Two+Urge+MASD+File+Lawsuit+Against+State

=By Patrick Cloonan= =//Published in the McKeesport Daily News//= =//7/14/11//= =//(Excerpted from a longer article.)//= = = = =

=The McKeesport Area School District's board of directors also heard two speakers urge legal action to vacate the budget process that cut funding for public education in fiscal 2011-12.=

=State Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg, pointed out that New Jersey's Supreme Court ordered lawmakers to spend more on low-income students than Gov. Chris Christie proposed. As in Pennsylvania, New Jersey's constitution mandates the funding of public schools.=

="If we don't take a stand now," Kortz said, "Come next March they will take another limb off."=

="Why can't we find a judge to do that here?" director Joe Lopretto asked.=

="What the Republicans have done clearly violates Pennsylvania's constitution," said Steven Singer of White Oak, a Steel Valley teacher who organized Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt .=

=Singer asked the McKeesport Area board to join other districts in filing a lawsuit regarding Pennsylvania's budget process.=

=He called for an amendment to the state constitution to allow voters to recall lawmakers. In Wisconsin six Republican senators are targeted for recall over a law to restrict collective bargaining rights for public employees.=

=Singer said such a bill - co-sponsored by Kortz - has been held up since March in the House State Government Committee.=

=Singer also urged MASD support for bills to regulate charter schools and impose conditions on schools that accept vouchers. Singer said a bill in California requires charter schools to show their student demographics are appropriate for the neighborhoods they serve.=

=Singer also urged voters "to come out in force in a year and a half to vote these bums out!"=

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