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| Stephen Rodriguez has been speaking out against Pennsylvania's unfair school funding system for years. |
Blogger's Note: This article was submitted by Debra Brauner
The second of the ongoing series about inequities in Pennsylvania's unfair public school funding system and how it impacts Pottstown was held Sunday, Feb. 28 and the primary speaker was Stephen Rodriguez, superintendent of the Pottstown School District.
(The next session will be held tomorrow, Sunday, March 7 at 4:15 p.m. Myra Forrest, Education Advocate for the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, will discuss the call to action sent to Pennsylvania legislators to address inequities in educational funding. These inequities will be illuminated in a case study of the Pottstown School District.)
Organized by First Baptist Church, Pottstown, in cooperation with Zion’s United Church of Christ, Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, Bethel Community Church, First Presbyterian Church, Congregation Hesed Shel Emet, six forums are designed to inform and spark dialogue in the community addressing Pennsylvnia’s unfair funding policies.
In the first forum, Feb. 21, David Mosenkis, representing POWER Interfaith, a statewide faith-based organizing group, presented data-driven evidence showing the dramatic difference in per pupil state and local funding between high and low poverty districts and how that funding disparity is driven by and perpetuates racial inequities.
On Feb. 28, Rodriguez addressed 63 Pottstown and surrounding area residents.
Mr. Rodriguez focused his presentation on the role of taxation in educational funding in Pennsylvania in general and Pottstown in particular. Rodriguez offered information on a wide range of issues. Some of the topics covered were:
Organized by First Baptist Church, Pottstown, in cooperation with Zion’s United Church of Christ, Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, Bethel Community Church, First Presbyterian Church, Congregation Hesed Shel Emet, six forums are designed to inform and spark dialogue in the community addressing Pennsylvnia’s unfair funding policies.
In the first forum, Feb. 21, David Mosenkis, representing POWER Interfaith, a statewide faith-based organizing group, presented data-driven evidence showing the dramatic difference in per pupil state and local funding between high and low poverty districts and how that funding disparity is driven by and perpetuates racial inequities.
On Feb. 28, Rodriguez addressed 63 Pottstown and surrounding area residents.
Regarding the disparity of educational funding of poorer and predominantly black and brown communities, Rodriguez remarked, “just like 150 years ago [abolition of slavery] things changed as a result of good people calling out injustice. I believe that things can change in the Commonwealth as well.”
Mr. Rodriguez focused his presentation on the role of taxation in educational funding in Pennsylvania in general and Pottstown in particular. Rodriguez offered information on a wide range of issues. Some of the topics covered were:
- What do school taxes pay for?
- How does Pottstown School District compare to others?
- Local pressure - Real Estate taxes higher in PSD
- Real Estate Tax Elimination
- Cyber Schools
- Unfunded Mandates
The needs of the Pottstown School District are great and are based on the number of students in poverty, the number of English language learners, the number of special education students, and the number of students with specific learning needs.
Among the items paid for by school taxes, Rodriguez listed: facilities, staff, programming/curriculum, services, supplies/equipment, transportation, and outside costs. He explained that programming/ curriculum are getting increasingly more expensive due to the rising cost of electronic book subscription services each year.
While many Pottstown residents are concerned with rising real estate taxes, Mr. Rodriguez stated that even though the district has the legal right to raise taxes, in the past seven years the district has only raised taxes twice attempting to not push the tax burden to those who can afford it least.
While many Pottstown residents are concerned with rising real estate taxes, Mr. Rodriguez stated that even though the district has the legal right to raise taxes, in the past seven years the district has only raised taxes twice attempting to not push the tax burden to those who can afford it least.
He further explained that one of the local pressures is the large number of nonprofits and tax exempt properties in Pottstown that pay no property tax.
While many may advocate for the elimination of real estate taxes, Rodriguiez pointed out that businesses would then also be exempt from real estate taxes and private citizens would have to make up that difference. The elimination of real estate taxes would necessitate a different type of tax, meaning all of that money would go to Harrisburg to be distributed where each district is guaranteed to receive the same amount as last year and we are back to the same inequitable funding we are experiencing currently. Further, property taxes could not be completely eliminated, only reduced, because the school debt would still need to be paid.
Rodriguez noted that cyber/charter schools are tax-payer funded through real estate taxes, but are run like businesses and produce profits. Cyber/charter schools have unelected boards, may hire uncertified teachers, incur a fraction of the cost of brick and mortar public schools, and often produce worse results than public schools.
Rodriguez noted that cyber/charter schools are tax-payer funded through real estate taxes, but are run like businesses and produce profits. Cyber/charter schools have unelected boards, may hire uncertified teachers, incur a fraction of the cost of brick and mortar public schools, and often produce worse results than public schools.
Taxpayers pay for cyber school advertising and laptops. With profits, operators of cyber/charter schools can make donations to influence legislators on the cyber/charter schools’ behalf. All of this is completely legal.
The real issue, he explained, is not school choice, but the current funding structure.
Having worked in some suburban school districts, Rodriguez noted that funding is not the same as it is for Pottstown and poorer districts.
Having worked in some suburban school districts, Rodriguez noted that funding is not the same as it is for Pottstown and poorer districts.
In response to those who say, “You’re just trying to get more money for failing schools.” Mr. Rodriguez said, "They’re not failing schools. They are schools that have been failed by their government.” The Pottstown School District has been cumulatively shortchanged a total of $67 million from 2015-2021.
When asked what we can do about the challenges facing Pennsylvania schools, Rodriguez encouraged members of the community to call their elected officials, tell them they are talking about the situation, they understand what is going on and care deeply about their schools. The additional issue of gerrymandering in the state also needs to be corrected.
A recording of each forum and PowerPoint presentations is on the First Baptist Church website at: www.fbcpottstown.org. Click on the tab for “School Funding Forum.”
The Zoom meeting link for each of the Sunday forums may be found on the First Baptist Church website on the “School Funding Forum” tab.
When asked what we can do about the challenges facing Pennsylvania schools, Rodriguez encouraged members of the community to call their elected officials, tell them they are talking about the situation, they understand what is going on and care deeply about their schools. The additional issue of gerrymandering in the state also needs to be corrected.
A recording of each forum and PowerPoint presentations is on the First Baptist Church website at: www.fbcpottstown.org. Click on the tab for “School Funding Forum.”
The Zoom meeting link for each of the Sunday forums may be found on the First Baptist Church website on the “School Funding Forum” tab.
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