The Man Harming Your Kids' Education: Tom Corbett

When you ask why your district is $7 million (Easton) or $9 million (Stroudsburg) in the hole this year, and teachers are being laid off and taxes raised, here is your answer.

The administration’s proposed spending plan called for a $330 million appropriation for the 14 state-owned universities in the Pennsylvania stateSystem of Higher Education, which includes Kutztown and East Stroudsburguniversities. That’s a 20 percent cut from current funding of $412.7 million.
Corbett’s budget proposal would also shave $146.4 million, or 30 percent for the state, state-related universities (Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities and the University of Pittsburgh). It would reduce funding for community colleges by 4 percent.
The schools were pegged for a 50 percent cut in Corbett’s freshman budget, which lawmakers bargained down to about 20 percent. During budget hearings earlier this year, senior lawmakers said they believed the schools had taken their “fair share” of reductions.

Tuition goes up. Teachers get laid off. Taxes go up locally. Tom Corbett blames everyone else.