Senate+plan+helps+schools+some

= Latest budget proposal could reduce teacher furloughs = = = =By Mary Niederberger= =//Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette//= =//6/28/11//= = = = = = = = = =The state Senate's proposed education budget restores about $268 million of the more than $1 billion in state funds cut from public school districts in the budget proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March, but leaders in struggling local districts said they had hoped for more from the Legislature.= ="This is very disappointing to me," said James Manley, acting superintendent of the Sto-Rox School District, which lost $1.8 million under the governor's proposed budget but has about $600,415 restored in the Senate version of the budget.= ="We're still $1.2 million behind. I was hoping they would at least give us something for our charter school tuition reimbursement," Mr. Manley said. The governor cut all reimbursements for charter school tuition in his budget proposal, and it does not appear the Legislature has restored it. = = The increase in the Senate's budget proposal comes in the form of increases to basic education funding and some restoration of accountability block grants and Social Security reimbursements. The basic education and accountability block grant money largely helps the struggling districts, while the Social Security reimbursements increase state funding to wealthier districts.= = The one local district to see a significant restoration of state funding is the Duquesne City School District, which would see $2.8 million of the $4 million cut by Mr. Corbett restored under the Senate proposal. = =That amount would be enough for the district to keep class sizes in the range of 23 to 27, and allow for extracurricular activities, including sports teams, and allow the district to keep its curriculum coordinator, said Juan Baughn, a special assistant to the state education secretary and president of the state board of control that oversees the district.= =Last month officials from the education department warned that the district could be facing a 2011-12 school year with large class sizes, no extracurricular activities and a stripped down administration. Plans also called for furloughing 29 of the district's 51 teachers. Mr. Baughn said he believed that the extra $2.8 million might reduce the number of furloughs.= =Other districts don't fare as well under the Senate proposal.= = The Steel Valley School District, which voted to eliminate 40 teachers, counselors and other professional staff and 15 support personnel, stands to gain about $535,559 in the Senate version of the budget. School director Michael Terrick said that money might allow for some class size reductions but no major recall of furloughed teachers. = =Likewise in the West Mifflin Area School District, where 47 jobs, including 22 teachers, were eliminated. West Mifflin is slated for a $429,893 increase in funding over the governor's proposed budget. Business manager Dennis Cmar said that money would go to the district's pension escrow fund and not to recall teachers.= = Mr. Terrick said that although Steel Valley based its preliminary budget on the governor's proposed budget, it included some unfunded positions in hopes that the Legislature would restore some funding. The district is set to vote tonight on its final budget and will probably use the Senate numbers in the document. = = "This is certainly no windfall, but it will help us to put together a school district that will operate better than it would have," Mr. Terrick said. = =In Clairton, McKeesport and Sto-Rox, school boards approved final budgets in recent weeks that were based on the state House version of the budget, which is nearly identical to the draft the Senate released Monday. Officials in those districts said they were glad to see the additional funding remained in the Senate version but lamented that there wasn't more added.= =Clairton will regain $526,501 of the $1.3 million in state funds it lost in the governor's proposal. The board inserted a similar amount in the final budget it approved last week because a House version of the budget last month had a similar restoration for the district, board president Richard Livingston said.= =In Penn Hills, which would see an increase of $806,829 in state funding in the Senate proposal, the money "will make it easier to bring back" the 40 to 45 furloughed teachers the board had hoped to rehire, said business manager Richard Liberto. "It will also give us a little more breathing room."= =In Bethel Park, if the Senate's $613,981 increase over the governor's budget becomes a reality, the proposed 0.67-tax hike will probably be lowered to 0.37, said spokeswoman Vicki Flotta. The district votes Thursday on its final budget.= =Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said district officials didn't want to comment on the proposed $9.4 million in state funding the Senate included until the budget becomes final.= =Read more: [] = = = = = = = =News= =home=