A Zero-Hour State Budget-Related Request
I said the last request was the final one…but this budget season is stretching a little longer – and that’s because the Governor is demanding increases in public education funding! To get these increases passed, it’s essential to reach out yet another time to our local PA Senators, Browne and Scavello, to stress how important these increases are for Lehigh Valley students and children across the Commonwealth.
Contact Information for Senator Pat Browne:
Phone (Local): (610) 821-8468
Phone (Harrisburg): (717) 787-1349
Email: pbrowne@pasen.gov
Twitter: https://twitter.com/senatorbrowne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBrowne/
Contact Information for Senator Mario Scavello:
Phone (Local): (610) 863-1200
Phone (Harrisburg): (717) 787-6123
Email: mscavello@pasen.gov
Twitter: https://twitter.com/senatorscavello
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorScavello
In addition to the points in the optional script below, feel free to share specifics of what these resources would mean. (For example, in Bethlehem, they’d support the ongoing implementation of our Reading by Grade 3 Initiative and roll-out of devices for all students, our providing targeted academic supports that meet students where they are, our offering art and music programs to students in every grade, and our expanding the multiple “Career Pathways” in our high schools. And they’ve meant we can do all this (and more) without raising taxes on local taxpayers.)
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Beck Pooley at kbeckpooley@basdschools.org. And THANK YOU!!
Optional Script:
“The money is there: state revenues were ahead of projections by $1.5 billion in the last month alone. Schools and students and local taxpayers across the commonwealth need those resources. In lower wealth districts, too many needs go unmet because the current system of state support for public schools is both inadequate and unfair. There’s no excuse: We have the resources to provide students what they need, so please include a $1.25 billion increase in Basic Education Funding and $300 million for Level Up in this budget.”