedy said the organization is still determining which candidates it will support. Both Republicans and Democrats are being considered, she said.
“We’re open to anybody who cares about restoring the billion dollars in budget cuts and enacting a fair funding formula,” Kennedy said.
Save Upper Darby Arts is a community organization that fought to save the Upper Darby School District’s art, music, physical education, library, technology and foreign language programs from being cut in 2012.
The group attracted national media attention by producing an online video and gathering more than 22,000 petition signatures. The group’s efforts led to the General Assembly restoring $2.726 million to Upper Darby.
Kennedy said the PAC advocates for restoring education funding cut by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and implementing a funding formula similar to the one utilized by former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell. She added that the group supports strengthening accountability measures for all schools receiving public funding, including charter schools.
“The No. 1 goal is restoring the billion dollars in cuts and getting the funding formula re-enacted,” Kennedy said. “For Upper Darby, especially, that’s really critical.”
Kennedy said the group is not against charter schools. However, she said charter schools continue pop up in underfunded districts. If those districts were properly funded, Kennedy said, there might not be a need for charters.
Across Delaware County, schools are underfunded by $45 million, according to a September 2013 report conducted by the Public Citizens for Children and Youth. Upper Darby is the most underfunded district in the county, needing an additional $18 million.
Corbett slashed public education funding by $1 billion in 2011 to help close an anticipated $4.2 billion state budget deficit. Corbett consistently notes that the funding cuts resulted from the loss of $1 billion in federal funding.
His 2014 budget proposal called for increasing special education spending by $20 million. He also unveiled a $341 million grant program, which includes $241 million in new funding. In the previous two state budgets, Corbett has added $171.5 million to basic education and restored $100 million of Accountability Block Grants.
Corbett also backs a bill that would create a commission to address school funding inequities and institute a fair funding formula. State Rep. Nicholas Micozzie, R-163, of Upper Darby, has called on the General Assembly to adopt a funding formula alongside the state budget.
Delaware County Times – February 24, 2014 – Read article online