Ciresi Named to House Education, Policy Committees

Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by the office of State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist.

State Rep. Joe Ciresi

State Rep. Joe Ciresi, has been appointed to serve on the House Education Committee as part of his committee assignments for the 2021-22 legislative session.

“As a school board member for 12 years and in my first term as a legislator, it’s clear that education has been a top priority of mine,” Ciresi said. “I am grateful to be given the opportunity to serve on the Education Committee and look forward to working on many important priorities, including achieving real fair funding for education, charter school reform, comprehensive education reform, cost savings and shared services, and more.”

During the 2019-20 legislative session, Ciresi worked with Gov. Tom Wolf to craft a comprehensive charter school reform bill and introduced legislation to incentivize cost-saving shared services for school districts (H.B. 2760), extend budget deadlines for school districts during state budget impasses (H.B. 1227) and the COVID-19 pandemic (H.B. 2482), and create a Student Bill of Rights for Off-Campus Housing (H.B. 2761).

Ciresi also co-sponsored multiple bills to achieve more equitable funding of education statewide; located in the 146th Legislative District represented by Ciresi, Pottstown School District is one of the most underfunded school districts in the state.

Ciresi was also named a vice chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee, reappointed to the House Commerce and House Tourism and Recreational Development committees, and appointed to the House Gaming Oversight Committee.

Ciresi’s background suits him well for the various assignments, he said. He was the director of sales and promotions for 16 years at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. He also served 12 years on the Spring-Ford Area School Board, including three years as president. He’s fought for fair funding for education, property tax reform, the restoration of passenger train service and responsible government budgeting.

In addition to his committee assignments, Ciresi serves as the co-chair of the Litter Caucus and the Bipartisan Film Caucus, and on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.