Advocates Call On State Representative To Support More School Funding

About 50 advocates called on a local Republican state representative to support Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $1.25 billion increase in basic education funding.

POWER Interfaith Bucks County gathered outside State Rep. Frank Farry’s office on Maple Avenue in Langhorne Borough to call for him to support the Democratic governor’s proposal to provide $1.25 billion in new funding for school districts, $300 million in additional funds for lower-performing school districts, and $800 million to fix toxic school buildings in the Keystone State.

“Let us not miss this moment to level the playing field for education in this state,” said Rev. Bill Bloom, a leader at United Christian Church of Levittown in Bristol Township. “Let’s do this for our kids.”

Erica Waller-Hill, a Bristol Borough educator who runs nonprofit Destined for a Dream, said she knows what more funding can do to improve education for kids.

“School funding issues are directly related to student achievement levels,” she said.

Waller-Hill said some students who were behind academically before the pandemic are even further behind now. She said more funding will help support those learners.

Janis Bader, a retired 32-year Neshaminy School District teacher, said she has seen first-hand over her career what a lack and influx of funding can do for schools. She said she wants all students to achieve.

Better funded districts, Bader said, are able to provide more specialized programs and advanced placement-level classes.

Patricia McBee read a statement from State Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat from Bristol Township. The lawmaker pledged her support for Wolf’s proposed school funding plan.

In comparison to a national average of 47 percent, Pennsylvania contributes 38 percent of education funding in the state, while the rest comes from local taxes and federal money. According to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, this places the state 44th in the nation in terms of public school funding.

The group sang songs to encourage more funding for schools and chanted: “Mr. Farry, fund it now.”

Farry was not at his office at the time and was in Harrisburg.

Farry told LevittownNow.com he is for more funding for schools and has supported it in the past.

“I absolutely support increases in education funding,” he said.

He said the governor’s budget proposal for education funding is being discussed by Democratic and Republican party leadership in Harrisburg, but he has been told by his GOP peers that it will include a bump in money to schools.

Farry said there are also other programs, including mental health and substance abuse programs, that need to funded as well.

“There’s only a finite amount of money,” he said.

Democrats have said money from federal COVID-19 aid and a strong economy has left Pennsylvania’s government bank accounts flush with money and some of that should go to school funding.

“When I ran for governor, I did it on the premise that I would be a force for change starting with education,” Wolf said in a statement. “Education is the rock upon which we build our economy and our communities, and I’m proud to have invested nearly $2 billion in education over the past seven years.

“Now, I want to continue building on that investment to ensure success for everyone. With investments in education, in people, we will build a strong, healthy commonwealth,” he added.

Farry, who is running for state senate and has served in Harrisburg since 2009, said his office met with members of the group because he was not in town to hear their point of view.

“I think, maybe, the election played a role,” he said. “This is only the second time I’ve had protesters outside my office.”

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