Politics & Government

State Rep., Schools, Teachers React to Corbett Budget

Teachers union anticipates 'devastating cuts.'

With no new taxes imposed, state and local officials brace for cuts emanating from Gov. Tom Corbett's new budget, .

Asked by Patch for comment, state Rep. Pam DeLissio (D-194) criticized the administration's approach.

"It's a difficult economic climate, no one disagrees with that. But what I hear pretty universally is the administration has made decisions that have caused problems," DeLissio said.

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"Their decision process doesn't involve stakeholders at all. This entire process is just not right... and I anticipate more of the same."

The faces a , as it tries to strike its own budget.

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Pedro A. Ramos, the state appointed chairman of the School Reform Commission, said he, "appreciates the governor's effort to spare basic education from the difficult cuts proposed to balance the commonwealth's FY 2013 budget, as well as the administration's efforts to increase flexibility in the use of funds and the proposed initiatives to fund accountability systems and increased funding to improve student data collection.

"As the financial circumstances of the commonwealth improve, we hope to also engage in discussions about early childhood education, charter school funding, and other priority areas." 

Jerry Jordan, the president of the Philadelphia of Teachers, struck a less diplomatic chord.

"The governor’s budget fails to allocate the resources we need to restore education programs that have already sustained deep cuts and is likely to result in more devastating cuts to Philadelphia schoolchildren next year. 

“Freezing basic education funding and cutting funding for early childhood education programs, school safety initiatives, library services and others will make it more difficult for schools that serve disadvantaged students to provide them with an education that prepares them to compete in a technology-driven, informational economy. 

“Gov. Corbett’s budget shortchanges our students again, and unless we fight to restore vital education programs, students in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania will suffer.” 

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