Don't rush to support harmful budget cuts prematurely until the facts are in

For the past year, we have heard a lot about the progress we have made since the district was almost taken into receivership in 2015 and the entire district nearly chartered out to corporate interests.

We don’t wish to jeopardize the progress we have made by returning to those difficult days. But the proposed cuts to programs and staff could have similar consequences by driving students from the district and compounding the problems that the district has worked so hard to overcome.

Many questions about the actual finances remain, including uncertainties raised by the administration in its own proposal. At this point, the administration has still not provided a clear financial picture based on actual spending and revenue. Additionally, despite district projections, it is too early to determine how much federal funding the district will receive. York has already received $3.8 million in federal funding from the CARES Act. Also, Congress passed a funding bill, which would provide $1 billion in emergency funding to Pennsylvania schools to offset revenue losses from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The administration is proposing cutting 44 positions - 32 teachers, 11 aides and one assistant principal - and gutting programs that benefit some of our most vulnerable student populations in York County. We urge the board to examine the budget at all levels to address potential cost savings – including personnel costs that don’t include direct instruction.

Evidence shows that students learn best when they have fully staffed schools and trained professionals.

We urge the school board to address our concerns and review them carefully before taking any action prematurely that could negatively affect the York City School District and our students.

Sincerely,
Your Constituents and the Citizens of York City