Education+Supporters+Gather+to+Discuss+State+Budget+Cuts

== =By Carla DeStefano= =//[|published by the HeraldStandard.com]//= =//7/14/11//= = = = = =A generation lost.= =That’s what state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar, called the ramifications of the passage of this year’s state budget that included a billion dollars in cuts.= = = =“If I were grading the budget, I would have to give them an ‘F.’ I’d give them a failure,” he said. “What are future generations going to be like now?”= = = =Kasunic was joined by local legislators, including state representatives Deberah Kula, D-North Union Twp., and Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Twp., who spoke and answered questions about Gov. Tom Corbett’s recently passed budget and its local impact on education during a town meeting Thursday.= = = =Among those in attendance were school superintendents and other education officials, local union leaders and members, representatives from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, teachers, parents and concerned citizens.= = = =The event was organized by Tom Landman, a teacher in the Laurel Highlands School District, who told those in attendance that the most important resource in western Pennsylvania is the children.= = = =“As long as Governor Corbett is in the business, there isn’t any business for kids,” he said.= = = =Legislators urged the crowd to help regain control in Harrisburg by heading to the polls and voting for democrats. They said during the passage of the budget, democrats had no input and were not included in the matters.= = = =“This next election is going to be the most important election for education in the state’s history,” Mahoney said. “The democrats are on the side of education. We are down in the House by 17 votes. We need to change 12 seats to get the majority back.”= = = =The guest speakers also addressed questions regarding the looming school choice voucher bill, which will be revisited this fall.= = = =“This is a money grabber. A lot of the kids are not going to get to share in this. If you have the potential to be the valedictorian, yes, they’ll want you,” Kasunic said. “But what about little Johnny who is the average C student? No, they don’t want him. They want the cream of the crop. They don’t want average kids or special needs kids.”= = = =Kula suggested to those in attendance to follow proposed legislation in the future so that action can be taken immediately, if needed, instead of waiting until legislators vote. She also suggested that each school district appoint an employee to be responsible for keeping up to date on proposals in Harrisburg that affect education.= =“Don’t sit back and wait,” Kasunic agreed. “Because you almost waited too long now.”= = = = = =News= =home=