McKeesport+Rally+Set+to+Protest+Education+Cuts

= McKeesport rally, meeting set to protest education cuts = = =

=By Mary Niederberger,= =//Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette//= =//4/28/11//=

=A rally and march against Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed cuts to the state education budget and a town hall meeting to discuss those cuts will be held in McKeesport on May 5.= =The town hall meeting was organized by state reps. Marc Gergely, D-White Oak, and Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg, and state Sen. James Brewster of McKeesport and will be held at 7 p.m. at McKeesport Area High School.= =The legislators have been announcing the meeting for the past several weeks as they've visited school board meetings throughout their districts.= =The rally, called "Rally For Our Children's Education," will start at 6:15 p.m. May 5 near the band stand in Renziehausen Park, across the street from the high school. It was announced Wednesday at the McKeesport Area school board meeting by McKeesport kindergarten teacher and resident Joan Burns.= =Ms. Burns said she and other organizers have invited school officials and residents from throughout the area including those from Elizabeth-Forward, Clairton, Duquesne, South Allegheny, Baldwin-Whitehall and Steel Valley school districts.= =In addition, she said representatives from the Sto-Rox School District plan to attend to protest the cuts.= =The rally will start in the park and the group will then march from there to the McKeesport High School auditorium for the town hall meeting.= = In a related matter, the McKeesport board Wednesday approved a motion to allow superintendent Timothy Gabauer to continue to study student enrollment trends for the past five years, current curriculum and course offerings and overall staffing needs to make recommendations to the board for the 2011-2012 school year. = =The district stands to lose $4.3 million in state funding under the governor's proposed budget and last week Mr. Gabauer revealed a "worst case" scenario that outlined the elimination of more than 90 jobs in the district, including 35 teachers.= =Mr. Gabauer said he expects to have his final recommendations on staffing ready next month.= =Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com; 412-851-1512.= = = =Read more: [] = = = = =

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