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State Rep. Ted Harhai D- Fayette/Westmoreland www.pahouse.com/harhai

Harhai gets committee airing of bill to help schools hit by business loss

HARRISBURG, Nov. 15 – It took firm negotiating to bring about, but today Rep. Harhai, D-Fayette/ Westmoreland, and Southmoreland School spokesmen got an opportunity to publicly address the House Education Committee about the need for legislation that would provide relief to school districts hit by the loss of a major business.

Harhai was joined by current Superintendent Dr. John A. Molnar, and his predecessor, Dr. John Halfhill, in relating the impact that the closing of the Sony television picture tube plant in East Huntingdon impacted the district’s finances and how Southmoreland has adjusted to the loss.

The situation was exacerbated this summer when Gov. Tom Corbett and the Republican-controlled legislature adopted a 2011-12 state budget that cut nearly $1 million in state assistance from the district’s revenue.

Harhai emphasized that his legislation is not just for Southmoreland, but could be applied to any other school district where a major employer or property tax source is lost. He noted that in the case of Sony, Southmoreland was fortunate in that the corporation gave three year’s advance notice that it was phasing out the plant.

The district is already challenged by the fact that nearly half its students come from households that fall below the federal poverty level.

Molnar and Halfhill discussed how Southmoreland cut personnel while adapting to increased requirements in special needs and autism programs.

Class sizes average 23 in elementary classes and 22 in the high school, but are projected to rise to 28 or 29 in the near future.

Several legislators questioned the class sizes, remarking that in their districts, it is not unusual for class sizes to be hitting 30 or higher.

Following the meeting, Harhai remarked those who questioned why Southmoreland is concentrating on lower class sizes should consider that the district is ranked as the fourth-most overachieving district in southwest Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Business Times and is the 18^th-most overachieving district in the Commonwealth.

“It speaks for itself,” said Harhai. “They are getting the maximum out of the revenues they have, but they, and any other school district hit by the blow of losing a major source of jobs and tax revenues can be pushed to the breaking point, and student achievement will eventually suffer for it.”

Harhai said that his bill sat idle until he launched an initiative to amend its language into every education bill that goes through the House.

“I relented on one bill the Republican leadership really wanted to go through without amendment, and we got today’s meeting before the House Education Committee. I hope a public hearing will follow, along with an up or down committee vote by the end of the year," he said.

“If not, I will undertake the amendment process again.”