KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY(WBRE/WYOU-TV) – Educators from across the Commonwealth held an extra day of class this week..However this time, they were the ones learning from one anoher.
The goal is to work towards providing a stronger future for students..which teachers say can’t take place until there’s more funding in the school system.
Parents, teachers and community members came together to kick off a movement to demand that Pennsylvania legislators spend more on our public schools.
Hundreds of local education advocates gathered in eight locations across the commonwealth Saturday for the first ever “Pennsylvania Schools Work Summit”.
“It’s time for our kids to get the education that they deserve,” said Executive Director of Education Voter of Pennsylvania, Susan Spica.
The summit focuses on an issue that a lot of school districts are facing..having teachers that are working hard and doing great things for the kids..but without additional funding,
“To deliver the education kids need and that they deserve to develop their potential so they have a bright future,” said Spicka.
Many educators say they’re facing numerous challenges without necessary funding from the state.
“I have to have our budget confirmed by June 30th whereas the state doesn’t have to do it until July. So I’m trying to guess along with our controller what is the funding going to be for Pennsylvania and make decisions on whether we raise local taxes or not,” said President of the Wyoming School Board, Beth Gober-Mangan.
“I haven’t had a new reading book in the class I teach for 12 years and that is all related to state funding,” said Teacher in the Scranton School District, Holly Meade.
Holly Meade not only teaches in the Scranton school district but she is also a parent.
She says she wants better for her students and her children.
“I started out in Dunmore wanting to increase the curriculum rigor in our school district and I realized over time even though the board was super supportive they were lacking funds,” said Meade.
These educators are not giving up without a fight.
“We are going to be northeastern Pennsylvania United For Public Education and we’re going to go back and we’re going to find a day and we’re going to load a bus up in Scranton, take it down 81, pick up people along the way and we are going to go to Harrisburg,” said Spicka.
The movement is put on by “Communities United For Our Student’s Future Summits”.
