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Increase of State Funding
Members were called to vote on another topic-- the motion to adopt the resolution in support of increased state funding for the East Pennsboro Area School District. Board member, Dennis Helm, stated “It’s going to come out of one pocket or the other; we want to increase state funding, not pay more in state tax.” The vote to pass the motion was unanimous.
Charter School Funding Reform
The East Pennsboro School Board weighed in on charter schools, stating that they’d like to see teachers and students making their way back to a brick-and-mortar school where “their best opportunities are.” They discussed this as they voted on the motion to reform charter school funding.
School Board member Sharon Pallata remarked, “We’re losing students and we’re losing teachers. Something’s wrong. We need to ask ourselves why they’re leaving, and if can we do better,” she said, adding that taking money away from charter schools will not help the problem. Pallata suggested coming up with new, out-of-the-box ideas that would make people return to East Pennsboro Elementary, Middle, and High School for in-person schooling.
Another board member, Denise Pearson, was referring to the incentives that families receive from cyber charter schools when she remarked, “It’s more appealing for families because you get more,” while adding that what students lose is a better education. “I support funding, but our money should be staying with brick-and-mortars. It’s more effective,” she said.
Board President, Jason Oyler, concluded by saying, “The system needs reform.” He said that he is open to new ideas and tactics, such as partnering up with charter schools. He just doesn’t want a system that would “set public school up to fail.”
The motion passed 6-2.
The School Board meets the first Thursday and the third Thursday of every month at 7 PM in the East Pennsboro Elementary School LGI, 840 Panther Parkway, Enola, PA 17025.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend these meetings.