State Senator to Talk Education at Roxborough School

Responding to a letter from concerned parents at Cook-Wissahickon Elementary School, state Senator Vincent Hughes will talk education in Roxborough next week.

Parent Rebecca Poyourow told Patch that Hughes will tour the school Feb. 24 and hold a community meeting on state education. In January, Cook-Wissahickon parents wrote Hughes (D-7), state Rep. Pam DeLissio (D-194), and Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in a plea to preserve funds to the school. 

DeLissio received the letter in person and responded at her Jan. 10 town hall. Hughes scheduled the Friday meeting to weigh in, as well.

"As Sen. Hughes is the Democratic Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, this is a great opportunity to voice your opinions and lobby Sen. Hughes to fight for better funding for public education during the budget debate over the next few months," Poyourow wrote in an email to parents.

The governor's budget does increase state dollars to schools by 3.4 percent. In the nearly $10 billion allotment for public school, $5.4 billion is slotted by basic education and another $1 billion for special education.

"This budget proposes no reduction to school district funding and no gimmicks, just increased latitude to manage their own budgets," Corbett said in his budget.

However, critics—like Hughes and DeLissio—point to the $316 million increase in coverage of school pensions, which masks money going toward students.

In a Feb. 7 statement, Hughes spoke out against Corbett's budget. "These cuts will send struggling schools into a tailspin and put college out of reach for many. The governor’s assertion that basic education was not cut this year does not tell the entire story. Early childhood programs will be cut in this spending plan," he said.

Last year, Cook-Wissahickon, like most public schools, faced numerous cuts. Parents have bemoaned the loss of faculty, staff and supplies to its school. In December, 230 Cook community members cosigned a letter to lawmakers asking for support.

The letter said: "As Rep. DeLissio and Sen. Hughes can attest (as our school is in their district and they know about our accomplishments), Cook-Wissahickon is a wonderful neighborhood public school in the Philadelphia School District with high student achievement across the board, high teacher and parent satisfaction, and extensive parent engagement through volunteering and fundraising. Yet last spring’s budget cuts have undermined our ability to maintain high standards of student support, engagement, and safety."

Hughes' appearance is open to the public and is at 201 E. Salaignac Ave.