C-K passes resolution to oppose legislation

Proposed bill would fund private schools with taxpayer money

CLAYSBURG -- The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board approved a new resolution to oppose an education bill to fund private schools with taxpayer money at its meeting Wednesday.

Board members unanimously voted to support the resolution opposing Senate Bill No. 2, legislation intended to assist students attending "low-achieving schools through the establishment of Education Savings Accounts."

Families approved to participate in the ESA program would have to withdraw their students from public school and receive average student state funding for qualifying education expenses including private school and payment for an accredited tutor.

The resolution, as part of a statewide campaign, opposing the ESA program states the bill undermines "Pennsylvania's responsibility to ensure every student in every community has equal access to public education," asserting school districts' state aid would be sent to "unaccountable private schools."

"Our support has always been for state money to be spent on public schools, and being a public school, we feel the dollar should be spent there," said Darren McLaurin, superintendent of the Claysburg-Kimmel School District.

Board member Craig Burket said, "The voucher costs the average taxpayer money for something they don't believe in."

At least 24 education stakeholders have joined a statewide campaign opposing the ESA vouchers, according to a Jan. 19 letter addressed to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

A July memo promoting the bill, submitted to the Senate by Sens. John H. Eichelberger Jr., R-Blair, and John DiSanto, R-Dauphin; and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, said, "Pennsyl­vania's existing school choice programs -- charter schools and scholarship tax credits -- are vital lifelines for many of these children. But demand for these options greatly outpaces supply, as evidenced by heartbreaking stories of charter lotteries and scholarship organizations forced to turn away thousands of deserving applicants every year."

Mirror Staff Writer Shen Wu Tan is at 946-7457.