State+House+Minority+Leader+-+Education+Cuts+Not+a+'Done+Deal'

=By Tom Yerace= =//Published in the Valley News Dispatch//= =//4/20/11//= = = = = =All is not lost, at least not yet, regarding cuts to public education, according to House Minority Leader Frank Dermody.= ="I don't know whether it was well-thought-out, but we do have time to change it," Dermody said of Gov. Tom Corbett's education cuts.= =The Oakmont Democrat, whose 33rd House District includes the school district, spoke before about 70 Highlands staff members Tuesday at the high school. He was invited to speak by the district's teachers union.= ="I think we'll be able to talk to him about solving some of our problems in a sensible manner," Dermody said. He called Corbett "a decent guy."= =Highlands is in the same situation as most districts since Corbett announced his plan to slash aid to public schools and to the state-owned and state-related universities. Highlands faces a loss of $1.7 million in state subsidies, part of its $5 million budget deficit.= =The school board said Monday it is considering major changes, including realigning classes, furloughing teachers and closing buildings. Some districts have already started cutting teaching positions.= =Dermody noted that even if some state funding is restored, it won't cover many districts' shortfall.= ="All of us are going to have to look at being more efficient," he said.= =Dermody's said that Corbett's intractability on issues he campaigned on poses a challenge. He cited Corbett's refusal to tax Marcellus shale gas drilling and pushing school vouchers.= ="Marcellus shale is not going to solve all our problems, but over three or four years, you're talking about $1 billion (in tax revenue)," Dermody said.= =As for the vouchers, Dermody said they will cost an additional $2 billion by their second year. He sees it as another drain on public education.= =Dermody said former Gov. Ed Rendell ensured adequate money for public education and it showed: Dermody said test scores in the state increased for eight straight years, the only state to do so.= =One teacher lamented that the combination of cutbacks and vouchers will mean fewer teachers and larger class sizes in Highlands.= ="We are going to work twice as hard and our scores are still going to go down," she said.= ="If he wants to have a pay freeze, I would be happy to do that to save jobs," another teacher said. "But yet he (Corbett) gave his staff a raise."= =School Director Carrie Fox asked why districts are required to pay for students living in the district to attend cyber or charter schools. Highlands taxpayers paid out more than $1.5 million to such schools this year.= ="The law says, technically, that charter schools are public schools," Dermody said.= =He said there are several bills in the Legislature to tighten accountability by those schools.= =Superintendent Joseph Latess asked Dermody if Corbett understands the impact his agenda has.= ="I think they have the feeling that public education isn't working," Dermody said, adding that in some places, such as Philadelphia, that is true. "He needs to hear from people like you in the Highlands School District about what this means.= ="We can't balance our budget on the backs of our children."= = = = Read more: [|State House minority leader: Education cuts not 'done deal' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] [] =

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